Results 2,041-2,060 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for their kind words on my return to the House, after having spent so many years here. I also thank Senators for their contribution to the debate on Second Stage, for their attendance during the debate and for their supportive comments on the legislation. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 is a milestone in the development of housing policy, not only in terms...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: No. As Minister of State with responsibility for housing, I am saying it is a good idea. We do not need to legislate for everything. I will encourage interaction between local authorities and ministerial offices. We can consider the introduction of regulations or statutory instruments if they are needed. It is common sense to suggest people should be assessed at an early stage to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Yes. That does not mean people cannot be assessed.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: We have a responsibility to provide for early assessment. The housing grants schemes were mentioned by a number of Senators. Demand under the adaptation grants scheme has accelerated this year. Annual expenditure on the scheme has increased from €13 million to €71 million over the past ten years. There has been a major increase in activity. Some 74,000 grants have been paid under the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: In May 2008 my Department made a combined capital allocation of €71.4 million available to local authorities for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability in private houses in 2008. Individual allocations were notified to local authorities based on their estimated requirements as notified to my Department on expenditure trends in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Detailed information on all financial contributions received under Part V in each local authority area since activity commenced in 2002 up to the end of March 2008 is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The amount of financial contributions received, in lieu of the transfer of land, to satisfy the Part V condition is dependent on the level and commencement of private...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Data in relation to local authority housing stock and information on the number of sales through tenant purchase is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie and in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Housing authorities have been provided with indicative budgets for their main social housing supply programmes for the period 2009 — 2011 to enable them to prepare their programmes and to set a ceiling on commitments to be entered into. The final housing allocations for 2009 will be issued in Spring, 2009. These allocations will encompass expenditure on programmes and sub-programmes not...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The management of local authority housing stock and the allocation of such stock is a matter for each housing authority. Local authorities provide information on the proportion of stock that is vacant at the end of each year, and this information is collated and published as part of the Annual Service Indicators in Local Authorities Report. Copies of the 2007 report are available from the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I understand that Limerick County Council's Rathkeale Local Area Plan supported the establishment of the Rathkeale Forum involving all the agencies and groups with an interest in the development of the town and that the Forum will have a key role in the implementation and monitoring of the objectives and policies of the Local Area Plan. No specific request for funding for the Forum has been...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 398, inclusive, together. A new Government strategy on homelessness, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008 — 2013, was published in August 2008. The strategy builds on the strong progress made under previous strategies and sets out a vision to address adult homelessness over the next five years. The strategy...

Written Answers — : (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information requested relating to recoupment to local authorities for current funding for accommodation-related costs for homeless services is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible. In relation to capital funding, through my Department's main social housing investment programme and the Capital Assistance Scheme for voluntary and co-operative housing bodies,...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (2 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department operates three grant schemes to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of an older person or a person with a disability who is a member of the household: the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, and the Housing Aid for Older...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The income eligibility and loan limits for the shared ownership scheme were reviewed and increased with effect from 1 January 2006. The income eligibility for a single income household increased to €40,000 while in the case of a two-income household, the income limit is based on the formula that 2.5 times the main income plus once the secondary income does not exceed €100,000. Where...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The variable interest rate charged by a local authority on the mortgage element of a shared ownership transaction is determined by the Housing Finance Agency by reference to prevailing rates in the financial market. The current variable rate is 5.25%. In addition, a mortgage protection charge of 0.598% is applied to all local authority loans. Rent is calculated at 4.3% of the value of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Affordable Homes Partnership were asked to consider how the range of existing affordable housing mechanisms might be enhanced. A resultant report Increasing Affordable Housing Supply has now been published. The report's recommendations are based on optimising the output from the existing mechanisms and include a proposal to introduce a new affordable housing product based on an equity...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (2 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme it is a matter for each local authority to determine the rental payment it will make for any eligible property. However, the levels of recoupment available to them from my Department, which are based on rent supplement levels, may guide local authorities in their negotiations with landlords. Local authorities may agree, at their discretion, periodic rent...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Scheme of Housing Aid for Older People is available to assist older people, generally over 60 years, to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Where a suite of works is being grant aided under this scheme, local authorities may also, as part of the package of works, assist with the provision of radon remediation works, where applicable. There is no other...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: An application for post-tender approval in respect of this project, costing an estimated €181,724, was received in my Department in June 2008. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: In May, 2005 my Department approved a pilot remedial works scheme for 10 units in Ennel Court. The pilot phase was completed in May, 2007 after which the local authority reviewed its position and submitted new proposals for a scheme encompassing the whole estate. A number of issues were raised with the local authority at this stage, including public procurement compliance issues, and the...