Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet the needs of low-income families...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 to 307, inclusive, together. Allocations to individual local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability will be announced following the publication of the Revised Estimates of Public Expenditure 2009. My Department's involvement with these schemes relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 373, 374, 384 and 385 of 31 March, 2009, setting out the position in relation to, inter alia, the management and operation of voluntary and co-operative housing projects. The terms and conditions of the funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing and the arrangements for the appraisal and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: A Remedial Works Scheme application in relation to the project concerned was received by my Department in response to a circular [N11/08] seeking proposals for new remedial works projects. Following an evaluation of the proposal against the criteria set out in the circular i.e. the age and condition of the dwellings, the unit cost of refurbishment, etc. it was determined that the project was...

Urban Regeneration Schemes. (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Shortall for raising this important housing issue. It is nearly 11 years since the master plan for a new Ballymun was published and the regeneration process began. Since then, the Government has demonstrated strong commitment to the Ballymun Regeneration Project with over €580 million in Exchequer funding devoted to it to date. It is worth reminding ourselves of the...

Urban Regeneration Schemes. (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is acknowledged that it will take longer to complete the regeneration, not least because there has been a slowdown in the private sector investment needed to secure the sustainability of the project. Ballymun is an area that is being transformed through this regeneration but we must now ensure that the regeneration programme is geared to meet the new challenges we face so that all that has...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, housing authorities must make a scheme of letting priorities to determine the preference to be afforded to persons in the letting of local authority dwellings. Section 11(2)(c) provides that priority may be afforded under the scheme to emergency cases and such cases could include instances where domestic violence was an issue. The Housing...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Section 22.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 373, 374, 384 and 385 together. My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in these matters as the operation of tenancy registration is the responsibility of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004. Nevertheless, it should be noted that since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies and I understand...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Home Choice Loan was introduced to facilitate, rather than incentivise first-time buyers who have decided to purchase a house at this time. Since being announced in October 2008, over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice website (www.homechoiceloan.ie) and these have been contacted in recent weeks to advise that applications are now...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have recently announced my intention to review aspects of the Residential Tenancies Acts with a view to considering the scope for further improvements to the legislative framework within which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates, which would support the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the Board in the delivery of its functions. My Department is...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: Formal allocations for the national remedial works programme are not usually made until April in any given year. However, in January 2009, to facilitate local authorities in planning for and managing projects, provisional allocations totalling €52 million were notified to authorities. Since then, my Department has held Housing Action Plan meetings with all Housing Authorities during which...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: During March my Department held Housing Action Plan meetings with all housing authorities. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the direction and content of authorities' proposed housing investment programmes and particularly to consider the prioritisation of projects and the reconfiguration of the Social Housing Investment Programme as a whole, so that it can be sustained and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: Following my Department's Call for Proposals under the Remedial Works Programme for 2009, I approved five projects for assistance on 30 January 2009, including one at Boyle, Co. Roscommon, the initial projected cost of which was €691,000. My Department has since written to Boyle Town Council requesting, inter alia, a detailed cost plan and details of how anticipated revenue from the sale of...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: As part of a national programme for the "greening" of the social housing stock, a range of energy efficiency initiatives are being advanced, including a programme of Towards Carbon Neutral demonstration projects, insulation retrofitting projects that will inform future schemes, and a programme to improve the energy rating of dwellings due to be re-let and to advance overall energy efficiency...

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

Michael Finneran: The total Exchequer voted capital allocation for social and affordable housing programmes in 2009 will be finalised in the context of the revised Estimates for Public Services, to be published shortly. The capital provisions set out in the National Development Plan for social and affordable housing for the years 2010 to 2013 are shown in the table below. 2010 2011 2012 2013 â'¬m...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 requires local authorities to draw up, adopt, and implement accommodation programmes to accelerate the provision of accommodation for Travellers, including the provision and refurbishment of Traveller-specific accommodation such as group houses and permanent and transient halting site bays. My Department's role is to provide funding to support...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department approved a grant of €6,350 in respect of this application on 19 March 2009 and payment will issue very shortly.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department has been advised by Laois County Council that this proposed project will now be undertaken by Clúid Housing Association. The proposal will be further considered on receipt of a Project Brief and a detailed appraisal from the Council.