Results 1,421-1,440 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: This year, I will provide a minimum of 2,000 extra houses for families on local authority housing lists. This is where the €20 million will go. It is good value for money. The uptake from local authorities is excellent, as is the general public's support.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467, 468, 473, 491 and 495 together. Earlier today, I announced allocations totalling €79.562 million to local authorities under the revised suite of grants to adapt housing for the needs of older people and people with a disability. The allocations are in respect of the new Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the new 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 a 20% contribution from the resources...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing policy and support, as set out in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, is designed to reflect the needs of our growing and diverse population and to target supports at the particular needs of people in different phases of their life. The Government has undertaken a broad range of actions as part of a strategic response to enhance the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Clare County Council has recently submitted a project plan for a social housing scheme at Clonlara, Co. Clare, which is currently being considered by my Department. The progress of this project will ultimately depend on available resources under the Social Housing Investment Programme and the priority accorded to particular projects by Clare County Council within their housing programme.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: In response to a call for proposals under the new "Towards Carbon Neutral" programme, Clare County Council submitted a proposal for a housing project at Tradaree Court. The objective of the new programme is further to advance knowledge and experience of the design and construction of high performing energy efficient social housing by piloting a number of developments and by monitoring their...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 486 together. My Department has informed Kilrush Town Council that it is favourably disposed towards advancing the proposed project at John Paul Estate under the Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. Information requested from the Council by my Department concerning design, costing and phasing of the project has recently been received and a number of...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information on local authority activity under the former Disabled Persons Grant Scheme in 2007 is published in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin for that year, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Details of the overall expenditure by local authorities in 2008 under the new Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing loans are provided by local authorities for those who wish to build or purchase their own home, ncluding affordable housing purchasers, but cannot access finance from private institutions. To ensure effective targeting of resources to support households most in need, income limits are applied, distinguishing between single and dual income households. A maximum loan limit is also...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides, inter alia, that the tenant of a dwelling shall pay to the landlord, or his or her authorised agent, the rent provided for under the tenancy. The Act also provides that the rent may not be reviewed more frequently than once in each period of twelve months, unless a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation has occurred in the interim,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: An application for post tender approval for this project, costing an estimated €1.018 million, was received in my Department on 5 January 2009. The application will be further considered on receipt of outstanding documentation requested from Kildare County Council on 21 January.

Hospital Services. (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Deputy Dan Neville for raising it as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House and to outline the background to the current situation and the action taken by the Health Service Executive. The executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of...

Urban Regeneration. (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for raising this important housing issue. The Government's commitment to social housing takes a broad approach to supporting the development of sustainable communities. A crucial element of this approach is our commitment to supporting the development of sustainable communities in existing local authority estates through various improvement and regeneration initiatives....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: A Remedial Works Scheme application in respect of the estate in question was received late last year. Following an evaluation process, my Department has informed Cork City Council that it is favourably disposed towards the proposed project and would, subject to available funding, like to have it progress under the Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. In a letter, which issued on 9 February...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Local Authorities will be notified of their allocations under the schemes in early May.

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: With all redundancies there is an acute human cost and my thoughts are with those workers being made redundant today at the Dell plant in Raheen, County Limerick. The Deputy has inquired about when any co-financing support available under the European globalisation adjustment fund, EGF, will be available to these workers, the first group of whom are being let go today. In total, up to 2,000...

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The proposed new revisions to the EGF regulation, when adopted, should further facilitate Ireland in this regard and should ensure, if the application is ultimately successful, the attraction of a higher level of co-financing than heretofore.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I would like to thank the many Deputies who made contributions to the debate on Second Stage, and Members generally for attending and for their broad welcome for the Bill. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 contains a number of important milestones in the development of housing policy. For the first time in legislation, the Bill defines what we mean by housing services. It...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (30 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (29 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The proposal, by Fingal County Council, for the construction of ten Traveller group houses at Ardla, Skerries is currently under examination in my Department. A decision will be made as soon as possible.