Results 1,701-1,720 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Earlier this year I announced a record level of funding for the voluntary and co-operative capital schemes. I also substantially increased the capital funding limits for individual housing projects. Funding is also provided by my Department to approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies towards administrative and operational costs. My Department, in consultation with the voluntary...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important role in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it supplements the social housing effort in areas where particular housing needs have been identified. It is supported by my Department through two separate funding schemes, the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Loan and...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme, which incorporates the conditions governing the Essential Repairs Grant scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme, was recently finalised within my Department. Proposals for the future operation of the schemes are being prepared and are expected to be announced early next year in the context of a new Housing Policy Statement.

Written Answers — Homelessness Policy: Homelessness Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 109 together. I have noted the recent launch of the MakeRoom campaign by Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold. The stated aim of the MakeRoom campaign is to end homelessness by 2010 and in this context indicates this to mean "nobody will sleep rough; nobody will stay in emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Residential Tenancies Board: Residential Tenancies Board (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter for the Private Residential Tenancy Board to keep the effectiveness of their operations and the adequacy of their resources under review. There is no request with my Department from the Board at present for additional operational funding or staff. A request was, however, received from the Board this week for a grant to fund the fitting-out of proposed new office accommodation...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is anticipated that the revised social housing design guidelines will be published in early 2007.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 120 together. Local authority housing construction and improvement works programmes, including planned maintenance, regeneration and remedial works are discussed with each local authority as part of the preparation and review of their Housing Action Plans. Arising out of this, authorities may seek Exchequer support for improvement works under a number...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 511 together. The maximum loan which may be advanced by a local authority for social and affordable housing schemes is €185,000 and subject to this limit, a loan of up to 95% of the price of the house may be made available. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the amount on the loan in each case up to the limit and subject to the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Development contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. Without them, this servicing could not proceed or the full cost would have to be borne by the taxpayer. They are also a way of recouping some of the "betterment", which local authorities add to the value of land when it is serviced. Under the Planning Acts,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Cork County Council advertised for expressions of interest from consultants on 22 September 2006, for the preparation of the relevant documentation required for the Part 8 planning process, and for the preparation of cost plans, tender documentation and the construction contract in respect of the site at Darrara. Following a shortlisting exercise, further details on prices and proposals have...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Cumulative expenditure under the local authority housing measure of the NDP will reach some €5 billion at the end of 2006 which is 13% ahead of NDP forecast. While output levels have been less than anticipated, more than 31,000 local authority houses will be completed or acquired by the end of the programme period. The shortfall in achieving targets can be attributed largely to higher than...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Government Legislation Programme provides for the publication in 2007 of a Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill, which is being developed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to give effect to recommendations in this area by the Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group. It is proposed that this legislation will provide for the regulation of property services,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 534 together. My Department introduced a programme in July 2004 for the installation of central heating in existing local authority rented dwellings with priority given to houses occupied by elderly people. Grants totalling some €42 million were paid to local authorities by my Department in 2004 and 2005. Capital allocations of almost €32 million...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is estimated that more than 7,000 households will benefit in 2007 from new social housing provided by local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector and through long-term contractual commitments for new supply under RAS. In addition, further households will benefit from the implementation of RAS involving contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, it was agreed under Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to pilot a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes under the scheme. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Nearly all housing authorities are now mobilised in relation to RAS and most have begun to transfer households to RAS. In some cases the County Council is managing the scheme for the County at large. A total of 2,648 households have been transferred to RAS. The number of cases transferred by each local authority; estimated average cost and monthly rent per tenant, based on available...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: A number of legislative measures have been put in place to ensure that local authorities have the capacity to fulfil their responsibilities under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. These measures are kept under continuous review in my Department. The tenancy agreement, which is the legal basis of the relationship between the local authority and its...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Data on the number of social houses delivered in each local authority for each year, and for the first 6 months of 2006, are published in the Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. From 2000 to 2003, the local authority four-year multi-annual programme included target starts over the whole period for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The management and maintenance of their rented dwellings, including the control of vacant dwellings, is the responsibility of the housing authority concerned. The following table, based on local authority returns to my Department, indicates the most recent figures available on vacant dwellings. Local Authority Vacant Dwellings (as at 31 December 2005) County (including Borough and Town...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Among the priority measures approved by Government for assistance from dormant accounts in 2006 is one providing small-scale equipment grants for youth groups. Applications received for this funding measure, including one received from the organisation in question, are currently being processed and assessed by the relevant Vocational Education Committees under the auspices of the Department...