Results 3,061-3,080 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department collates a broad range of statistical data on social housing. Data relating to the number of bankrupt persons who have applied for social housing supports is not among that range.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Work is advancing on the preparation of the statutory instruments and related documentation required to enable the tenant purchase scheme for local authority apartments under Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to be brought into operation as soon as possible. I expect to be in a position to make the necessary instruments before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (26 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Regulations setting out minimum standards for private rented accommodation generally were first set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. However it became clear in recent years that these standards no longer reflected the requirements of the modern rental sector and in the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 the Government committed to updating and more...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: I refer to the reply to Question No. 419 of 5 July 2011 which sets out the position in this matter. My Department is still awaiting the submission to it from Dublin City Council of a cost benefit analysis as well as a full capital appraisal, which when submitted will facilitate a full assessment of the proposal.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 gives legislative recognition to rental accommodation availability agreements as a form of social housing support. Consequently, since 1 April 2011, RAS tenants are now considered to be in receipt of social housing support and should not generally remain on the housing waiting lists for new applicants for social housing. In recognition that RAS...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: I refer to my reply to Question No. 345 of 11 October 2011. The Liaison Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Agency. I will ask the Agency for the detailed information sought with regard to the Liaison Officer's and the officer's work programme to date and I will forward this to the Deputy as soon as possible. I understand the Agency will shortly publicise details...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: In the 1980s the Housing Finance Agency sourced long term fixed rate finance in the form of bond issues on the Irish pound market. These bonds are due to mature in 2018. Funds were on lent by the Agency to local authorities and then by local authorities to individual households at a rate of 10.5%. The mortgages represented exceptional value at the time and into the early 1990s. However, the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: In response to the requirement in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland for an economic analysis of the potential impact on competition and consumer prices of eliminating or relaxing the floorspace cap on retail premises, my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation commissioned Forfás to undertake an evidence-based and focused study to analyse the...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: It is presumed the reference is to the Unfinished Housing Developments Safety Initiative which made funds available to Local Authorities to remedy aspects of unfinished estates which posed a health and safety risk to members of the public and residents of estates. My Department has not made funds available to finish the construction of housing developments. An application for funds in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: The development in question has been included in the 2011 National Housing Development Survey database, published on 12 October 2011. I am committed to exploring all options for bringing unsold suitable residential stock into productive use for social housing purposes and am open to proposals in that regard. Any questions regarding compliance with the various statutory requirements, including...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department issued comprehensive guidance to local authorities on the treatment of mortgage arrears in March 2010. That guidance was based on the Central Bank's first statutory Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears to ensure that cases of local authority mortgage arrears are handled in a manner that is sympathetic to the needs of the particular household, while also protecting the position of...

Written Answers — Housing Developments: Housing Developments (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department's involvement with 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 relevant terms and conditions, are the responsibility of the local authority. The proposal by Cluid Housing Association for 25 units of accommodation to...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and associated Regulations, a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála as appropriate, is required, when dealing with a planning application which was not accompanied by an environmental impact statement, to carry out a screening in appropriate cases for environmental impact assessment, under Council Directive 85/337/EEC (the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Capital Assistance Scheme will continue in 2012, though the level of Exchequer funding for the scheme next year is not yet determined, pending the outcome of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the conclusion of the estimates process. A decision on whether to issue a call for proposals for new projects will be made once the level of funding for 2012 has been determined and having...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Unfair contract terms, as prescribed by the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations 1995 relate to all business to consumer contracts with the exception of specific contract types listed in the Regulations, and of specific terms within contracts. As such, it is my understanding that mortgage contracts involving local authorities fall within the scope of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 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 — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (20 Oct 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 and the incorrect retention of deposits by landlords was identified in the review process as one of a range of issues that merited specific attention. In July 2011 the Government approved the drafting of the Residential...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal: Urban Renewal (20 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: A wide range of property-based tax relief schemes was introduced up to the mid-2000s, including town renewal and living over the shop schemes. While many important developments were encouraged by these schemes, independent reviews concluded that the tax costs of the initiatives were high relative to the outputs achieved and the Department of Finance is in the process of winding down existing...

Written Answers — Homelessness Strategy: Homelessness Strategy (20 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Statutory responsibility for a youth homelessness strategy rests with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, while the Health Service Executive (HSE) leads on its implementation. In May 2011 my Department was represented at a meeting arranged by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs with a range of interested bodies and service providers at which the current Youth...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (20 Oct 2011)

Willie Penrose: Proposals for the transfer of responsibility for households in receipt of rent supplement, but with an identified housing need, from the community welfare service to housing authorities are being developed in my Department in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. At this point these proposals are being advanced on a 'cost neutral' basis. However, it is considered likely that...