Results 1,981-2,000 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information in question was provided by my Department to the Department of Social and Family Affairs based on information obtained from housing authorities. I understand the majority of these, both in 2007 and 2008, were accommodated in local authority housing, with the remainder accommodated in voluntary housing. Housing authorities are responsible for accommodation and related services...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 194 together. My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes, including the detailed appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that projects...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 191 and 194 on today's order paper. Over recent months, voluntary and co-operative housing bodies have benefited greatly from the increased delivery of social housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in most local authority areas, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area. Given...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My letter of 22 October 2008 to the Deputy in response to Question No. 498 of 7 October 2008 gave details of current funding recouped to each local authority by my Department under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 for the period 1999 to 2008 (to date) in respect of accommodation and related services for homeless persons. My Department's allocation for section 10 funding for homeless...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. To date over 15,800 households eligible for the Rental accommodation Scheme (RAS) have been transferred from rent supplement to accommodation provided by local authorities, either to RAS directly or to some other type of social housing. Of the 15,800 transfers to date, 8,313 of these households were accommodated directly under the RAS in...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Based on figures supplied to my Department by local authorities at the end of 2007, the average weekly Rental Accommodation Scheme costs are as follows: Unit Size Average weekly cost € 1 Bed 115.71 2 Bed 153.04 3 Bed 169.34 Tenants under the Rental Accommodation Scheme pay a contribution towards the rental costs in line with each local authority's differential rents scheme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I understand from Dublin City Council that this project will go to tender before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Local authorities are responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of homeless persons. It is consequently a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of emergency accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. The number of persons and households living in accommodation that is designated as emergency fluctuates from time...

Written Answers — Home Choice Scheme: Home Choice Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 216 and 219 together. Home Choice will be available to first time buyers of new houses, subject to a maximum loan of €285,000, depending on income, and a maximum loan to value ratio of 92%. The loan term will be up to 30 years. A minimum income of €40,000 will be required and a detailed credit policy is now being finalised. A single standard...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 212 together. I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting and counting project. In this, I am taking into account the detailed work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 13 and 50 together. As indicated during the debate on budget 2009, it is important that the ongoing process of correction in the housing market is not artificially interfered with. Given that sentiment in the housing market is heavily dependent on wider sentiment in the economy, the Government's approach is focused on the broader economic fundamentals and...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. The new home choice loan cannot be construed in any way to be entering the sub-prime area. This is a targeted approach for first-time buyers and there is no incentive. It aims to deal with people who would have been able to get a loan in the past. It is well known nationally that a person looking for a €300,000 mortgage, with financial...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I will take the matter of the intervention first. I did not state it would apply to somebody who could not get a loan because he or she could not make the repayments. I put on the record that this applies to people who are in a position to make repayments but do not have the 20% deposit. This has nothing to do with a bail-out of builders, involvement in the construction industry or a...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I assure the Deputy and the House there is no question of seven times a salary being advanced. The minimum income is €40,000 and the maximum loan is €285,000. The rule of thumb which will be applied by the four designated local authorities and the central office, backed up by the Affordable Homes Partnership, is that approximately five times salary or less will be advanced. The...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: That is correct.

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I have explained the position on second-hand homes. The information available to us is that over 70% of young people buy new homes and there is a 14% to 15% differential between the price of a new home and an existing home. What was the first part of the Deputy's question?

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The intended time for the scheme to be in place is from six to 12 months. I am prepared to review it in light of the success of the scheme or otherwise.

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I do not accept that. It is a terrible interpretation to put on an opportunity——

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: ——for couples interested in buying a home.