Results 961-980 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 345 of 3rd February, 2009. Until such time as proposals are received from Dublin City Council, my Department has no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Having regard to the existing high level of commitments under the Capital Assistance Scheme it has not been possible to approve this scheme. It will, however, be considered for approval in the context of my Department's 2010 capital investment programme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department does not hold the information requested. I have asked the authority concerned to send the relevant information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, including rent supplement-supported private rented accommodation, comply with these regulations. Responsibility for...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Responsibility in relation to accommodation and related services for homeless persons in any area, including financial assistance, rests with the relevant local authority under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. My Department's responsibility in relation to funding to address homelessness involves recoupment of 90% of approved expenditure by local authorities. The availability of funding for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009 provided for the issuing of written guidance in the form of the credit policy for the processing of loan applications and the making of loans by all local authorities. The credit policy, which I introduced with these Regulations, is intended to underpin local authority lending and ensure prudence and consistency in approach. As part of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 481 and 486 of 6 May 2009. My Department has been in regular contact with Kilrush Town Council in relation to the project concerned and revised options for the redevelopment of the Estate were more recently put forward at a meeting with my Department in August 2009. The Town Council is currently addressing remaining design concerns with a view to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: A new scheme for the incremental purchase of new houses provided by housing authorities and approved housing bodies will be introduced in the coming months, according as relevant parts of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 are brought into operation. A number of housing authorities have already expressed interest in taking part in the scheme and following discussions with these...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: On foot of a Government Decision, taken in February 2006, to transfer the administration of the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme (SHAE) from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the local authority sector, a revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability was implemented on 1 November, 2007. The revised schemes target available resources to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 502 together. 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. While my Department has not been formally advised of any...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Estimates obtained from local authorities and the Affordable Homes Partnership during the first quarter of 2009 indicated that the number of affordable units on hands nationally was in the region of 3,700. At that time, many of these units were already in process of sale or have since been sold. Local authority Housing Action Plans, which ensure a more holistic and integrated approach to...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The position in this matter has been set out in replies to previous Questions, most recently in reply to Question No. 728 of 9 July 2009. The issue of pyrite was brought to the attention of my Department in mid 2007. Having consulted the statutory Building Regulations Advisory Body, my Department issued a circular letter (Ref. BC 6/2007) to each county manager and local building control...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 1037 and 1044 of 16 September 2009, and my subsequent statement to the House as part of the adjournment debate on 23 September 2009. The October 2008 draft Limerick Regeneration Programme/ Masterplan is framed in the context of the 2007 national housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. The draft Programme outlines a flexible and...

Written Answers — Remedial Works Programme: Remedial Works Programme (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together. The projects in question, which are at an early stage of development, are part of my Department's Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. Proposals for these projects were received in Autumn 2008 and, following an evaluation process, approval in principle to both projects issued from my Department in February 2009. Certain further details...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities on 7 May 2009 under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes. The initial 2009 combined allocation to Clare County Council, incorporating the Exchequer contribution and the...

Government Charges on Businesses: Motion (20 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening. I wish to look specifically at the issues relating to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and to touch on some other key points for the Irish economy. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, for allowing me to share time with him on this important issue. Local...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Earlier this year, my Department commissioned the Centre for Housing Research to undertake an evaluation of the revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which were introduced on 1 November 2007. The evaluation aims to determine the effectiveness of the revised schemes in providing a more accessible framework of grant assistance to applicants,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under Section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, as amended, the management of the housing waiting list and allocation of tenancies in local authority dwellings is a matter for the local authority concerned. The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing, others moved from the list, and new households apply for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The assessment and allocation of an individual household for social housing support is a matter for the local authority concerned. Under section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, I am precluded from being involved in a decision by a housing authority as to whether a particular household is eligible for support and indeed the allocation of that support. In relation to general guidance given by my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Oct 2009)

Michael Finneran: The tenancy agreement for dwellings let by housing authorities under the Housing Acts generally contains provisions in relation to anti-social behaviour. Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 ("the 2009 Act") there is a requirement that specific terms and conditions be set out in the tenancy agreement prohibiting anti-social behaviour in, or in the vicinity of, the dwelling...