Results 3,881-3,900 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Voluntary Activity: Voluntary Activity (2 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: Funding of €106,139 under the White Paper on supporting voluntary activity was provided to Volunteering Ireland in 2004 and the operating grant for 2005 will be increased by5%, giving a total of €111,446. Volunteering Ireland will also receive funding under the White Paper training and supports scheme in 2005, totalling €35,000. Later today, I hope to announce a number of measures...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (2 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take QuestionsNos. 224 and 226 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 424 and 425 of 1 March 2005. My Department has no current application from Mayo County Council for consideration of funding under a planned maintenance programme.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the scheme of community support for older people is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. Funding under the scheme can be provided for small scale security equipment designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling; for security lighting and for the once-off...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, decisions on the disbursement of dormant accounts funds are a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board which was established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. In November 2003 the board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which involves the disbursement of €60 million from the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the scheme of community support for older people is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. The scheme is administered throughout the country by local voluntary and community groups. Any local voluntary or community-based organisation, especially those working with...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Question Nos. 267 and 268 together. As is implied by the Deputy's question, I believe that the community workers co-operative is the voice of community workers rather than of disadvantaged communities. As there is in existence a well developed structure providing supports to the sector, I do not believe that continued funding for the community workers co-operative under the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the Health Service Executive, HSE, formerly the health boards, in line with various guidelines issued from time to time by the task force which administers the scheme under the aegis of my Department, aid is provided to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or insanitary conditions....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: The draft action plan on social and affordable housing for 2004-08 for County Mayo details the numbers, but not the location, of vacant local authority houses in the four authorities in the county. It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to ensure that these houses are relet to households on their waiting lists as quickly as possible after they are vacated. Some houses may...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: Information on the numbers of social housing units completed in 2004 is being finalised and will be published in due course in the annual housing statistics bulletin.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: Information on the administrative costs to local authorities of implementing Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 is not available in the Department. As regards the operation of Part V more generally, I refer to the reply to Question No. 247 of 23 February 2005.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: The revised scheme of letting priorities submitted by Dublin City Council has been the subject of ongoing discussions between my Department and the city council. A recent meeting was held at official level to progress matters further. A decision will be made on the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: Since August 1986, local authorities have had full discretion in drawing up and reviewing their rent schemes for local authority dwellings. Circular HRT 6/86 specified that rent schemes drawn up in accordance with the circular would be regarded as approved for the purposes of the housing regulations 1980, as amended. Accordingly, my Department does not approve individual rent schemes or...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not have details of the extent of all lands owned by the State or local authorities. However, data on the total acreage of zoned land held by local authorities have been sought from them as part of the survey of the national inventory of zoned residential land. While the overall results of this survey have been published, the remaining data have not yet been fully collated...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: The existing tenant purchase scheme includes a graduated rent discount of 3% per annum of the value of the house for each year of tenancy up to a maximum of 30%. While there are no immediate proposals to amend the scheme, the terms of the scheme will be kept under continuing review.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (1 Mar 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together. In September 2001 my Department approved a request from Mayo County Council to raise a loan of £2 million from the Housing Finance Agency to be repaid out of internal capital receipts over a 15 year period for the purpose of upgrading the council's rented housing stock. I understand that the council has fully drawn down this loan. The...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The project is one proposed to be undertaken with the assistance available for the provision of housing accommodation and communal facilities by an approved voluntary housing body. My Department's involvement with the voluntary housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes, and the certification that particular projects...

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (24 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank Members for their contributions in which some interesting points were made. I noted the views expressed. I do not think everyone who spoke read my Second Stage speech because I made it plain that the purpose of this legislation was to build on the progress made and to rectify deficiencies in the system. I noted the spin some were putting on this legislation. It is easy to talk about...

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee. (24 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (24 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: In what year did this take place?

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (24 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: They should be able to get it back at any stage.