Results 4,601-4,620 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)
Noel Ahern: The Government affords a high priority to housing issues as evidenced by the range of policies and measures employed by my Department and other public agencies involved to ensure that the broad spectrum of housing needs is appropriately met. We have placed a strong emphasis on increasing housing supply to meet demand, particularly for first-time buyers, against a background of unprecedented...
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Feb 2004)
Noel Ahern: The scheme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations provides once-off grants which benefit voluntary and community groups who focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage and enhancing community development. Under the scheme, funding is available for: training, education or research initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of local communities and voluntary...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (3 Feb 2004)
Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board published its first disbursement plan on 7 November 2003. The plan sets out the board's priorities and provides for the distribution of funds to assist programmes or projects targeting three broad categories of persons â those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage and persons with a disability....
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)
Noel Ahern: I thank Senators for their welcome contributions to this Second Stage debate. As the Minister, Deputy Cullen, said, this is a landmark Bill. It represents another milestone in the ongoing roll out of the Government's regulatory reform agenda. The Minister pointed out that some of the legislation in this area dates back to 1847 and famine times. The need to update it is obvious. For the first...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: The charities receive Government funding.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: The Opposition motion seeks to criticise the Government's record on three separate but related areas, local government funding, development contributions and housing and I will deal with these separately. Senator Bannon was all over the place when he introduced the motion. He spoke about the poor who need housing but in the next breath was more worried that developers would have to pay a...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: I stayed silent while the Senator was speaking but he can heckle if he wants. He said that we squander money and spoke about providing for the less well-off. In 2002 the money spent on housing was not squandered because it provided housing for those very people. Contrary to what the Opposition would say, the funding of local government has undergone a transformation in recent years. The...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: Inflation is now below 3% and we are giving an increase of 14% next year, a total of 85% since 1997.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: While spending for Dublin has increased by 11% and by 14% in most other areas, County Longford received an increase of 16.5% yesterday and, since 1997, the increase in funding adds up to 165%, far more than the average. Other counties have also done well.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: I realise local authorities have additional expenses this year but these huge increases, five times the rate of inflation, will pay for benchmarking and leave plenty more for efficient running of services and new projects. All in all, this represents an excellent outcome for the local government sector. The result of the new funding system is that local authorities are operating on a sound...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: I do not agree.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: I do not agree that house prices will rise. Levies have existed for the last 30 years and it is important that these extra costsâ
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: âare absorbed by the developers and a little bit of competition between developers and house builders would do no harm whatsoever. In other countries, such as England, one pays development costs for schools as well as for the playground or local amenity. The key to defeating house price inflation is supply, and the development contribution system is crucial to providing the necessary...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: Senator Brady mentioned the international index of new dwelling units built per 1,000 head of population. We stand at 15 new units per 1,000. That is way ahead of any other European state. The corresponding figure for the UK is three, for Sweden is one and for Portugal is nine. No other country is at double figures. Our rate of building of new houses is extraordinary. In ten years we have...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: We do. We have two strategies on it. Four years agoâ
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: Four years ago we were spending about â¬12 million a year on homelessness. This year we have spent â¬50 million.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: Much of that rests on definition. About 130 people sleep rough on the streets occasionally, by their own definition. They are not all out there every night. Many sleep rough for a few nights and then in hostels for a few nights. The definition of homelessness has changed in recent years and more people are on the list now than would previously have qualified. It is not just about putting a...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: Years ago they were in psychiatric hospitals, now they are out in the community and the question is whether we are providing the services for them at all stages. We need integrated service packages of housing, care and support. There are enough emergency beds for anyone who wants one. The problem is moving these people on to transitional or half-way housing. Many will need care and different...
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: We have a strategy, part of which is to look at the causes of homelessness, for example, people coming out of prison, long-stay psychiatric hospitals or any other institution.
- Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)
Noel Ahern: I have mentioned the rent allowance which is in the remit of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. It was obvious that some move had to be made on that. Rent allowance money this year has increased by â¬76 million.