Results 12,061-12,080 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The report in question in regard to the management of homeless services in the Dublin region, which accounts for some 70% of my Department's expenditure on these services, was commissioned to facilitate consideration of the implications for the region of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, now complete, and the overall review of the homelessness strategy as provided for in...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 193 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...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis, and interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The planning review announced by the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was 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. A number of planning authorities, representing a broad geographical...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Local Authorities provide information on the proportion of the housing stock that is vacant at the end of each year, and this information is collated and published as part of the annual Service Indicators in Local Authorities Report. Copies of the 2010 report are available from the Local Government Management Services Board and may be downloaded from their website (www.lgmsb.ie). Under...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Act sets out the law relating to the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords in the sector, rent and rent reviews, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Senator James Heffernan raised the issue of retrofitting and insulation. There has been concentration on vacant houses. This in some ways relates to Senator Lorraine Higgins's question as to why it takes so long for people to move in. One of the reasons funding is directed towards vacant houses is to bring them up to standard to facilitate their letting. In a way Senator Lorraine...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I accept that. However, there is an ability to pay issue that must be taken into account. We do not want people undertaking to buy out their home and then finding they cannot afford to feed themselves. Senator O'Keeffe asked what will happen to the developers of unfinished housing estates. I certainly hope the relevant authorities will pursue any of those who are guilty of misconduct in...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: On Senator Colm Burke's suggestion regarding the German model, the Department will consider any model available. In some ways, it connects with the point made by Senator Michael Comiskey about making available the houses in the possession of NAMA to young people. I am not familiar with that German scheme, but I am certainly here to listen and take back Members' suggestions to the...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Are they council tenants?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Normally, local authorities try to facilitate such cases by way of transfers and, obviously, people can be placed on transfer lists.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local authorities move people around all the time, as individuals are placed on transfer lists and moved around. I understand a successful scheme operated in parts of Dublin some time ago. The Department can examine the scheme that was in place to ascertain whether there is potential in that regard. The same point applies to the specific instance cottages scheme mentioned by Senator Brian...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator. Senators Denis Landy and Darragh O'Brien have raised common issues. I understand the point they have raised because I am personally familiar with such estates in which parts may be classified as being in category one, while others are classified as being in categories three or four. This has occurred in large estates in which, as Senator Denis Landy has observed, a...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I understand that fully and take on board that point. That is why we are in the process of looking at the categories again. The person to contact would be the local co-ordinator, of which there is one in every local authority for unfinished housing estates. There are people in the Department who liaise directly with co-ordinators in the local authorities. I understand the comments but...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I cannot comment on people taking legal cases. The operation was done by the local authorities with the guidance of the Department. There are real difficulties with bonds and local authorities can struggle with them, depending on when an estate was built. I do not know if I have a real answer to the issue but if we can clarify the issue, we will revert to the Senator. Any of us who have...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Members who have contributed to the debate and will try to reply to the questions raised. I join them in paying tribute to my predecessor, Deputy Willie Penrose, who did tremendous work in the period he held office. I hope I can continue the various initiatives he started. One of them which was mentioned by Senator Diarmuid Wilson was to deal with NAMA. In addition, Senator...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My advisers are saying "Yes", so it will be before the summer. Some strong points have been made about the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, and I know that Senator Hayden has a particular interest in that area. I heard her on radio recently making some good points. The deposit retention issue is in the programme for Government and I am committed to ensuring we move on that....

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is what this policy is all about, despite the small amount of money we have.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do not want to start a fight between Senators but despite the limited amount of money we have, we are trying to give people choice with this policy and focus on people's needs. That does mean using leasing and encouraging voluntary housing associations to raise money in other ways. That is why we have things like the CAS scheme whereby they get a certain amount of money from the public...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Senator Ó Domhnaill raised the issue of an applicant having to live in an area for five years. Is that a local requirement in the Senator's own area?