Results 1,301-1,320 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: The scheme will give those on waiting lists security of tenure and permanent homes. That is what people want.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Up to the end of June 2005, a total of 1,294 housing units had been acquired under Part V arrangements, comprising 485 social and 809 affordable units. In addition, the Department estimates 736 social and 1,477 affordable units are under construction. The social units are being provided to both local authorities and voluntary housing bodies for letting to households on the waiting lists. The...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: The output arising from Part V is growing and, with the level of housing produced and 2,200 houses under construction, the dividend from Part V will be significant. If construction commences on a new estate there may be no provision under Part V as planning permission was granted before the law took effect. The dividend from Part V is slow. I reported on housing needs assessment in the last...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Most people agreed that flexibility was necessary to allow social and affordable housing to be provided off-site on occasions. The last change in the law allowed that option. It is not the developer who calls the shots.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. It would not be appropriate for a developer to construct social and affordable houses in an area where there was not a need.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: The local authority has its housing strategy and outlines what is needed and where it is needed. It would not be satisfactory to provide social and affordable housing in areas not envisaged in the strategy.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Flexibility was necessary. I understand the case to which the Deputy is referring.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: The principle is sensible but it would not be appropriate to locate houses 50 miles from the main development.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Regarding the other issue raised, until last year all social and affordable housing was financed by the State system. Two financial institutions, Bank of Ireland and EBS, now allow loans for affordable housing on new houses only. We are discussing this and seeking their agreement for re-financing. To date the institutions have not agreed, so the only way of redeeming the mortgage is the...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: They are very slow in doing so.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 requires all local authorities to draw up a housing strategy to provide for the existing and future housing needs of their areas. A key element in the preparation of the strategy is the carrying out of an assessment of overall housing needs. This is based on a number of factors, including the current and future demand for housing...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: On the balance between social and affordable housing, the figures I provided earlier indicate that there are twice as many affordable units being built under Part V as there are social units. As I said, however, that is a matter for the housing strategy of individual local authorities. When I was a member of a local authority, I recall major debates about whether the ratio should be 10:10 or...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: I am sure I have answered that question for the Deputy on a number of occasions.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: I will try again.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: As I said, construction is still continuing based on many pre-Part V planning permissions, while other such developments could start today or tomorrow even though the permission was received five years ago. As such, Part V would not apply.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Deputy knows, as I do, that whether one is building an estate or a house extension, one can start the work anytime up to five years after obtaining planning permission.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Some of the large estates have ten-year planning permissions, which means that they will still be building them, yet we will not be getting a Part V dividend from them during that period. That is the reason. Nobody escapes. All new planning permission is subject to Part V. As mentioned earlier, in some cases developers agree with local authorities to give cash but that only happens in a...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Am I not getting through to the Deputy?
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: I know the figures.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (25 Oct 2005)
Noel Ahern: Under Part V, yes, but as I statedââ