Results 161-180 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

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

Michael Finneran: Clare County Council was allocated €500,000 in 2010 under the scheme for retrofitting of energy efficiency improvements to social housing stock. The Council is currently undertaking a programme of works under this scheme and will submit a claim for recoupment of appropriate costs before the end of 2010. The works being undertaken are a matter for Clare County Council having regard to the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 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. Under existing legislation, households can apply to multiple authorities. The social housing reform programme, which was given legislative effect by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, provides for a new process of housing needs assessment. Regulations will be made...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The amounts allocated for the Rental Accommodation Scheme and for the Social Housing Leasing Initiative in 2009 and 2010 are set out in the following table: 2009 2010 Rental Accommodation Scheme. â'¬90.5m â'¬125m Social Housing Leasing Initiative. â'¬20m â'¬25m

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (2 Nov 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 fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 to 450, inclusive, together. Local authorities have, for a number of years now, progressed a programme of house purchases better to meet local housing need as well as to promote my Department's sustainable communities objectives. These programmes are undertaken and managed by the authorities having regard to their annual housing capital allocations and the...

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Many commentators and Opposition spokespersons have made contributions that would indicate the budget deficit problems in Ireland are unique to this country but that is very far from the truth. The position is that 24 states in Europe are adjusting their position in the same way as Ireland. Our nearest neighbour, Britain, has the largest structural deficit in Europe at £109 billion. They...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (28 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is designed to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement who have a long-term housing need. It is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social Protection and the Health Service Executive. In general a household must be in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 97, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together. In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, responsibility for the planning and implementation of proposals for the extension or refurbishment of Traveller accommodation is a matter for the relevant housing authority. Initial proposals for the provision of 22 extra units of Traveller...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The detailed information requested in relation to the location of Traveller accommodation housing schemes in each local authority area is not available in my Department. However, details of all Traveller-specific units of accommodation completed from 2002– 2008 are included in the annual reports of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC), copies of which are...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Where a person is selling an affordable home and the clawback amount payable would reduce the proceeds of resale below the initial price actually paid, current legislation provides for the amount of the clawback payable to be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid that result. The clawback provisions do not therefore need to be amended to take account of any negative equity that may arise....

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department is committed to a multi-annual regeneration programme in Dublin City to help improve the lives and conditions of the communities involved. The programme is reviewed on a regular basis with Dublin City Council, including through the biannual Housing Action Plan meetings, with new projects added and additional elements of existing projects advanced, as resources permit. It is a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: While provision has been made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to allow purchasers under the new Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangements to re-mortgage or top-up their mortgage without triggering the clawback, the Act does not provide this facility for purchasers under existing affordable housing or shared ownership arrangements. I have requested my Department to arrange...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Since 2000, very significant levels of investment have been made available under the Social Housing Investment Programme with over €11.5 billion provided for the construction or acquisition of units by local authorities and approved housing bodies. Details on the amount spent under the various social housing programmes and the outputs achieved are set out in tables 1 and 2. Meeting housing...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have indicated to Government my intention to amalgamate the Limerick Northside and Limerick Southside Regeneration Agencies into a single Agency with a smaller reconstituted board of directors. This will be placed on a legislative basis under the Local Government (Corporate Bodies) (Amendment) Bill 2010. I am particularly concerned to ensure that this new Board will include local political...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The amount of rent paid to private landlords through the Rental Accommodation Scheme is a matter for individual local authorities, having regard to the need to obtain value for money. Guidance from my Department in relation to this matter emphasises the need for authorities to obtain competitive prices for property, having regard to the level of risk transferred to the authority (i.e. risk of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The management of differential rent schemes and individual rent accounts is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002. My Department does not collect information on the number of local authority tenants that fall into rent arrears each year.

Written Answers — Local Authority Lands: Local Authority Lands (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 458 of 12 October 2010. According to information provided by Dublin City Council as part of the land audit carried out in April 2010, these lands were purchased by way of loans advanced by the Housing Finance Agency for social and affordable housing purposes. The management of these lands is a matter for the local authority concerned. My Department has...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The publication of the National Housing Development Survey marks a crucial first stage in tackling the problems associated with unfinished developments. It should also serve to draw a line under much of the speculation over recent months about the extent of the overhang of unsold properties and of incomplete developments. The problems and difficulties faced by people living day to day in...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: That was not all in residential property.