Results 1,501-1,520 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Housing Developments: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: It must come back again before the House. The original legislation was based on legal advice that was difficult to ignore.
- Housing Developments: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: When the Law Reform Commission report is completed, we will take whatever action is proposed. I agree that we must examine which local authorities and developers are trying to drive a coach and four through the rules. We must come together and take action when the report is published.
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I expect to be deciding on qualifying applications shortly.
- Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Provision is made for grants for community and voluntary service under subhead K1 on my Department's Vote as published in the 2006 Abridged Estimates Volume. A total of â¬37.134 million â an increase of 9% on the corresponding 2005 allocation â has been provided for a number of programmes including the scheme of community supports for older people â under which funding for security...
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 420 on 15 November 2005 in which I provided a comprehensive breakdown on the programmes and schemes operated by my Department. The primary focus of area-based programmes, such as the local development social inclusion programme, is communities experiencing disadvantage and isolation rather than a specific focus on the rate of housing development,...
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Housing (Registration of Rented Houses) Regulations 1996 introduced the registration requirement applying to tenancies in the general private rented sector. Article 5(4) specified the fee applying to the application for registration and article 8 provided for the payment of an annual fee in respect of a house that continued to be rented. The registration regulations and the fee...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The essential repairs grant scheme is designed to enable elderly people whose houses cannot be made habitable in all respects at a reasonable cost to have basic repairs carried out. Decisions in individual cases are a matter for the relevant local authority. The special housing aid for the elderly scheme was established to provide assistance, by way of necessary emergency repairs, to improve...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: As indicated in reply to Question No. 425 of 16 November 2005, the administration of the tenant purchase scheme is a matter for each local authority and my Department does not compile the detailed information sought. I have asked my Department to draw the attention of local authorities again to the terms of the current scheme which provide that, where the site of a dwelling has been provided...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. Funding for the affordable housing and shared ownership schemes in 2006 is partly included in the Abridged Estimates Volume published last week and partly included in the public capital programme, details of which will be published on 7 December, budget day. The total 2006 provision for both schemes will reflect the outcome of a review of...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The interest rate on variable local authority loans is determined by the Housing Finance Agency by reference to prevailing rates in the financial market. The current variable rate is 2.95%. In addition, a mortgage protection charge of 0.598% and 1.65%, respectively, is applied to loans taken out on or after 1 July 1986 and pre-1 July 1986. Typical annual repayments today on a loan of...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Details of next year's capital funding for housing grants for disabled and elderly persons will be made available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006 which will be published early in the new year. A review of the disabled persons grant scheme is currently underway in my Department. On its completion, it will be possible to determine the changes, if any, required to the...
- Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I thank the Members for their contributions. This is a time of enormous and unprecedented change in the housing sector. In that context, the Government has set very ambitious goals and is delivering. To realise the changes that have taken place, one has only to look at the results of the last census, which indicate that the population increased by approximately 8% in a six-year period. The...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Provision has been made in the Revised Estimates Volumes, published since the establishment of my Department for annual payments to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Under these provisions, my Department has paid the society â¬1.27 million annually in 2002, 2003 and 2004. A further payment for 2005 is being prepared. Prior to the establishment of my Department an annual amount was paid to...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The assessment of housing need that was undertaken in 2002 indicated that there were 378 single persons on the waiting lists of the three local authorities in Louth. The results of the most recent assessment, which was undertaken in March, are being finalised and will be published in the near future. The results will provide information on the number of single persons who are deemed eligible...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: My Department does not have specific information on the proposal referred to. My Department provides funding under the housing management initiatives grant scheme to fund innovative and practical pilot projects designed to improve housing management performance by local authorities and other bodies with housing management functions. A number of projects in County Louth were approved earlier...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 1326 and 1389 of 28 September 2005 and to Question No. 551 of 4 October 2005. The position remains unchanged. I have not received any representations as referred to in the question nor is consideration of this matter influenced by any concern relating to public private partnerships.
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The assessment of housing need is statutorily required to be carried out every three years. The last full assessment was commenced by local authorities in early 2005 on the basis of detailed guidance provided by the Department. A number of important new elements were introduced for the 2005 assessment. In particular, a computer based system was established to receive and analyse the data; and...
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I answered the Deputy's question in the last sentenceââ
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: ââwhen I said I do not, as yet, have the file of the final figures.
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Would the Deputy like a reply?