Results 1,461-1,480 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The tenant will buy but the taxpayer will maintain the property.

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Do the councillors in the Deputy's party agree with him?

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: If they spoke with one voice, it might help.

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: There are houses worth €1 million thrown into that statistic.

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: One could get enough for a starter home, which is what is needed.

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Where is this scheme on the council list?

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Where is it on the council priority list?

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Did the council make it number one on its list?

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank all the Members who spoke for their contributions. The Government has set extremely ambitious housing goals which it is delivering. The important point is that we are delivering record levels of housing in general as well as record levels of investment in social and affordable housing. Today, I listened to some Members who came into the House to complain about the lack of housing in...

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: ——one third of the funds. If there is a problem in County Galway, it is because the local councillors decided to change the mix or decided not to provide one third of the funding.

Housing Policy: Statements (Resumed). (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: There are no problems there either. Moreover, much has been done in respect of housing quality. Almost one third of the total stock has been constructed in the past ten years and houses are now built to a better standard. With regard to local authority housing, last year we started a scheme to install central heating in approximately 45,000 houses that currently do not have it. That is a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I do not accept the Deputy's contention that the publication of legislation to regulate charities has been subject to ongoing delays. As I have previously pointed out to the House, it is only following the establishment of my Department in June 2002 and the setting up of a dedicated charities regulation unit in February 2003 that substantive moves began to be taken towards regulation of the...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has recently received a current tax clearance certificate from the group in question. Payment of the grant will be arranged shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The administration of the tenant purchase scheme is a matter for each local authority. The terms of the current scheme provide that, where the site of a dwelling has been provided to a housing authority for a nominal sum, the sale price should be reduced accordingly for the tenant purchaser. I understand that Meath County Council is considering a number of cases where the regulations...

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 659 of 15 November 2005. As indicated in that reply, arrangements for managing and maintaining the communal elements of private apartment complexes are generally addressed by management companies. These are constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the provisions of company law, which is the responsibility of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the question refers to assistance from my Department under the voluntary housing capital loan and subsidy scheme for a proposed project by Sonas Housing Association in Blanchardstown. An application for funding under this scheme has been received from Fingal County Council; clarification on a number of aspects sought from the council is awaited. When this is to hand the...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senators for raising the matter. The identification and disposal of State land by various Departments and Government agencies for affordable housing is part of the affordable housing initiative. As the House is aware, this initiative was included as part of one of the ten special initiatives in the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement. The initiative is aimed at those who in...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: What is the rumour locally? Is it suggested that the land is being given for the affordable housing initiative or that it is being sold privately?

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Some years ago the Government made an agreement with the social partners. Under that agreement, we agreed to provide 10,000 houses under the affordable housing initiative. We did a trawl of different Departments and agencies for suitable land. The Athenry site was provided by the Minister for Agriculture and Food at the time and the HSE suggested it might have other land available in various...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: My interest is housing. The land coming to us from different Departments and agencies was land that was in their ownership for years and was surplus to any short or medium-term need. It would seem strange, therefore, that land recently bought would be transferred. What we wanted — I am coming at this from the point of view of affordable housing rather than hospital services — was free...