Results 101-120 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In accordance with the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, housing authorities are required to present, on the allocation of a tenancy to a household, a printed copy of the property's BER certificate and advisory report. Under current housing legislation, the BER rating of a property is not a reason for refusing an offer of social housing support from a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Statutory responsibility for the making of agreements under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2007 rests with the relevant planning authority. Local authorities have been advised that where Part V agreements are in place but the development has not been completed, local authorities should, in the context of the proposed transfer of units, be satisfied that the development...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Record exchequer allocations totalling almost €80m were notified to local authorities under the schemes on 5 March 2010, giving a combined allocation of almost €100m. It is...

Written Answers — Land Aggregation Scheme: Land Aggregation Scheme (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 193 together. Applications totalling some €83 million from seven housing authorities and the National Building Agency have been received by my Department. It is difficult, however, to determine the exact value of the loans that will be approved for inclusion in the scheme, as the amount recouped will depend on a number of factors, including whether...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: As suggested in the Joint Oireachtas Committee's report, I have asked my Department to complete its own review of the severe weather events as soon as possible. This report, which is close to finalisation, draws on information provided to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and addresses a wide range of issues emerging from the co-ordination of response to...

Written Answers — Private Rental Accommodation: Private Rental Accommodation (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), as it is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. However, dispute resolution statistics are published as part of the annual report of the PRTB and are available on their website at www.prtb.ie In November 2009 I announced the preliminary outcomes of my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Lands: Local Authority Lands (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2010, my Department advised housing authorities of revised arrangements for the funding of land used for social housing and sought information from them on local authority residential land holdings for the purpose of ensuring the optimal use of the lands in question. In July 2010 Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of the National Building...

Written Answers — Local Authority Lands: Local Authority Lands (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Following the transfer of land to Housing and Sustainable Communities (HSC) Ltd. under the land aggregation scheme, HSC Ltd. will be required to prepare a report, in consultation with relevant bodies, including my Department and the local authority concerned, to ensure the best use of the land from planning and value for money perspectives. A strategy for the management, utilisation,...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: To the end of October, 2010, 30,008 household units have been transferred to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) from rent supplement. Of these, 16,696 were housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 13,312 were accommodated under other social housing options. The current qualifying criteria for RAS are that a household must be in receipt of rent supplement, in general for a period...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The most up to date figures available show that at end December 2008 there were 118,396 dwellings let by housing authorities to social housing tenants. The average weekly rent for those tenants for that year was €46.85 and the total value of rents collected by housing authorities was €300,935,240.

Written Answers — Home Loan Schemes: Home Loan Schemes (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Since introduction of the Home Choice Loan Scheme in Budget 2008, 6 loans have issued. Of these 6 loan applications, 2 applicants were earning over €40,000, 1 as a single applicant and 1 as part of a joint application. To date 17 approval-in-principle recommendations have been made, and of these, 5 applicants were earning over €40,000, 2 as single applicants and 3 as part of joint...

Written Answers — Home Loan Schemes: Home Loan Schemes (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Local Authority variable interest rate, applicable since 1 November 2010, charged to borrowers, including mortgage protection insurance, is 3.3115%. The charge for mortgage protection is currently 0.5615%. Based on this rate, the annual cost of servicing a mortgage of €150,000 would be €7,895. The Local Authority five year fixed interest rate charged to borrowers, including mortgage...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have no proposals at this time to amend the terms and conditions of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is the Government's intention to continue to meet the accommodation needs of as many households as possible within the resources available. The current oversupply of housing is a key factor in that regard, and there is potential to make economic necessity and the response to social need work in tandem by utilising unsold housing stock to accommodate families in need of social housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Interest rates charged to local authority borrowers are determined by the Board of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). In determining these rates, the Board of the Agency gives careful consideration to the fluctuating relationship between the rates at which it can borrow and its lending rates. The HFA is required to operate on a break-even basis and continues to provide extremely good value to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under Shared Ownership the rent charged on the equity stake held by the local authority is related to their borrowing costs from the Housing Finance Agency for the purchase of that equity. Borrowings drawn down are at prevailing interest rates. It is important to note that any difference between the rent and prevailing interest rate is reflected in the capital outstanding on the property....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is open to any person or household to apply to any housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 and having regard to the particular...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In February 2010 I approved funding of over €157m for a range of housing projects under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for people with specific categories of need. Approvals were largely based on the prioritisation afforded to individual proposals by local authorities. The project in question was placed eighth on the list of proposals submitted by Cork County Council. It...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The eLibraries website was set up some years ago as part of the Government's Information Society Action Plan, New Connections. The services provided by the website are now provided by the www.borrowbooks.ie website under the auspices of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (ACL). The ACL website provides internet access to all local authority library catalogues and allows members to request...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Affordable housing is privately owned housing and, as such, is subject to the fluctuations of the market. Affordable purchasers are in the same position as other private purchasers who are in negative equity and for the great majority of homeowners negative equity will never be anything more than a notional loss in value. It is not intended to introduce a scheme on the lines proposed in...