Results 221-240 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I do not propose to undertake a review of the incremental purchase scheme at this time. Existing social housing tenants are afforded the opportunity to purchase the homes in which they currently reside, under the tenant purchase scheme. This scheme, in its current form, has been in place since 1995. Notwithstanding this, when I introduced the Incremental Purchase Scheme on 14 June 2010, I...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Earlier this year I announced details of the 75 individual projects to be advanced under my Department's funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, including the project being advanced by Croom Voluntary Housing Association at Towerfield in Croom. My Department has been liaising closely with Limerick County Council in relation to this proposal and a decision on grant approval...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, funding of up to 90% of cost is provided to local authorities to undertake necessary adaptations and extensions to their housing stock to meet the needs of tenants with a disability. I have no proposals to extend the scope of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability to include local...

Written Answers — Housing Finance Agency: Housing Finance Agency (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Finance Agency advances funds to local authorities to be used by them for any purpose authorised under the Housing Acts and it finances its operations by borrowing or raising funds for these purposes. The Agency's total outstanding loan book at end September 2010 was €4.53 billion.

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 together. Action to address homelessness is a matter for the housing authorities and the HSE, which have statutory responsibility for providing accommodation and health care services for homeless persons. I have put in place a comprehensive range of measures to underpin the role of housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards achieving...

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The definition of homelessness must be looked at in a number of ways. Many people associate homelessness with people who sleep rough on the streets in the capital and in other centres of population. The focus of the strategy is, of course, on that category to ensure that nobody would be obliged to sleep rough. It also focuses on the other category, people who are in temporary accommodation...

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is important to identify the categories of homeless and long-term homeless. There will be homelessness and nobody can prevent that. It is happening on an ongoing basis for many reasons. I will not go through them in detail but Members will be aware that it arises as a result of family disputes, health problems, substance abuse and so forth. We are focusing on people who are more than...

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have no information to that effect. I would be amazed that anybody would be discriminated against in this way. I will have that checked.

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am not aware that is the case but I will have that checked. It is difficult to accept that any person would be discriminated against in that way. I worked in the health service and people have entitlements, irrespective of where they are. A number of people will not take up accommodation for mental health reasons and so on. They should not find themselves not being counted. They are...

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Many years ago I worked with the Dublin Health Authority and many people found it difficult to accept that I would relocate patients from the psychiatric service into communities. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. People who become homeless for whatever reason are entitled to be housed and to start new relationships. Communities that deal with organisations funded by my Department...

Strategy on Homelessness (19 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: There was an indication in recent months that there has been increase in the n umber of non-nationals who are homeless, particularly in Dublin. I do not have the figures but that is the indication from the outreach and homeless agencies. I will not have the figures on the tenancies until the end of the year but to date in 2010, 724 tenancies have been signed, which is excellent progress. ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The information requested is set out in the following table: 2009€m 2010€m Allocation 56.000 56.000 Expenditure 56.057 36.586* *expenditure to date (end Sept 2010) The above expenditure does not include an additional 10% provided by the local authorities from their own resources.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 469 of 12 October, 2010 which sets out the position in this matter.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy Report: Statements (14 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for the opportunity to outline the background to the rationale, content and recommendations of the national spatial strategy update and outlook report 2010. The national spatial strategy was published in November 2002 as a high-level 20-year national planning framework to guide the achievements of more balanced regional development to long-term planning and infrastructural...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The illegal occupation of land comes within the remit of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. The operation of this Act is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and the enforcement of its provisions is a matter for the Garda Síochána. From a planning perspective, it is the responsibility of developers to ensure that lands that are part of construction sites are...

Seanad: Flood Relief (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. The role of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government during a severe weather event is to ensure local authorities are prepared to respond properly to ameliorate the worst effects of those aspects for which they...

Seanad: Flood Relief (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Having regard to where I come from, I fully appreciate the point made by the Senator. The question was put to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has a responsibility towards local authorities to co-ordinate their responses. The other issues relate to the OPW which is the lead agency and has allocated substantial funds for the carrying out of surveys and...

Seanad: Flood Relief (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: In the last paragraph I outlined clearly the situation regarding the Department. In response to the committee's report, the Minister has asked the Department to complete its review of the severe weather emergencies before the end of October and this review will have the benefit of the input of the committee. This is important from a local authority perspective. Irrespective of what works...

Seanad: Flood Relief (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The question is that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would come to the House and respond to the flooding report published in July by the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It did not ask any other questions. That is the response, with all due respect to the Senator.

Seanad: Flood Relief (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I certainly understand the Senator's intention.