Results 8,721-8,740 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The number and method of delivery of social housing units in future years is determined in the course of the annual Estimates process. The Social Housing Strategy, which is to be published in Q3 of 2014, will inform the upcoming Estimates discussions. The financial parameters within which we continue to operate will not facilitate a return to large-scale Exchequer capital funded...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Deposits (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Programme for Governmentincludes a commitment to establish a tenancy deposit protection scheme. On foot of this commitment I asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to commission research on such a scheme and to report back to me with recommendations in that regard. The subsequent report assessed a number of different options for delivery of a scheme ranging from one where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The private rented sector is an increasingly important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. I am conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents and the problem of sourcing suitable accommodation, especially in Dublin and other urban centres. The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I commenced a public consultation in December of last year on proposed “draft” revisions to the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines focussing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose; - The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 439 of 17 June, 2014 which sets out the position on this matter. Funding for the provision of 10 units of accommodation by the approved housing body, Right of Place Building Project Ltd, was provided under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). In accordance with the terms and conditions of the CAS, responsibility for the administration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 543 together. My Department published draft revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines on 11 December 2013 and commenced a period of public consultation which concluded on 21 February 2014. A stringent absolute outdoor noise limit (day and night) of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments has been proposed in these draft revisions to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The appointment of personnel to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) such as housing associations is a matter for the Boards of such bodies. I have no role in relation to such appointments nor have any concerns been raised with me regarding the specific appointment referred to. AHBs consist mainly of voluntary or co-operative organisations registered under the Companies Acts, societies registered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 21 May 2014, I announced details of the specific projects to be funded in each local authority area under the €46 million investment which will support the delivery, by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's), of some 416 units of accommodation under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) work programme for 2014-2015. Details in relation to the projects to be advanced in Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (8 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer of responsibility for public water services from the local authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014. Accordingly, responsibility for the maintenance of the public water supply and sewer networks is a matter for Irish Water. In accordance with section 31 of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, Irish Water has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (2 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages with a breakdown of those in arrears for more than 90 days. The statistics are available on my Department’s website at: by clicking “Mortgage Data/Arrears in Local Authorities” under the Housing Loans contents. My Department does not have data on loans...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála Remit (2 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no role or function in relation to decisions taken by An Bord Pleanála on individual cases. An Bord Pleanála operates under a Code of Conduct as required by section 150 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, one of the purposes of which is to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest relating to its statutory functions are dealt with in an appropriate manner by it....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (2 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The results of the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out in 20 13 showed that there were a total of 1,893 households on the local authority waiting lists for Westmeath County Council and the former Athlone Town Council as at 7 May 2013. T hese results , which include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories, including the composition of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Ownership (2 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. Applications to the value of some €164 million in loans were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. The figure of €164m includes €111m in respect of loans which were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is an issue for people who have to move because of their jobs or other reasons.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: They would not transfer from RAS to HAP. They would probably transfer to the other local authority list either through RAS or another means. We will examine it, because it is a genuine issue. The issue of landlords stating in advertisements for rental properties that no students or rent allowance recipients need apply has been raised. I will have to get legal advice. Although they are...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can examine it. It has been raised before, and the "no rent supplement" stipulation is very frequently seen. The issue of empty houses was raised and I am trying to use a carrot and stick approach to it. I have allocated funding to bring back 1,700 boarded up, empty houses. I have also met the directors of service for housing and told them they must speed up the process by which they...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: They would not transfer from RAS to HAP. They would probably transfer to the other local authority list either through RAS or another means. We will examine it, because it is a genuine issue. The issue of landlords stating in advertisements for rental properties that no students or rent allowance recipients need apply has been raised. I will have to get legal advice. Although they are...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can examine it. It has been raised before, and the "no rent supplement" stipulation is very frequently seen. The issue of empty houses was raised and I am trying to use a carrot and stick approach to it. I have allocated funding to bring back 1,700 boarded up, empty houses. I have also met the directors of service for housing and told them they must speed up the process by which they...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all of the Senators who contributed to this wide-ranging informed debate. Many Members addressed the general issue of housing supply. I accept absolutely that the Bill does not do a great deal about housing supply. I agree that we need to increase the supply of houses. I certainly intend to fight for any money that is available in terms of addressing that whole issue. There are...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to be here to initiate the passage through the Seanad of this important piece of housing legislation which provides for innovative and necessary changes to social housing support and assistance in Ireland. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 before the House today will bring important changes to the framework of social housing support. With the publication of the...