Results 401-420 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The renewed Programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to create and maintain a comprehensive House Price Database based on sales prices. My Department has met with a broad range of interested parties in regard to the shape that such a register might take, including representatives from the Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Property Services...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, local authorities may include an option to purchase the lease dwellings within the lease contract, which means where this clause is invoked it will provide tenants with the opportunity to purchase the units that they are currently occupying from the local authority. To date, the majority of privately owned leased properties that have been agreed or...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: To the end of quarter 1, 2010, my Department had approved over 2,200 units for use under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. Of these, some 1,172 have been issued with funding approval, of which 116 are standard lease units to be provided by either a local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB). Details of the bodies which have received such funding approval are set out in the table.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2009 my Department commenced a review of the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review was to consider whether the Act best supported the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB...

Written Answers — Library Services: Library Services (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Several library facilities operated by educational bodies, charities and private organisations do not come within the remit of my Department or the local government sector. These would include the Library operated by National Council for the Blind of Ireland, which, I believe, had a funding relationship with the Health Service Executive. Funding provided by my Department for library services...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have requested my Department to arrange to have the provisions necessary to address this matter included in the first appropriate legislative vehicle that becomes available.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to applicants on their waiting list within the terms of their approved Scheme of Letting Priorities, the making of which is a reserved function of the housing authority. It is my understanding that following a full investigation there was one case of misallocation discovered. The matter is being dealt with...

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The 2010 Exchequer allocations to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are set out in the following table. Local Authority Allocation 2010 Carlow County Council â'¬1,494,500 Cavan County Council â'¬1,500,000 Clare County Council â'¬2,500,000 Cork County Council â'¬6,490,067 Donegal County Council...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department issued preliminary approval for the project in question to proceed to planning stage in June 2009, subject to a number of design and costing clarifications to be submitted by Dublin City Council. My Department has since been in regular contact with the Council in relation to the project. The Council has addressed remaining design concerns and documentation has recently been...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. The Government has demonstrated a clear commitment to dealing effectively with the range of complex issues relating to multi-unit developments and is bringing forward a comprehensive suite of legislative proposals in response to the Law Reform Commission's Report on Multi-unit Developments. In its consultation paper issued in late 2006...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The principal terms and conditions of the scheme are set out under the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009. Loans are available to first time buyers of new and second hand houses or new build houses, other than houses available for sale under tenant purchase, shared ownership or any of the affordable housing schemes. The scheme is administered by designated housing authorities...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Information in relation to the number of housing units funded under the range of housing programmes supported by my Department is set out in my Department's annual and quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library and on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. This information is broken down by local authority area.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. Total Exchequer expenditure across the various housing programmes was €1,710m in 2008 and €1,392m in 2009. The Exchequer allocation for 2010 is €1,165m. The provision for 2011 and subsequent years will be determined in the context of the determination of the Estimates for Public Services for those years. The Exchequer allocation...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: More than 1,400 prospective purchasers formally registered interest on the dedicated home choice loan website and to date, 68 applications have been made. Of these, four have been approved, with three of these now drawn down, 36 applications have been turned down, seven have been withdrawn and further information has been sought in respect of 21 applications. The scheme is demand led. As...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. I agree the credit crunch was the reason I introduced the home choice scheme because the banks were not lending and the information was that people were finding it difficult to meet the 20% deposit which banks and financial institutions were seeking. With regard to two refusals, this is not a new practice. It is well known to those Members who...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I disagree with the Deputy as regards the loan. It is in existence as a safety valve, an alternative for people who cannot get a loan from the financial institutions. There is no great activity in the financial institutions on the granting of loans for house purchase by first-time buyers. On account of the loan being available, it is possible that the financial institutions are prepared to...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: This is demand-led scheme so there is no pot of money, as it were. This money is drawn down from the HFA as required.

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The loan does not apply to the affordable homes side. People will need to appreciate there are existing annuity loans with local authorities for people in certain categories who do not reach the level of income of those entitled to apply for a home choice loan.

Hospital Services (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery and maintenance of the best quality health service possible and in providing the highest standard of patient care in an effective and efficient way with the resources allocated. Roscommon and Portiuncula hospitals play...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2010, my Department advised housing authorities of revised arrangements for the funding of land used for social housing and sought information from them on local authority residential land holdings for the purpose of ensuring the optimal use of the lands in question. Where loans are due to mature before the end of 2010 and where it is considered that the land involved is unlikely to...