Results 4,381-4,400 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Whether such housing is social, affordable or private, any developer would tell one that on acquiring a site it takes three to four years before one will start to produce houses. That is one of the problems; it is not like turning on the tap.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The proof of that is that the real benefit of the 1999 scheme is coming on stream. In its motion, the Labour Party mentioned the changes to the social welfare allowance rent supplement scheme. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs has given specific assurances on a number of occasions that the measures will not result in hardship to people in need.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: My officials and I had a good deal of contact with the Department of Social and Family Affairs during the period between the announcement of the changes by the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, in the context of the Estimates for 2004 and the making by her of regulations to give legal effect to the measures.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I stressed the need for adequate safeguards——

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: ——and exemptions.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: These measures were needed to ensure that people with genuine needs would not be adversely affected.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: There was also a need to monitor closely the operation of the measures. These matters were reflected in the regulations made by the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, and the guidelines issued by her Department. Deputies continue to talk about the media's interpretation, or their own interpretation, of the events of last November.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: They should look at the guidelines.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Deputy O'Sullivan spoke about people in her constituency. All they have to do is to go to their local authority to have their needs assessed and to get their points. They will qualify for the rent allowance if they need it.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: There is no need for them——

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: They do not.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I have tried to make the position clear to Deputy Durkan.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is appalling that certain people gave a certain interpretation of the matter last November. No matter how many times we try to tell Deputy Durkan——

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Will the Deputy do us a favour? Will he listen, for a change?

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The detail of the——

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy has never listened in his life, that is his problem.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I suggest that Deputy O'Sullivan's constituents should go to Limerick City Council to have their needs assessed. When their needs have been assessed and their housing needs have been accepted by the local authority, they can get rent allowance. There is no difficulty.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: There was a doubt last November, at the beginning. The regulations, which were issued by the Minister, are in place. There is no doubt about them. There may have been some confusion before the regulations were issued, but they are working well.

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: A working group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and involving the social partners, has been established to facilitate engagement with the social partners about monitoring the operation of the changes made by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. It is not my job to explain what the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, was doing, but we should be honest by admitting that rent allowance...

Housing Provisions: Motion. (25 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Rents in the private sector were decreasing. It is obvious that she had to make a change. Approximately €250 million was spent on rent allowance in 2002, but that figure increased to €330 million last year.