Results 3,181-3,200 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I know what the Deputy has asked and I would like to facilitate him and give an accurate figure, but I cannot. While the assessments started last spring, it was September before some of the first figures were received from local authorities. Much work has been done since then with very detailed cross checking to ensure consistency of approach. That is one of the matters we are trying to...
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I know the Deputy has been looking into his crystal ball and coming up with figures such as 60,000, and I do not know where he got that.
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I do not have them. It is a case of doing it accurately. We are getting a computer based system which will improve things in the future. We found many people who were on more than one local authority. The previous figures may have had much duplication and so on. While many new applicants have gone on the list, one compensates the other. It might not be at the level that you were forecasting,...
- Local Authority Housing. (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: We are cross-checking the figures for accuracy. I reject that implication. I do not know why I should take more insults from you. I have given you an accurate answer basedââ
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Provision has been made in the Revised Estimates Volumes, published since the establishment of my Department for annual payments to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Under these provisions, my Department has paid the society â¬1.27 million annually in 2002, 2003 and 2004. A further payment for 2005 is being prepared. Prior to the establishment of my Department an annual amount was paid to...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The assessment of housing need that was undertaken in 2002 indicated that there were 378 single persons on the waiting lists of the three local authorities in Louth. The results of the most recent assessment, which was undertaken in March, are being finalised and will be published in the near future. The results will provide information on the number of single persons who are deemed eligible...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: My Department does not have specific information on the proposal referred to. My Department provides funding under the housing management initiatives grant scheme to fund innovative and practical pilot projects designed to improve housing management performance by local authorities and other bodies with housing management functions. A number of projects in County Louth were approved earlier...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 1326 and 1389 of 28 September 2005 and to Question No. 551 of 4 October 2005. The position remains unchanged. I have not received any representations as referred to in the question nor is consideration of this matter influenced by any concern relating to public private partnerships.
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I expect to be deciding on qualifying applications shortly.
- Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Provision is made for grants for community and voluntary service under subhead K1 on my Department's Vote as published in the 2006 Abridged Estimates Volume. A total of â¬37.134 million â an increase of 9% on the corresponding 2005 allocation â has been provided for a number of programmes including the scheme of community supports for older people â under which funding for security...
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 420 on 15 November 2005 in which I provided a comprehensive breakdown on the programmes and schemes operated by my Department. The primary focus of area-based programmes, such as the local development social inclusion programme, is communities experiencing disadvantage and isolation rather than a specific focus on the rate of housing development,...
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Housing (Registration of Rented Houses) Regulations 1996 introduced the registration requirement applying to tenancies in the general private rented sector. Article 5(4) specified the fee applying to the application for registration and article 8 provided for the payment of an annual fee in respect of a house that continued to be rented. The registration regulations and the fee...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The essential repairs grant scheme is designed to enable elderly people whose houses cannot be made habitable in all respects at a reasonable cost to have basic repairs carried out. Decisions in individual cases are a matter for the relevant local authority. The special housing aid for the elderly scheme was established to provide assistance, by way of necessary emergency repairs, to improve...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: As indicated in reply to Question No. 425 of 16 November 2005, the administration of the tenant purchase scheme is a matter for each local authority and my Department does not compile the detailed information sought. I have asked my Department to draw the attention of local authorities again to the terms of the current scheme which provide that, where the site of a dwelling has been provided...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. Funding for the affordable housing and shared ownership schemes in 2006 is partly included in the Abridged Estimates Volume published last week and partly included in the public capital programme, details of which will be published on 7 December, budget day. The total 2006 provision for both schemes will reflect the outcome of a review of...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The interest rate on variable local authority loans is determined by the Housing Finance Agency by reference to prevailing rates in the financial market. The current variable rate is 2.95%. In addition, a mortgage protection charge of 0.598% and 1.65%, respectively, is applied to loans taken out on or after 1 July 1986 and pre-1 July 1986. Typical annual repayments today on a loan of...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Details of next year's capital funding for housing grants for disabled and elderly persons will be made available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006 which will be published early in the new year. A review of the disabled persons grant scheme is currently underway in my Department. On its completion, it will be possible to determine the changes, if any, required to the...
- Housing Developments: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I welcome the opportunity to clarify some points that were made during the debate. Deputy Gilmore spoke about section 180 of the 2000 Act, saying that local authorities were using it to refuse to take estates in charge when there is a management company in place.
- Housing Developments: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: As the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made clear, in our opinion section 180 is clear. It does not refer to management companies.
- Housing Developments: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: In our opinion the existence of a management company for a development should not override the legal obligation on developers to complete and maintain estates until they are taken in charge. We have heard that some local authorities have been attaching conditions beyond what is allowed by the law and we have commenced a survey to ascertain what is happening. It is not acceptable that this...