Results 61-80 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Jan 2011)

Michael Finneran: I expect to make the necessary statutory instruments in the coming months to enable the tenant purchase scheme for local authority apartments under Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to be brought into operation as quickly as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Jan 2011)

Michael Finneran: In areas where there may be insufficient demand accurately to determine the market value rent for a leasing proposal, housing authorities and approved housing bodies determine a market value for that area using the market rent value of the area of nearest equivalence. I have no plans at present to introduce a minimum market value rent in any area.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Jan 2011)

Michael Finneran: Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities in relation to differential rent are currently in preparation in my Department. Once section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which provides for rent schemes and charges, has been commenced, housing authorities will have one year in which to put in place a new differential rent scheme. It is expected that the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Jan 2011)

Michael Finneran: As part of Budget 2011, a new tenant purchase scheme will be introduced to allow local authority tenants to avail of a discount of up to 45% on the market price of a house they are eligible to purchase under the scheme. Under the current scheme a maximum 30% discount is accumulated over a 10 year period at a rate of 3% for each year of the tenancy. The new scheme will allow tenants to...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (12 Jan 2011)

Michael Finneran: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the fees to be charged by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) for the registration of a tenancy and it also provides that the PRTB may adjust the fees charged, having regard to changes in the value of money. The fees provided for in the Act are €70 for the registration of a tenancy within one month of the commencement of the tenancy;...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department is currently awaiting Dublin City Council's submission of further details relating to its proposal for a social housing project at the site in question. It is a matter for Dublin City Council, in the first instance, to prioritise and manage the advancement of such projects within its social housing investment programme, having regard to its available funding resources.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: The social housing proposal in question has not advanced beyond Dublin City Councils submission of a pre-planning proposal to my Department. It is a matter for the Council, in the first instance, to prioritise and manage the advancement of such projects within the context of its overall social housing investment programme, having regard to its available funding resources.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for older people, the homeless, persons with special needs, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. In February 2010, I announced approval to advance some 75 voluntary and co-operative housing projects at various locations around the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of housing to meet the accommodation needs for persons with specific categories of need, including older people, persons with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, homeless persons, victims of domestic violence etc. All of the €145 million CAS...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, local authorities are required to carry out an assessment of the overall need for social housing on a triennial basis. The most recent assessment took place in March 2008 and the results, including those in relation to homelessness are published in the 2008 Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin. This is available on my Departments website www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department reminded local authorities last month, in the context of the extreme cold weather conditions, of the need for vigilance in relation to any possible incidences of rough sleeping. Housing authorities have wide and flexible statutory powers to assist or make arrangements for the accommodation of homeless persons and have adequate arrangements in place to deal with any possible...

Written Answers — Severe Weather Events: Severe Weather Events (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of all local authorities, including the staff of South Dublin County Council, in responding to the challenges posed by the spell of severe cold weather which commenced on Saturday 27 November, and affected practically all of the country. Local authority staff worked continuously over the period with other State bodies and transport agencies to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities. The last assessment took place in 2008 and indicated that there were 56 older person households awaiting the allocation of social housing support in Waterford County Council and 51 older person households awaiting the allocation of social housing support in Waterford City Council. Detailed...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department's role is one of supporting and assisting local authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and to facilitate the continued occupancy of their own...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: In June 2008 my Department issued approval to Dublin City Council to proceed to detailed design stage for a social housing project at the site in question. My Department is currently awaiting Dublin City Council's detailed proposal for this project. It is a matter for the Council, in the first instance, to prioritise and manage the advancement of projects within the programme, having regard...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together. My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: In February 2010 my Department approved the proposal by Roscommon County Council to proceed to tender with Phase 1 of this project. Approval was contingent on receiving further information from the Council on a number of issues. This information is awaited at present.

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1476 of 29 September 2010 which sets out the position in this matter.