Results 1,921-1,940 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Crop Damage Compensation (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator McFadden for tabling this matter. I am taking this on behalf of the relevant Department. Due to the very wet conditions experienced during November 2009, a significant proportion of the national potato crop remained unharvested at the end of the year. In the early days of January 2010, this situation was compounded by the arrival of severe frost conditions, which resulted in...

Seanad: Crop Damage Compensation (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I acknowledge the issues raised by the Senator in regard to the potential losses of €600,000 and 18 jobs in that enterprise alone. I will outline the Senator's views to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, and perhaps these issues can be discussed further at the meeting planned for the near future. I acknowledge in...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (6 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (11 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents is a matter for each individual...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. The Multi Disciplinary Special Housing Taskforce was established by Dublin City Council to examine alternative options for the redevelopment of their priority regeneration projects. My Department exercises no control over the taskforce, which reports to Dublin City Council; ultimately it will be a matter for the City Council to decide on...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2009 my Department commenced a review of the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review is to consider whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of my Department's suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist older people or people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and to facilitate...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: A budget cost of €11,983,510 was approved in respect of this project, of which €11,683,885 has been paid to date. Clarification is awaited by my Department from Longford Town Council in relation to a number of items included in the final account for the project. On receipt of this information my Department will determine the overall scheme cost and pay the outstanding balance to the Council.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The setting and collection of rents is the responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with their rent schemes. My Department does not collect information in relation to arrears from the collection of housing rents.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Meeting social housing need remains a high priority for the Government. While ensuring that we can deliver across the full range of needs, the scale and composition of the public housing programme in the years ahead will be dependent on a number of factors, including the level of available funding and the evolution of the housing market generally. I am determined to ensure that the programme...

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (13 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting local authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: While first-time buyers are a particular target group for affordable housing, current legislation provides that previous ownership of a house does not render an applicant ineligible for an affordable home. It is a matter for the local authority concerned to consider the priority to be given to a person's application for affordable housing having regard to that person's housing need and to...

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority. On 4 February I announced funding of €157 million, under...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Proposals to reform allocation policy, including schemes of letting priorities, are provided for under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The detailed arrangements, and required regulations, are currently being developed in my Department in consultation with the City and County Managers Association. It is intended that section 22 will be commenced in summer 2010...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The responsibility for the provision of social housing support for those eligible for, and in need of, housing lies with the housing authority.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I notified County Councils of their block grant allocations under the Rural Water Programme last month, and €0.820 million was allocated to Westmeath County Council. These block grant allocations cover both funding for group water schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes. The major part of the funding for the group water sector is directed at investment required under the Rural...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, reflects the commitment in Towards 2016 to develop a national housing strategy for people with a disability which will have particular regard to the housing needs of people with a mental health disability. The strategy, on which work is advanced, is being developed in conjunction with a National Advisory...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department received a further submission in relation to this scheme from Monaghan County Council on 30 April 2010. This is being examined at present and my Department will respond to the Council's proposals as soon as possible with a view to progressing the scheme.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Houses sold to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes at a significant discount from market value contain a clawback provision, in order to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes. There are no plans to abolish the clawback arrangements under the existing affordable housing schemes. However, where a...