Results 1,681-1,700 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Jan 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have listened with great interest to what has been said and appreciate the quality of the contributions from Deputies and the positive manner in which the Bill has been considered. What was involved here was a procedural error, a tactical flaw which casts no reflection on the quality of the tenancies tribunal convened in the period in question. The mistake concerned the unexpired portion...

(27 Jan 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Opposition spokespersons for their co-operation on this important emergency Bill. I assure them that I will take on board their proposals on the review of the legislation that is provided for in the existing Act, and I hope we can get that agreement into our Housing (Miscellaneous) Bill during this session.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Order for Second Stage (27 Jan 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Jan 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Before outlining the precise circumstances which have given rise to the need for this legislation I will first provide an overview of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB. I shall then outline the background to and the need for this legislation before making use of this opportunity to consider some of the key challenges facing the...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Jan 2009)

Michael Finneran: This raised staffing level will help significantly with the administrative work relating to the processing of dispute cases. While there is much road to be travelled, there have been verifiable improvements in workload processing in the PRTB. For example, 516 determination orders issued in 2008 compared to 400 in 2007. Processing time for tenancy registration has been reduced significantly...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department is currently considering a tender recommendation for a social housing development at Knockmore, Tallaght, which also includes proposals for a child and family centre. My Department will be writing to South Dublin County Council on the matter shortly.

Housing: Motion (Resumed) (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: What about the Deputy's own delusion on the Order of Business?

Housing: Motion (Resumed) (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I did not reject it. I have already acted, and I did not wait for the Labour Party to tell me about it.

Housing: Motion (Resumed) (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: We did not wait for the Labour Party to tell us about that either.

Housing: Motion (Resumed) (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: We will support the Minister.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I intend to announce details of the voluntary housing projects to be approved for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme for 2009 as early as possible in the New Year.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Acquisitions already form an important component of the Social Housing Investment Programme. Local authorities have powers under the Housing Act 1966 to acquire dwellings for social housing purposes and must consider such acquisitions in the context of their housing action plan and their available funding. As is the case with all Social Housing Investment Programme projects, proposals for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in County Donegal. The 2008 statutory housing need assessment indicated that the net housing need in County Donegal at 31...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The allocations to the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme (SHAE) are determined by a Task Force, which operates under the aegis of my Department. The scheme is operated at a local level by the HSE. While the scheme has been closed to new applications since 1 August 2008, having been replaced by the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, the HSE...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department is currently considering a proposal for regeneration works in Buttercup Park, Darndale and will be writing to Dublin City Council in connection with the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (17 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department made combined capital allocations of €1,962,090, €2,545,140 and €1,008,930 to the North, South and West Divisions, respectively, of Cork County Council and €1,855,620 to Cork City Council, in May 2008, for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my...

Written Answers — Rented Accommodation: Rented Accommodation (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The 2006 Census enumerates 8,751 bedsits, housing 14,480 people. These figures are not further broken down between the private and public housing sectors. In the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations for the rental sector and recently delivered on this commitment by approving a package of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: In response to my Department's Call for Proposals under the Remedial Works Programme for 2009, Roscommon County Council submitted proposals for refurbishment works in respect of 11 houses in Boyle and 18 rural houses. The proposals will be considered by my Department in the context of the 2009 allocations to be announced early next year and the competing demands of other housing authorities.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Limerick Northside and Southside Regeneration Agencies are not at present prescribed under the Freedom of Information Act 1997. However, my Department has requested that the Agencies be included in the next extension of the Act, which it is expected will be completed during 2009.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in County Meath. The 2008 statutory housing need assessment indicated that the net housing need in County Meath at 31...