Results 7,981-8,000 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Cosc is the new National Office within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with key responsibility for ensuring the delivery of a well co-ordinated "whole of Government" response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Its remit includes overall responsibility for the co-ordination of policy relating to women and men who are victims of domestic violence. In relation to...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 81 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 278 of 7 November 2007 in relation to minimum standards and inspections. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details of funding provided to local authorities to date by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, from the proceeds of the tenancy registration fees, are set out in the table. I expect that the balance of funding in respect of 2007, which will be of the order of a further €1.5m, will be paid early in 2008 in the light of final returns of local authority inspections in 2007. This funding...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 95 and 237 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 512 of 13 November 2007 concerning published data relating to the most recent assessment of housing need carried out in 2005. The data include information relating to applicants' citizenship. The Government is well placed to deliver on the commitments in Towards 2016 to start or acquire some 27,000...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 107 of 10 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: This correspondence was received in my Department recently and a reply will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The needs of some 14,686 households were met through the full range of social and affordable housing measures in 2006. The total number of social housing units completed by local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the first six months of 2007, at 3,167 units, is up 33% on the first six months of 2006 and represents the strongest level of activity on the programme...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The principal powers of local authorities to deal with the unauthorised placing of temporary dwellings on public property, under legislation coming within the ambit of my Department, is contained in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1948, and Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, as amended by Section 32 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Significant progress on the delivery of social housing was made under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, with almost 41,000 local authority and voluntary and co-operative houses completed. The Government is committed to building on that momentum and, as agreed in Towards 2016, some 27,000 new social homes will be commenced or acquired in the 2007-2009 period. The resources being made...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability is intended to assist with works which provide additional or adapted accommodation in private houses. The scheme is not designed to cover the full cost of works for all applicants. However, local authorities may provide reconstruction loans to qualified applicants who have difficulty in obtaining finance to meet the balance of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Westmeath County Council has made an application in respect of the matter concerned. The proposal is currently under consideration, and my Department will respond to the local authority as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Limerick Northside and Southside Regeneration Agencies were established under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971 and are independent of my Department in operational matters. I have no function in the matter raised in the Question.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has recently concluded a series of meetings with housing authorities to review progress on the 2007 housing programme and to discuss planned programmes for the 2008-2010 period. Allocations under the Social Housing Investment Programme to underpin the 2008-2010 programme will be made early in the New Year.

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, undertaken by my Department in 2002 in consultation with a wide range of interested bodies including local authorities and representatives of the house building industry, professional institutes and voluntary housing providers, concluded that greater flexibility in the operation of the Part V mechanism was required. Measures to...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased the Deputy asked me about the number of houses and the 20% because there has been misrepresentation of the facts regarding the 20%. One must understand that it does not apply to a development of under five houses, a development on lands of 0.1 hectare or to housing on land not zoned for development purposes. Voluntary housing bodies are excluded and there are some ten year...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I want to give the Deputy a comprehensive answer. In terms of the money that is with local authorities, I have asked all local authorities for a report as of the end of 2006 on what happened with that money because they can use it to purchase and subvent affordable houses. They can use it to purchase land to develop social and affordable houses. I intend to monitor that. I have requested...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——real progress is being made.

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 3,216 affordable homes were produced in 2006. That was 20% up on 2005. Delivery in the first six months of 2007 was 5% up on 2006. A full year target has been set for the delivery of 5,000 homes in 2007, and we have a target of 17,000 for the period 2007-09. That is a high target but we are satisfied we can reach the target set out for us over those three years.

Private Rented Accommodation. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand the figure of 239 relates to cases reported to the Threshold organisation and that it includes threatened terminations, the majority of which were forestalled. I understand also that where an illegal eviction occurred the matter was referred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board's dispute resolution services. It is considered that the provisions of the Residential Tenancies...

Private Rented Accommodation. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of private rented accommodations registered with the PRTB has increased dramatically from a few hundred in 2002 to approximately 200,000 in 2006. This is an important opportunity to clarify the matters of the Threshold commentary and the 239 illegal convictions. Threshold agrees that, due to early intervention, most of the cases were resolved. In 2006, illegal eviction cases...