Results 8,181-8,200 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The local authority made a submission in respect of the development in question recently. The matter is still under consideration.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Housing policy and support, as set out in my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, is designed to reflect the needs of our growing and diverse population and to target supports at the particular needs of people in different phases of their life. Backed by an unprecedented €18 billion investment in housing programmes provided for under the National...

Written Answers — Rural Renewal Schemes: Rural Renewal Schemes (27 Sep 2007)

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

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme, 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 — House Prices: House Prices (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The significance of the construction industry, including the housing sector, to the Irish economy is acknowledged by my Department, which has regard on an ongoing basis to relevant reporting by a range of public and private sector bodies, and closely monitors developments so as to provide effective input to policy in relation to housing. Government policy has been informed, over recent years,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1082 and 1125 together. A Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is currently being drafted in the Office of the Attorney General and is expected to be published in early 2008. Work on addressing the complex legal issues relating to the tenant purchase of local authority apartments is being advanced as part of this work.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1084 and 1085 together. There are a number of social housing options available to households who cannot meet their own accommodation needs. The main options are social rented accommodation provided by local authorities, by voluntary and co-operative housing bodies or under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A statutory assessment of housing need is...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the Affordable Housing Schemes in individual cases is a matter for each local authority, which must assess applications on their merits, having regard to the relevant eligibility criteria. I understand from Dublin City Council that the information supplied by this applicant on his application form was incorrect and as he was unable to satisfy the Council's eligibility...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

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

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes sector for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, indicated that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Local authorities are responsible for the adoption of their differential rents schemes and my Department has no direct function in their administration. However, my Department's circular letter HRT 3/2002 laid down broad principles in relation to the content of local authority differential rent schemes. These include that the rent payable should be related to income; that a smaller...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department allocated €1 million to Mayo County Council for spending in 2007 on the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation. A total of €382,000 has been recouped to date. Over the period of the Council's second Traveller Accommodation Programme, 2005 — 2008, over €1.7 million was paid to Mayo County Council in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation. A further €1.09m...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The requirement for a clawback is necessary to ensure that there is no short-term profit taking on the resale of houses provided under the various affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value. There are no plans to rescind the clawback arrangements under the existing schemes.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Disability Grant: Disability Grant (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme, 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 — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: To assist local authority tenants purchase their homes, a discount of 3% of the market value of the house is allowed for each year of tenancy, up to a maximum of 30%. In addition to this, a further discount of €3,809 is provided. Thus, a local authority house with a market value of €140,000 would be available for purchase at some €94,200 by a tenant of ten or more years' standing. By...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Significant improvements were made to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grant scheme in recent years. Since 2 December 1998, the effective maximum grant available has doubled from €10,158 to €20,320, and the rate of recoupment to local authorities in respect of grants paid has also increased from 50% to two-thirds. In addition, the grant now covers 90% of the approved...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Action to deal with anti-social behaviour, in any area, is primarily an issue for the Garda Síochána and legislation in this regard is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Landlords are responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act, in this regard, prohibits a private rental tenant...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued approval to Kilkenny County Council for the purchase of 16 houses in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on 6 September 2007.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The income and loan limits for social and affordable housing schemes are under review and I hope to be in a position to announce the outcome of that review shortly.