Results 4,061-4,080 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 to 224, inclusive, and 226 and 227 together. The Deputies may be aware that I have confirmed continued funding of nine national anti-poverty networks in the amount of â¬1.351 million annually, representing effectively a 5% increase in funding for the networks concerned, whose focus is on Travellers, unemployment, refugees, rural poverty, lone parents,...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (1 Feb 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 was published on 24 June 2004 fulfilling a commitment by Government in December last following its review of arrangements in regard to dormant accounts funding. The Bill is currently before the Oireachtas and provides, inter alia, for significant changes to the disbursement process. Subject to the timing of its enactment, a round of applications for...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (1 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. In June 2004, the Government announced an increase, from â¬30 million to â¬60 million, in the overall amount that the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board may spend under the...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: I thank Deputy Walsh for raising this matter and allowing me to update the House on progress on the affordable housing initiative site at Clonakilty. As the House is aware, the affordable housing initiative was included as one of the ten special initiatives negotiated with the parties to the pay agreement in Sustaining Progress. The initiative is aimed at those who in the past would have...
- Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: Following a review of the scheme of community support for older people, certain key changes were introduced in 2004. These changes have no implications for the overall funding available for the scheme. The 90% limit on funding was abolished and replaced with individual maximum grants in respect of the various scheme elements. The maximum grant provided for socially-monitored alarm systems or...
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: The primary aim of this Government's housing policy is to enable every household to have an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment, and, as far as possible, at the tenure of its choice. The general strategy for realising the overall policy aim is that those who can afford to do so should provide housing for themselves, with the aid of the fiscal...
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: My Department received a request from Naas Town Council on 15 October 2004 to purchase a suitable house to meet the special needs of the family in question. In replying to the town council on 9 November 2004 my Department raised no objections to the acquisition of a property appropriate to the family's needs given the exceptional circumstances associated with the case. It is understood that...
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: I understand apartment complex management companies are constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the provisions of those Acts. The operation of such companies is primarily a matter for their members, which are the owners of the properties in the developments to which they relate. An Agreed Programme for Government undertook to consider the introduction of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: Certain clarifications regarding the application for funding under the capital assistance scheme in respect of the proposed provision of 14 units of accommodation for disabled persons were sought from Cork County Council, which is responsible for administering the scheme in its area. Documentation requested has been received and the application is under examination. The council will be...
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: My Department has not received proposals from Cork (North) County Council for development at this location.
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Question Nos. 599 and 609 together. I refer the Deputies to my replies to previous questions on this matter, in particular my reply to Question No. 54 of 14 December 2004. As indicated in that reply, I am not contemplating the introduction of legislation on volunteering. However, I hope to be in a position over the coming period to announce a number of initiatives in support...
- Written Answers — Community Support Scheme: Community Support Scheme (26 Jan 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 — Community Support Scheme: Community Support Scheme (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: The scheme of community support for older people encourages and assists local 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 cost of installing socially...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are 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 to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf. To date the board has approved 420 projects for funding totalling approximately â¬42...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of dormant accounts funds are a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board has engaged Area Development Management Limited to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which will involve the disbursement of up to â¬60 million from the fund to assist programmes...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: A request for funding from the organisation in question is being considered by my Department.
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307 and 1387 together. The review of the disabled persons grant scheme, which was first signalled in March 2003, is currently being finalised in my Department. The cost of the works needed to adapt a dwelling to meet the needs of a disabled person can vary greatly, depending on the level of disability of the applicant and the location and type of dwelling to...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: The management, maintenance and improvement of their rented dwellings, including the installation of central heating is primarily the responsibility of local authorities to be financed from their own resources. My Department introduced a scheme in July 2004 for the installation of central heating in existing local authority rented dwellings. The scheme provided a contribution of â¬5,600 or...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: The administration of the various affordable housing schemes is a matter for each local authority in accordance with general terms and conditions set by my Department. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the priority accorded to persons, including lone parents, to whom affordable houses are allocated. They must examine each application for affordable housing on its merits having...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)
Noel Ahern: Under the affordable housing scheme launched in March 1999, a mortgage subsidy is payable to qualifying households based on income bands. A similar subsidy applies under the shared ownership scheme towards the rent payments for that portion of the equity not yet purchased. The qualifying income limits and the amounts of the rent and mortgage subsidies under the shared ownership and affordable...