Results 11,021-11,040 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Establishment of Planning Regulator: Discussion with Minister of State (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the opportunity to engage with the committee on this important issue of the Government's response to the final report of the Mahon planning tribunal, in particular its recommendation that the Government establish an independent planning regulator. While I propose to engage with Members in terms of their views on the role of that regulator I will first provide some background...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local authorities, as landlords and owners of their social housing stock, are responsible for the management, maintenance and repair of all their rented properties. The information requested in relation to numbers of inspections for dampness or condensation in dwellings is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The administration of the Rental Accommodation Scheme is entirely a matter for local authorities. Transfer from one authority to another within RAS is by agreement with both authorities, and a number facilitate mutual transfers on an informal basis. A tenant considering transferring from accommodation provided under the scheme should first contact the authorities in question to determine...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512, 528 and 529 together. My Department remains committed to providing financial assistance to older people and people with a disability who wish to carry out essential repairs, extensions/adaptations to their homes in order to meet their accommodation needs. Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is aware of the property in question which is in the ownership of Wicklow County Council. The Council purchased the property for social housing purposes with the assistance of capital funding from my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme. Wicklow County Council’s proposal to utilise the property as a homeless facility has been the subject of on-going...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Act (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. Following a review of the Act in 2009 Government approved the preparation of the Heads of a Bill to deliver on the review’s recommendations. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 was published on 19 July 2012 and Second Stage in the Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together. Notwithstanding the constraints on capital expenditure a cross the various measures under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, I will continue 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants (29 Jan 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, adaptations or improvement works carried out in order to meet the accommodation needs of an older person or a person with a disability. The suite of grants include three separate grant measures: the Mobility Aids Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licences (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The following arrangements for public consultation have been put in place in relation to this foreshore licence application: - The applicant arranged for the application form and supporting documentation to be made available for public inspection from 15 December 2012 to 23 January 2013 at Togher Garda station, Co. Cork. - This arrangement was notified to the public by a notice published by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Standards (29 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 . Local authorities are not, in the main, exempt from these regulations. The regulations apply to all rental...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Referral to Committee (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Environment, Community and Local Government pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1).

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can supply to the Deputy details of a number of areas in which private residences are supposed to meet standards. They are listed in regulations. As Deputy Boyd Barrett indicated, we must improve enforcement. The pilot scheme is a positive step and has been working well. We are encouraging local authorities to carry out their inspection responsibilities as well. With regard to the...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: That money cannot be spent on the balance sheet, in accordance with agreements.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Would that it were so simple.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We were not borrowing €1 billion a month to finance the gap between revenue and expenditure.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are in a very different position in respect of the gap between expenditure and revenue.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, we are making progress.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am afraid not.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: First, I thank all the Deputies who spoke on the Bill. Even if one counts Deputy Finian McGrath only once, more than 30 Members did so. It was a highly informed debate, as Members obviously knew what they were talking about. Moreover, many highly constructive suggestions were made and I look forward to teasing out on Committee Stage many of the issues raised here. However, I will refer to...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy made his contribution last year.