Results 121-140 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (28 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department does not collect information on complaints of anti-social behaviour in local authority estates. Powers to address anti-social behaviour were provided to housing authorities under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997. The main feature of the Act is provision for a court order, on application by a tenant, local authority or approved housing body, to exclude an...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: At present there are seventeen housing related PPP projects at various stages of procurement, or at an advanced stage of preparation for the procurement process, across the country. A number of other projects have also been identified as being potentially suitable for PPP. Overall, the seventeen projects are expected to yield some 1,500 social housing units, 2,000 affordable units, and...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (28 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 355 and 356 together. Details of the inspections of private rented accommodation carried out, the dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory standards and prosecutions initiated up to 2006 are included in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (28 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 88 of 27 May 2008. The position remains as set out yesterday.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 240 of Wednesday, 14 May 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: On 8 February 2008, my Department issued approval to Meath County Council to proceed with the works in question. The Council has indicated that the contract for the project will begin in July 2008 and is due to be completed by the end of 2009. The approved budget for the project is €5,462,702 of which €2.5m has been allocated this year, with the remaining costs to be met from the 2009...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 88 of 27 May 2008. As previously indicated, the City Council remains committed to the regeneration of these areas, and my Department will continue to engage with the Council as it endeavours to move the process forward as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: The correspondence appears to relate to the Department's low cost sites scheme and difficulties obtaining mortgage finance from banking institutions. The low cost sites scheme is subject to phased claw-back arrangements designed to prevent short term profiteering by owners of subsidised sites. My Department is aware of an issue which has arisen whereby some applicants who have bought sites...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: The current income bands and subsidies under the mortgage subsidy scheme are set out under the Housing (Mortgage Subsidy) Regulations 2005 and in associated Circular Letters HPS 10/05 and 1/06, and apply to all transactions completed on or after 1 January 2006. The previous income bands and subsidies apply to transactions completed before this date. The matters referred to are under review...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: In 2007 North Tipperary County Council received an allocation of €1.5m to undertake remedial works on its rural cottages, preliminary works for a number of other schemes across the county, and its central heating programme. This year's allocation of €3.8m is a significant increase on the 2007 allocation and represents my Department's ongoing commitment to the support of the Council's...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411, 418 and 419 together. The combined capital allocations notified to South Tipperary County Council, Offaly County Council and Laois County Council for the payment of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, in 2008, are as follows: Local Authority 2008 Allocation â'¬ South Tipperary County Council 1,343,550...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department met with Dublin City Council on 30 May 2008 and it was agreed that this project could proceed to the planning/design phase.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: My predecessor initiated a study to identify measures that would assist in responding to the targets set for affordable housing in Towards 2016. The study is now completed and the resultant report, Increasing Affordable Housing Supply, has been published by the Affordable Homes Partnership for public consultation. Following the completion of the consultation process, it is intended that...

Private Transport Operators. (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for proposing this Adjournment matter, which I take on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. The Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. In accordance with the legislation, private bus operators apply to the Department of Transport for...

Private Transport Operators. (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I will bring that matter to the attention of the Minister.

Private Transport Operators. (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Department understands from the licence holder that the service has been introduced and the frequency shall be increased in the coming months. On 16 July 2007, the Department was made aware that the operator concerned had commenced the operation of an unlicensed bus passenger service between Dalkey and Dublin Airport. The Department immediately contacted the company and advised that...

Water Pollution. (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Tuffy for raising this on the Adjournment. I am pleased to be able to update the House regarding developments in this case. Separate investigations into this incident, which involved five group water scheme supplies, serving about 1,700 households in Cavan and Monaghan, have been carried out by the respective county councils and by the Health Service Executive. The reports...

Water Pollution. (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I take this matter, which was discussed on several previous occasions, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley. The difficulties being experienced by homeowners whose homes have been affected by the use of pyrite in certain developments in and around County Dublin are fully recognised. However, the resolution of problems...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Building Regulations apply standards for the construction of all new buildings, including social and affordable housing. In addition, units acquired for social housing under Part V agreements are expected to comply with Departmental guidance set out in Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities. In concluding Part V agreements housing authorities may seek certain modifications to house...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: Delivery of units under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 is necessarily subject to a number of variables. These include the volume of housing development for which planning permission is granted, the finalisation of individual agreements between local authorities and developers, the timing of commencement and phasing of individual developments, and the general level...