Results 441-460 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority. On 4 February I announced funding of €157 million, under...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Proposals to reform allocation policy, including schemes of letting priorities, are provided for under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The detailed arrangements, and required regulations, are currently being developed in my Department in consultation with the City and County Managers Association. It is intended that section 22 will be commenced in summer 2010...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The responsibility for the provision of social housing support for those eligible for, and in need of, housing lies with the housing authority.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I notified County Councils of their block grant allocations under the Rural Water Programme last month, and €0.820 million was allocated to Westmeath County Council. These block grant allocations cover both funding for group water schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes. The major part of the funding for the group water sector is directed at investment required under the Rural...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, reflects the commitment in Towards 2016 to develop a national housing strategy for people with a disability which will have particular regard to the housing needs of people with a mental health disability. The strategy, on which work is advanced, is being developed in conjunction with a National Advisory...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department received a further submission in relation to this scheme from Monaghan County Council on 30 April 2010. This is being examined at present and my Department will respond to the Council's proposals as soon as possible with a view to progressing the scheme.

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

Michael Finneran: Houses sold to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes at a significant discount from market value contain a clawback provision, in order to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes. There are no plans to abolish the clawback arrangements under the existing affordable housing schemes. However, where a...

Written Answers — Urban Regeneration Schemes: Urban Regeneration Schemes (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In December 2009, the Government re-affirmed its commitment to the regeneration programme for Limerick and endorsed the programme's overall vision for a ten-year transformation of the Limerick Regeneration areas. The Government also requested that the Limerick Regeneration Agencies prepare a detailed plan for the first phase of the implementation process. A proposed Phase One Implementation...

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

Michael Finneran: The table below sets out the amounts spent on advertising and promoting Home Choice Loan since the announcement of the scheme in October 2008. These costs, as with all other costs incurred to date in the roll-out of the scheme, have been met from within the existing resources of the Affordable Homes Partnership. Year Amount Spent 2008 â'¬11,000 2009 â'¬25,200 2010 â'¬20,000 (projected)

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 471 to 473, inclusive, together. Under Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for individual authorities. In general this is to be financed from their own resources. My Department, in order to assist local authorities in the implementation of their housing programmes,...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) became operational in September 2005 to the end of Quarter One of 2010, some 697 households in Waterford City have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 434 are housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 263 are accommodated under other social housing options. A breakdown by...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: To date, no units have been provided by Waterford City under the long-term leasing initiative.

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

Michael Finneran: Under the 1999 affordable housing scheme houses are acquired by a local authority by means of borrowing through the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). In the five year period 2005 to 2009 €1,507,000 was drawn down by Waterford City Council from the HFA in respect of the provision of affordable housing. Exchequer funding in respect of the affordable housing scheme is confined to: · the payment...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (18 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 to 469, 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 my...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (13 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 local authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. The Multi Disciplinary Special Housing Taskforce was established by Dublin City Council to examine alternative options for the redevelopment of their priority regeneration projects. My Department exercises no control over the taskforce, which reports to Dublin City Council; ultimately it will be a matter for the City Council to decide on...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2009 my Department commenced a review of the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review is to consider whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of my Department's suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist older people or people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and to facilitate...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: A budget cost of €11,983,510 was approved in respect of this project, of which €11,683,885 has been paid to date. Clarification is awaited by my Department from Longford Town Council in relation to a number of items included in the final account for the project. On receipt of this information my Department will determine the overall scheme cost and pay the outstanding balance to the Council.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The setting and collection of rents is the responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with their rent schemes. My Department does not collect information in relation to arrears from the collection of housing rents.