Results 11,661-11,680 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act, 1966, the provision, management and maintenance of dwellings, including the carrying out of planned maintenance programmes and pre-letting repairs, is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Housing maintenance works, including pre-letting repairs, are funded directly by local authorities from their own resources, including...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: To take account of the current housing market conditions, the Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That review is now underway and it is expected to conclude later in the year. Any future changes to legislation governing...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 gives legislative recognition to rental accommodation availability agreements as a form of social housing support. Consequently, since 1 April 2011, RAS tenants are now considered to be in receipt of social housing support and should not generally remain on housing waiting lists for new applicants for social housing. In recognition that RAS...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 is the legislative basis for this. It was implemented in April last year.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Yes. In the housing circular 28/211 of 4 May 2011, which dealt with the social housing allocation regulations, it was recommended that a special transfer pathway be provided from RAS to other forms of social housing. This was to be included within the allocation scheme that each authority had to adopt under section 22 of the 2009 Act, which replaced the old scheme of letting priorities....

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is part of the provision that is in place to address people's housing needs. If there is any doubt about how the local authorities interpret this, we can clarify it for them. Obviously, there is ongoing review of this entire area because we are trying to cope with the demand that exists given the state of the economy, so it is open to consideration. The issue of people having...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act 1966, the provision and management of social housing, including the carrying out of routine and planned maintenance programmes to properties and estates, is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Housing and estate maintenance programmes are funded directly by local authorities from their own resources, including from rental...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I made the point in responding to the Topical Issues matter-----

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----that €145 million was allocated to local authorities this year in respect of measures aimed at improving the social housing stock. That takes in regeneration, which is €90 million, and €27 million for the remedial works scheme in 26 different local authorities. There is also the money for extensions and adaptions but as I am sure the Deputy is aware, there is a specific...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----energy efficiency in voids, and it is specifically targeted at empty houses both last year and this year. I visited various local authorities around the country who asked me if they could use some of that money for occupied houses because tenants living beside empty houses can see the work being done on those yet cannot get their house done because they are in occupation. We are...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is probably a particular difficulty in Dublin because it is such a large area and there is so much social housing need but we are always open to suggestions as to how we might best use the resources available to ensure that we can maintain the stock of housing in as good a condition as we possibly can. Obviously, different local authorities choose to do different things. The initial...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 20, 23 and 29 together. It is a matter for each housing authority to determine, in accordance with its scheme of letting priorities, the manner in which households are allocated social housing in its area. I am currently overseeing a programme of social housing reform and as part of this, it is my intention to review the operation of allocations policy...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is one of a range of areas. We are looking at the whole allocations policy currently and I had a meeting with officials recently in that regard. This is one area we will consider. It is always a matter of figuring out how to allocate priority and different local authorities have different ways of doing it. This is certainly one area under consideration. We must leave some flexibility...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Not all of it, but we want to use the voluntary groups because they can leverage funding that the State cannot. If we had to provide 100% funding for every new social housing scheme, we would not have the money to address the need. Therefore, we must see if we can leverage funding in other ways. However, we also intend to regulate the voluntary groups and that is important.

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 31 and 43 together. Since the announcement in December 2011 that NAMA would commit to providing up to 2,000 units for social housing by the end of 2012, my Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA have been working together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards achieving this target. The units being advanced through NAMA will in...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Earlier this year I announced an allocation of €27.5 million to support ongoing physical and social regeneration in Limerick. In accordance with the original Establishment Orders of 2007, the five-year term of office of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies is now ending with responsibility for the management and administration of the regeneration programme transferring to the new Limerick...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In advancing loans for house purchase by lower income borrowers it is of critical importance that local authorities make such funding available on the basis of sound lending criteria. My Department and individual local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that the borrower can sustain the loan over the full term. Of equal importance, in view of recent developments in the domestic...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22, 26, 35, 41 and 50 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 is framed in a manner which optimises the delivery of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 42 and 40 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 459 of 19 June, 2012 which sets out the position on these matters.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I aanticipate that the Government will consider a comprehensive analysis of the recommendations of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal in the coming weeks, including the recommendation for the establishment of an independent planning regulator with publication of its considered response to the recommendations to follow shortly thereafter. The proposed appointment of an independent...