Results 4,261-4,280 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: Following its establishment in June 2002, the board developed a draft disbursements plan that established the framework within which disbursements from the fund would be approved. Since December 2003, the disbursements board has approved 58 projects to the tune of €6.4 million. Money from the fund is being spent on a wide range of projects and activities across diverse geographical areas,...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Minister will be responsible for appointing board members, all of whom must have knowledge or experience of matters relevant to the board's functions. All existing disbursement board members are eligible for re-appointment to the new board. The terms of office of board members are set at a maximum of five years for the chairperson and three years for other members. Other provisions...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: Spending thresholds may be applied to particular programmes or projects. Subsequent to Government approval of the proposal, the Minister, following a public process of invitations for applications, will recommend for funding a list of programmes or projects that have been assessed by, or on behalf of, public bodies. In addition to this process, and as previously provided for under the...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The new board's report will reflect the change in functions from those of the former board. Also reflecting the changed role of the board, section 10 removes the accountability of the chairperson of the new board to the Committee of Public Accounts. The chairperson of the former board will remain accountable to the committee in respect of decisions of that board. The new board will have power...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Government is committed to ensuring the new dormant accounts board is enabled to fulfil its role as an independent planner and critical appraiser, and the responsibilities set out for it in this Bill demonstrate the Government's commitment to a structured, transparent and effective board. Furthermore, the Government has provided for a range of rigorous measures in the Bill to secure...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Bill will assist the State in using the resources available to it in a more focused and effective way for the purpose of tackling severe disadvantage. I commend the Bill to the House.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I welcome this opportunity to clarify the Government's thinking regarding stage payments. We share many of the concerns expressed by Senators Coghlan and Brian Hayes, particularly those relating to the needs of consumers. This Government has made it a priority to tackle the housing market and, in particular, to support first-time buyers. We want to ensure that home purchasers benefit from...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: It will take some months, perhaps to the end of the year, to conclude the examinations that are taking place.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: If the other routes to which I referred do not lead to potential success, I will support the legislation if we decide it is the only route to take. I suggest a period of approximately six months to see if the other routes are successful. I agree with the basic idea in the legislation. I find it difficult to disagree with what Senator Coghlan and others in the House to whom I spoke recently...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: My Department approved South Dublin County Council's proposals in July 2003 for the refurbishment of houses situated in RAPID areas. This approval allows refurbishment of 100 houses at Cushlawn Park, 100 houses at Shancastle and Greenfort Estates and 113 houses at Moorefield Estate under my Department's remedial works scheme at an estimated cost of over €8.6 million. While there are no...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: Dublin City Council is responsible for enforcing the Housing Rent Books and Housing Standards for Rented Houses Regulations 1993 in cases such as this. I have therefore referred the matters to that authority for investigation of a possible breach of these regulations. Any contract, whether verbal or written, entered into between the persons and the estate agent in question would be subject to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: An inspection, with a view to payment of the grant if in order, will be carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Development Programme: Local Development Programme (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board engaged Area Development Management Limited to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf, which involves the disbursement of up to €30 million from the fund. An invitation to organisations, groups, etc., to make applications for funding was advertised in the national press on Friday 21 November 2003. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: This Government is committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse and will continue to do so. This is evidenced through the continued implementation of the 100 actions in the national drugs strategy and the substantial funding that has been made available over the past few years to support the work of the local drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. Under the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Costs. (27 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Government's water services pricing policy framework, which was adopted in 1998, requires the recovery of average operational and marginal capital costs of water services from the users of those services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. The cost of water services provision is increasing hugely. This is...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Costs. (27 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Senator is right that there will be charges for sewerage services in future. However, I do not believe they will be at the level the Senator mentioned. Government policy is that people must make a contribution towards the services they use. I am not sure whether the Water Services Bill has completed its passage through this House. It has not reached the Dáil yet. Yesterday I mentioned...

Seanad: Housing Provisions: Motion. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Government encourages the planning system and the servicing of land for housing.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: In his budget speech of 3 December 2003, the Minister for Finance announced the Government's decision to relocate more than 10,000 civil and public service jobs to 53 centres. Included in that announcement was the decentralisation of 50 posts in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to Newcastle West. The inclusion of Newcastle West along with Kilrush and Listowel will complement the...

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I acknowledge the Senator's comments but I have been furnished with a long response, which is technical, and I do not know whether it contains good news. I also acknowledge his statement regarding the previous commitment and I will convey that to the Minister. The aim of the programme is to assist local authorities in the provision of new public swimming pools or in the refurbishment of...

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I can only report back to the Minister on what the Senator is saying about the expenditure review that is currently taking place to see if one more application can be considered after the deadline. However, there is still a large list of applications from 2000 that are at various stages of planning. It would seem that it will be some time before others are seriously pushed up the list....