Results 8,121-8,140 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The stated aim of the Make Room campaign by Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold is to end homelessness by 2010. The Campaign has indicated that by this it means that "nobody will sleep rough; nobody will stay in emergency accommodation for longer than is absolutely necessary and nobody will become homeless because of a lack of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Predictions of future delivery of homes under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 are necessarily subject to a number of variables. These include the volume of housing development for which planning permission is granted, the finalisation of individual agreements between local authorities and developers, the timing of commencement and phasing of individual developments...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: In line with the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, my Department, in fulfilling its lead role in developing and implementing Government housing policy, works in partnership with other stakeholders, housing authorities and other supporting agencies. At Government level, integrated approaches are advanced through the Cabinet Committees on Social...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A number of legislative measures have been put in place to ensure that local authorities have the capacity to fulfil their responsibilities under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. These measures are kept under continuous review in my Department. The tenancy agreement, which is the legal basis of the relationship between the local authority and its...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data in relation to local authority social housing output, including new-build homes, in each of the past five years is set out in the table below: Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Completions1 4,403 4,516 3,539 4,209 3,968 Acquisitions 671 456 971 918 1,153 Total Output 5,074 4,972 4,510 5,127 5,121 1Includes newly-built homes acquired under Part V agreements. Output details for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP) reflect the strong commitment to expand social and affordable housing provision contained in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016. The NDP provides the resources — some €18 billion in total — which will support increased output from social and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has issued several circulars to housing authorities in relation to the social housing investment programme since 1 May 2007. These are outlined below: 10 May 2007: Best Practice Guidelines — Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities — This circular draws attention to the publication of the new Department Guidelines Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities. 23 May 2007:...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government's Policy Statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities provides for an expanded programme of works, including the regeneration and refurbishment of flats complexes, to improve the local authority housing stock.The development of proposals for, and the advancement of, individual projects is a matter for individual housing authorities.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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. More comprehensive data in relation to the 2005 assessment at an individual local authority level were published in the Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics 2005, a copy...

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (10 Oct 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 following table. This funding is specifically to assist local authorities in carrying out their functions in relation to private rented accommodation standards and rent books. Details of dwellings inspected on a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Grants: Local Authority Grants (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 300 together. In order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability, my Department has reviewed the operation of the Disabled Persons, Essential Repairs and Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Grant schemes. Details of the revised framework of grant aid to assist older people and...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: While I do not consider it appropriate to legislate for a specific right to housing, Government policy on housing has the overarching aim of enabling every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment and, as far as possible, at the tenure of its choice. The Government's approach to achieving this policy aim is that those who...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The delivery of social housing on foot of agreements under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 is contingent on a range of variables, including the scale and pace of completion of housing developments and the proportionate sharing of the Part V obligation between social and affordable housing in individual local authority housing strategies. While it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A further inspection with a view to issuing a Certificate of Reasonable Cost, if in order, will be carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Oct 2007)

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, which are 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...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government's housing policy statement — Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities — and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 reflect the strong commitment to expand social and affordable housing provision contained in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The NDP provides the resources — €18 billion in total — which will support increased output from social and...

Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: On behalf of the Government, I acknowledge the presence of the families and friends of Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy, who have been with us for the past two nights. I extend my condolences to all those connected to the two men, including members of the fire service in Bray. I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this debate and commend them on their measured approach thereto....

Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: In this case, the relevant authority is Wicklow County Council.

Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The fire authority is required under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade service, and to make adequate provision for the reception of, and response to, calls for the assistance of that service. The Minister does not have any discretion in the matter.

Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government must have regard——