Results 921-940 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is a statutory function of housing authorities to assist, provide or make arrangements for the provision of, accommodation for homeless persons, as defined in section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. I have no function in relation to specific aspects of local services. The operation and organisation of homeless services in Dublin is generally co-ordinated by the Homeless Agency, which is a...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, continues to provide a robust framework for addressing housing priorities in the years ahead. Considerable progress has been made on implementation of the programme and policy reforms outlined in the policy statement since its publication in February 2007. Relevant sections of my Department's Annual Reports and Annual...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in local authorities. A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The incremental purchase scheme will be introduced in the coming months, according as relevant parts of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and Regulations to give full effect to the scheme are brought into operation. A number of housing authorities have already expressed interest in taking part in the scheme once it has commenced and in that context have begun work seeking...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (10 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 former Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. In the case of South Tipperary County Council, the 2009 allocation amounted to €1,530,000 compared to an initial...

Written Answers — House Fire Statistics: House Fire Statistics (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Statistics supplied to the Department by fire authorities indicate that there were 157 domestic fatal fires which resulted in 179 fatalities in the period 2004 - 2008. The attributed cause of these fatalities, as reported by the fire authorities, and the presence or otherwise of smoke alarms at these incidents, are indicated in Tables 1 and 2 below. Over half the fatal fire incidents...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €77 million for some 26 individual projects at various locations around the country, under my Department's capital funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing. The announcement also referred to the allocation of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. While action to deal with anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána, in the case of private rented dwellings 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 tenant in a private residential tenancy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is a statutory function of housing authorities under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 to implement appropriate measures to address homelessness in their areas. Accordingly, implementation of the Homeless Strategy in any area is primarily the responsibility of the relevant housing authority or authorities. This role will be underpinned further by provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The main qualifying criterion for the Rental Accommodation Scheme is that a person should be in receipt of rent supplement for a period of 18 months or more. Detailed information in relation to the operation of the rent supplement scheme, including a county by county analysis of the number of households meeting this criterion, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family...

Written Answers — Statutory Registration: Statutory Registration (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 sets out the detailed requirements for registration of the title of "architect". Once statutory registration has formally commenced, it will be an offence for a person who - (i) not being registered under Part 3, uses the title "architect", either alone or in combination with any other words or letters, or name, title or description, implying that the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The site at Magee Barracks was one of the state lands assigned to the Affordable Housing Initiative. In light of the recent significant changes in the housing market, and the associated implications for affordable housing, I am reviewing the Affordable Housing Initiative, and the position with regard to the Magee Barracks site is being considered in that context. In addition, the Project...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (4 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: In 2009, my Department has provided funding of just over €2.75 million to Cork City Council to support the extensions element of the Council's improvement works programme. An application to continue this programme has been received from the Council and will be considered in the context of the allocations to be made on foot of the outcome of the 2010 estimates process.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing authorities make available a broad range of social housing supports and options to those in need of housing. In particular the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Social Housing Leasing Initiative provide access to a wider range of social housing than has traditionally been available under the Social Housing Investment Programme. These new supply options will make it easier for...

Written Answers — Urban Regeneration: Urban Regeneration (4 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The October 2008 draft Limerick Regeneration Programme/Masterplan is a flexible and evolving plan for the physical, social and economic regeneration of the areas over the next decade. As is widely acknowledged, this programme will require significant investment of time and resources from public and private stakeholders in delivering the mixed use, mixed tenure sustainable communities...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed by regulations made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. In the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations and delivered on this commitment by approving a package of measures last year. Those elements of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: There is no provision under the current affordable housing schemes for upgrading to a larger affordable home. However, as is the case with all forms of private housing, an owner of an affordable home wishing to trade up may sell their existing house and purchase a larger dwelling in the market, subject of course to the repayment of the appropriate clawback. While first-time buyers are a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: In response to a call for proposals for projects for inclusion in my Department's Remedial Works Schemes 2009-2011, an application for this project was received in Autumn 2008 from Cork City Council. The proposal was evaluated against the criteria set out for the programme, e.g. the age and condition of the dwellings, the unit cost of refurbishment, the priorities of the City Council, etc....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability is administered by the local authorities and all matters relating to compliance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, the processing and approval of applications and the payment of grants to individual applicants are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The initial 2009 combined allocation...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: A person occupying a house under the shared ownership scheme can sell their house at any time provided he or she has bought out the local authority's share and has acquired full ownership of the dwelling. Full ownership may be achieved either by purchasing, from time to time, additional shares of the authority's equity or a single outright purchase of its remaining equity. The cost of...