Results 12,261-12,280 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2009 provides for an incremental purchase scheme in respect of newly – built houses reserved by housing authorities for the purpose. Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. The scheme is available to all housing authorities. It...

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Senator Kelly for bringing forward the Wind Turbines Bill 2012, as well as speakers on all sides of the House for their constructive remarks on specific issues relating to the Bill and more general issues pertaining to sustainable and renewable energy. My specific remit as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is in planning but much...

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In case Senator Daly is being cynical, I am not opposing the Bill.

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I previously introduced a Private Members' Bill which was accepted by Senator Daly's party when it was in Government.

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Bill specifically dealt with the statute of limitations on the abuse of children.

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I would not be too cynical about it. There are at present no specific conditions in the legislation covering the distance from sensitive properties, including houses, at which wind turbines should be sited. I understand that the issue was considered when the existing wind energy guidelines were prepared in 2006 but it was decided that it would be impractical and inappropriate to set a...

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The guidelines state, "n general, noise is unlikely to be a significant problem where the distance from the nearest turbine to any noise sensitive property is more than 500 metres." They advise planning authorities to seek evidence that the types of turbine proposed in a particular development will use best engineering practice in terms of noise suppression and provide specific limits to...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 433 together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 175 and 191 of 2 February 2012, which set out my Department's funding for a range of programmes related to social inclusion activities. As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions have had to be taken in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 467 together. 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 standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. The programme includes a retrofitting measure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 140 of 26 January, 2012. The rezoning of the lands referred to was included in the proposed amendments to the Draft Galway City Development Plan 2011-2017 which was adopted on 25 January 2011 and which came into effect on 21 February 2011. In my role as a statutory consultee on the draft City Development Plan, my Department raised a number of concerns...

Written Answers — Local Authority Allotments: Local Authority Allotments (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local objectives or policies in relation to allotments are a matter for the local authority concerned and I have no function in this context.

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is a twenty-year planning framework which was designed to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions, and which designated nine gateways and nine hubs, including Tuam, with the capacity to grow sustainably and act as drivers of growth for their hinterland and wider regions. Among the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 16 June 2011 the Government's new housing policy statement was launched by my predecessor, Mr. W Penrose, as Minister for Housing. This now serves as a framework for a substantial housing policy reform programme that places specific emphasis on: · choice; · equity across housing tenures; and · delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested. The policy statement also...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I intend to publish draft guidance on development contributions for public consultation in the coming weeks. The guidelines when finalised will be issued as guidance under section 29 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 -2010.

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Private Residential Tenancies Board Annual Report and Accounts for 2010 were submitted to Government on 10 February 2012 and were subsequently laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Copies will be available in the Oireachtas library and on the PRTB website www.prtb.ie very shortly.

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475, 476 and 482 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 — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (21 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 429 of 31st January 2012 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are no proposals currently to introduce a 'rent to buy' scheme for tenant purchase of local authority dwellings.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2009 provides for an incremental purchase scheme in respect of newly – built houses reserved by housing authorities for the purpose. Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. The scheme is available to all housing authorities. It is acknowledged that the current economic climate,...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 Feb 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions have had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The project in question is one of 5 drugs projects mainstreamed to my Department's Housing programme and, in 2011, funding...