Results 2,261-2,280 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 766, 770 and 776 together. Single persons who are unable to provide housing for themselves from their own resources are entitled to apply for social housing which is provided by either a local authority or a voluntary housing body. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: House prices are not determined solely by the cost of building, but by the interaction of supply and demand in the market. The revised system of levying development contributions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 has not affected the level of supply, as is demonstrated by the fact that housing output reached a new record level of almost 81,000 in 2005. This very large increase in...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: Details in relation to the number of social houses built each year are set out in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library, and also on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. The majority of these units are built on land in the ownership of the local authority. Social housing units are now also being acquired by local authority...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 774 and 782 together. 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...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 784 together. There is currently a total of 43.5 staff working in the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which also receives support from staff in my Department but is currently in the process of a transition to a fully stand-alone operation. The PRTB has also engaged a panel of 175 mediators and adjudicators to assist with its dispute...

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: There are no plans to produce a register of all local authority lands, and there was no formal recommendation by the Public Accounts Committee to undertake such a task. Given the range of purposes for which local authorities may own land, and the continuous changes in their land holdings which arise through, acquisitions, disposals or development, it would be impractical for my Department to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is estimated that at the end of 2005 the number of local authority rented dwellings without central heating has been reduced to less than 30,000 units as a result of the central heating programme introduced by my Department in 2004, which provides funding for the installation of central heating in existing local authority dwellings which lack such a facility. I notified local authorities...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 809 together. Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), local authorities are providing accommodation for certain recipients of SWA rent supplement who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need. The RAS is an additional housing option and eligible persons can indicate their preference to be accommodated by local authorities under the RAS...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of private house completions and the number of housing units provided under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2004 is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and also on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. In the first quarter of 2006 under Part V, 184 affordable and 167...

Written Answers — Property Register: Property Register (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department is not in a position to supply the information requested, as the updating of a national property register is a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 824 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 549 of 5 July 2006. The position is unchanged. With regard to the attachment of planning conditions requiring management companies in housing developments, a survey in late 2005 showed that planning authorities do not generally attach planning conditions regarding management companies in the case of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities undertake statutory assessments of housing need every three years. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was 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 — a decrease of almost 10%. The previous assessment of housing need undertaken in March 1999...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 806 and 807 together. Details of the number of disabled persons grants and essential repairs grants paid by Waterford County Council and Waterford City Council from 2000 to 2005 are set out in the following table. The equivalent figures for 2006 will not be available until early 2007. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Waterford County Council ...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: The information requested is set out in the following table: Shared Ownership/Affordable Housing Year No. of Cases Recoupments to Local Authorities € 1992 48 10,124 1993 366 107,192 1994 826 253,845 1995 1,171 380,164 1996 2,480 822,231 1997 2,201 793,552 1998 3,840 1,710,832 1999 3,967 1,576,865 2000 2,072 1,097,376 2001 2,163...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: All units disposed of under the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme, Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2004 and the Affordable Housing initiative are sold at less than market value to eligible applicants. My Department does not compile data on the value of the discount applying to these units. Information on the number of units provided under the various affordable housing schemes is...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senators for their comments. It is fair to say there is general agreement with the objectives of the Bill. Senators raised some points of concern and suggested provisions they wanted to be included. However, some concerns voiced in the Dáil, in this House and outside in recent times are not relevant to this legislation. Points made about lending practices and charges are covered by...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: They can put forward proposals but the ordinary members must accept them. If they do not like them they can say "No" and the right to say "No" is a powerful right in any walk of life. Some ordinary members might like to get their windfall but if they do not feel that what is on offer is fair and reasonable they can also say "No". They can also vote to get rid of particular directors, though I...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I do not know, but it is not quite the end of an era yet. The EBS is holding firm in its stance. Complaints about practices within the Irish Nationwide Building Society are for the financial services ombudsman and the Financial Regulator and some have already been adjudicated on. Senator Ryan referred to the salaries of the managing directors and he may be right. Private companies have a keen...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: That appeared strange to some people, as I have learned on the doorsteps. Bonuses are harder to evaluate in those sectors but maybe it is a new trend.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: Traditionally that did not happen. Senator Ryan spoke as if we were facilitating the sale of a State asset, if not actually selling it. We are not. We are giving those companies options. He also spoke about rental income. People who buy houses to let have to pay capital gains tax, as well as tax on income. Do I think it is fair? Such people have done well in recent times and the State likes...