Results 4,001-4,020 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Government has yet to accept that report. The Department is working on the matter. One can expect Government action on, and consideration of, the matter in the coming months. Already this year, the number of starts is up by 500 on last year. The capital envelope is â¬6 billion for the period 2005-09. Whether this will be increased is a matter for decision by Government over the coming months.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: I am aware of the points and recommendations made in the NESC report. Those who compiled the report studied the situation and came up with a consensus view. However, it is a major decision for Government whether the level of social housing output can be increased to that degree over the next seven or eight years. The Government will consider the issue. Deputy Gilmore is correct to the extent...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: This endorsement was also contained in the earlier part of the report.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: There are key decisions to be made. There will be an increase of 500 in the number of units this year. To achieve the figure recommended in the NESC report, we will need to maintain that increase over a number of years into the future.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: Work is ongoing in this regard and I hope to do so within the next two months. Much of what is contained in the report is specific and it contains key recommendations. However, the report also observed that many issues require further consideration.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: As the Deputy said, I am a slow reader.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The report does not offer definitive recommendations on all the issues. It observes that agreement was not reached on many of the points with which it dealt and that these would require further consideration. This will take place in the Department and in co-operation with the social partners through the housing forum. There are many issues to tease out.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: I accept that the fundamental issue relates to increasing the output of social housing. This will be a matter for the Government and I expect a decision to be made within the next two months.
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The recently published Housing Policy Review 1990-2002, which is available in the Oireachtas Library, was produced by the housing unit at the request of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The primary purpose of the report is to document the principal changes to the system of housing provision and policy in Ireland since 1990. It also outlines recent social and...
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The last assessment showed that 48,000 families were on the social housing list. Some public private partnership projects are in operation. Fatima Mansions is being redeveloped as part of a PPP arrangement under the regeneration scheme. The same applies to O'Devaney Gardens. We are encouraging and are interested in PPP projects. Other innovative and interesting suggestions are being made...
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: I am not sure which proposal the Deputy is talking about.
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: There are different proposals and these are being examined. It is not a case of our running with every one that is made.
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: Some have merit and others have not. Fundamentally, we are not just considering different proposals but trying all the time to increase our resources. A sum of â¬1.3 billion has been allocated this year for Exchequer-funded housing. We are considering other proposals but we must ascertain whether they represent good long-term value. They can sometimes look very attractive and innovative but...
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The main three are those mentioned by the Deputy. The NESC report is not really a report. I am not quite sure what proposalââ
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: That is more or less an historical report. It is mainly meant to target practitioners and researchers although it contains some ideas. The housing sector is one of the largest sectors in the economy. There will never be a day on which all reports and policies are decided upon.
- Housing Policy. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: Policy changes are important and some key changes may be made shortly. That said, one must ascertain the most effective way to spend the â¬1.3 billion in Exchequer funding. When combined with the non-Exchequer funding, the total amounts to almost â¬2 billion. Policy changes are fine and take up some time and energy, but one must also focus on whether housing is being delivered and resources...
- House Prices. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The rate of house price increase has generally declined in recent quarters and is now considerably lower than in the late 1990s.
- House Prices. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The rate of house price increase has generally declined in recent quarters and is now considerably lower than in the late 1990s. The figures for the third quarter of 2004 show this trend continuing with rates of increase well below those in 2003. The latest increases for new houses nationally are 10.6% and in Dublin, 9.9%; for second-hand houses nationally, 10%, and in Dublin, 9.1%. While my...
- House Prices. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: I did not say that.
- House Prices. (9 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The average price of a new house in Dublin is â¬324,000 but that is the average price of all new houses. If one analyses the starter home end of the market, plenty of houses are available in Dublin, certainly on the north side with which I am familiar, in the â¬230,000 to â¬270,000 bracket. Affordable houses are being promoted under the various schemes, the details of which I will not go...