Results 9,321-9,340 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----from local authorities.

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will tell the Deputy why the money was missing for three years - he agreed to it.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Expenditure (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration which seeks to address the causes of disadvantage in communities and large social housing estates and flat complexes through holistic programmes of physical, social and economic regeneration. In 2013, some €70 million was recouped in respect of regeneration programmes at Ballymun, Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Approved housing bodies (AHBs) are organisations approved under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 to provide social housing support in conjunction with local authorities. These organisations can include co-operative housing bodies. Since the late 1980s, close to 25,000 units of accommodation have been provided under capital funding schemes underpinned by 20 and 30...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The report on the 2011 Housing Needs Assessment, available on my Department's website at contains details on waiting list numbers for each local authority which were recorded under the tri-annual social housing needs assessments carried out from 1993 to 2011 under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988. The latest social housing needs assessment was carried out as at 7 May 2013 in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The project at Ballygall Road received funding from my Department under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). CALF was introduced, in 2011, to facilitate the securing of finance by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) from sources other than the Exchequer, including from the Housing Finance Agency and private lending institutions. CALF provides a capital equity injection which assists AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (3 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the period since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) commenced in late 2005 up to the end of January 2014, some 48,173 households have been transferred by local authorities from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. The amount of rent paid to private landlords through RAS is a matter for individual authorities, having regard to the need to obtain value for money....

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do recognise that it is a real problem. I am examining whether something can be done to address it in the next piece of legislation relevant to this area. The problem is that for a person to get onto a local authority housing list he or she must establish that he or she has a long term housing need. In many of the cases involved, a person's name may, at the point of registering as having...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am sure Deputy Murphy will agree that we must ensure there is confidence in the planning process, that the process is transparent and that the right to object is respected.

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government is working on construction policy and will publish a strategy on the issue in the near future. Many planning issues are under consideration and all issues related to planning are kept under constant review. Planning legislation will also be introduced later in the year. However, I cannot provide any commitments on the issue of objectors living in a local area or having valid...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this matter. While different personal, financial and social reasons can contribute to a person becoming homeless, for those involved the effects on their personal life are similarly traumatic and disabling. Societally, the ramifications of homelessness are also equally as destructive and costly. For this reason, I am strongly focused on achieving...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. There are two issues to discuss in addressing the issues raised while bearing in mind that under section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts I am precluded from discussing individual developments which are matters for the appropriate planning authority - in this case Cork City Council. Legislation sets down a requirement for An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (2 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. In Resolving Unfinished Housing Developments Annual Progress Report on Actions to Address Unfinished Housing Developments which was published in November 2013, and which is available on the website of the Housing Agency, , it is apparent that there is a cohort of, mainly unoccupied, housing developments that do not appear to have long...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. My reply is general but perhaps I will address some of the specific points at the end. The priority the Government attaches to achieving greater integration between planning, housing and infrastructure provision is underpinned by the planning legislative and policy framework. It would be inappropriate for a planning authority to determine a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the regional guidelines and the guidelines for development plans, all elements of infrastructure, including communications infrastructure, would be referenced. However, I take the Senator's point that if these are not provided for in a specific case, it presents a difficulty for householders. The relevant infrastructure should be included in the plans. If the Senator argues that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Approved housing bodies (AHBs) are organisations approved under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 to provide social housing support in conjunction with local authorities. Since the late 1980s, close to 25,000 units of accommodation have been provided under capital funding schemes underpinned by 20 and 30 year mortgages. More recently, a scheme was introduced that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and funding of on-going maintenance programmes and minor adaptation works, is a matter for individual authorities, in this case Cork County Council. As part of my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has received no submissions or requests from Longford County Council or other relevant development agencies for the designation of Longford town as a strategic development zone under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). I have no plans to act in this regard at present.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (1 Apr 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Last month I announced the approval of some 56 social housing construction projects with an overall value of some €68 million under the Local Authority housing construction programme for 2014-2015. This new construction programme will deliver 449 new units of accommodation for people on the housing waiting list. Projects were selected for funding approval on the basis of the proposals...