Results 1,521-1,540 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I am sorry the Deputy does not believe me, but I am telling the truth.

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I am telling the truth. I am sorry for his trouble, but the situation is that there is a good deal of collating and cross checking of figures.

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The situation is that there were many discrepancies and different interpretations among local authorities and the final data have not, as yet, been presented to me.

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I know what the Deputy has asked and I would like to facilitate him and give an accurate figure, but I cannot. While the assessments started last spring, it was September before some of the first figures were received from local authorities. Much work has been done since then with very detailed cross checking to ensure consistency of approach. That is one of the matters we are trying to...

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I know the Deputy has been looking into his crystal ball and coming up with figures such as 60,000, and I do not know where he got that.

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I do not have them. It is a case of doing it accurately. We are getting a computer based system which will improve things in the future. We found many people who were on more than one local authority. The previous figures may have had much duplication and so on. While many new applicants have gone on the list, one compensates the other. It might not be at the level that you were forecasting,...

Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: We are cross-checking the figures for accuracy. I reject that implication. I do not know why I should take more insults from you. I have given you an accurate answer based——

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: In the context of its continuing commitment to meeting the range of housing needs, the Government has given careful consideration to the Ninth Progress Report of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, APOCC, concerning private property, as well as Report No. 112 of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy, and a report by...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 29, 86 and 113 together. The publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume, AEV, is the first step in the Estimates process and does not take account of any further adjustments, particularly in relation to capital provision which may be announced on budget day. The 5% increase in the 2006 provision for housing, announced in the AEV, corresponds to an...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Government has been making substantial progress in addressing the concerns raised in the NESC report, with increased housing output levels and record investment in social and affordable housing measures. New measures have already been announced to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and to maximise the availability of land for social and affordable housing programmes. The...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the Settlement First report published by the Simon Communities of Ireland in July 2005. The independent evaluation of the integrated and preventative homeless strategies commissioned by my Department has addressed the implementation of the homeless strategies and their associated action plans. The outcome of this review, together with publications-submissions by other agencies...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Details of next year's capital funding for disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes will be made available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006 which will be published early in the new year.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I strongly disagree with the assessment referred to in the question. The amount and variety of accommodation available for homeless persons has increased significantly since the introduction of Homelessness: An Integrated Strategy in 2000. This has been accompanied by initiatives in the areas of outreach and resettlement and the provision of a wide range of services to address the needs of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities are required to make a scheme of letting priorities to determine the order of priority to be afforded to applicants in the lettings of dwellings provided by the authority. The order of priority of different categories of persons in such schemes and the basis on which applicants are assessed are matters primarily for decision by the local authority. In the context of its...

Written Answers — Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The estimate mentioned in the question, while referred to in the NESC report, does not arise from the NESC but from a team of researchers assembled by four non-governmental organisations to study the first round of housing strategies prepared by local authorities. This study, entitled an analysis of housing strategies and homeless action plans, 2002, estimated that approximately one-third of...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 79 together. I welcome all contributions to the debate on how the provision of services to homeless persons might be improved. The independent review of the homelessness strategies, commissioned by my Department, has evaluated the implementation of the strategies and their associated action plans. The outcome of this review, together with publications...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department actively promotes the conservation of fuel and energy through Part L of the national building regulations and the related technical guidance document L. Progressively higher thermal performance and insulation standards introduced under Part L since 1992 have significantly reduced the energy required, from all sources, to heat space and water in buildings. For example, it is...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: Single persons who are unable to provide housing for themselves from their own resources are entitled to apply for social housing which is provided by either a local authority or a voluntary housing body. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their expenditure on the provision of accommodation-related services for homeless persons, including those in move-on accommodation. In 2004, recoupment was made in respect of 586 move-on units. In addition, accommodation was accessed for formerly homelessness persons by means of social housing units provided directly by local authorities or...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Nov 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Government's consideration of this matter will be informed by the outcome of the statutory housing needs assessment being finalised at present and the work by the housing forum in reviewing the effectiveness of the existing social and affordable housing schemes in the context of the Sustaining Progress agreement. The Government has put in place a number of new arrangements to facilitate...