Results 4,281-4,300 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Was this a meeting to overcome the fact that the application was late?

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Are the minutes of this meeting available?

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I will speak to the Minister.

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

Noel Ahern: Why did they not build them?

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

Noel Ahern: That is news to me. I am delighted to hear we have such influence in that part of the city.

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

Noel Ahern: That is not true.

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

Noel Ahern: What is wrong with that? It is allowing people to get involved in the community.

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

Noel Ahern: I am pleased to address the House in support of the amendment. I would like to set out, once again, the main elements of the Government's approach to housing and update Members on the positive effects this approach is having. A similar motion is being debated in other House later. I thank the Labour Party for giving the Government and myself an important opportunity two weeks prior to the...

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

Noel Ahern: There is evidence that measures introduced by the Government to boost supply, including significant investment in infrastructure, improving planning capacity and promoting increased residential density, are having a positive effect. Last year was the ninth consecutive year of record house completions with 68,819 units being built, an increase of more than 19% on 2002 and more than 10.5% in...

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

Noel Ahern: The number of house completions hovered around 25,000 in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. A total of only 22,000 were built in 1993. An increase from 22,000 completions to almost 69,000 is incredible.

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

Noel Ahern: The EU publishes an index of the number of new houses built per year per 1,000 head of population. Ireland is at the top of the league with 17 new dwelling units per 1,000 head of population annually. Portugal builds under ten while the UK builds one and Sweden builds three annually. We are miles ahead of every other member state because housing output has been enormous. We are racing to...

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

Noel Ahern: There are always plenty of houses during recessions and there are plenty of bargains if one has the money.

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

Noel Ahern: The point I have made is that 270,000 people have come into the country in recent years. This has put pressure on the supply of houses. I believe it was said in the Dáil last night that many 31 year olds are living at home with their parents who cannot get rid of them because they cannot afford to buy a house. Twenty years ago, they were not living with their parents because they were not in...

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

Noel Ahern: The Labour Party mentioned the abolition of the first-time buyer's grant. Its abolition demonstrates that the Government is prepared to take difficult decisions for the public good and to ensure a sustainable match between Government sources and expenditure.

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

Noel Ahern: The first-time buyer's grant was of great benefit when it was first introduced. It is gas that even people at political level said it was not worth a damn and was only going into the builders' pockets, yet people screamed when it was abolished. However, we still do much for first-time buyers.

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

Noel Ahern: The mortgage allowance was extended to seven years in the budget 18 months ago.

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

Noel Ahern: There are stamp duty exemptions for new homes and there is a staggered system for stamp duty on second-hand homes. The rent-a-room scheme, which allows an owner-occupier earn up to €7,620 per annum tax free, was introduced. There is a site subsidy for affordable housing. Those who received the first-time buyer's grant of €3,800 felt it was of great benefit, even if it involved using it...

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

Noel Ahern: This initiative is much more focused in that it is targeted at those of a particular income bracket. The first-time buyer's grant was all over the place and one got it whether one was a normal working-class person, a co-applicant as one of a couple or a high-flying barrister. The site subsidy for the affordable homes, which is now costing over €20 million per year, is much more focused and...

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

Noel Ahern: However, the Government continues to provide for the first-time buyer. In budget 2003 we targeted the relief, as I stated. Moreover, data available to my Department also shows that first-time buyers continue to have a significant presence in the housing market. The Central Statistics Office states that over 50% of house purchasers since 1996 were first-time buyers. This is still regarded as a...

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

Noel Ahern: The figure of 48,000 is official. The needs of 13,600——