Results 1,981-2,000 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The question is whether the local authority can dictate to, or work with, a developer to provide the type of houses we need. The local authorities may need to be more proactive. Maybe until now they have been sitting back dealing with planning applications as they come in but if a developer sends in an application for 100 five-bedroom houses to sell at €1.2 million, there is nothing one...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: It might appeal to the Deputy's ideology to blow his trumpet and say he got a €1.2 million house for social housing. I would rather get eight or ten houses somewhere else at €300,000 each to take eight people off the list.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter of reality over ideology.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: While a financial contribution is a legitimate option, it is a matter for the local authority to accept or reject the offer, having regard to its housing strategy and whether it constitutes the best use of the resources available to it. The developer may propose, but it is the local authority which decides. When doing so it is bound to consider what is statutorily laid down and the best way...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I was disappointed when two Members claimed local authorities are depending on Part V and not pushing traditional local authority housing programmes. On several occasions I have made it clear to local authorities not to rely on Part V. Up to €980 million was allocated to the standard local authority housing programmes. The number of social housing units built last year was the highest in...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy can talk about percentages but he is only fooling himself. It is up to the local authorities to use these moneys. Members will be surprised by the amount of time the Department spends on driving housing associations and local authorities to introduce their plans and draw down the funds. Some years ago it was the opposite. The €38 million is ring-fenced and it will be used....

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Government will not allow the benefits achieved under Part V to be undermined in any way. It is important to stress that not all housing output in the State is subject to Part V. Regularly, the mistake is made that in viewing output under Part V one simply applies a percentage to the total overall housing output to determine the Part V contribution. This is not the case. The misreading...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: They can play around with percentages.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Just because overall housing output has grown, it should not be used as an excuse to belittle what we are achieving in social unit output. An extra €100 million was allocated to social housing programmes this year. The Department has been pushing local authorities to use it.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Another Member was giving out about hovels. If that is the Deputy's idea——

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Fatima Mansions renewal project gave people proper living conditions.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Members opposite referred to the average price of a house. Some of the exercises conducted by financial institutions, such as Halifax, on house prices are meaningless. The average price of a Dublin house is largely made up by the prices of houses in the leafy suburbs of the south side of the city. The first-time buyer is not buying in these areas. These exercises conducted by financial...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Those are the relevant statistics. Spending on housing under the national development plan is ahead of what was forecast. I accept output is somewhat down but the spending has been ahead of schedule.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: A Sinn Féin Deputy claims Meath County Council will not push for Part V housing. If that is the case, he should talk to his councillors there. The council chamber is where that argument must be fought. There are 43,000 families on the housing waiting list.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: By the last needs assessment that figure was down 10% over three years.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Some 40% of those on the list are single. Some 15 years ago, they would not have been eligible to apply. Now one can apply for local authority housing no matter what age one is.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Up until recently only families or senior citizens could apply.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Many of them are separated. It is not true to claim there are 120,000 people on the housing waiting list.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: This year, the budget for social and affordable housing stood at €2 billion. The local authority programme is the largest part of this. There are also the regeneration, remedial works and voluntary housing schemes. Our problem is in spending this funding. That is available if the local authorities bring forward plans based on acquired lands or proposed land purchases.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (1 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am familiar with a particular tract of land on the north side of Dublin city. I believe a Sinn Féin councillor supported its sale. Many people pretend to take one position but when it comes to the crunch, they change their minds. As the old planning permissions phase out, Part V will deliver.