Results 4,561-4,580 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: People at different levels of the political system did not share that vision. However, I am glad to hear there is such cross-party agreement in this House in regard to Lansdowne Road. I look forward to seeing the stadium completed on schedule in order that all our sports are well catered for.

Seanad: Local Authority Housing. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Brennan for raising this issue. Glenma housing estate is a private estate of 43 houses built by the National Building Agency in 1973. Some 35 houses are privately owned which were sold as private purchases when the estate was originally built, and Limerick County Council owns and rents the remaining eight houses. The houses were constructed with a flat roof and the first floor...

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: That is not true.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is not true.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Listening to the debate, it is clear everybody is pleased with the decision. Decisions were made previously in respect of Abbotstown and elsewhere for which there was general welcome but things started to unravel. I sincerely hope the support shown for the Lansdowne Road proposal will hold and that people will not try to find objectors to work against us into the future.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The original decision on Abbotstown was visionary. If it had only been built, people would have seen it was the right decision. It is regrettable that other people could not share the vision of those who proposed it. In politics we often talk about the need for visionary ideas, of which this was one.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I do not know whether Senator Terry was driven by Dublin 15 pressures.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Not at all. It would have been a marvellous stadium and it would have been the right thing to do.

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Ireland and Dublin are unique compared to other European countries which have populations several times greater than that in Ireland. In Ireland there can be 60,000 or 70,000 in attendance at Gaelic, soccer and rugby matches. I am not sure if Germany or France have three sports at which there would be a similar level of attendance. At domestic and international level, there is a huge interest...

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: A clear decision has been made on the matter. I totally reject the suggestions made about Eircom Park and other places. The Government came forward with a proposal five years ago, for which there was huge welcome. Since 1997, we have had for the first time a Minister with responsibility for sport. I agree about the lack of facilities at local level. Until 1997, sport was dealt with by a minor...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Grants are available from local authorities towards making a dwelling more suitable for the accommodation of a member of the household who is either physically handicapped or suffering from severe mental handicap or mental illness. A grant of up to €20,320 or 90% of work is available in individual cases in respect of private dwellings, while the full cost of the work may be funded in the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: A review of the disabled persons' grant scheme is being finalised in my Department at present. On its completion, I will be in a position to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme to ensure that the funding available is directed at those persons in greatest need of such assistance. The administration of the disabled persons' grant scheme is a matter...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 204 together. The unprecedented demand for housing, fuelled mainly by rapid economic growth and demographic changes, has been the major driver of house price increases in recent years. The Government's strategy is to increase housing supply to meet demand and to improve affordability, particularly for first-time buyers, and in this way to seek to bring...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982 confers a right to retain possession, as a tenant, of a formerly rent controlled dwelling for the lifetime of the person who was the tenant at the commencement of the Act — 26 July 1982 — and for the lifetime of their spouse. Where a member or successor members of the tenant's family succeed to the tenancy within 20 years of the commencement...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I assume the question refers to the years 2003 and 2004. The results of the statutory assessment of local authority housing need, which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2002, indicated that a total of 48,413 households were in need of housing, compared with 39,176 households in March 1999. Detailed information on the results of the 2002 assessment was published in my Department's...

Written Answers — Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 194 and 199 together. The affordable housing initiative was brought forward by the parties to the Sustaining Progress pay agreement, to meet the needs of persons priced out of the housing market. In response, the Government committed to an ambitious scale of delivery of affordable housing through this initiative and the provisions of Part V. Identifying...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The assessment of homelessness is, in the first instance, a matter for local authorities. The homeless agency in conjunction with the voluntary sector is addressing the issue of putting in place a more effective system of establishing the incidence of rough sleeping. Last week, the agency and the voluntary bodies completed a street count of rough sleepers. This count commenced on 12 January...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the concerns expressed by the voluntary bodies about this matter. The Government is committed to addressing the issue of homelessness on a sustained basis with the aim of eliminating the need for rough sleeping by the end of 2004 and of providing adequate emergency and move on accommodation and support services to enable homeless persons to achieve independent living as soon as...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: There are 2,419 applications for payment of the first-time purchaser new house grant being processed in my Department. Every effort is made to ensure that no undue delays arise in the processing of applications, with the service of five inspectors who had retired being retained to undertake inspections and inspectors being deployed between areas in response to fluctuating workloads.

Written Answers — Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The most recent information on the number of housing units acquired under Part V for each local authority is published in my Department's September quarter 2003 Housing Statistics Bulletin, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Information supplied by local authorities in respect of the first nine months of 2003 indicates that three authorities received payments in lieu...