Results 1,881-1,900 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senators for their understanding. I will come back to them. I assure Senator Norris that local authorities have been given funds to enable them to carry out inspections. Those moneys can be drawn down on the basis of the results achieved. Local authorities cannot draw down these funds until they produce their results. The local authorities are responding. In excess of 14,000...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Approximately 240,000 residential properties that are being let out are on the books of our registration system. We are in a good position. We continue to expect local authorities to do the business.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: These amendments replace two references to "local authority" in section 13 with references to "housing authority". All the receipts referred to in the section arise from specific functions carried out under the Housing Acts. Therefore, such moneys are received by local authorities in their capacity as housing authorities. The amendments provide for clarification.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Section 15(1)(b), as drafted, requires housing authorities to have regard to the details of "social housing assessments prepared under section 21". The summaries in question will identify the need for social housing, as aggregated from a more refined assessment process under section 20. That process provides for resources to be tailored to meet the identified needs of the individual. The...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is unnecessary. Section 15(1)(g) provides that, in making a housing services plan, a housing authority must have regard to "any directions given by the Minister under subsection (2)". Sections 15(1) and 15(2) need to be read together. Therefore, any directions given by the Minister in respect of the items listed in sections 15(2)(a)(i) to (v) must be taken into account by...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: These amendments involve the transfer of text specifying material for inclusion in housing service plans to section 15, which deals with the content of the plan, from section 16, which deals with the preparation of the draft plan and the making of the plan. This subsection is more appropriate to the section dealing with the contents of the service plan rather than the process of its making...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Section 16(1) requires the circulation by the housing authority of a draft housing service plan to the Minister. With regard to specified bodies and persons, amendment No. 21, which concerns section 16(3), clarifies consultation under section 16(1) is confined to the persons listed and it is clear from the amended subsection that written submissions or observations are anticipated from them....

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: These amendments generally seek to expand the list of bodies and persons with whom the housing authority formally consults on the draft development plan. I do not consider that the combination of amendments will add to the provision. I am satisfied that the list under section 16(1)(f) is sufficiently broad to cover the groups referred to in the proposed amendments. However, when work is...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I hope to be here.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I understood Senator Hannigan was in possession.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I was discussing section 128 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that a local authority may by resolution declare a body which promotes the interest of a local community to be a recognised association and allows for the provision of assistance to such an association and for the delegation of certain functions to it. The purpose of this provision is not to relieve local...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is proposed to clarify that the Traveller accommodation consultative committees to be consulted by a housing authority on a draft housing services plan are those committees directly concerned with the plan and in the area covered by the plan. The qualification is already included where appropriate in the other paragraphs of section 16(1) relating to other categories of body to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I do not believe the addition of a statutory requirement on the housing authorities to provide explanations will serve any useful purpose in this instance. The important characteristic of this provision is that it is undertaken in a public way with appropriate consultation opportunities, executive assessment by the manager and debate and adoption by the elected members of the council....

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under section 16(5), the manager is required to prepare and submit a report to elected members which will include any submissions or observations from the parties consulted. This report will be available for discussion by elected members in the context of adopting the plan.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Government amendment substitutes the existing subsection (3) with a new subsection (3) and makes two changes to the text. It clarifies that consultation is confined to the persons listed in Section 16 (1). It also provides that the period of submission for draft housing service plans begins from the date of issue of the draft plan rather than the date of its preparation. Under the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The housing services plan must be made within six weeks of the adoption of the development plan. I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to ensure compatibility within the two documents. Within this period, the timeframe for preparation and consultation is properly apportioned. While there is a formal statutory requirement to consult, I would expect ongoing inter-agency group work...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is required because there is no prior reference to the housing authority in the sentence. Therefore, it is not correct to "its housing service plan" in subsection (1).

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This is the same phraseology that is used in Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and is similar to the term "social inclusion" reflected in local government legislation. I am satisfied that the word "social" in its normal use, that is, pertaining to society, is sufficiently broad to encompass economic, cultural, ethnic and other issues. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The word "social", in its normal usage, embraces economic, cultural, social, ethnic and other issues. It is in existing legislation, so I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Social inclusion is in existing legislation. The interpretation has been that it encompasses economic, cultural, ethnic and other issues. By adding one or two pieces to it, we may be excluding something else. If we leave it as it is, it will be interpreted as including all those areas. I do not want to exclude any group or person.