Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I reiterate there is no incentive in this home choice loan. It is offered at a variable rate in the same way as a loan from any other financial institution. The only difference is that it is targeted at a group of people and will have a loan to value of 92%. There is no incentive and no intervention by Government or my Department in the construction industry. If it has a plus, we will...

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 are designed to provide a more transparent framework for the delivery of a diverse range of social housing options. The Bill clarifies the role of housing authorities in regard to the management of housing which they own or lease under the rental accommodation scheme or other arrangements. This includes the power to...

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: As for the last point, Government policy is to have integrated and sustainable communities. Consequently, I assure the House there is no question of either my Department or the front-line Department reverting to the old position of having local authority estates. Housing developments must be sustainable communities and this remains the policy of the Department. As for the new Housing...

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no responsibility in that area. It pertains to the Companies Acts and is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. However, as the Deputy noted, a debate is taking place on this matter. I understand the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring forward its proposals on this issue. However, it is not a specific matter for my Department.

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: First, I wish to reassure the Deputy on this matter. At present, local authorities have certain powers under the 1992 Act, which they use in at least three ways that I can think of. First, they use them when an estate gets together and decides to set up its own co-operative management. This takes place in some, but not all, local authorities and works well. In an estate of 20 or 30...

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: We should not assume that local authorities will take charge of entire private estates.

Local Authority Housing. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I noted earlier, section 30 of the Bill provides that some or all of a housing authority's management functions may be delegated to a designated body. Such delegation is confined to a body including residents and these powers already exist under section 9 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. I am not adding to those functions in this instance but I will have to make...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. As signalled by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2009, a new single streamlined Government Equity scheme is to be introduced in relation to affordable housing. Under this new arrangement the purchase transaction will be largely unchanged from the affordable purchaser's perspective. However, instead of units being sold at a discounted...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: In 2008 my Department allocated almost €7 million to support the operation of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, mainly for the development of the regeneration master plans and for social inclusion measures. Within the overall funding available to my Department for the provision and improvement of social housing for 2009, funds will be provided to advance the planning of the Limerick...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: A Project Brief together with a request for funding approval for the planning and design stage of this 20-house project, which has an overall cost of €4.8 million, was received from Louth County Council on 17 July, 2008. The proposal is being examined by my Department at present and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I indicated to the House last week 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 ensuring, ultimately, that the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: A person occupying a house under the shared ownership scheme has the right to buy out the local authority's share and acquire full ownership at any time. Alternatively, this may be done by purchasing, from time to time, additional shares of the authority's equity. The cost of purchasing an additional share or the redemption value of the outstanding share, for transactions commenced from 1...

Written Answers — Rented Dwellings Register: Rented Dwellings Register (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence, subject, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Since the enactment of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act in 1998, local authorities have adopted two successive Traveller accommodation programmes. In the course of the first programmes, covering the five-year period 2000 to 2004, some 1,371 additional Traveller families were provided with permanent, secure accommodation. This included some 586 units of Traveller-specific...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: ——we must always be mindful that for the most vulnerable in our society, the phrase book of recession rings hollow if front line services on which they depend are seriously compromised. Our focus in shaping the overall financial provision for housing in 2009 is on utilising available resources in a way which will most benefit those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting...

Schools Building Projects. (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the application for large-scale capital funding from Forgney national school. The school has a staffing of a principal, one mainstream teacher and a shared resource teacher. The school's...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Action to deal with anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána. Landlords are, however, responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004. The Act, in this regard, prohibits a private rental tenant engaging in anti-social behaviour in, or in the vicinity of, a dwelling to which the Act applies and allows...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has already supported a pilot phase in relation to this scheme at Ballylynch Housing Estate. The Council has submitted, in September 2008, proposals for an extensive remedial works project, based on the pilot phase. These proposals will be considered under the new call for proposals for remedial works schemes for funding in 2009; the closing date for receipt of applications is...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: He is showing no respect for the Chair.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I wish to share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Billy Kelleher. As we are all only too well aware, the events of the last few weeks in the international financial markets are without precedent in modern times. The prevailing economic and fiscal environment is more adverse than any we have faced for many years. As the Minister for Finance made clear yesterday, across all areas of...