Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 349 together. The revised scheme of letting priorities submitted by Dublin City Council is currently under consideration in my Department. Officials from the Council met with my Department in November 2008 to discuss the various proposed amendments. I expect to make a decision on the revised scheme in the near future. In relation to single parent...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: As part of a suite of social housing reforms, proposals to reform allocation policy, including schemes of letting priorities, were developed in consultation with the County and City Managers Association. The social partners, through the Housing Forum, and local elected representatives were also consulted on the allocation policy proposals. These proposals have been included in the Housing...

Written Answers — Housing Advice Services: Housing Advice Services (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Government has put in place a range of measures to provide advice and financial supports to households who may experience difficulties in meeting their mortgage payments. The Mortgage Interest Supplement, administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, provides direct financial assistance where the...

Written Answers — Housing Advice Services: Housing Advice Services (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: Property management companies are generally constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to operate in compliance with company law, which falls under the area of responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department has no function in the provision of advice with regard to these companies. The rights and obligations of property owners in relation to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: As signalled by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2009, a new single streamlined Government Equity Scheme is to be introduced in relation to affordable housing. Initially, it is intended to apply the equity loan arrangement to affordable housing delivered under the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme, Part V of the Planning and Development Acts and the Affordable Housing Initiative, once the...

Written Answers — Estate Management: Estate Management (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no function in relation to the operation of apartment block management companies. These companies, comprising of the owners of dwellings are generally constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to operate in compliance with company law which comes within the area of responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Government has recently...

Public Finances: Motion (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: We do not need sympathy, we need support.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: Legislative provision to facilitate arrangements under which a local authority could agree to its clawback charge ranking in second place behind a new or topped-up mortgage charge, thereby facilitating persons in affordable housing wishing to re-mortgage with a private lender, is included in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, which is currently before the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together. Local authorities will be notified of their capital allocations for 2009 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, following the publication, shortly, of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. As in previous years, it will be a matter for each local authority to decide on...

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

Michael Finneran: A Remedial Works Scheme application in relation to the estates in question was received late last year and, following an evaluation process, my Department has informed Tralee Town 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...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 contains a range of measures designed to provide local authorities with a framework for a more strategic approach to the delivery and management of housing services. That framework includes new provisions for the making of housing services plans and the implementation of those plans through housing action programmes. It provides for a more...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: On 10 October, 2008, Cork County Council, who are responsible for the administration of the voluntary housing funding schemes, sought certain clarification from my Department on the procurement arrangements pertaining to this project. Following an examination of the procedures followed by the Approved Housing Body, my Department advised the Council on 10 December, 2008, that the procedures...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: Local authorities will be notified of their capital allocations for 2009 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, following the publication, shortly, of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department...

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

Michael Finneran: My Department maintains close contact with Dublin City Council in relation to affordable housing and any proposals from the City Council in that regard will be fully considered. In addition, the Affordable Homes Partnership has been requested by my Department to examine the position generally of affordable housing on hand in selected areas, in conjunction with the relevant housing...

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

Michael Finneran: It is up to individual housing authorities to plan the composition and delivery of their social housing investment programmes in line with housing needs in their areas and by reference to the Exchequer funding allocations available to them. As part of the preparation of their housing programmes local authorities have been asked to look to the acquisition and leasing of housing units as a...

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

Michael Finneran: At present, funding for the retrofitting of insulation in local authority stock is provided either as part of a central heating grant provided under the National Central Heating Programme or is funded by the local authority from its own resources under its annual Improvement Works Programme. Under the National Central Heating Programme 2004-2008 the Department has co-funded the installation...

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

Michael Finneran: A Remedial Works Scheme application in relation to the estate in question was received late last year and, following an evaluation process, my Department has informed Kilrush Town 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...

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

Michael Finneran: The key regulations governing the standards of private rented accommodation are the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. These regulations specify minimum requirements in relation to a range of matters such as structural repair, absence of damp and rot, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply; they do not refer to...

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

Michael Finneran: Work is continuing to address the outstanding issues relating to the tenant purchase of local authority apartments. I hope legislative proposals for a viable apartment sales scheme can be finalised in time for consideration during the Committee Stage debate on the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Feb 2009)

Michael Finneran: As part of the Housing management Initiative, local authorities have been given delegated sanction for the delivery of their annual Improvement Works Programmes subject to specific conditions and overall programme approval from my Department. Funding for these programmes is provided from the authority's own internal capital receipts (from the sale of local authority dwellings) and may...