Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

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

Michael Finneran: My Department has received proposals from Westmeath County Council for a remedial works scheme at Dalton Park Estate. This proposal is being considered for funding under the 2008 Call for Proposals for Remedial Works. A decision on this proposal will be taken in the context of the examination of all proposals received by the 31 October 2008 closing date for applications.

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

Michael Finneran: A revised application for approval in respect of this project, costing an estimated €178,000, was received in my Department in June 2008. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Up front payments in the form of a deposit, usually of one month's rent, are a standard element in the leasing of private rented properties, including under the Rental Accommodation Scheme. In addition, the Affordable Homes Partnership is currently undertaking the procurement of a Public Private Partnership for the leasing of private rented property in the Dublin region which is based on the...

Seanad: European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Members of the House for their supportive comments regarding the motion. As Senator Regan said, to a great extent it is an innocent proposal that is about having a flow of information between member states and about the whole area of judicial co-operation. That is what is involved. As to why the motion is put forward at this time, we had the 2001 decision and technical...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I spent more than 13 years in this House as a Senator and am delighted to return today as Minister of State with responsibility for housing to initiate the passage of this important legislation. Housing is an issue that affects everyone. In these turbulent days, we are all too familiar with the issues arising in the housing sector both in this country and abroad and are also aware of the...

Seanad: European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I thank the House for making time available to discuss the motion relating to the exercise by the State of our option to take part in the adoption and application of the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2001/470/EC establishing a European judicial network in civil and...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which is an independent statutory body established under the terms of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The PRTB may be contacted at their offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2 or by telephone or email. Contact details are available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: Data in relation to social housing acquisitions, starts and completions are published in my Department's Annual and Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library. Bulletins from 2000 onwards are also available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, indicated that consideration would be given, in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, which was presented to the Seanad on 23 July 2008, did not include provision for the tenant purchase of local authority apartments as it was not possible to resolve the complex issues involved in time for publication. Work is continuing to resolve the outstanding issues with a view to finalising proposals for a viable sales scheme in time for...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Government has undertaken a broad range of actions as part of a strategic response to enhance the range of housing supports and services available to the disadvantaged and vulnerable in society, including older people and people with a disability. These actions range from the introduction of better-targeted financial supports to the development of inter-agency protocols to ensure...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: Cork County Council has recently undertaken radon testing on local authority houses in the North Cork area and is considering the results of these tests. My Department has not received any application for funding to undertake radon proofing works on the Council's housing stock at this time.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department approved a tender for this project on 29 August 2007. The local authority concerned, however, were unable to progress the matter until mid 2008. In the interim, under the Government's Construction Procurement Reform Process introduced to help address concerns about the extent of cost overruns on public works contracts, new contract procedures came into force. These new...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: A combined allocation of €1,191,450 was made to Clare County Council earlier this year for the purposes of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, and Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. My Department has received a request from Clare County Council for additional funding under these schemes and the Council was recently notified of an...

Written Answers — Remedial Works Scheme: Remedial Works Scheme (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department is currently seeking applications for new remedial works projects to be undertaken and funded over the next three years. I understand that Kildare County Council will be submitting a project at St Patrick's Park, Rathangan for consideration under this call for proposals. The closing date for project submissions is 30 October 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Applications: Grant Applications (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: Provisional approval to a grant of €3,810 issued in this case on 21 July 2008.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department provides funding towards the administrative and general expenses of certain not-for-profit organisations and bodies which provide information, research, training or support services in the area of housing. Applications for funding in 2008, including an application from the promoters of the Safe Home Programme, are being examined at present. I intend to announce details of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Sep 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 — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: Information on affordable housing activity up to the end of March 2008 in each local authority area is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Information is also published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Sep 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1390 and 1418 together. Data in relation to social housing acquisitions, starts and completions are published in my Department's Annual and Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library. Bulletins from 2000 onwards are also available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.