Results 7,901-7,920 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jan 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1386 together. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) mainly provides for the accommodation needs of Rent Supplement recipients of 18 months duration who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. However local authorities have discretion in utilising RAS in cases, including certain homeless cases, of persons who are less than eighteen months on...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jan 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. Funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available to approved housing bodies for the provision of permanent accommodation for low-income families and for persons with special housing needs, including the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Jan 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. Under the Voluntary Housing Capital Assistance Scheme, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of permanent accommodation for persons with special housing needs, including those...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Jan 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that a Part V agreement has been reached in respect of 24 Social and Affordable dwellings in this scheme, and has approved the acquisition of the 18 social dwellings for inclusion in the Social Housing Investment Programme. I also understand that the housing authority is endeavouring to conclude the arrangements to acquire the dwellings.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jan 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, currently being drafted, is expected to be published in mid-2008. Work on addressing the complex legal issues relating to the tenant purchase of local authority apartments and maisonettes is being advanced in that context.

Seanad: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jan 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Mary White for the opportunity to update the House on what is essentially a good news story, namely, the continued progress in implementing the ground-breaking housing supply mechanism introduced under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006. Part V originated following a major review of planning legislation and is now a key measure in providing for housing...

Seanad: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jan 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Future delivery under Part V is necessarily subject to several variables, including overall housing output and the phasing of Part V units within developments. Taking account of all the factors involved, I estimate that some 10,000 homes under Part V will be delivered in the next three years. I am satisfied that Part V is operating effectively, as evidenced by its significantly increased...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The survey to which the question refers has not been brought to my attention. Limerick City Council recently submitted a report on the regeneration strategy for St. Mary's Park, which involved extensive consultation with residents of the area. This report, and the appropriate arrangements for taking forward the regeneration of St. Mary's Park within the overall framework of the Limerick...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A range of measures are available to local authorities through their social housing investment programmes to meet the housing needs of people with a disability who are on their waiting lists. These range from standard local authority rented housing to loans for improvements and grants for adaptation of existing houses. In assessing applications for accommodation, authorities have been asked...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 65 on today's order paper. My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Forum and related groups, has been active in progressing the social housing reform programme outlined in Towards 2016 and elaborated upon in the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities published in February 2007. Work is well underway on the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 122, 127 and 559 together. The social partnership agreement Towards 2016 contains a commitment to the elimination of the long-term occupancy of emergency homeless accommodation by 2010. It should also be noted that the Homeless Agency, which is the partnership body which coordinates homeless services in Dublin, has defined as its overarching goal the...

Written Answers — Housing for People with Disabilities: Housing for People with Disabilities (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has recently commenced work on the development of a national housing strategy for people with a disability in line with a commitment under my Department's sectoral plan. The strategy is being progressed by a National Advisory Group under the aegis of the Housing Forum, headed by my Department and involving the Department of Health and Children, the Health Services Executive,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of affordable housing is a key priority for the Government and is a central element of the "Paths to home ownership" component of the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. Significant progress has been made in increasing delivery under the range of affordable housing mechanisms currently in place, including the Shared Ownership Scheme,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 560 together. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of that assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. Data in relation to these assessments for each housing authority are available on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: In line with a commitment under my Department's sectoral plan, a protocol governing liaison between the Health Service Executive and housing authorities on the assessment of the individual accommodation needs of people with a disability has been developed and is now being implemented. A protocol governing support costs for social housing projects provided for people with a disability is...

Written Answers — Residential Dwellings Register: Residential Dwellings Register (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 126 together. Significantly increased funding, from the proceeds of tenancy registration fees received by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, is being made available to local authorities in respect of functions relating to private rented accommodation standards and rent books. Over €2m was provided in 2006, an increase of 28% over 2005 funding....

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 107 of 10 October 2007 in relation to a possible licensing system for landlords. I am aware that a recent report by the Centre for Housing Research suggested the piloting of a system for certification of compliance with private rented accommodation standards. While it is not proposed to introduce such a system in the short-term, this proposal will be kept...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The housing needs of vulnerable groups, including households with members who have mental or physical health issues, are met in a number of ways. In certain cases, needs can be met through the main social housing programme. Voluntary and cooperative housing bodies are also funded to provide accommodation specific to particular needs, including the needs of people with disabilities. In...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: An inspection with a view to issuing a Certificate of Reasonable Cost was carried out on 12 October 2007. However, it was not possible to compile an estimate of cost because the necessary supporting documentation was not available. The applicant has since advised my Department that the documentation is now available and a further inspection will be carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 559 of 3 July 2007. I understand that works on the first phase of the project, which commenced in June 2007, are near completion. It is envisaged that, following consultation with the residents concerned, works on the second phase of the project should commence by mid-2008.