Results 161-180 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: A grant of €2,248,446 was approved for this project in 2003, some €2,136,064 of which has been drawn down so far by Limerick County Council. The balance of funding due will be determined as soon as outstanding information, requested from the Council in April 2008, is received in my Department.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme for voluntary and co-operative housing, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of permanent accommodation for low-income families and persons with special housing needs, including the elderly, the homeless and persons with a disability. It is a condition of the scheme that all proposed tenants have been...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: Eligibility for the affordable housing schemes is determined on the basis that applicants are in need of housing and cannot afford to purchase a house outright on the open market. In addition, local authorities assess an eligible applicant's income to ensure that they have the ability to meet the financial commitments involved. In the case of affordable housing provided under Part V of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: In December 2005, Westmeath County Council received approval in principle to refurbish seven housing estates in the county, including Dalton Park in Mullingar, under the Remedial Works Scheme. In April 2008, the Council submitted proposals for a remedial works scheme on the estate. My Department is currently considering these proposals and a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: A proposal to extend the pilot phase of the Ennell Court Remedial Works Scheme was received by my Department in March 2007. The proposal, however, did not address a number of issues that arose in the pilot phase and did not meet with public procurement policy. A letter to that effect issued from my Department in April 2007. At the end of April 2008, my Department received a revised proposal...

Seanad: Economic Partnership Agreements (19 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking in the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, who is in Brussels, and the Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development, Deputy Peter Power. Increased trade is central to sustained economic growth in developing countries. Trade, not just aid, is needed if the poorer countries are...

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (19 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for raising this motion and giving me the opportunity to set out the position on this project. The remedial works programme for Liberty House, Railway Street, Dublin 1, is being dealt with by Dublin City Council on a phased basis. Liberty House was built in the late 1930s and originally consisted of 181 flats. The first proposals for its redevelopment were received over...

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (19 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I understand the point made by the Senator. In order to provide all possible information, I will give more information on the letter sent to Dublin City Council on the submission from it to my Department, which might be helpful. If contact on that level is insufficient, I have no problem with some direct link with Dublin City Council. I should emphasise that we wrote to the council in...

School Placement. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who cannot be here. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current situation in regard to the range of support structures available where, for a variety of reasons, assistance is required in securing a school placement....

School Placement. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: We await the outcome of the appeal, which will be available in three weeks' time. In the interim, I assure the Deputy that I will convey his concerns to the Secretary General and the Minister.

Schools Building Projects. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this matter for the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who cannot be in the House. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to this House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in regard to the building project for Athlone Community...

Schools of Music. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am taking the Adjournment debate because the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, cannot attend the House this evening. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. As the Deputy is aware, the Cork School of Music represents a constituent part of the Cork Institute of Technology, CIT. As institutes of technology are autonomous institutions, the...

Schools of Music. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: In the case of the Cork Institute of Technology, I understand that recurrent funding for CIT has been increased in recent years from some €57 million in 2005 to almost €64 million this year. Its 2008 allocation represents an increase of 2.5% over its 2007 funding and an increase of approximately 12% since 2005. CIT has also benefited from substantial capital funding of approximately...

Schools of Music. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I have taken note of the point Deputy Stanton made about national funding and I will bring that matter to the attention of the Minister.

Schools of Music. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I indicated in the reply that there would be no cutbacks for first and second level students.

Housing Grants. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to speak about the housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with disabilities. The Government is very much aware of the critical role that the adaptation grant schemes play in the context of the overall continuum of care for older people and people with a disability. In order to facilitate the continued independent...

Housing Grants. (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: In this context, and to ensure optimum effectiveness from the funding available, my Department has advised all local authorities to monitor very carefully their expenditure under the schemes. Applications for additional funding from a number of authorities, including Cork County Council, will be considered by my Department in the light of any savings emerging later in the year in other local...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: The most recent comprehensive data available in relation to homelessness is derived from the March 2005 Housing Needs Assessment. Data drawn from that assessment in relation to the citizenship status of homeless households, where accommodation needs are met in a number of different ways, are set out in the following table. Citizenship Number of households Irish 2,304 EU 78 Non-EU 17...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council submitted an application for funding in respect of this project in April 2008. The proposal is currently under consideration, and my Department will respond to the local authority as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Remedial Works Programme: Remedial Works Programme (24 Jun 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has approved a budget cost for a remedial works project at Vartry Heights in Roundwood. The local authority has tendered for these works and is expecting the tenders to be returned shortly. The budget cost is commercially sensitive pending completion of the tender process.