Results 3,921-3,940 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf. In June 2004, the Government announced an increase in the overall...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: In accordance with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, a comprehensive reform of the law relating to charities will be brought forward to regulate the sector for the first time in Ireland. As I informed the House on 14 December 2004, the content of the draft legislation would be likely to reflect the proposals in the Government-approved Consultation Paper on Establishing a...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I am advised by my Department that, following representations received from the Deputy in September 2004, an application form was issued to the group in question for completion. The application form and documentation was returned by the group, but was seriously deficient in terms of the information and documentation required under the scheme of community support for older people. A letter...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which involves the disbursement of up to €60 million from the fund....

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces, the ten regional drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. Funding of €31.5 million is available in my Department to support and develop drugs projects through these programmes in 2005. In addition, approximately €20 million in funding is being provided on an annual basis to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The last full year for which actual social housing unit costs are available is 2003 and these are set out in the following table: 2003 National Dublin â'¬ â'¬ Local Authority 142,000 175,000 Voluntary and Co-operative (Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme) 149,000 201,500

Written Answers — House Completions: House Completions (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. Details regarding total house completions, including those provided by the State, under the local authority housing programme and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector are set out in my Department's housing statistics bulletin, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the Health Service Executive, 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. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of houses completed and started by Laois County Council for each of the years 2000 to 2004 under the local authority housing construction-acquisition programme is set out in the following table. Laois County Council — Housing Completions/Starts Year Completions Starts 2000 68 112 2001 128 163 2002 63 108 2003 57 68 2004 end September 149...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has no direct role in relation to flood damage and compensation for householders or others who suffer losses as a result of flooding. The Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for devising and implementing such flood relief measures. No funds are available to the Department specifically to meet expenditure incurred by local authorities due to flooding. However, local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 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 — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to my reply to Question No. 521 of 8 February 2005. The additional information sought from Donegal County Council has recently been received and the application is being further considered by my Department. The council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Irish housing stock was approximately 390 per 1,000 persons at the end of 2003. While we are moving closer to the EU 15 average of 440, such comparisons must take account of differences resulting from demographic, economic and cultural factors. The Government has not, therefore, set a housing target per head of population. The focus of policy is on seeking to ensure that supply meets...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, all relevant local authorities adopted Traveller accommodation programmes. The first programmes, covering the period 2000 to 2004, have just been completed. A second round of programmes, covering the period 2005 to 2008, is in the process of being adopted. The provision, under these programmes of new Traveller-specific accommodation and...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Government's targets in regard to social housing are not set on the basis of a social housing stock per population. Quantifying targets in this manner would not be appropriate given the influence of demographic and economic factors on the level of need at any point in time. The focus of the Government's housing programmes is on responding to identified needs. A broad range of targeted...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has not reduced the grant to the project referred to in the question. While the level of accommodation-related funding applicable to this type of project is, in the first instance, a matter for decision by the local authority in whose area the project is situated, my Department recoups to the authority 90% of such funding. In this context, Kilkenny County Council has been...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The dormant accounts fund is a different issue and legislation on it will be debated in the House either this evening or tomorrow. Approximately €60 million has been allocated by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Funding is going to those groups most in need. Those groups will be targeted in the future, even with our introduction of changes to the board's structure and improved governance. Regarding Deputy Boyle's questions, it has nothing to do with where the groups' staff are located——

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: It has nothing to do with that whatsoever. The Deputy is playing the "25 counties against one" game. Decisions are based on who the groups work with, not on geography. The target groups, be they unemployed, refugees, elderly, Travellers——

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: It has nothing to do with where the staff are working. Last year savings were made by the Department and, at the end of year, these were provided for some groups in one-off funding.