Results 421-440 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy has put three questions. First, legislation is not necessary in the short term. The people in the Housing Finance Agency will act on behalf of the Government with a special agency property company but legislation will be needed. We have not decided on the precise form of the legislation as to whether it will be a separate Bill or part of another Bill. There is not a cost...

Social and Affordable Housing (27 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I do not know the amount of lands involved that will be transferred because it is a voluntary transfer from the local authorities. I can give the Deputy the figure for the amount of land currently owned by local authorities which is approximately €650 million nationally. Some local authorities may decide to transfer loans to the central agency. We are compiling that. We gave a date of...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In the case of housing adaptations carried out with assistance provided under my Department's suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, relevant building works must be carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations and, in the case of new dwellings, in accordance with Part M of the Regulations in order to ensure visitability by people with...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The discontinued Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme was administered by a Task Force under the aegis of my Department and operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at local level. In 2009, following detailed consultation with the HSE and with the approval of the Task Force, my Department allocated €3.5m to the HSE, in respect of the remaining claims on hands in all HSE...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (26 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the replies to Question No. 14 of 25 February 2010 and Question No. 168 of 1 April 2010, which set out the position generally regarding the implementation of the Government's Homeless Strategy and the Implementation Plan for the Strategy. As indicated in these replies a comprehensive range of measures has been put in place in the context of my Department's responsibility for...

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: No application has been received in my Department in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Local Authority Loans: Local Authority Loans (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department issued a circular to housing authorities in early April 2010 setting out revised arrangements for the funding of land used for social housing and seeking information on local authority residential land holdings for the purpose of land-use strategy planning. This circular invites authorities to apply to my Department to recoup the cost of outstanding loans on the land where...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: All planning authorities are required to have regard to the Guidelines to Planning Authorities on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in the performance of their functions. Initial proposals for the project in question were recently submitted by Kildare County Council and are currently under examination in my Department.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) became operational in September 2005 to the end of Quarter One of 2010, some 535 households in County Clare have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 343 are housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 192 are accommodated under other social housing options. A breakdown by year of these transfers is set out in the table. Year...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: To date, no homes have been provided in County Clare under the long-term leasing scheme.

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 to 358, inclusive, together. My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department reviewed the decision made in 1998 in relation to an application by the person referred to under the New House Grant Scheme. A letter advising of the outcome of this review was issued on 21 May, 2010.

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (25 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, and recommendations arising from this process will be made to Government shortly. The timing of the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 480 of 20 October 2009. My Department has been in regular contact with Kilrush Town Council in relation to this project. The Town Council is currently addressing remaining design concerns in conjunction with my Department. The project will be advanced as soon as possible within the Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011, subject to agreement on an inclusive...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (20 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (20 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability, a revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes was implemented on 1 November 2007. These schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (20 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Local authorities operate a wide range of housing programmes for households of varying income levels, including supports to facilitate home-ownership amongst low-income to modest income groups who cannot access housing on the open market. Details of the range of schemes in place are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The total allocation for the various housing...

Constitutional Amendment on Children: Motion (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this important subject at the end of what has been an interesting debate. A key objective of the Government in putting forward the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill in 2007 was to provide a clear statement on the rights of children, while continuing the constitutional presumption that the best interests of children are served...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (19 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 55 and 29 of 22nd April, 2010, which sets out the current position on these projects.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: While first-time buyers are a particular target group for affordable housing, current legislation provides that previous ownership of a house does not render an applicant ineligible for an affordable home. It is a matter for the local authority concerned to consider the priority to be given to a person's application for affordable housing having regard to that person's housing need and to...