Results 141-160 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Government's key priorities in shaping the overall housing provision have been to focus the impact of necessary budgetary adjustments on the areas in which there is scope to maintain output through more flexible approaches and where the policy context supports such approaches, and to continue to direct available capital resources substantially towards the most vulnerable and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The annual total of tenancies' registration charges collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) over the past three years is as follows: Year Registration fees collected(€ million) 2007 6.15 2008 7.89 2009 8.39 This information is set out in detail in the published Annual Reports and Accounts of the PRTB which is available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie .

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Funding provided by my Department in this context relates to the recoupment of 90% of approved expenditure by housing authorities on accommodation for homeless persons, with the...

Hospital Services (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar is part of the Dublin-Midlands Hospital Group. The aim of the hospital is to deliver a quality-driven people-centred service to the public of the Dublin-midlands area and, in particular, the Longford-Westmeath area. The...

Sports Capital Programme (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which is, I am sure, of great importance to the club concerned. The sports capital programme, which is part funded from the proceeds of the national lottery, is the primary means of granting Government support for the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. It would not be an exaggeration to state that the programme has...

Sports Capital Programme (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Neville for the opportunity to outline the current position on the Kilmallock sewerage scheme. My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes a contract for the procurement of a new waste water treatment plant under the Kilmallock sewerage scheme to advance to construction during the period of the...

Voluntary Housing Associations (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this item as it affords me an opportunity to once again confirm this Government's commitment to working with the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. I would like to begin by reflecting on the successful relationship to date between my Department, local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative sector. Since the 1980s, we have together overseen...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 341 and 343 of 9 November 2010 which sets out the position in regard to access to housing supports.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 343 together. Local authorities operate a range of housing supports, including support involving the voluntary and cooperative sector, for households with varying degrees of need, from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged households, including homeless people and people with disabilities, to middle income households whose needs may be more modest....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In April 2009 my Department commenced a review of the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review was to consider whether the Act best supported the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (9 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Dublin City Council recouped €4,687,099 in 2009 under the scheme for retrofitting of energy efficiency improvements to social housing stock. The Council has been allocated €7,000,000 under the 2010 scheme, is currently undertaking a programme of works, and will submit a claim for recoupment of appropriate costs before the end of 2010. Fingal County Council did not have any spend in 2009...

Hospital Services (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I respond to this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on the matter. Government policy on palliative care is contained in the report of the national advisory committee on palliative care. The provision of modern, quality...

Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Harney, Minister for Health and Children. I thank Deputy Neville for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House regarding funding for mental health services. As the Deputy is aware, I worked in psychiatric services for a number of years. I continue as chairman of the Roscommon Mental Health...

Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: However, I want to make it clear to the House that our current financial difficulties do not in any way dilute the Government's commitment in the area of mental health. I fully accept that the impact of any cuts to front-line services must be minimised and that we must ensure that the needs of service users remain the highest priority. However, I am confident that this can be achieved, and...

Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: -----the reconfiguring and remodelling of resources will be the main focus for the immediate future.

Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Deputies can be assured that this Government is determined to do everything possible to protect services, to respond to priority needs and to support ongoing reform of the public health services within the resources available for health. We are all too aware that the Health Service Executive must work within limited financial resources. The health sector represents more than 27% of public...

Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I addressed this matter in the House last June when I outlined the details of my Department's capital funding schemes, which provide up to 100% of the cost of voluntary and co-operative housing projects. Since March 2007, funding under the capital assistance scheme for the provision of voluntary housing covers up to 100% of the capital cost where...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 222 together. All properties provided to meet social housing need (including Rental Accommodation Scheme properties) are excluded from the application of the Non Principal Private Residence charge on the basis that the costs of providing such housing is borne by local authorities with the support of the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Local Authority Lands: Local Authority Lands (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. In the information provided by Dublin City Council as part of the land audit carried out in April 2010, the site in question is referred to as Ayrefield/Malahide Road. My Department has no further details as regards the location of the site. My Department has not received an application from Dublin City Council, seeking inclusion of this...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In July 2010 Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of the National Building Agency. The Constitution of the Company, including the Memorandum of Association, is available on the website of the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency - www.housing.ie . At present the company is involved in the management of land transferred to it from local authorities...