Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (23 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: There is no general grant scheme currently available from my Department for the repair or restoration of older private dwellings and I have no plans to introduce such a scheme. However, there is a conservation grants scheme, administered by local authorities with funding from my Department, aimed at supporting the carrying out of conservation works on structures of architectural significance,...

Seanad: Animal Control Regulations (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this issue. I share her concern on the matter of dangerous dogs and assure her the Government takes a very serious view of the risk posed to the public, and in particular to children, by these dogs. Section 19 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as inserted by section 8 of the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, provides that the Minister for the...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position with regard to an application to the Department of Education and Science from Baylin national school, Athlone, for large-scale capital funding. In April 2008, Baylin...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Some schools have taken the opportunity to provide an extra classroom instead of a pre-fab but the project for Baylin is larger than that, being a major capital project.

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I shall bring the points made by the Senator to the attention of the Minister.

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Earlier this year I announced my intention to review the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review is to consider whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the old Disabled Persons & Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. These allocations represent an 11.4% increase on the initial allocation for 2008. At this stage I do not envisage making...

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (18 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific cases or classes of case. The Residential Tenancies Act sets out dispute resolution services and procedures to...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (16 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (16 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: In accordance with the arrangements set out in my Department's Circular Letter N16/06, Housing Management Initiative - Direct Control for Local Authorities over Internal Capital Receipts, responsibility for carrying out works to local authority dwellings to meet the needs of disabled persons resides with individual local authorities. Since 1 January 2007, local authorities have direct control...

Written Answers — Residential Tenancy Disputes: Residential Tenancy Disputes (16 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 introduced a new regulatory framework governing private rented residential accommodation and it provided for, inter alia, the registration of private rented residential tenancies, the cheap and speedy resolution of disputes between parties to such tenancies and the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to discharge a range of...

Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: He is gone for a couple of minutes.

Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: He has just left the House for a few minutes.

Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Minister will be here when NAMA is being debated, but today we are discussing the deposit guarantee scheme, not NAMA.

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: €1,870,000 has been allocated to Kildare County Council in respect of the grant schemes concerned in 2009, an increase of almost 14% on the initial allocation of €1,642,680 in 2008. While the Council has advised my Department of its intention to request additional funding under the schemes in 2009, no formal application has been received to date. At this stage I do not envisage making...

Written Answers — Local Authority Mortgages: Local Authority Mortgages (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: As stated in replies to Questions Nos. 53 of 8 April and 223 of 13 May 2009, 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...

Seanad: Health Services. (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Health Service Executive will undertake a case review in respect of the person named by the Senator to establish how his needs can be met. The accommodation at the Cheshire Home in Blackrock is not designed to meet the needs of the individual referred to by the Senator. It is not, therefore,...

Seanad: Health Services. (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Senator may wish to take into account that the Cheshire Home is of the same opinion as the HSE in respect of this matter.

Seanad: Elections of June 2009: Statements (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am impressed with the level of debate from all Senators who contributed today. A wide range of issues were mentioned, some of which did not pertain directly to the results of the elections but may have been contributing factors. There were also a number of interesting comments and suggestions from individual Senators. It goes to show the amount of thought people put into debates such as...

Seanad: Public Transport (11 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Senator has raised concerns about Dublin Bus engaging in predatory behaviour in the operation of its network of services in Dublin and has referred specifically to the routes operated by Swords Express between Swords and the city centre and by Dublin Bus on the 41X service from Swords to the UCD campus at Belfield via the city centre. Dublin Bus has operated for some years a range of...