Results 2,141-2,160 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Planning Legislation: Planning Legislation (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The legislation provides that any Part V monies accumulated by a planning authority should be lodged to a separate account which should only be used as capital for its functions under Part V or as capital by a housing authority for its functions in relation to the provision of housing under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2002. This could include meeting the capital costs of providing childcare...

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The young people's facilities and services fund was established by Government in 1998 to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people into these facilities and divert them...

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: While I acknowledge the Deputy's comments, it would be misleading to give the impression that Clonmel or the south east has not been well resourced simply because the young people's fund covers the 14 local drugs task forces. Several years ago, four additional provincial centres, namely Limerick, Waterford, Carlow and Galway, two of which are in the south east, were selected for funding for...

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Department of Education and Science provides the bulk of the funds for youth workers. My Department has funded youth workers in Clonmel under the dormant accounts scheme and the RAPID programme. I do not know whether these workers are in place. We are considering an expansion of the young people's fund but I do not want to give the Deputy false hopes because, based on the report I have...

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am not.

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Have youth workers been employed yet with the money provided in July?

Youth Services. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The grant provided for the employment of two youth workers.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is intended to commence an audit of the social housing stock next year, including an assessment of energy efficient measures. The outcome of this audit will determine future direction in this area. My Department has recently requested local authorities to assess their housing stock to determine the number of local authority dwellings without central heating facilities.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 145, 185, 207 and 210 together. Despite a significant expansion in the availability of good quality rental accommodation in recent years, there is still a proportion of sub-standard units as well as some which are seriously deficient. The new Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, includes a commitment that the minimum standards regulations for the private...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Recent information provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs indicates that there are some 60,000 households currently in receipt of rent supplement. Over half of those, about 32,000, have been on rent supplement for 18 months or more. This cohort is provisionally assessed as in need of long-term housing. According to the results of the March 2005 Statutory Assessment of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002 was introduced following a review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to ensure that it was meeting its objectives in relation to the provision of social and affordable housing. Complaints had been received that the provisions of Part V were inflexible and overly bureaucratic and that they were not achieving the desired results...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: In December 2005, the Government launched a new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over the coming years. Substantial increased investment in social and affordable housing is outlined in the framework amounting to close to €4 billion in Exchequer capital spending over the period 2006 to 2008....

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 180, 201 and 218 together. Increasing house prices and mortgage interest rates mean that a greater proportion of disposable income is now needed to meet mortgage payments. Despite this, affordability both nationally and in Dublin remains within the affordability limits now typically applied by lending institutions in deciding mortgage applications. Over...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006 is a key measure in providing social and affordable housing. While Part V has been operational in all planning authorities for some years now, it is only in the last year or so that output has begun to gather momentum as evidenced by the statistics. Whilst its implementation is a matter for individual authorities, it is closely monitored...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Local authority housing construction and improvement works programmes, including planned maintenance and remedial works, are discussed with each local authority as part of the preparation and review of their Housing Action Plans. Arising out of this authorities may seek Exchequer support for improvement works under a number of schemes. Local authorities may also apply, on approval by the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department will have regard to the recently published preliminary Census data, as well as the further reports on foot of the Census of Population 2006, to be prepared by the Central Statistics Offices over the coming year and half, when reviewing examining the potential implications of the preliminary data for the National Spatial Strategy, the Regional Planning Guidelines and City and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department has issued comprehensive guidelines to assist local authorities in the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 on a number of occasions since December, 2000. Guidelines have also been issued in relation to social housing and the various affordable schemes. Housing Action Plans for the period 2004 – 2008, which set out targets and timescales for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: A review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was carried out to ensure that it was meeting its objectives in relation to social and affordable housing. Complaints had been received that the provisions of Part V were both inflexible and overly bureaucratic and that they were not achieving the desired results of improving the supply of social and affordable housing. The changes...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Information to end June 2006 on activity under Part V in each local authority area is 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. While the Bulletins include, inter alia, detailed information on housing activity, loans, social housing output and capital...

Written Answers — Local Authority Grants: Local Authority Grants (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme, which incorporates the conditions governing the Essential Repairs Grant scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, was recently finalised within my Department. Proposals for the future operation of the schemes are now being prepared by my Department, in consultation with other public agencies concerned, and I expect to be in a...