Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: There was a lengthy and interesting discussion on issues related to the housing support needs of people with disabilities at the select committee meeting. I welcome the Deputy's keen interest in the matter, which reflects my interest in the issue, and his desire to ensure the needs of people with disability are at the heart of support offered by housing authorities. However, the specific...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 8: In page 10, line 36, after "areas," to insert the following: "apartment complexes (within the meaning of section 50),". Section 3 contains general powers in respect of the making of regulations by the Minister. Section 3(2)(b) provides that regulations may apply generally or to specific housing authorities or areas. They may also apply to any specified class of...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 9 to 14, inclusive, were discussed on Committee Stage. As I said on that occasion I see merit in what Deputy Ciarán Lynch has proposed but I do not propose to accept the amendments at this time. However, my Department is currently progressing a review of the Residential Tenancies Act and I have asked my officials to consider Deputy Lynch's proposals in the context of that...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for resubmitting this amendment about which we had some discussion on Committee Stage. As I indicated then I do not believe that we need to go down the road of placing a statutory requirement on housing authorities to communicate with their tenants or customers in writing and electronically. These are matters about which an authority is more than capable of deciding for...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos.15 and 29 were also covered in our discussions on disability and housing related issues. I do not believe these amendments are necessary as their effect is essentially already comprehended by the Bill as it stands. I do not therefore propose to accept them. On the matter raised by Deputy McCormack, new houses are obliged to have wheelchair accessibility. I remind the Deputy...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I did not state that it was a matter for the planning authorities, I said it was a planning matter. It is a planning matter and it has nothing to do with this Bill.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I suggest the Deputy put down a parliamentary question on the matter.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: This legislation places considerable demands on housing authorities in terms of strategic planning through the development of housing service plans and housing action programmes. The making of rent and allocation schemes, statutory requirements on anti-social behaviour strategies and homelessness action plans and new purchase schemes in the form of incremental purchase, tenant purchase of...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant local authority,...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy. Among the areas of activity covered are statistics on: · the delivery of various social and affordable housing supports, · housing construction activity, · inspections in the private rented sector, and · house prices and lending activity. My Department...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's Capital Assistance scheme, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is provided, through the local authorities, to approved housing bodies for the provision of accommodation for groups with special housing needs including the elderly, the homeless and persons with an intellectual or physical disability. Details of the capital funding provided under the scheme for the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) registers tenancies in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. While the Act requires landlords to register tenancies in respect of private rented dwellings there are certain classes of dwellings that do not fall within the provisions of the Act such as, for instance, dwellings let by local authorities, dwellings...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 161 together. The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. It is up to individual housing authorities to plan their social housing investment programmes having regard to the specific social housing priorities in their...

Written Answers — Property Sector: Property Sector (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body in September 2004 and has its principal functions in the areas of: Ø The registration of private rental tenancies; Ø The resolution of disputes between tenants and landlords; Ø The provision of information, assistance and advice to the Minister on the private rental sector. These functions...

Written Answers — Housing Finance Agency: Housing Finance Agency (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: In general, following consideration by the Board of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), the rates charged to local authority borrowers are normally adjusted in line with movements in European Central Bank (ECB) rates. However, given that the correlation between ECB rates and interbank rates (i.e. the rates at which the Agency itself borrows) is atypical and volatile at present, the Agency, in...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of accommodation specifically for children, where necessary, is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Accommodation of children in family contexts is provided for through a range of housing supports operated by local authorities. I am not aware of significant issues arising for local authorities in connection with children taken into care. However, in the event of issues...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Accepting an offer of accommodation in the voluntary sector is the same as accepting an offer of local authority accommodation, it is seen as having met the housing need of that household. It is unreasonable to expect that where a household has agreed that its housing needs can be met adequately in the voluntary sector the household would remain on a local authority waiting list on the basis...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Estimates obtained from a number of local authorities and the Affordable Homes Partnership during the first quarter of 2009 indicated that the number of affordable units on hands nationally was in the region of 3,700 units at that stage. As indicated in the reply to Question No. 577 on 22 April 2009, local authorities were requested to provide data in relation to their affordable housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: To date 9 housing authorities and 1 approved housing body have received approval in principle to enter into advanced negotiations in respect of some 478 units under the new leasing arrangements. These authorities are Dublin City Council; South Dublin, Laois, Wexford, Limerick, Sligo, Meath and Leitrim County Councils; and Sligo Borough Council. In relation to the projects approved, no lease...