Results 1,941-1,960 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Budgetary Measures (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Os rud é gur thíolacadh an cheist seo don Seanad i mBéarla, freagróidh mé é i mBéarla. Current expenditure by the local government sector is forecast at about €5 billion this year. Clearly, a very significant income stream is required to underpin expenditure of this order. However, the revenue base available to local authorities is relatively narrow. Commercial rates account for...

Seanad: Budgetary Measures (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I have stated already that I will be bringing forward legislation on this matter and the county managers and the Houses of the Oireachtas will be informed. On the Senator's argument that the moneys accruing from holiday homes should be held by the local authority, the information and advice available is that smaller counties would lose out drastically because this charge includes all second...

Seanad: Museum Projects (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Martin Cullen. I thank Senators Keaveney and Hannigan for raising this matter. I applaud the well-informed and sincere interest shown by Senators in matters relating to our archival heritage. With regard to the Ballykinlar material and site, I understand that the Department of Culture,...

Seanad: Museum Projects (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I will have the comments of the Senator conveyed to the Minister.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 381 and 397 together. A number of local authorities have experienced heightened levels of activity under the revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for older people and people with a disability following their launch in November 2007. All authorities have been requested to operate the grant schemes on a prioritised basis, within available resources,...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 382 and 384 together. In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of €71.4 million for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability in private houses in 2008. Individual allocations were notified to local authorities based on their estimated requirements as...

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: An application by Kildare County Council for approval to purchase the property in question under the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme was received in my Department in July 2008. This is being examined at present and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am, at present, considering the scope to approve further projects under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme in light of the funding available, and will make an appropriate announcement in that regard very shortly.

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in relation to the matter in question. In any event, I also understand that the matter is the subject of legal proceedings and, in the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to comment on the attached correspondence.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Home Choice loan scheme will be available to first time buyers of new houses, subject to a maximum loan of €285,000, depending on income, and a maximum loan to value ratio of 92%. The loan term will be up to 30 years. A single standard variable interest rate product, related to the prevailing rates available from commercial institutions will be applicable. All applications will be...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Based on figures supplied to my Department by local authorities at the end of 2007, the average rent paid per week by local authorities to private landlords participating in the rental accommodation scheme and broken down by unit size is set out in the table: Unit Size Average weekly cost € 1 Bed 115.71 2 Bed 153.04 3 Bed 169.34 Tenants under the Rental...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 347, 348 and 349 of 9 July 2008. As indicated, the resolution of problems arising between building owners and builders are matters between the parties concerned, namely, the building owner, the relevant developer and the builder's insurer. Where the construction of a building is the subject of a contract between the client and the builder, enforcement...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) was established by Government in June 2007, with the key responsibility to ensure the delivery of a well coordinated "whole of Government" response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The major priority for Cosc is...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 204 of 23 October 2008 in relation to occupancy of emergency accommodation. As homeless people seek emergency accommodation from various agencies through a number of different routes and at various times and different locations, it is not considered feasible to compile definitive statistical data on the number of people who seek emergency accommodation.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I anticipate that the merger of the Rent Tribunal and the Private Residential Tenancies Board will be achieved next year, in advance of the expiration, on 31 July 2009, of the term of appointment of the Tribunal's current members. My Department is currently examining the appropriate mechanism to underpin the merger. I expect that legislation will be required and, in that event, I would...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 479 of 21 October 2008. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Housing Statistics: Housing Statistics (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: While my Department compiles a broad range of housing statistics for publication in its Housing Bulletins, specific data are not available on the number of planning permissions or completions for houses outside of areas zoned for development. As part of my Department's ongoing commitment to enhancing the relevance and quality of its housing statistics, the data collected are reviewed on a...

Architectural Heritage. (30 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The role of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is to ensure the regulatory framework is robust and adequate to underpin the protection and conservation of our built heritage and to encourage best practice in this area. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides the primary legislative framework for the care and protection of the architectural...

Urban Development Project. (30 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter. While specific responsibility for the planning and delivery of the north fringe development rests with the local authorities involved, namely, Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council, at a national policy level, the achievement of sustainable communities is a key objective for the Government. New development must be more than just the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am, at present, considering the scope to approve further projects under my Department's Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme in light of the funding available, and will make an appropriate announcement in that regard very shortly.