Results 241-260 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Archaeological Heritage (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I appreciate that it has been under examination in my Department for some time and I am pleased to be in a position to confirm that a decision has now been arrived at. To recap for the benefit of the House, the background to the case is that during archaeological monitoring of a nearby housing development, part of the remains of the medieval Lorro...

Seanad: Broadcasting Services (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this matter and affording me an opportunity to speak on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Government's stated policy objective is to achieve the closure of Ireland's analogue terrestrial television network by the fourth quarter of 2012. The closure of the analogue television network is...

Seanad: Broadcasting Services (13 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I will pass a note to the office of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the questions the Senator has raised and ask that a response be issued to her.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources...

Written Answers — Local Authority Lands: Local Authority Lands (12 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2010, my Department issued a circular letter to housing authorities setting out revised arrangements for the funding of land used for social housing and seeking information on local authority residential land holdings for the purpose of land-use strategy planning. For the purpose of this land audit, information was sought on the location, size, title, zoning status, whether the...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (7 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has been in regular contact with Kildare County Council in connection with this project, which has been approved to progress under the Towards Carbon Neutral programme. Budget approval was given in April 2010 with a view to the Council progressing this project to planning. My Department is committed to the early advancement of this project as part of the Towards Carbon Neutral...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (7 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Approval in principle for the project in question recently issued from my Department, subject to the receipt of further information from Kildare County Council on a number of issues. This information is awaited from the Council.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (7 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Counted In survey, which is a special purpose count of people using homeless services carried out in Dublin every three years since 1999 through the Homeless Agency, supported by my Department, is generally considered to provide the most robust indicator. The results of the most recent survey, in March 2008, reported a total of 1,436 homeless households in Dublin, compared with 1,361 in...

Announcement by Minister for Finance on Banking of 30 September 2010: Statements (Resumed) (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: There will be no need to resurrect The Irish Press.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. A total of 103 repossessions have taken place across all local authority areas during the period 2005 to end-June 2010. This includes 40 voluntary repossessions or abandonments. The following table provides a breakdown of repossessions by each local authority for the period 2005-2009 and for January to June 2010. Repossessions during...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has fully supported this project over the past number of years, and gave approval to Fermoy Town Council in April 2009 to sign contracts to commence construction. However, in April 2010 the Town Council notified my Department that it would not be proceeding with the contract as the preferred tenderer had gone out of business. At the request of the Town Council, my Department...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Preparatory work is underway to bring Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which provides for tenant purchase of apartments in designated local authority complexes, into operation. I expect to make the necessary statutory instruments early in 2011 to enable the apartments sales scheme to be introduced as quickly as possible thereafter. The new apartments scheme will be...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability grants of up to €30,000, which may cover up to 95% of the cost, are available to assist people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Information on the number of local authority tenancies and the numbers of households supported through the Rental Accommodation Scheme to the end of 2008 can be found in my Department's annual Housing Statistics Bulletins which are available on Full details for the year ending 31 December 2009 will be published on the website in the coming weeks. Approved Voluntary and Co-Operative housing...

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), as it is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. However dispute resolution statistics are published as part of the annual report of the PRTB and available on their website at www.prtb.ie.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: There is no provision in current housing legislation that precludes a household, who may have owned a home previously, from being included on a local authority waiting list, provided they meet the eligibility criteria set down by the housing authority. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether any applicant for social housing support is eligible for and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority. An outline proposal has recently been received from Galway...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Despite the current challenges facing the public finances, my Department continues to prioritise and support the voluntary and co-operative housing sector as it addresses housing need across the country, and in particular as it meets the needs of individuals and groups with special needs. In addition to the broad programme of Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) projects already under...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Probationary tenancies are not currently available under the existing legal framework. Local authority tenancies are given on a weekly basis. Section 29 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for the prescription of different forms of tenancy to be used by housing authorities, including whether tenancies are for a periodic or fixed term. This section has not yet been...