Results 2,201-2,220 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: South Dublin County Council has submitted a revised scheme of letting priorities for approval to my Department. Following discussions and correspondence between the Department and the Council on the contents of the revised scheme, it is expected that a decision will be conveyed to the Council shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The installation of central heating is a matter for the local authority concerned. No instructions have been issued by my Department relating to the retention or otherwise of solid fuel cookers. Under the Central Heating Programme local authorities have been asked to satisfy themselves that any heating system installed is safe, efficient and appropriate to the needs of the tenants.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: There are no specific grants available from my Department for the building of granny flats onto family homes. There are, however, a number of schemes available, which are intended to assist with works, which provide additional or adapted accommodation in private houses. The Disabled Persons Grant, which is administered by the local authorities, is available for the provision of additional...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The action programme on private rented standards, which I announced last month, includes a commitment that a general review of the existing standards regulations will commence later this year. This will be carried out in consultation with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), local authorities and other relevant interests.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 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. Draft legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is understood that Dublin City Council are finalising a strategy to be completed early in 2007 to replace their senior citizen bed-sit accommodation with separate bedroom(s) and living areas. Following the completion of this report it is the intention of the City Council to make a submission to my Department requesting capital funding to undertake this programme. My Department's current...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Tralee Town Council submitted proposals to my Department in mid 2005 to carry out refurbishment works, extensions and site development works to the scheme in question. It was considered that a more efficient use could be made of the available site and following discussions with my Department the Council have been requested to review their submission. My Department will further consider the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities have been encouraged to accelerate progress on the implementation of their housing programmes in order to provide as many social housing units as possible to meet housing need. This includes the acquisition of dwellings to meet their housing targets as set out in their Housing Action Plans. Typically, local authorities purchase such units in areas where they do not have...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Comprehensive guidelines to assist local authorities in the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 have issued on a number of occasions by my Department since December, 2000. These Guidelines are currently available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie and may be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office. The most recent advice in this matter...

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (3 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. The aim of the review has been to ensure that the available resources are targeted to those in most need of such assistance, to streamline as far as possible the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: In August 2004, the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board approved a grant for the group concerned totalling €81,226 for the purpose of employing a youth worker to work with young people at risk of early school leaving. The Board engaged Pobal to administer its funding programme. To date, €13,066 has been drawn down and the balance of €68,160 will be paid as and when the group...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: In 2004 I sought local authorities to set about the preparation of social and affordable housing action plans to provide a framework for the integrated and cohesive planning and delivery over the coming years of specific social and affordable housing measures in each local authority area. Provision was made with the Department for a mid-term review of the plans to take place in 2006, to take...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: Roscommon County Council sought my Department's approval to convert accommodation units at Torpon Beg, Ballyforan, from halting site units to group houses and to provide additional houses and associated works. Further consideration will be given to the proposal on receipt of the additional information recently requested from the Council.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department has received an application from Cork County Council in this case. The Council has been asked to furnish additional information regarding the technical merit of the application. An early decision will be made by my Department following the receipt of the necessary information from the Council.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: Shared ownership loans are provided solely by local authorities and, given that, the commercial lending agencies do not finance arrangements in which the local authority retains a share in the dwelling. Finance for these loans is made available by the Housing Finance Agency at a competitive rate, identical to their variable interest rate for other types of house purchase. There is no direct...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: The scheme of community support for older people is aimed at encouraging and assisting the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. This is why the scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. In addition to funding the once-off cost of installing socially...

Written Answers — National Standards Authority: National Standards Authority (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 453 of 30 May 2006. My Department has been consulting with the relevant stakeholders in this area about the imposition of standards for socially monitored alarms, as covered by the Scheme of Community Support for Older People (CSOP), in particular IS EN50134. This process involves consultations with the NSAI and with service...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the 2006 round of Dormant Account Funding, a total of €24 million is being targeted at measures tackling economic and social disadvantage. The roll-out of these measures is well underway and applications are being invited for the specific programmes on a phased basis as the operational arrangements are finalised. One of the measures provides funding of up to €3 million for...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations organised by my Department includes a scheme under which funding towards the purchase of certain equipment can be provided to support the activities of groups who are addressing disadvantage in their communities. All applications under this scheme are assessed objectively against the published criteria and up to...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the initial round of dormant accounts funding which was overseen by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, a total of 521 projects were approved for funding totalling approximately €60 million. 12 of these projects, involving the allocation of €2.7 million, are based in Co. Kildare. A breakdown of the approved projects in Co. Kildare, including details of the amount...