Results 10,321-10,340 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (3 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Details of the funding provided by my Department, under Section 10, for the years 2008 – 2012 in County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Domestic Violence Policy (3 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the nister for Health and is delivered through the Health Service Executive. In addition Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was established in June 2007 as an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Improvement Schemes (3 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality and I have no direct function in this regard. Furthermore, I have no function in relation to a planning authority as a roads authority as this is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As I stated previously, I am reviewing the scheme to ensure the limits are correct and it is being used in the best way possible. While maximum spending limits apply in the schemes - the limit is up to €30,000 in one of the schemes - the average cost of works is much lower than the maximum limits. This indicates that local authorities are showing a good deal of flexibility. We have...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputies Crowe and Ellis for raising this matter. As Minister with responsibility for housing, I am keenly aware of the challenges we face in providing housing supports to a range of vulnerable groups. The problems facing the State's finances, which necessitate reducing public expenditure to sustainable levels, are impacting on capital programmes across the entire public service....

Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. The debate offers an opportunity to provide the House with a report on the delivery of a much needed primary care centre for Finglas, as Deputy Lyons has indicated. Finglas has been identified as a high priority location for the development of a primary care centre. Approval for a HSE direct-build primary care...

Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As I said, I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Minister of State. It is important for people to recognise how funding operates and it is important to spend money that is allocated. If there is flexibility we will ensure that it is exercised. Speed is an issue here, however, and decisions will obviously have to be made regarding the site....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available; the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 provides that the removal of any beach material from the foreshore is an activity that requires a foreshore licence. The definition of beach material in the Act includes seaweed, whether the seaweed is rooted on the foreshore or washed up by tidal action.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local authorities have had statutory responsibility for the operation of the Irish planning system since the introduction of modern planning arrangements under the Local Government (Planning) Act 1963.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 to 512, inclusive, together. The Planning Review Report I published, on 12 June 2012, was prepared internally by my Department. The only costs therefore were the salary and relevant travel costs of the officials engaged in preparing the report. I committed to having the Report assessed by an independent planning expert and, on 8 March 2013, I published...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Repossessions (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government is acutely conscious of the difficulties many households are facing in terms of mortgage arrears. Where any borrower, either from a local authority or from a private financial institution, is facing difficulties in meeting mortgage repayments, they should engage proactively and constructively with the lender to seek to achieve an agreed solution. The services of the Money...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested is not available in my Department but may be available from Meath County Council, which discharges the statutory function of allocating local authority housing in the county in accordance with the allocation scheme made by the elected members under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Expenditure (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 22 February 2013, I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. This year I allocated local authorities the full amount of their contractual commitments, which in the case of Limerick City Council amounted to €149,046. The balance of the available funding was...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government’s 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of 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 review of the shared ownership scheme is nearing completion and I expect to publish the review report and recommendations in the coming weeks. In...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (2 Jul 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I recently published a Homelessness Policy Statement in which I outlined the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are no funds specifically designated under the Social Housing Investment Programme for the purpose of facilitating local authority tenants wishing to downsize and I do not planto introduce such a scheme. A number of housing authorities, however, have traditionally operated such schemes within their overall housing programmes.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (27 Jun 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 579 of 11 June 2013, which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Anti-Social Behaviour (27 Jun 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Supreme Court issued a judgment in February 2012 in two cases relating to section 62 of the Housing Act 1966. In one case, the court ruled that there was a dispute as to the facts and made a declaration that section 62(3) of the 1966 Act is incompatible with the State’s obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the other case the court ruled that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (27 Jun 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The requirement to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels is impacting on capital programmes all across the public service, including my Department’s housing capital programme. The level of capital funding available has declined significantly in recent years along the lines highlighted in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework for Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016....