Results 11,041-11,060 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In July 2012, my Department approved a number of voluntary housing projects to commence construction over the 2013 – 2014 period, including a proposal by Renewal Sheltered Housing Limited to construct some 30 units of accommodation for homeless persons at Spur Hill, Togher, County Cork. Cork County Council’s request to progress the project to tender stage is under...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department understands that the property in this case is owned by Dublin City Council and is being managed and maintained by Clúid Housing Association on behalf of the Council. Local authorities, as landlords and owners of their social housing stock, are responsible for the management, maintenance and repair of all their rented properties. Matters relating to the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Offshore Exploration (24 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: A foreshore licence was granted to the company in question on 27 September 2012 in respect of works specified in its application.  Information on my decision to grant the licence, including potential environmental effects and the conditions imposed to mitigate there, is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplicationsandDeterminat...

Education (Welfare) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, I thank Deputy O'Brien for the opportunity to have this debate and I commend the House for the wide range of comments and analysis which Deputies have made to this debate on bullying. As the Minister of State, Deputy White, stated last night, it is important that we use every opportunity to raise awareness about this issue and also to...

Topical Issue Debate: Remedial Works in Housing Estates (23 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Bannon for raising this matter. Two explosions occurred in the Gleann Riada development in March and October of last year, the first in a privately owned dwelling, the second involving an external boiler. Subsequent to the first explosion, Longford County Council established an expert steering group and appointed a firm of consulting engineers to investigate the causes of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Remedial Works in Housing Estates (23 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We made the initial allocation because we realised the seriousness of the situation and we made further money available as well. I appreciate Deputy Bannon's concern and hope I have been able to alleviate some of those concerns today.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Phelan for raising this matter and for her proactive approach to it. As she, rightly, points out, the pressure on housing budgets means that we must do more with less. Capital budgets for housing have been decreasing over the past five years. The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, reaffirms our focus on meeting the most acute needs of households...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is always a balance to be struck between incentivising private landlords and being prudent with public money. We must get that balance right. Deputy Phelan referred to vacant houses. We are working with NAMA to acquire properties that can be used for social housing through that agency. We are making some progress on that now. There were some delays but NAMA has now set up what is...

Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As the Deputy said, this debate highlights the key role that Ireland can play during its Presidency in advancing action at EU level to address the global challenge of climate change. The melting of polar ice caps is only one of a large number...

Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have to do everything we can. The Doha outcome streamlined the negotiating process, which is important. The Deputy asked about the possibility of raising this issue with our trading partners. There are opportunities for Ministers at various meetings abroad to raise such issues. Much of this is about building political momentum. We have the means. The EU has significant goals in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for 2013. Earlier this month, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements for this year under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The information received is being assessed at present. I intend to announce details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 447, inclusive, and 450 together. My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects such as Ballymun regeneration to smaller estate-wide regeneration projects in Dublin city and in a number of regional...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: House Purchase Schemes (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's housing policy statement published in June 2011 marked a radical departure for housing in Ireland. The statement clearly recognises the economic consequences of an over reliance on the property sector. It signalled a shift to a tenure neutral high level objective, and a clear commitment to restoring balance to the housing sector generally through a lesser reliance on home...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Funding (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, the homeless, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. My Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The average time taken to process an appeal in An Bord Pleanála in 2012 was 23 weeks with 36% of appeals d isposed of within the 18-week statutory objective period . The breakdown sought between larger and smaller developments is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 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 rented properties, including necessary maintenance and repair works to heating systems. Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 656 of 16 January, 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The provision of special needs housing is mainly funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for approved housing bodies. Under the CAS, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which came into operation on 14 June 2010, the making and amendment of an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Advance Leasing Facility (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Capital Advance Leasing Facility will continue in 2013, though the level of Exchequer funding for the scheme this year , within the overall housing provision, has not yet been determined. It is open to Approved Housing Bodies to make proposals to my Department having regard to the housing need in an area, as determined by the Local Authority. Any suitable independent living units,...