Results 1,401-1,420 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Having regard to the existing high level of commitments under the Capital Assistance Scheme it has not been possible to approve this scheme. The scheme will, however, be considered for approval in the context of the 2010 Estimates considerations and my Department's capital investment programme.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) have processed 173 applications since the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations, 2009 came into force on 27 April 2009. The following table gives a breakdown of the status of these applications, final decisions on which are a matter for the relevant local authority. Private Housing Shared Ownership Incremental Purchase Affordable Housing Total...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Over the period January to end of August 2009, Kildare County Council have transferred 60 households from rent supplement to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or other forms of social housing, with a total of 692 households transferred since the commencement of the scheme in 2005. The qualifying criteria for RAS are that a household must be in receipt of rent supplement, usually for 18...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice loan website and, to date, 38 applications have been made. Of these 26 have been declined, 3 approvals in principle have issued, 3 applications have been withdrawn, and a decision is pending in respect of 6 applications where further information has been sought from the applicant.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. The overall level of funding provided under the Social Housing Investment Programme for the supply of local authority and voluntary/co-operative housing for the years in question is as follows: 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Local Authority 702,739,974 833,692,272 940,225,258 940,041,951 978,631,660 Voluntary/Co-Operative* 182,522,304...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Earlier this year, my Department commissioned the Centre for Housing Research to undertake an evaluation of the revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which were introduced on 1 November 2007. The evaluation aims to determine the effectiveness of the revised schemes in providing a more accessible framework of grant assistance to applicants,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under Section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, as amended, the management of the housing waiting list and allocation of tenancies in local authority dwellings is a matter for the local authority concerned. The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing, others moved from the list, and new households apply for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The assessment and allocation of an individual household for social housing support is a matter for the local authority concerned. Under section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, I am precluded from being involved in a decision by a housing authority as to whether a particular household is eligible for support and indeed the allocation of that support. In relation to general guidance given by my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The tenancy agreement for dwellings let by housing authorities under the Housing Acts generally contains provisions in relation to anti-social behaviour. Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 ("the 2009 Act") there is a requirement that specific terms and conditions be set out in the tenancy agreement prohibiting anti-social behaviour in, or in the vicinity of, the dwelling...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The administration and processing of applications under the various affordable housing schemes is a matter for individual local authorities, and one in which my Department has no direct function. Accordingly, my Department does not have detailed information on the range of fees applied by individual authorities in providing access to prospective purchasers of affordable housing.

Government Charges on Businesses: Motion (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening. I wish to look specifically at the issues relating to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and to touch on some other key points for the Irish economy. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, for allowing me to share time with him on this important issue. Local...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, including rent supplement-supported private rented accommodation, comply with these regulations. Responsibility for...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Responsibility in relation to accommodation and related services for homeless persons in any area, including financial assistance, rests with the relevant local authority under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. My Department's responsibility in relation to funding to address homelessness involves recoupment of 90% of approved expenditure by local authorities. The availability of funding for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009 provided for the issuing of written guidance in the form of the credit policy for the processing of loan applications and the making of loans by all local authorities. The credit policy, which I introduced with these Regulations, is intended to underpin local authority lending and ensure prudence and consistency in approach. As part of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 481 and 486 of 6 May 2009. My Department has been in regular contact with Kilrush Town Council in relation to the project concerned and revised options for the redevelopment of the Estate were more recently put forward at a meeting with my Department in August 2009. The Town Council is currently addressing remaining design concerns with a view to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: A new scheme for the incremental purchase of new houses provided by housing authorities and approved housing bodies will be introduced in the coming months, according as relevant parts of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 are brought into operation. A number of housing authorities have already expressed interest in taking part in the scheme and following discussions with these...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: On foot of a Government Decision, taken in February 2006, to transfer the administration of the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme (SHAE) from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the local authority sector, a revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability was implemented on 1 November, 2007. The revised schemes target available resources to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 502 together. Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the older Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. While my Department has not been formally advised of any...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Estimates obtained from local authorities and the Affordable Homes Partnership during the first quarter of 2009 indicated that the number of affordable units on hands nationally was in the region of 3,700. At that time, many of these units were already in process of sale or have since been sold. Local authority Housing Action Plans, which ensure a more holistic and integrated approach to...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The position in this matter has been set out in replies to previous Questions, most recently in reply to Question No. 728 of 9 July 2009. The issue of pyrite was brought to the attention of my Department in mid 2007. Having consulted the statutory Building Regulations Advisory Body, my Department issued a circular letter (Ref. BC 6/2007) to each county manager and local building control...