Results 901-920 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The councils will decide on the figures. They will not take figures willy-nilly from anywhere, including the CSO. It is a matter for the councils whether they have a local area plan. There is no attempt in the legislation to impose area plans on them. This is an opportunity for councils to bring in area plans but there is no legal requirement obliging them to do so.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: There is no requirement on any local authority, its members or its executive to bring in an area plan or a local plan up to a population base of 5,000. We all know that in almost every county, councillors and the officials have moved in regard to those small villages. Villages with populations of 200 or 300 have area plans. There is still that entitlement. They will have the same...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I do not have the exact wording used by the Minister to hand but in this context, he mentioned the targets for gateway and hub towns. As I said, they are simply targets. Local authorities make their plans for different areas and a target for the main town in County Mayo, County Westmeath or County Sligo is simply that. That is what the Minister said.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 15 proposes to delete the proposed amendment in the published Bill, which requires that in seeking initial views from the public on strategic issues to inform the initial preparation and drafting of the draft development plan, the planning authority can specify that it will not consider submissions or proposals related to the zonings of specific land. Planning authorities must...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is my understanding that an advertisement will be placed in the public press, indicating that the issue papers are available from the local authority. I am sure it will appear on the website as well. Those who have an interest can get access to the issue papers. Senator White has picked up on the same message we are trying to get across, namely, that there is public engagement from the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: This proposes to provide for the notification of the Minister, the board and the prescribed bodies at the draft amendment stage of the development plan. This is to rectify the anomaly that while the Minister, the board and the prescribed bodies are provided for as statutory consultees in the making of a draft development plan, it is only implicit thereafter that these should be consulted at...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 18 and 24 are intrinsically linked to the issue of a two thirds majority as opposed to a simple majority. I will re-examine this matter in consultation with the parliamentary draftsman's office. I will not give a definite position on it but I am prepared to examine it.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: This is a technical amendment to update the collective citation of the Planning Acts to read "The Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2009". Subsequent to the publication of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 on 3 June, the Harbours (Amendment) Act was enacted in July 2009. Section 21(3) of the Harbours (Amendment) Act 2009 amended the collective citation of the Planning...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 2 proposes the deletion of the definition of "core strategy". However, the evidence-based core strategy is a cornerstone of these provisions and ensures a sound development plan, key to ensuring good planning at local level and a central plank of zoning reform. Decisions taken at the development plan stage affect all other planning decisions. Therefore, the amendment is not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 3 provides for a definition of "flood risk assessment". Put simply, it is a study to assess and, if appropriate, manage a flood risk taking into account relevant issues such as current and potential future land use and development, and possible changes in climate. The First Schedule to the principal Act is to be amended to provide for the inclusion in the development plans of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 4 and 8 propose to delete the word "urban" to clarify the settlement hierarchy requirement for the same are all encompassing to include all levels of settlement in rural areas. Amendment No. 14 is a consequential amendment to the same reference.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Where an applicant for affordable housing is unable to obtain adequate mortgage finance from one of a number of private lending institutions which provide mortgage finance for affordable dwellings, they may apply to the relevant local authority for a house purchase loan. In assessing applications for a house purchase loan, local authorities must consider, inter alia, the ability of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority estates at various locations around the country, including 11 houses in Boyle. The project involves the refurbishment of five dwellings at Marion Row and a further six at Termon Road. A detailed design and cost plan submitted by Roscommon County Council is being examined at...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice loan website and, to date, 44 applications have been made. Of these 27 have been declined, 4 have been approved with 2 loans now drawn down, 3 applications have been withdrawn, and a decision is pending in respect of 10 applications where further information has been sought from the applicant.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the older Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. Having regard to the continued priority which the Government attaches to these schemes and following an evaluation...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) became operational in September 2005 to the end of October 2009, some 23,469 households units have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 12,611 are housed directly in RAS accommodation – comprising 8,159 households who, in transferring, remained in their existing accommodation and 4,452 households who transferred to newly sourced...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information in relation to the number and value of contracts entered into by local authorities with landlords for the purpose of providing accommodation under the Rental Accommodation Scheme is not held by my Department. Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), it is a matter for each local authority to determine the rental payment it will make for any eligible property. However, the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (11 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority estates at various locations around the country including Parkview, Charlestown, Co. Mayo. The project involves, inter alia, the refurbishment of 23 dwellings and the construction of 7 new units. A detailed design and cost plan was submitted to my Department by Mayo County Council...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (11 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Nevertheless, it should be noted that since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies and I understand that in excess of 227,000 active tenancies are currently...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 970 on 3 November in relation to this matter. The position is unchanged.