Results 7,741-7,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The allocation within local authorities of available staffing resources for the carrying out of specific functions is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001. While this is therefore a matter in which I have no direct function, my Department is currently reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, in...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak on the EU reform treaty, or the Lisbon treaty as it is commonly known. We can all accept that since Ireland joined the EU in 1973, our involvement has helped shape our economy and our society in an extremely positive manner. EU membership has been a key factor in the growth in employment and prosperity which has come our way in recent years....

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: He is knocking on a different door.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to share my time with Deputy Timmy Dooley.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (10 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that Galway City Council has been experiencing difficulties as regards the operation of the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, due to staffing issues. However, I have been advised by the Council that arrangements are currently being put in place to ensure a sufficient level of staffing to administer the scheme in the Galway City area, pending the completion of ongoing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the Disabled Persons Grant and the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability Schemes, including the processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for the local authority concerned and is one in which my Department has no direct function.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Housing Management Initiative, local authorities have been given direct control, from 1 January 2007, in relation to their internal capital receipts from the sale of local authority dwellings, to be used primarily for their improvement works programmes. While my Department approves the overall programmes it is the responsibility of local authorities to prioritise and advance...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 to 421, inclusive, together. Mayo County Council has submitted the following construction projects, at various stages of the project cycle, to my Department for approval of funding under the Social Housing Investment Programme. I hope to be in a position to announce the allocations of funding for the local authority housing programme in the near future....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, currently being drafted, is expected to be published during the present Dáil session. Work on addressing the complex legal issues relating to the tenant purchase of local authority apartments is being advanced in that context.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Guidelines have been issued to local authorities relating to the procurement of accommodation for RAS. Authorities are advised in procuring accommodation to have regard to the quality of accommodation, the demand within particular areas, and tenure mix generally and at individual project level. There is close cooperation between local authorities and the Health Service Executive community...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PTRB) has provided a strong regulatory framework for the private rented residential sector. Since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies, with in excess of 210,000 tenancies now registered, compared to no more than 30,000 under the previous system of registration. The PRTB...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Approval to proceed with this project issued to Dublin City Council on 4 April 2008.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I consider that the terms of the present tenant purchase scheme strike a reasonable balance between the aspirations of certain tenants to own their own homes and the needs of all other local authority tenants. Nevertheless, I will continue to keep the terms of the scheme under review in the context of the Government's statement on housing policy — Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities,...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (3 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Notifications of capital allocations for 2008 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are expected to issue to local authorities within the next two weeks.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A pilot phase of the scheme in question was completed in 2007. The local authority sought approval in March 2007 to extend the pilot phase using the existing contractor. For reasons of public procurement the Department was not able to accede to this request. In the context of the overall Master Plan for the estate the Department also asked the authority to advance the provision of new housing...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Department of Finance Circular 44 of 2006 (Tax Clearance Procedures Grants, Subsidies and Similar Type Payments) sets down revised procedures to be followed in the operation of the tax clearance scheme for applicants for all grants from State and public sector bodies. The Circular provides that, in the case of a grant application totalling €10,000 or more, all applicants are required to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has received an outline submission in respect of the next and final phase of this scheme and is currently in discussions with the local authority concerned to progress this. Following these discussions the local authority must submit an application for funding for this phase of the scheme.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (2 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 936, 975 and 976 together. Standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet the needs of low-income families...