Results 11,961-11,980 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Should I finalise the debate rather than bring the House back on the same issue?

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I again thank everybody concerned and point out that the disbursement will continue to be made from the fund through the Votes of the relevant Departments, and it will be Exchequer neutral. Also, it will be laid before the House because there was some concern that questions could continue to be asked about it. The relevant joint committee of the Oireachtas has separate powers to require the...

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011: Referral to Select Sub-Committee (3 May 2012)

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

Planning Legislation (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The planning review is intended to assess the application of planning legislation, policy and guidance within the development plan and development management systems at local level and to inform further policy development in these areas. Seven planning authorities, including Carlow County Council, representing a broad geographical spread of both urban and rural areas as well as both large...

Planning Legislation (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I agree with a number of the comments made by the Deputy. First, there is a need to restore confidence in the planning system. In that context, we must respond to the abuses and corruption identified in the Mahon tribunal's report. The Minister, other Ministers and I intend to respond to all of the recommendations contained in that report in a substantial and complete way. The...

Planning Legislation (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The report of the Mahon tribunal identified instances of serious corruption. We must ensure we learn from what occurred in the past and implement the recommendations contained in that report. The seven investigations relating to the local authorities do not relate to instances of corruption but rather to suggestions the administrative systems were not as good as they should have been. For...

Written Answers — Shared Ownership Scheme: Shared Ownership Scheme (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Shared Ownership scheme the rent charged on the local authority's equity in a shared ownership transaction is to cover the funding costs to the Housing Finance Agency which are based on borrowings at the prevailing interest rates. Any difference between the rent and prevailing interest rate is reflected in the capital outstanding on the property, i.e. if the rent charged in any...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, and in line with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil, Ministers of State who regularly attend Cabinet are permitted to appoint two Special Advisers. In this regard, I have appointed Mr. Aidan Culhane as a Special Adviser and I am currently arranging for the appointment of a second Special...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (3 May 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 no...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: In line with overall national policy which promotes a reduction in energy use, the enhancement of energy efficiency standards remains a priority within my Department's overall strategy for the improvement of local authority housing. Under the Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Household income is calculated in accordance with the Household Means Policy, issued in March 2011 under Regulation 17 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. The Household Means Policy specifies that income from the carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance is to be disregarded for the purposes of assessing income when assessing eligibility for social housing support. My...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, when commenced, will replace existing enactments in relation to differential rent schemes. Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities to give effect to section 31 are currently in preparation in my Department. When these are made, section 31 will be commenced and authorities will have one year in which to put in place a...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this...

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: While the target set in the National Homeless Strategy 2008-2013, A Way Home, of ending long term homelessness was not met, progress in achieving this challenging ambition is a principal objective of national housing policy. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. In this context a...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 47 and 53 together. As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The funding estimate to support the mainstreamed drugs projects under my Department's Housing programme for 2012 was...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. My Department conducted a review of the Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and on whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The units being advanced through NAMA will in general be provided through the Social Housing Leasing Initiative under the standard terms and conditions that apply. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the cost of leasing these properties. Lease costs are determined by negotiation using a standard discounted market price which may vary to reflect the circumstances of a particular...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 52 together. The Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 11 provide that the Board comprises a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The processes for the appointment of the Chair and ordinary Board Members are clearly and transparently set out under sections 105–107 of the Act and associated regulations. In relation to the position of...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (3 May 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government recently announced its decision in principle to support proposals to transfer responsibility for households in receipt of rent supplement, but with an established long-term social housing need, from the Department of Social Protection to the housing authorities. Housing authorities will provide this service using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). This joint proposal,...