Results 3,321-3,340 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Charities Legislation. (26 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I note the Deputy's concerns and his offer. I will take up the offer at the appropriate time and consult him when we are discussing the specifics. Thus far, people outside the House have been happy with and supportive of the proposed Bill, although I am sure that when it is published and we are dealing with the specifics, some groups will not be happy with every provision therein. I thank the...

Written Answers — National Building Agency: National Building Agency (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The primary objectives of the National Building Agency are to provide advisory services to local authorities in the provision of social housing and to undertake urban renewal projects on a commercial basis in joint venture arrangements with local authorities and-or builders and developers. The agency makes a valuable contribution in delivering on the Government's objectives on social housing...

Written Answers — Homelessness Policy: Homelessness Policy (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The definition of homelessness in the Housing Act 1988 provides for a wide range of circumstances on the basis of which a person may be deemed homeless by a local authority. I am, however, aware of calls for the revisiting of this definition and for its application on a more consistent basis by local authorities nationally. The independent review of the implementation of the integrated and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, introduced by way of amendment, are specifically designed to secure delivery of housing more quickly and more efficiently. Section 3 of the 2002 Act, which replaced section 96 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, sets out certain additional ways in which an applicant for permission for development may comply with the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 95 of today.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: Activity under the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes has been increasing steadily over the last five years. Some 1,600 units of accommodation were provided last year compared with 950 units in 2000, which represents an increase of more than 59%. The number of units completed and in progress at the end of June 2005 stood at 2,564 and it is anticipated that the number of units which...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not have information on the number of households equipped with solar panels for energy. However, information on a range of other energy efficiency measures in Irish households is available in the Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002, which was commissioned by my Department. A copy of this report is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: Information up to the June quarter of 2005 on the number of social and affordable housing units acquired under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 is published in my Department's housing statistics bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 180 and 198 together. The most recent three yearly assessment of need for social housing was carried out by local authorities in March 2005. Returns were received in my Department over the summer period. The data are now being finalised and will be published very shortly. The Government has been making substantial progress in addressing the concerns...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department continually monitors and reviews policies and measures aimed at fulfilling key objectives of national housing policy. This year we have already introduced a number of further initiatives aimed at increasing supply in a sustainable way as well as making substantial progress in addressing concerns raised in the NESC report on housing. Overall housing output for the first six...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Government's general response to homelessness is outlined in the integrated strategy on homelessness 2000 and the homeless preventative strategy 2002. Under the terms of the integrated strategy, homeless fora, representative of the statutory and voluntary homeless sectors, were established at local authority level and homeless action plans, adopted under their aegis and designed to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department is participating actively in the review of various tax relief schemes led by the Department of Finance. As the review involves an ongoing deliberative process which will support decisions to be taken by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this work.

Written Answers — Local Authority Grants: Local Authority Grants (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: A review of the disabled persons grant scheme is being finalised in my Department. On its completion, it will be possible to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme to ensure that the funding available is directed at those persons in greatest need of such assistance.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 165 together. The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. The Government is fully committed to developing and expanding the sector and to supplying the necessary resources and support to enable it to become an important and significant force and provider in the housing area....

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: Since the introduction of the Government's homeless strategies, there have been significant developments in the provision of a wide range of additional accommodation and services for homeless persons. Since the introduction of the integrated strategy in 2000, 1,000 extra emergency beds have been provided in the Dublin area alone. Rough sleepers have been enabled to access emergency...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: A recent report from the local government auditor noted two errors of undercharging by Waterford County Council in the calculation of financial contributions where payment was made in lieu of housing units as an agreement under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004. These errors, which the report also notes are not recoverable, had been identified earlier within the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The claw-back provisions provide that if a house purchased under the affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value is resold before the expiration of 20 years from the date of the purchase, the person selling the property shall pay to the local authority a percentage of the proceeds of the sale. This percentage is equal to the percentage discount allowed by the local authority on...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 587 together. Information to June 2005 on the number of affordable housing units acquired under the 1999 affordable housing scheme and Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-04, is published in my Department's housing statistics bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website,www.environ.ie. Almost 800...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Government have provided significant additional resources for housing in recent years. Investment in social and affordable housing is at its highest ever level. The total Exchequer capital and current funding available for social and affordable housing in 2005 amounts to €1.3 billion, which represents an increase of 20% on 2004. Total capital spending on social and affordable housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The total number of local authority houses constructed-acquired in the first six months of 2005 was 1,756 units which compares favourably with the figures for the similar period in 2004 of 1,752 units. In addition, work was in progress on a further 8,000 units at the end of June last — an increase of 26% on the same date last year. It is anticipated that local authorities will...