Results 2,841-2,860 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: In relation to the correspondence referred to in the question, I am advised that the housing authority has directly been in contact with the individual concerned to inform her of her housing options and of her eligibility for the relevant scheme. Being a tenant under RAS does not affect eligibility for other forms of housing support, including local authority housing and shared ownership, and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (7 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities and the Health Service Executive are responsible for meeting the accommodation and health care needs of homeless persons. While the level of accommodation related funding applicable to this type of project is, in the first instance, a matter for decision by the local authority in whose area the project is situated, my Department recoups to the authority 90% of such funding....

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (2 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: Details of the amounts allocated to each local authority on the disabled person's and essential repairs grants schemes in 2005 were set out in the reply to Question Nos. 1507, 1508 and 1512 of 25 January 2006. Expenditure outturn details on the grant schemes in 2005 have not yet been received from all authorities. I will arrange for a copy of the compiled information to be forwarded to the...

Voluntary Housing. (2 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to outline the ongoing development of the voluntary housing sector and discuss the need to introduce a tenant purchase option. I know of the Deputy's interest and involvement in the voluntary sector and his deep commitment to it. The provision of social housing by the sector is funded under two separate...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the services being provided by this project and I would like to point out that it is in receipt of substantial core funding of approximately €80,000 per annum as part of the north inner city local drugs task force development plan. In addition, FÁS provides funding through its special category CE scheme for the trainees and supervisor of the project. An application for...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (1 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. Section 16 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 amends the Social Welfare Acts to enable the Health Service Executive to refuse or withdraw rent or mortgage interest supplementation for private houses under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the case of persons evicted, excluded or removed from, or refused housing...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements. (1 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I have outlined the structures and goals the Government is pursuing. We are trying to do it in a balanced way and with a complementary focus and to hit on the different pillars of the strategy. Ideas, goals and strategies are financed by taxpayers' money, which must be put to good use. The figures I provided for the allocation of the extra funding given in the last few years reflect the...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements. (1 Mar 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the Seanad today on the subject of the national drugs strategy. Sometimes much of Government's work goes unseen and unnoticed by the general public. Despite the growth and diversity in methods of communication, it is still quite difficult to put our message across in some detail. Today I am happy to discuss what the Government is doing, and...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: Some letters of support were received with this application from the group in question. However, this application, as with all applications under the programme, was assessed strictly against the published criteria for the programme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: The last triennial statutory assessment of housing needs was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of the 2005 assessment are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The number of households in need of social housing in Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council at that time with comparative figures for 2002 are set out in the following table. Local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is understood that Sligo Borough Council are finalising proposals on the scope of the regeneration work to Cranmore Estate for submission to my Department. The question of committing funding to this project is dependent of my Department's assessment of these proposals. In the meantime, my Department has approved the council's proposals to refurbish a small number of vacant houses in the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of local authority vacant houses in the area in question in County Mayo is not available in my Department. The action plan on social and affordable housing for 2004-2008 for County Mayo details the numbers, but not the location, of local authority vacant houses in the four authorities in the county. It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: This is among the Bills in the Government's legislative programme that are expected to be published during the period up to the beginning of the next Dáil session.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1453 of 25 January 2006. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: The operation of the scheme of extensions to local authority houses is a matter for local authorities. Under the scheme, local authorities have delegated authority to proceed with works where the cost is less than €75,000. In cases where the work is estimated to cost in excess of €75,000, my Department's approval is required. In this instance, it is understood that the cost of the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: Ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, have been established covering all parts of the country that are not already serviced by one of the 14 local drugs task forces. The RDTFs work in a partnership manner, similar to the local drugs task forces, and are made up of nominees from State agencies working in the region, the community and voluntary sectors and elected public representatives....

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (23 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department funds a number of projects which provide Traveller support and aim to improve the circumstances of the Traveller community. The details are given in the following table. Travellers are one of a number of target groups that benefit under the community development programme. While a significant number of the 185 projects within the programme would identify Travellers among...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (23 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under section 16(a) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, a tenant is obliged to pay the rent and other agreed charges relating to the tenancy. If a tenant considers that the charges being imposed by a landlord are higher than what was agreed, it is open to him or her to refer a dispute to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, for a determination of the matter under Part 6 of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: Following the receipt of documentation requested from Donegal County Council, which is responsible for the detailed administration of the voluntary housing schemes in their area, further clarification has been sought from the council and is awaited. When this is to hand the application will be further considered by my Department and the council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Feb 2006)

Noel Ahern: An allocation of €74.5 million was made available to local authorities for expenditure on the disabled persons and essential repairs grants schemes in 2005. When data in regard to their expenditure on the schemes have been received from all local authorities, the data will be published in the annual housing statistic bulletin for 2005.