Results 1,421-1,440 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 1037 and 1044 of 16 September 2009, and my subsequent statement to the House as part of the adjournment debate on 23 September 2009. The October 2008 draft Limerick Regeneration Programme/ Masterplan is framed in the context of the 2007 national housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. The draft Programme outlines a flexible and...

Written Answers — Remedial Works Programme: Remedial Works Programme (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together. The projects in question, which are at an early stage of development, are part of my Department's Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. Proposals for these projects were received in Autumn 2008 and, following an evaluation process, approval in principle to both projects issued from my Department in February 2009. Certain further details...

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

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities on 7 May 2009 under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes. The initial 2009 combined allocation to Clare County Council, incorporating the Exchequer contribution and the...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 496 of 20 October 2009. My Department is fully committed to the Limerick regeneration project, which has been underway since mid 2007. Accordingly, it is not specifically mentioned in the renewed programme for Government. This contains wider commitments on housing policy, which can be integrated into the Limerick regeneration process, where appropriate,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 345 of 3rd February, 2009. Until such time as proposals are received from Dublin City Council, my Department has no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (21 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. It will, however, be considered for approval in the context of my Department's 2010 capital investment programme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department does not hold the information requested. I have asked the authority concerned to send the relevant information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed by regulations made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. In the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations and delivered on this commitment by approving a package of measures last year. Those elements of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: There is no provision under the current affordable housing schemes for upgrading to a larger affordable home. However, as is the case with all forms of private housing, an owner of an affordable home wishing to trade up may sell their existing house and purchase a larger dwelling in the market, subject of course to the repayment of the appropriate clawback. While first-time buyers are a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: In response to a call for proposals for projects for inclusion in my Department's Remedial Works Schemes 2009-2011, an application for this project was received in Autumn 2008 from Cork City Council. The proposal was evaluated against the criteria set out for the programme, e.g. the age and condition of the dwellings, the unit cost of refurbishment, the priorities of the City Council, etc....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability is administered by the local authorities and all matters relating to compliance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, the processing and approval of applications and the payment of grants to individual applicants are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The initial 2009 combined allocation...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: A person occupying a house under the shared ownership scheme can sell their house at any time provided he or she has bought out the local authority's share and has acquired full ownership of the dwelling. Full ownership may be achieved either by purchasing, from time to time, additional shares of the authority's equity or a single outright purchase of its remaining equity. The cost of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Based on information provided by local authorities to my Department, in relation to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), the total number of RAS offers refused since the inception of the Scheme until the end of September 2009 is 609. My Department does not collect information in relation to the specific number of households that have refused accommodation.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Rent supplement, as provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and administered by the Health Services Executive, is an income support payment made to people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation. Housing authorities are responsible for meeting housing need, in particular long term housing need, through the provision of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under the current operation of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), households who are accommodated under the scheme are entitled to remain on the housing waiting list and my Department has issued guidance on this matter to local authorities. However, it is matter for each authority, under its Scheme of Letting Priorities, to determine a household's priority for housing and an authority...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Work on the development of the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability is well advanced and I envisage publication in the first quarter of 2010.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Laois County Council has submitted a detailed design and cost plan seeking approval to proceed to tender stage for a new fire station at Rathdowney. My Department is examining the proposal which will be considered for inclusion in the 2010 Fire Services Capital programme having regard to competing demands of fire authorities and the resources to be made available for the 2010 programme.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Fire Services Act 1981 provides that it is the duty of every person having control over premises to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on the premises and to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, with effect from 1...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The information requested is published in the annual reports of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC), copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The position regarding transient halting sites in the greater Dublin area is outlined in the Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) of the relevant local authorities, which are available from those authorities. In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation,...