Results 11,861-11,880 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: We would hardly produce a 900 page report in one day.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: They were not abandoned because no inquiries had been commenced.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Deputy Dooley should not worry. I will help him when I get the opportunity to respond. It might have helped if Fianna Fáil was more interested in cleaning up politics.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: This amendment seeks to remove the provision to dissolve the Limerick regeneration agencies. The agencies had a cessation date built into their establishment orders, which is this summer. The Oireachtas confirmed this in the context of the Confirmation of Orders Act 2008. This Bill merely provides for the administration of that process. As stated earlier, the regeneration office will take...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There was genuine concern when it was first announced a couple of months ago but consultation has been ongoing since then. I have personally participated in meetings with community representatives from each of the four regeneration areas as recently as last Friday. The positive nature of this development is understood. If the Deputy takes a different view, however, he is perfectly free to...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will convey the message to the Minister but I imagine he is aware of this already.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Perhaps I can clarify that. I was at a meeting with the Minister this morning with a particular body and that is probably the reason contact could not be made with him this morning. I will convey the message to the Minister.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The amendment, as the Senator said, requires the Minister to have regard to the desirability for localisation as well as centralisation of services in making decisions in regard to the establishment of a State body. Localisation of service delivery is the existing default position. In other words, it is assumed under the subsection that the local authority provides the service. In order to...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: As Senators Keane and Landy have just noted, this provision does not in any way preclude any decisions in respect of devolution. This part of the Bill relates to section 3(1) of the 1971 Act and consequently, this is not about precluding any devolution of functions or powers to local government. This provision is specific to this particular area and as I have already stated, the default...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I reject the assertion that somehow there is a focus towards centralisation. This legislation pertains to efficiency and there are reasons one would do certain things in a shared way. This does not mean that somehow the entire focus of local government reform is on centralisation. I reject that proposition.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: This amendment seeks to limit the services that the Minister may consider when deciding on the establishment of a body. Any services to be provided for by the new bodies will have to be contemplated by the Oireachtas under the new subsection (9). Therefore the description of services at subsection (9)(a) to (k) is sufficiently comprehensive and encompasses any services now performed by the...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: These amendments seek to introduce a requirement for the consent of or consultation with the Oireachtas, agencies and local authorities in the administrative process of establishing new bodies and in the preparation of transfer orders in the context of bodies that are being dissolved. The principle of a Minister in a sector such as local government having the power to establish bodies to...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I reiterate that the link between the principles and policies in primary legislation is being strengthened in this Bill. Any decision that is made by the Minister will have to be made in that context. The focus of this Bill is relatively narrow. Senator Cullinane referred to the wider issue of local government reform, which is not encompassed in what we are talking about. We should...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Persons in receipt of social welfare payments are not specifically precluded from purchasing their home under any tenant purchase scheme. However, if the applicants are applying to fund the purchase through loan finance from the local authority they must meet the criteria which apply to such loans. Provisions governing mortgage lending by local authorities are set out under the Housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 29 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for the prescription of different forms of local authority tenancies. In fulfilment of the commitment outlined in the Programme for Government, consideration will be given to making regulations providing for probationary tenancies, and their termination in the event of anti-social behaviour, when section 29 is being...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The data requested in respect of units delivered under the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Data in respect of 2011 output have not yet been finalised.

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects, such as in Ballymun and Limerick City, to smaller estate regeneration projects in a number of regional towns around the country. As with all projects of this nature and complexity, outside consultants...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together. I have no plans at present to introduce specific legislation to regulate the permitted heights of hedges and trees in privately owned gardens. Planning legislation does not place restrictions on the height of hedges or trees nor does it make any particular provision for recognition of a right to light or remedy from any other nuisance...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: · category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together. As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: · category one, where the development is...