Results 2,721-2,740 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The management and maintenance of their rented dwellings is the responsibility of the housing authority concerned. While local authorities are empowered to make arrangements, including for the charging of fees relating to the management and control of their dwellings, I am not aware of authorities engaging estate management companies to provide services in local authority housing estates. In...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (30 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, local authorities will enter into arrangements with private landlords to provide accommodation to certain persons in receipt of rent supplement who are deemed by the local authority to have a long-term housing need. All private rented tenancies under the RAS will continue to be governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Landlords are not...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The scheme of community support for older people encourages and assists the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. The scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance under this scheme and is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the areas in question form part of the south western regional drugs task force. I am pleased to be able to say that progress has been made by all ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, which were established in 2003, in the development of their action plans. An initial sum of €5 million per annum has been allocated by me to progress implementation of those plans...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: An application on behalf of the project has been made under the emerging needs fund. The application seeks to replace the current funding arrangement for these posts, which is through the special CE scheme, with funding from the emerging needs fund as well as additional programme costs and staff and management training costs. As I stated in my reply to Question No. 61 of 21 March, I am still...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: An inspection, with a view to approval of a grant, if in order, is being arranged and will be carried out as soon as possible.

Seanad: Community Development. (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: While I hear what the Senator is saying, I am somewhat at a loss as to why he has raised this matter on the Adjournment. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs does not have funding available and does not operate a scheme of funding for the building of community centres. I accept that there may be a need for such a fund, but at present, there is none. The programme of grants...

Seanad: Community Development. (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: That does not seem overly generous. Who provided the site?

Seanad: Community Development. (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: Some local authorities in receipt of development levies have been quite generous with regard to the provision of community facilities. Development levies were intended, in part, for such provision. However, the committee might have a problem there because of the fact that the centre is already built. There is no single agency that can bail the committee out. Is the loan from the local...

Seanad: Community Development. (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I accept there is a gap. Many such centres emphasise the sporting element and approach the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Other than my Department's refurbishment grant for such centres and community halls, there is a gap. In recent years, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism seems to have adopted a purer definition of what is meant by "sport". Either way, there will be a problem...

Seanad: Community Development. (29 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The application system will be open for that scheme in the next six to eight weeks. I am sure that not everybody is rich in County Longford and there are some disadvantaged people in the community. In order to qualify for our scheme, the application would have to specifically outline how the project assists disadvantaged people. I am afraid I do not have a solution or a scheme which would...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that disbursements from the dormant accounts fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons: those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability. The Government has approved the allocation of €60 million from the dormant accounts fund in 2006, of which €24 million will be...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not collect statistics on sales of second-hand houses. However, data on loans paid out for second-hand houses and their average prices are available in the housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The results of the March 2005 housing needs assessment regarding homelessness are being finalised by my Department. It is anticipated that the results of this assessment will be published in the Department's annual housing statistics bulletin. This information will include a breakdown of the numbers of homeless adults and children, respectively, by county. Policy on homelessness among persons...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not provide specific funding to local authorities for the upgrading of kitchen units in their rented houses. However, in cases where my Department provides funding for overall refurbishment work to schemes of houses in need of remedial works, the upgrading of kitchen units is, where necessary, included as part of the refurbishment work. In other instances where the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: There is no such application with my Department.

Written Answers — Remedial Works Scheme: Remedial Works Scheme (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: Mullaghmatt housing estate in Monaghan town has been designated for funding under my Department's remedial works scheme. The pilot phase of the scheme, involving the refurbishment of 25 rented houses and some works to six tenant-purchased houses, is currently under way. It is understood that refurbishment work has been completed on nine of the rented houses and, to a limited extent, two of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The extent to which local authorities avail of Part V arrangements for the acquisition of social housing units is a matter to be determined by local authorities based on the housing needs identified in their housing strategies. My Department has not refused to sanction housing units on the basis of cost in 2004 or 2005 which were to be acquired by a local authority in accordance with an...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. My Department pays an annual grant to the head office of the organisation in question. The Department requires that this grant is used for purposes consistent with the ethos of the Department, specifically, the alleviation of disadvantage. In addition, local branches of the organisation in question have also availed of funding in recent...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (23 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.