Results 10,641-10,660 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Other Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local authorities did not have their money reduced this year. From next year onwards, 80% of the property tax will be retained by the relevant local authority and the remainder will be redistributed fairly. The money will be used for the purposes that Members have suggested, such as completing roads and footpaths, as well as for other local authority needs. With regard to the argument by...

Other Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We cannot second guess local authorities.

Other Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Criteria were drawn up on a national basis but we asked the local authorities to identify which estates fitted the various categories, including the seriously problematic category that was included in the exemption from property tax by the Department of Finance.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not sure we need legislation, but we need action which is what we are doing on the committee. To answer the Deputy's question, NAMA issued some information yesterday. There are 110 houses on which contracts have been agreed with regard to NAMA units. A special purpose vehicle has been established which is speeding up the process. We hope we will get about 500 over the line this year...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shared Ownership Scheme (1 May 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. That review is now almost concluded and I have also asked the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to provide me with a stand-alone analysis of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shared Ownership Scheme (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware that a number of Deputies have a big interest in this issue. That is why we are having this review which has nearly been concluded. Part of it concerns the fact that local authorities have taken on the financial burden and so we must find a way of addressing that problem. It has to work both for those in shared ownership and the local authorities. We should spread the word...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shared Ownership Scheme (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have not prescribed what the review will examine. I will see it fairly shortly, as far as I know. There are a number of amending pieces of housing legislation coming down the track. Therefore, if we do need to amend legislation, we will have the facility to do so under the housing legislation we are currently working on. At this stage, however, I do not know if that will form part of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the national housing survey of 2012. The survey was carried out over the course of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The list was drawn up by the local authorities then transferred to the Department in accordance with-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----the national housing survey guidelines. It is only estates in a serious problematic condition or which have parts in a serious problematic condition which are exempted in the legislation from the Department of Finance on the property tax in this category. There are other exemptions. As Deputy Cowen knows, an estate being taken in charge involves a totally different test.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy asked me my view on the taking in charge process. Thousands of estates throughout the country have not been taken in charge, and some have been in existence for 30 years. They were not part of the household survey upon which this exemption is based.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is an entirely different system. Taking in charge is a serious issue and one we want to address with local authorities.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is a different category from that of problematic conditions in an unfinished estate, which was the category laid down in the legislation by the Department of Finance. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Hogan, can answer for himself, but he tells me he did not say what the Deputy suggested he did with regard to the Meath East by-election. Deputy Cowen asked whether there should be a waiver...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is not a matter for me. It is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have heard the Deputy's request but I cannot give him an answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am chairing the national co-ordination committee on unfinished housing developments to oversee implementation of the report of the advisory group on unfinished housing developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, Housing and Sustainable Communities Limited, NAMA and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Prices (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Private residential tenancies, with limited exceptions, are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and the main provisions in respect of rent and rent reviews are set out in Part III of that Act. Under section 19 of the Act, it is prohibited to set the rent under a tenancy at a rate above the market rent at either the beginning of the tenancy or at any subsequent rent review. Both...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: An explosion occurred within a private house, one of a terrace of six houses, in this development in March 2012. Subsequently, Longford County Council established an expert steering group and appointed a firm of consulting engineers to investigate the cause of the explosion. A second explosion occurred in this development at the beginning of October 2012. The specific findings of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The grounds upon which a tenancy in the private rented residential sector may be legally terminated are clearly set out in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act provides the main regulatory framework for the private rented residential sector and for the operation of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). The maximum duration of a tenancy under the Act is four years, after which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 34, 60 and 171 together. The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the...