Results 2,021-2,040 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (25 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I cannot respond categorically to the Deputy, as my Department has not received an application for funding from the group in question. It is possible that the group might qualify for funding under the recently advertised flagship projects scheme under Dormant Accounts. I should stress that until an application is received and can be assessed, I cannot be certain that the group would qualify...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Certain clarifications regarding the application for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme in respect of this project were sought from Cork County Council who are responsible for administering the scheme in their area. Following technical examination of a revised design received from the Council my Department approved a grant for this project on 23 June 2006.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: There were 1.7 million housing units in 2005, of which approximately 134,000 were houses let by local authority or Voluntary or Co-operative sector. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of units which are affordable housing units as beneficiaries under the various affordable housing schemes may have moved from these houses to new private housing. However since 1991, some...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department is currently preparing proposals for the legislation required to give effect to the commitment in the Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities to introduce a new tenant purchase scheme that will allow for the sale of local authority apartments to tenants under certain conditions. We are working to progress this draft legislation as quickly soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The most recent assessment of need for social housing, undertaken by local authorities in March 2005, indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority waiting lists compared with 48,413 in March 2002. More detailed results, including a breakdown of this figure by local authority, are available in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin for 2005, which is available on...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: A substantial number of applications has been received by my Department over the last few weeks under the 2006 Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. These are currently being assessed and decisions in respect of all applications will be made by me following this assessment process. It is not possible at this early stage to indicate when a decision can be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 to 537, inclusive, together. A substantial number of applications has been received by my Department over the last few weeks under the 2006 Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. These have been sent for initial assessment. I expect that I will be in a position to provide a full breakdown of these applications in the...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) was established in 1998 to assist in the development of facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem existed or had the potential to develop. In the period from 2000 to date, approximately €123m has been spent, including expenditure on projects...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: In conjunction with the Minister, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., and Tim O'Malley T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for mental health, I announced yesterday that the Government has approved the allocation of almost €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support twenty suicide prevention projects. The key objective of this funding is...

Written Answers — House Sales: House Sales (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not collect data on the number of houses sold each year. However, an analysis of loans paid in the year 2005, indicates the proportional distribution of new and second hand houses in each of the price ranges requested in the Question. Loan Up to €350,000 €350,001 to €400,000 €400,001 to €450,000 €450,001 to €650,000 Over €650,000 New 83.6% 6.5% 3.3% 4.8%...

Written Answers — Housing Projects: Housing Projects (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department provides capital funding to assist voluntary and co-operative housing associations to deliver high quality housing for low income families as well as for vulnerable groups such as elderly people, people with disabilities, the homeless and travellers. Earlier this year I substantially increased the capital funding limits for voluntary and co-operative housing projects. My...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Dublin City Council has sought approval from my Department for the provision of traveller specific accommodation, consisting of six houses, at Old Belcamp Lane. My Department raised certain Financial and environmental concerns about the proposal in discussion with the City Council. My Department now anticipates a further meeting with Dublin City Council with a view to resolving these concerns...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Carlow County Council submitted proposals to my Department in July 2006 for an extension to the house for the persons in question. In order for my Department to properly examine the proposal the Council were requested to submit drawings and a layout for the extension. This documentation is awaited from the Council.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The advice referred to by the Deputy was not the subject of a report but was provided to my Department, at short notice, by way of participation in discussions in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of affordable housing in the Greater Dublin Area, in advance of the establishment of the Affordable Homes Partnership in August 2005. This built on previous work undertaken by...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the Local Authority Housing Measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, cumulative expenditure to end December 2005 was €4.11 billion. Latest forecast expenditure for the 2000-2006 period is €5 billion. Data in respect of the period to 30 June 2006 will be available following the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Lands at Gormanston, County Meath were among those identified to be released to the Affordable Housing Initiative under the Sustaining Progress agreement. It is intended that the lands will be leveraged for the Initiative by way of a land exchange, similar to that used in certain other projects, subject to the completion of the necessary feasibility and other preparatory work. While the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The detailed information sought in the Question is not held in my Department. Available information indicates that at 31 December 2005 there were almost 2,500 vacant local authority dwellings, exclusive of vacant dwellings which are the subject of planned refurbishment/remedial programmes. It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to ensure that their houses are relet to...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: In the context of the broad programme of measures in support of volunteering which I announced last year, cohesion funding was made available during 2005 to promote volunteering at a local level. In common with other local authority areas, Dublin City Development Board co-ordinated and facilitated the process at local level. Dublin City Development Board received a total of 71...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Capital funding is available through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet special housing needs, such as elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities. My Department's involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Arising from the recommendations of the Mid-Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy in 2005, a Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation was set up to develop a strategy for the provision of integrated rehabilitation services. The Working Group is chaired by my Department and includes representatives of relevant Departments and Agencies as well as the Community and Voluntary sectors. It is...