Results 501-520 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Taking account of the impact that changed market conditions has had on the core functions of the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP), it has been assigned new responsibilities, in particular in relation to operation of the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. In regard to the leasing initiative the AHP has been asked to: § assist and support authorities in bringing the remaining unsold...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (22 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: On the basis of the most recent returns from local authorities, some 13,012 applications have been submitted for approval under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. Some 4,437 of these relate to adaptation works to meet the needs of persons with a disability. Allocations totalling almost €100 million for 2010 were notified to local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Home Loans: Local Authority Home Loans (22 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice loan website and, to date, 58 applications have been made. Of these, four have been approved, with three of these now drawn down, 35 applications have been turned down, five have been withdrawn and further information has been sought in...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Meeting social housing need remains a high priority for the Government. While ensuring that we can deliver across the full range of needs, the scale and composition of the public housing programme in the years ahead will be dependent on a number of factors, including the level of available funding and the evolution of the housing market generally. I am determined to ensure that the programme...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Funding provided by my Department for library services takes the form of capital assistance for construction and fit out of new local authority public libraries and substantial refurbishment of existing local authority public libraries which may include facilities for persons with disabilities. Grant aid is provided as a percentage of the overall cost of the project and is dependent on the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling almost €100 million for 2010 were notified to local authorities on 5 March under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The 2010 allocation to Cork City Council amounts to €2,707,916 compared to an initial allocation of €2,112,500 in 2009, an increase of €0.595m. My Department will review the funding position...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 313 of 4 February 2010, which gives numbers of unsold affordable homes by local authority area at the beginning of February this year. The total figure of 1,158 reported at that time by the authorities excludes those homes which have been approved by the Department for deployment under the social leasing and RAS schemes. The situation changes very...

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

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for each housing authority under the Housing Acts, 1966 to 2009, to carry out assessments of need for the purpose of allocating social housing. My Department does not collect details on the average waiting time for a housing needs assessment to be carried out.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: In the case of family-type accommodation provided by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies, under my Department's Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), tenants are drawn from the local authority housing waiting list and rents are largely based on the local authority Differential Rents Schemes. Under the CLSS the application of the rent formula as set out in the scheme may be...

Written Answers — Housing Legislation: Housing Legislation (20 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: As part of the phased implementation of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the intention is to commence section 22 of the Act in the coming months. Subsection (3) provides for the making by housing authorities, within one year of commencement of the section, of allocation schemes determining the order of priority for the allocation of social housing. Taking account of the fact...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) was established in August 2005 under the aegis of my Department. The AHP is subject to public service corporate governance disciplines as outlined in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which includes audit and appropriate ethics requirements. The functions of the AHP are specified in the Affordable Homes Partnership (Establishment)...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Social Housing Leasing Initiative (SHLI), which was introduced last year, will be a key element of the future housing programme. It is anticipated that in 2010 the leasing initiative and the Rental Accommodation Scheme will together deliver some 4,000 to 4,500 units, or 50% of the total expected social housing output. To the end of March 2010, approximately 2,268 units had been sourced...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 14 of 25 February 2010 which sets out the position generally regarding the implementation of the Government's Homeless Strategy and the Implementation Plan for the Strategy. I indicated in that reply that work was proceeding to procure additional accommodation specifically for homeless households. Arising from this work, I announced, on 29 March 2010, an...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department is aware of the concerns of consumers of housing services in current market conditions, including in regard to unfinished or partially completed residential developments. The Department is progressing work with stakeholders, including the National Building Agency and local authority representatives, to develop a fuller picture of the scale of these difficulties in terms of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: The legislative provisions in relation to taking in charge of estates are contained in Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Section 180 provides, in relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the permission, that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the developer or by the majority of the...

Written Answers — Fire Safety Inspections: Fire Safety Inspections (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Statistics forwarded by fire authorities to my Department in relation to fire prevention inspections carried out under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 for the 5 years 2004 to 2008 are set out in the following tables. Statistics for 2009 are awaited from fire authorities. Year 2004 Inspections under Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 Section 13 — Planning Section 24 — Licensing...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of my Department's Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP) grant scheme, which is administered by individual local authorities, grants of up to €10,500 are available for the carrying out of necessary repairs or improvements to a house. The types of works allowable under the scheme can be varied and may include repairs to/replacement of windows and doors which, in the opinion of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together. Information in relation to the numbers of households whose needs have been met in the period 2003-2008 through the broad range of housing supports available can be found in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins which are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Data for 2009 are currently being compiled, and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in local authorities. A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities...

Written Answers — Housing Statistics: Housing Statistics (25 Mar 2010)

Michael Finneran: Data on the number of houses built by type of dwelling for each year from 2000 to 2008 are published in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library or on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Data for 2009 are currently being compiled, and will be made available on the Department's website once finalised.