Results 3,041-3,060 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (8 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: In line with overall national policy which promotes a reduction in energy use, the enhancement of energy efficiency standards remains a priority within my Department's overall strategy for the improvement of local authority housing. Under the Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (3 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: Under the terms of my Department's Housing Aid for Older People Grant Scheme, which is administered by the local authorities, grants of up to €10,500 are available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works are varied and may include repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, which in the opinion...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2010 and associated Regulations require planning applications to be checked for completeness prior to being considered. It is essential that the planning authority has all the information, documentation and maps which have been prescribed for the purpose of the planning application. It is also necessary that all public participation requirements of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: As announced in June 2010, it remains the intention that the tenant purchase arrangements will be wound down in 2012 to be replaced by a discount scheme based on the incremental purchase model. This change will require amending legislation. Details of the proposed new scheme and the arrangements for winding down the 1995 scheme will be announced when proposals are further advanced.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and funding of ongoing maintenance programmes, is a matter for individual authorities. Funding for such maintenance programmes has normally been provided from the local authority's own internal capital receipts. However, with the decline in internal capital...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: It is open to any person or household to apply to a housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support. The authority must make its determination in accordance with the provisions of section 20 of the Housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: These houses were built in 2006/2007 by Respond on behalf of Carlow County Council and the issues raised are therefore appropriate to the Housing Authority who are responsible for the management and maintenance of these properties. I understand from Carlow County Council that the Council recently engaged an independent energy/insulation expert to examine the houses at this location, and 25...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: The detailed information requested with regard to the services provided by various consultants over the period 2008 and 2009 and involving up to seven individual projects is being collated in conjunction with Sligo Borough Council and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: I refer to the reply to Question No. 410 of 15 June 2011. So far this year, a total of €530,201 has been recouped by my Department to Sligo Borough Council in respect of costs incurred on the regeneration project. There are a number of other projects being progressed by the Council in addition to the refurbishment works in the Cranmore estate and which will be funded out of the €2...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects such as Ballymun and Limerick city to smaller estate regeneration projects in a number of regional towns around the country. As with all projects of this nature and complexity outside consultants have...

Written Answers — Local Authority Rent Schemes: Local Authority Rent Schemes (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together. Local authority rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each local council. The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002. It is a matter...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, the homeless, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. The administration of the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act in September 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. My Department conducted a review of the Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and on whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the...

Written Answers — Regeneration Programmes: Regeneration Programmes (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department provided approval in February 2007 for the inclusion of the project in question Dublin City Council's PPP Regeneration Programme. In response to the downturn in the housing market and the prevailing economic climate in 2008, Dublin City Council suspended its PPP programme, which included a proposal for the regeneration of Matt Talbot Court. Dublin City Council subsequently...

Written Answers — Regeneration Programmes: Regeneration Programmes (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department received preliminary details regarding the proposal in question in January 2009 under the Capital Assistance Scheme. In the case of proposals for new housing projects in the Dublin City Council area such as this, it is a matter for Dublin City Council to submit a prioritised list of projects for inclusion in the programme having regard to the merit of the proposals received and...

Written Answers — Regeneration Programmes: Regeneration Programmes (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Government remains fully committed to the regeneration of disadvantaged social housing estates in cities and towns, including O'Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street. In 2008, with the support of my Department, Dublin City Council established a multi-disciplinary Special Housing Taskforce to examine all options with regard to the future regeneration of its six former PPP projects and in...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: have established and am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments , together with the Government's response to the recommendations. To date, my Department has made allocations totalling some €2.23 million to nineteen local authorities from the €5 million...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Nov 2011)

Willie Penrose: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 316, inclusive, together. The issue of homelessness is a priority for Government which, despite current challenging economic circumstances, remains fully committed to protecting the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society. The Programme for Government commits to reviewing and updating the current homeless strategy and to adopting a 'housing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 77 and 85 together. The suite of grant schemes for older people and people with a disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed to each of the various grant...