Results 1,741-1,760 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I indicated to the House on the Committee Stage debate on section 16, dealing with the preparation and making of a housing services plan, that I would examine this amendment, which proposed to extend the timeframe from six week to eight weeks within which the bodies or persons notified in accordance with section 16(1) must make their observations on the housing services plan. I have carried...
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: As I indicated on Committee Stage, I am satisfied that the word "social" in its normal use, that is, pertaining to human society and its members, is sufficiently broad to encompass economic, cultural, ethnic and other issues. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendment.
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: As I stated, I prefer to use the broader encompassing term, "social". This is how I wish it to remain, which is the reason I do not propose to accept the amendment.
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: This amendment is not necessary. Subsection (3) will allow housing authorities, where they consider it necessary, to assess households which have been receiving rent supplement for a specified period which have not applied for local authority housing. These would generally be households which become known to the housing authority by virtue of them being potential clients of the rental...
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: A very accommodating Minister of State.
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: These amendments all deal with the subject of homeless action plans and in so doing return to an issue that was raised by a number of Senators on Second Stage and Committee Stage. It is an issue about which I, as Minister of State with responsibility for housing, am concerned also and that is why I published The Way Home in August 2008. As I have indicated to Senators previously, The Way...
- Live Register. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I was asked by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, to take this Adjournment matter on her behalf and I thank the Deputy for raising it. Yesterday, I attended with the Deputy a development in his constituency and I was well received by him and all colleagues in the Waterford city area. The recent increase in unemployment is unwelcome and is an indication of the...
- Live Register. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: If the Acting Chairman allows me a little leeway I will include the rest of the reply, otherwise I will furnish it to the Deputy. It is intended that during 2009 a number of START workshops will be run throughout the south-east to develop a pipeline of businesses for the region. The first of these workshops will be held in February 2009. Enterprise Ireland is planning a strong promotional...
- Hospital Services. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient...
- Hospital Services. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: It is all good news.
- Social Welfare Benefits. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin. The Christmas bonus is paid to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The payment was made during the first week of December, at an estimated cost of â¬201 million. Some 1.3 million persons, comprising 940,000 recipients and 400,000 dependants, benefited...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Supplementary welfare is available. It is the prerogative of supplementary welfare officers to provide it with regard to any particular hardship affecting a family or any bill payments that need to be made.
- Urban Renewal Schemes. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I thank Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady for raising this matter. I am pleased to be able to respond positively to this motion, which recognises the solid work that has been undertaken by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority since its establishment in 1997 in managing the physical, economic and social regeneration of more than 500 hectares of the docklands. The success of the...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: My Department's Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, which is administered by local authorities, provides targeted support to improve conditions in the existing housing of older people. The types of works which may be grant aided under the Scheme are varied and may include the provision and upgrading of insulation works. In addition, older people living in local authority housing may benefit...
- Written Answers — Housing Schemes: Housing Schemes (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Under my Department's funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, grants of up to 100% of the approved cost of projects are available for accommodation provided by approved housing bodies. The administration of the schemes, including the processing and appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: The administration of the Essential Repairs and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant Schemes, including the processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for the local authority concerned and is one in which my Department has no direct function.
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Despite the challenges that the current economic situation presents, meeting the relevant targets set out in the Government Programme, the social partnership agreement Towards 2016, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 continues to be the overriding objective of the Social Housing Investment Programme. The commitment entered into under Towards 2016 was to achieve 27,000 social housing...
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence, subject, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Since the announcement in May 2008 that a number of housing regeneration Public-Private Partnership projects would not be proceeding as planned, my Department has worked closely with Dublin City Council to ensure that all possible avenues for moving these projects forward are examined. I am aware that the multi-disciplinary team, established within the Council to identify the next steps for...
- Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (4 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of â¬71.4 million for the operation of the schemes in private houses in 2008. On foot of...