Results 10,661-10,680 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Spatial Strategy (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 48, 50 and 61 together. The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework. It provides the spatial vision and principles to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44 and 158 together. I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector Issues (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 156 together. At the end of 2012 a total of 25,371 units of accommodation had been provided by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies under my Department’s capital funding schemes since the inception of the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) in 1984 and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) in 1992. Exchequer funding of €1.3...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. My Department conducted a review...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government published its response to the recommendations of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal on 19 July 2012 including in respect of an independent planning regulator, to which it has agreed in principle. I also discussed this specific recommendation with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 29 January 2013. Following further appropriate,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Notwithstanding the constraints on capital expenditure across all the various measures under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, I am continuing to support the National Regeneration Programme to the fullest extent possible. I am determined that there will be no loss of momentum in 2013 in progressing regeneration projects in Dublin City, including the Dolphin House and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: To the end of Quarter 1 2013, the transition of 263 properties from the NAMA portfolio ha s been completed, with contracts signed in respect of a further 76 properties. All but 24 of the 263 completed units are being made available for people that the local authorities have deemed in need of housing. These 24 units were part of a project of 58 ap artments delivered in Sandyford. T he other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (1 May 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 Mortgages (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy, and those data are available on my Department's website . Data on the number of house purchase mortgages approved an d paid out by local authorities up to end 2012 are included within this range. Data on the total number of local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusinve, together. Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (1 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Over 550 submissions have been received in connection with my Department’s current review of the existing statutory guidance on wind energy development. While a number of these submissions made reference to the project referred to, I have received no submissions specifically on this project.

Organ Donation: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Yes. The Government has agreed to accept it.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Wind Farm Developments (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Senator Kelly for raising the issue. I am aware that he has a keen interest in this area. The wind energy development guidelines of June 2006 provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Wind Farm Developments (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I realise these are important points and we will examine all of them. Clearly, the voice of the community will be heard in the consultation process.

Organ Donation: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important issue and thank the Deputy Tom Fleming for tabling the motion. We are all aware of the enormous difference an organ transplant can make to a recipient's life. However, we are also aware of the worldwide shortage of organs available for transplantation and the significant challenge this poses to health services both in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (30 Apr 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. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €10,500 to assist older people living in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department understands that Dublin City Council currently has a number of landlords who have advised them that they will not be renewing their RAS contracts. Various reasons have been cited by landlords including their selling the property, financial difficulties they have encountered, that they themselves are seeking to move back to the property, or they need to accommodate other family...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is no shortfall in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) funding for 2013 to Dublin City Council or indeed to any other housing authority. Funding for the scheme is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection’s Vote to the Vote of my Department. Monies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Issues (30 Apr 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not keep information on schemes under the aegis of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners or have access to information on landlords ’ financial positions. There are currently 3,932 units operational in the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. A breakdown of these by housing authority area is provided in the table below. These include unsold affordable housing units...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 Apr 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 standalone analysis of the...