Results 4,081-4,100 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: This project was funded under the voluntary housing capital loan and subsidy scheme which supports the provision of housing accommodation by approved voluntary bodies. There is no provision in my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance and capital loan and subsidy schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants and there are no plans to introduce such a provision. A tenant...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Limerick County Council recently submitted an application to my Department for funding under the remedial works scheme for the refurbishment of the Sharwood and Castleview estates in Newcastle West. The proposals are currently under examination in my Department and a decision will be made on them as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: A letter conveying my Department's approval to Limerick County Council's Action Plan for Social and Affordable Housing 2004-2008 issued on 23 December 2004.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: In addition to a number of technical changes which were made to the shared ownership scheme with effect from 1 January 2003, I announced last July that significant improvements to the loan and income eligibility limits for shared ownership and affordable housing schemes had been made. The revised income limit was increased to €36,800 for a single income household and €92,000 for a two...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I have received correspondence from the Taoiseach as well as correspondence directly from the person referred to in the question about his family's accommodation position. My function in relation to Travellers is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial framework in place within which local authorities, relevant voluntary bodies and Traveller organisations may provide or...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: It is open to local authorities to consider alternative methods of construction for housing projects as a substitute to the traditional masonry construction method provided such alternative construction methods comply with the building regulations and my Department's social housing design guidelines. My Department published, for public consultation, an independent study in December 2003 on...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Single men who are unable to provide housing for themselves from their own resources are entitled to apply for social housing which is provided by either a local authority or a voluntary housing body. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has no role in the provision of funding for rape crisis centres. My Department has responsibility for homelessness and, as part of this, provides some funding for accommodation related costs to refuges for victims of domestic violence. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the national steering committee on violence against women, has...

Written Answers — Local Authority Grants: Local Authority Grants (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the disabled persons grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them for disabled persons and essential repairs grants by my Department and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1389 together. Draft proposals involving a scheme for the sale of flats were submitted to my Department by Dublin City Council in June 2004. Officials of my Department have met council officials on a number of occasions concerning the proposals. These discussions are ongoing and further consultations with both Dublin City Council and other housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the rental accommodation scheme announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will, over a four-year period, progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The rental accommodation scheme is a collaborative project between my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department operates a scheme of grants to assist in the renewal and repair of traditional thatched roofs and has in recent years introduced significant improvements to the assistance available under the scheme. The basic maximum grant was increased in 1999 from €3,047 — £2,400 — to €3,810 and from €4,571 — £3,600 — to €5,720 for houses on specified offshore islands. The...

Community Workers' Co-operative. (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Funding of anti-poverty networks arises from the White Paper on a framework for supporting voluntary activity and was originally administered by the Combat Poverty Agency on a three year contract basis. This function transferred to my Department from that agency late in 2003. My Department sought work plans for 2004 from each of the ten national anti-poverty networks funded under the White...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is zoned and ready for development.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: Not "left", but available.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: I was trying to be helpful.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank all the Members for their comments and general support for the Bill. We all share Senator Browne's views on affordability but "affordable" often means whether one thinks one house is affordable by comparison with another. Just because I bought a house 20 years ago does not mean I think it is affordable. To measure affordability one must look at some of the estates where these units...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank Members for their co-operation. I accept that 48,000 people are on waiting lists. A major new assessment in this regard will be undertaken next spring and a major assessment of social housing needs takes place every three years. However, many of those on waiting lists are among the 60,000 families on rent allowance and, therefore, many of them are in suitable although not long-term...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: This Bill addresses the need to make statutory provision to allow housing and planning authorities to register as a charge a claw-back against individual properties provided by them under the various affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value. It is specifically required in the context of the entry into the affordable housing mortgage market of private lending institutions...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Noel Ahern: We certainly have vision.