Results 1,381-1,400 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: In line with the Government's recently published Housing Policy Statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, an enhanced scheme of tenant purchase will be introduced. The Government has approved the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006, which provides, inter alia, for new tenant purchase arrangements. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Capital funding is available through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet special housing needs, including accommodation for victims of domestic violence. My Department's involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds. The administration of the scheme and the certification that particular...

Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: This will be a continuation of the reply to Priority Question No. 39 which I did not finish. I listed a number of major capital projects completed under the young people's facilities and services fund in Cabra, Ballywaltrim in Bray, St. Catherine's Community Sports Centre on Marrowbone Lane, St. Teresa's Hall on Donore Avenue and Donnycarney. In total, approximately 650 people are employed...

Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I stated the original strategy and local drugs task forces came out of problems in certain areas in the inner city and suburban communities of Dublin. These will always be a priority. Other people use cannabis and cocaine but they are from a range of various groups in society. The emphasis should always be on those who are most affected by drug misuse. A different view is taken on alcohol....

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Problem drug use remains one of the key challenges facing Irish society. However, through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy in the first instance and, second, the projects and initiatives operated through the local and regional drugs task forces, problem drug use in our society is being addressed and the hardship caused to individuals and society is being...

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I was trying to summarise and my reply was very long. When the Deputy looks at my script, he will realise there was more to it than I stated. The strategy is mainly about heroin because that is where it all started. It was the drug of most concern in disadvantaged areas. I hear what the Deputy is saying about cannabis and other issues and I am not suggesting everything is perfect. On the...

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: While there may not be enough places for young men such as the one referred to by the Deputy, there are places in Beaumont Hospital and Cuan Dara. There are a couple of dozen beds in private trusts and so on, but those in the medical field decide which cases are priorities. As another question has been asked on the issue of cocaine, in respect of which we commissioned a report, I will leave...

Housing Management Companies. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Up to recently, property management received relatively little notice in residential housing, but that has changed radically. Much of the focus has been on negatives, including management fees, poor maintenance, complaints, management companies being dissolved and so on, and this has given rise to considerable misunderstanding and even misinformation. I am glad to say that the information...

Housing Management Companies. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Yes, I accept that. They function solely in their own developments. We need clarity about when the management company starts, that is, whether it should start when all the units are privately owned or otherwise. That limbo area is causing difficulty and needs to be resolved. I believe the different processes I mentioned with deal with the issue. The measures being taken by the different...

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 50, 562 and 576 together. In relation to its responsibilities, my Department has advised planning authorities that they should not attach planning conditions requiring management companies for "traditional" housing estates, except in very exceptional circumstances. My Department understand that this advice is now accepted by all planning authorities. A...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP) reflect the strong commitment to expand social and affordable housing provision contained in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016. The NDP provides the resources — some €18 billion in total, which will enable increased output from social and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government consider that home ownership should be made available to as many people as possible where this is their preferred option. Local authorities play a key role supporting paths to home ownership for lower income groups. Over 23,000 households were assisted through all measures between 2002 and 2006 with activity in 2006 up over 30% on the 2002 figure. This includes paths from...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Information to end September 2006 on the number of transactions completed under the shared ownership scheme is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library, and also on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Since 1997, 10,546 transactions have been completed under the shared ownership scheme. The following is the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 86 together. Under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006, each local authority is required to prepare a housing strategy identifying the full range of housing needs in the authority's area and is obliged to zone sufficient land to meet the needs identified. The housing strategy also provides the basis for determining the percentage,...

Written Answers — Construction Industry: Construction Industry (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 82 together. The significance of the construction industry, including the housing sector, to the Irish economy is acknowledged. In addition, the strength of Ireland's economic performance, which most commentators consider is likely to continue, is itself a key factor underpinning the strength and stability of the housing market. Government policy is...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department is still continuing its examination of the possibility of including radon remediation measures as eligible works under the new scheme of Housing Aid for Older People. My Department undertook to examine the possibility that where a suite of works is grant aided to make an older persons home habitable, radon remediation measures may be allowable in areas where radon levels are...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 163 of 27 February 2007. Cork County Council, who have lead responsibility for planning and developing this project on State land provided under the Affordable Housing Initiative, held interviews on 23 March last to appoint consultants to advance a number of issues relating to the project. These include the preparation of the documentation associated with...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the figures regarding vacant houses outlined in the recently published report by the Central Statistics Office. My Department will be fully considering this data, and other information to be released by the CSO over the coming months, as part of ongoing housing policy development. Details of an initial analysis of these data are contained in reply to Question No. 61 on today's...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, reiterates the Government's strong commitment to ensuring a sufficiency of housing to meet demand, particularly from first time buyers. Investment in infrastructure and streamlining of the planning system, has underpinned the strong supply response to the unprecedented demand which has arisen due to...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The National Housing Conference, which was jointly organised by my Department and the RIAI, had as its central theme the Government's recently published housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. The policy statement sets out a vision to guide the transformation of the Irish housing sector over the next ten years, by delivering more and better quality housing responses...