Results 2,301-2,320 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005 and 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 decrease in the level of housing waiting lists has evolved from the positive impact of the Government's investment in the provision of social...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department provides capital funding to local authorities for the installation of central heating and related energy improvement and smoke detection measures in their dwellings. Under the Programme a grant of €5,600 or up to 80% of the cost, whichever is the lesser, is available. 100% capital funding is also available from my Department for refurbishment work to groups of local authority...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: This tax incentive scheme was introduced in 2001 and is strictly governed by the statutory requirements of the Finance Acts of 1998 and 2001. This scheme involves certification of compliance with the scheme conditions, as opposed to the issue of a grant. The main aims of the scheme are as follows: to apply an integrated package of tax relief to secure investment and tackle the problem of...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: Yes. Prior to submitting this application the applicant would have received formal notification of planning approval and first stage consistency certification from Dublin City Council. An on-site inspection of the property on 31 January 2006, when all works had been completed, found that the floor area measured 180 sq. m. which is in excess of the maximum allowable under the terms of the...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am not sure whether the space is required to be an effective living area, and excludes lobbies or corridors and so on. If the discrepancy in measurements were only 2 or 3 sq. m. the family might be able to shake that out. It is a long way from 180 sq. m. to 125 sq. m. The Department seems resolved that all the conditions have not been fully complied with. I do not know whether that should...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I do not think that should be the first thing to be done. The application and the work have to be done in accordance with rules and regulations. It is not for me to wonder why the 125 sq. m. requirement is in place. If rules are in place, we have to comply with them. I fully accept that the person Senator Norris is representing might have had a legitimate motivation for what he was doing. The...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I share that perspective on the matter.

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I would like to be sending out very positive signals, but rules are rules and I do not know how we can overcome them.

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I would like to see a more forensic examination of the different phases of the process, although the Department is trying to say the answer is "Sorry, but we cannot help".

Seanad: Planning Issues. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I will try, but I am making no commitments. Rules are rules. I am afraid I am bound by them.

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

Noel Ahern: No further proposal from Dublin City Council in relation to the sale of flats has been received. In December 2005, with the approval of the Government, I announced a New Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities. This sets out the key elements of the Government's vision for housing policy over the coming years. One of these elements is the introduction in 2007 of a new tenant...

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

Noel Ahern: My Department received an application in April 2006 from Killarney Town Council seeking capital funding for the replacement of a central heating system in a block of apartments. As this is a relatively recently completed development, my Department is seeking further information from the Town Council in relation to the proposal.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I notified local authorities of their capital allocations for 2006 under the central heating programme in January 2006. A breakdown of the €32 million allocated is set out in the following table. Table — 2006 Capital allocations under the Central Heating Programme for local authority dwellings. Local Authority 2006 Allocation € Carlow County Council 252,000 Carlow Town...

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

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 824 and 825 together. Under the terms of the Affordable Housing Scheme, a person may opt for a variable rate of interest or a fixed rate for a period of five years from the date of the loan advance. At the end of the fixed rate period, a borrower may fix for a further five years or change to a variable rate. The terms of the Shared Ownership Scheme provide...

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

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 828 to 831, inclusive, together. The income eligibility and loan limits for the Shared Ownership and 1999 Affordable Housing Schemes were reviewed and increased with effect from 1 January 2006. The maximum loan that can be advanced by local authorities for the acquisition or construction of a house irrespective of location increased to €185,000 while the...

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

Noel Ahern: Information on planned future activity under the various affordable housing schemes in each local authority area 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. It is envisaged that many of these units will become available during 2006 and 2007. However, the detailed...

Written Answers — Disabled Persons Grant Scheme: Disabled Persons Grant Scheme (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 866 and 867 together. The tabular statement gives details of the combined capital allocation for disabled persons and essential repairs grants notified to Meath County Council annually from 2002 to 2005, the combined expenditure on the schemes in each of those years by the local authority, and the combined capital allocations for both schemes notified to the...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, following Government approval, I announced details on 4th January 2006 concerning the allocation of €24 million for the purpose of supporting programmes and projects tackling economic and social disadvantage. The roll-out of these measures is well under way and applications are being invited for the specific programmes on a phased basis as the operational...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Community Support Frameworks referred to by the Deputy represent the agreements concluded between the Irish Government and the European Commission on how Structural Funds are committed and managed. The Community Support Framework for Ireland 2000-2006 does not include the Community Development Programme which is funded by my Department. The Programme is delivered by 182 locally based...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations is funded by my Department and operates throughout the country, supporting the activities of local voluntary and community groups who are addressing disadvantage in their community. The 2005 Programme made funds available to community and voluntary groups for small scale refurbishment of premises, for the purchase...