Results 9,821-9,840 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I join with Deputy Cowen in acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and, in particular, the warm relationship between our country and the United States due largely, but including other factors, to his Presidency of that country. One of the highlights for anybody visiting this House is the flag which commemorates the people who died in the American Civil...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Nash for raising this important and serious issue. As housing authorities, local authorities have an overall role in respect of ensuring that the dwellings they provide meet the needs of tenants and, through the housing adaptation grant schemes, to support people with disabilities and the elderly. Clearly, technological solutions play an important role in this regard and all...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I share the Deputy's concern regarding the need for proper and appropriate solutions that meet people's individual needs. I accept that local authorities probably use different approaches and that some of them still carry out extensions to tenants' dwellings. We are reviewing the scheme at present because we want to ensure that maximum value will be obtained. In that context, I will pursue...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The estate in question is a category 4 unfinished housing estate. The administration and addressing of issues relating to unfinished housing developments are matters for the individual local authority involved, in this case Carlow County Council. Matters of a planning nature should be addressed to the planning department of that local authority while the unfinished estate coordinator is the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the process of good governance, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have to ensure that they are compliant with a number of statutory requirements including annual reporting to the Companies Registration Office and compliance with the terms and conditions of capital funding schemes and leasing schemes operated by my Department. My Department is currently in consultation with the AHB...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: While the 1995 tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses closed for new applications on 31 December 2012, two incremental purchase schemes remain in operation, one for newly-built local authority houses and the other for local authority apartments. Work is proceeding on the preparation of the General Scheme of a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (21 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government’s 2011 housing policy statement stood down all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The period for public submissions under this review closed on 27 September 2013. Consideration of these submissions is currently underway with a view to evaluating their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (20 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears the Government launched a mortgage to rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (20 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Abridged Estimate for my Department, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Expenditure Report 2014, provides some €28.6 million in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The Estimates provision will be supplemented by the recently announced €10 million in additional funding for this measure, giving an overall...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Direct Provision System (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will convey to the Minister the views expressed by both Senators, including the suggestion that there might be a middle ground and a way of establishing protocols that would facilitate what they seek.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: To clarify, the council did send in a submission, but the Department sought, and is awaiting, further information.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am simply highlighting what is set out in the reply, namely, that the council has been asked to submit further information to enable my Department to proceed.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is correct.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Direct Provision System (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. The Minister acknowledges that Senator Conway has been part of a delegation which visited centres in Galway in October, which visits were well facilitated by the people concerned.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Direct Provision System (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister has concerns regarding the Senator's proposal that all Members of the Oireachtas would have unrestricted access to any one of the 34 asylum accommodation centres under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency. The Minister is conscious of the need to balance the right sought in this Adjournment motion with the rights of residents and the need for proper management of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Commercial Rates Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. I will convey Senator Higgins's views to him. The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property in a county council or urban local authority area is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for payment of rates. However, the owner is entitled to a 100% refund if...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I hope to update Senator Moloney although I am not sure it will be a final solution. I am taking the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. The Kilcummin sewerage scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-13 as a scheme to advance through planning during the life of the programme. As the Senator will be aware, Kerry County...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Banking Sector Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. The Taoiseach mentioned in the Dáil last week when announcing Ireland's completion of the programme, that he had held discussions with Chancellor Merkel on Germany's offers to help. The discussions included a specific focus on finding ways to reinforce Ireland's economic recovery by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. The management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and implementation of planned maintenance programmes and the carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Applications (19 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not hold information on the number of outstanding applications for social housing support received by housing authorities. The assessment of such applications is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned in accordance with the Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011.  Regulation 12 of the 2011 Regulations prescribes the timescales for the processing...