Results 1,361-1,380 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am not embarrassed.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for their contributions. The reality is that, since 1997, successive Governments have done more than any of their predecessors to develop rural transport in general and the rural transport programme. We are delivering high levels of service because of ongoing investment and policy development for more than a decade. I intend to set the record straight with regard to rural...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Minister for Education and Science's strategy for capital investment in education projects, as well as the current position on Coláiste na Coiribe, in particular. The allocation of funding for school buildings in 2009 is €614 million. This represents a significant investment in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The school has the highest possible rating and I understand there is interaction between the building unit of the Department and the college concerning the higher than originally estimated enrolment. Progress can be made between the authorities at the college and the Department.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am not in a position to respond to this. Estimates are being dealt with in every Department at the moment.

Seanad: Natural Heritage Areas (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator McFadden for raising this matter which gives me an opportunity to put on the record a reply to her. In 1984, a major prehistoric trackway of large oak planks was discovered during Bord na Móna peat harvesting operations in the raised bog at Corlea near the village of Keenagh, County Longford. Wood samples from the Corlea track, when subjected to tree ring analysis,...

Seanad: Natural Heritage Areas (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I will certainly do that. I appreciate what has been achieved in this centre already. The Senator should keep up the pressure.

Seanad: Water Quality (7 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this issue as it relates to water conservation works, which the Minister and I view as vitally important work and a key element of our Department's water services investment programme. The main objectives of the water conservation programme are to reduce water loss in the public supply networks, to obtain value for money by deferring capital...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for a new scheme of incremental purchase, which will, among other things, enable approved housing bodies to sell new dwellings provided for the purposes of the scheme to tenants at a substantial discount. This Part of the Act will be brought into operation in the coming months. In September 2009, my Department published, for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1053 of 16 September 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information on both social and affordable housing activity, in each local authority area up to the end of March 2009, is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Information is also published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Data for the second quarter of 2009 will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 to 378, inclusive, together. Activity under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) has been increasing steadily since the scheme first commenced in 2005. The total number of households transferred from Rent Supplement to the end of August 2009 was 22,412. Of these, 11,987 households were provided with accommodation directly under the Rental Accommodation...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for individual authorities. However, I understand that the process for the taking in charge of this estate has been initiated by Cork County Council and is subject to the finalisation of landscaping and planting works.

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities. The Department supports the authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of funding under the fire services capital programme, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by the authorities in relation to the purchase...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under Section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, as amended, the allocation of tenancies in local authority dwellings is entirely a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Clare County Council. It is solely a matter for local authorities to assess housing applicants, independently of my Department, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 979 and 1012 of 16 September 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes, introduced on 1 November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with a 20% contribution from the resources of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The primary purpose of Circular SHIP 2009/01 is to ensure that construction related professional services required under the Social Housing Investment Programme are provided in an efficient and effective manner. The circular does not preclude private sector involvement in the provision of such services and I do not believe it will result in adverse effects for regeneration projects. The...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I wish to share time with Deputy Wallace.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am pleased to contribute to this historically important debate on the Bill to establish the National Asset Management Agency. I add my name to those who have already commended the Minister for Finance on publishing this legislation. I cannot think of a more important item of legislation to come before the House and, given the circumstances that created the need for this Bill, I hope that...