Results 101-120 of 3,826 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Housing Management Initiative, direct control has been given to local authorities from 1 January 2007 over their internal capital receipts from the sale of local authority dwellings, to be used primarily for their improvement works programmes. While the Department approves the overall programmes it is the responsibility of local authorities to prioritise and advance individual...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes sector for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, indicated that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Local authorities are responsible for the adoption of their differential rents schemes and my Department has no direct function in their administration. However, my Department's circular letter HRT 3/2002 laid down broad principles in relation to the content of local authority differential rent schemes. These include that the rent payable should be related to income; that a smaller...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department allocated €1 million to Mayo County Council for spending in 2007 on the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation. A total of €382,000 has been recouped to date. Over the period of the Council's second Traveller Accommodation Programme, 2005 — 2008, over €1.7 million was paid to Mayo County Council in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation. A further €1.09m...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The requirement for a clawback is necessary to ensure that there is no short-term profit taking on the resale of houses provided under the various affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value. There are no plans to rescind the clawback arrangements under the existing schemes.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, undertaken by my Department in 2002 in consultation with a wide range of interested bodies including local authorities and representatives of the house building industry, professional institutes and voluntary housing providers, concluded that greater flexibility in the operation of the Part V mechanism was required. Measures to...

Written Answers — Disability Grant: Disability Grant (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme, including the processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for the local authority concerned and is one in which my Department has no direct function.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: To assist local authority tenants purchase their homes, a discount of 3% of the market value of the house is allowed for each year of tenancy, up to a maximum of 30%. In addition to this, a further discount of €3,809 is provided. Thus, a local authority house with a market value of €140,000 would be available for purchase at some €94,200 by a tenant of ten or more years' standing. By...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Significant improvements were made to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grant scheme in recent years. Since 2 December 1998, the effective maximum grant available has doubled from €10,158 to €20,320, and the rate of recoupment to local authorities in respect of grants paid has also increased from 50% to two-thirds. In addition, the grant now covers 90% of the approved...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Action to deal with anti-social behaviour, in any area, is primarily an issue for the Garda Síochána and legislation in this regard is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Landlords are responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act, in this regard, prohibits a private rental tenant...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued approval to Kilkenny County Council for the purchase of 16 houses in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on 6 September 2007.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The income and loan limits for social and affordable housing schemes are under review and I hope to be in a position to announce the outcome of that review shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The housing needs assessment process is currently the subject of reform, with the aim of putting in place a graduated and flexible system of housing supports to meet the housing needs of applicants over their lifetimes. This includes developing appropriate mechanisms to cater to those households already in receipt of housing support who require a change in the support being provided on foot...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The local authority made a submission in respect of the development in question recently. The matter is still under consideration.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Housing policy and support, as set out in my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, is designed to reflect the needs of our growing and diverse population and to target supports at the particular needs of people in different phases of their life. Backed by an unprecedented €18 billion investment in housing programmes provided for under the National...

Written Answers — Rural Renewal Schemes: Rural Renewal Schemes (27 Sep 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: An inspection with a view to issuing a Certificate of Reasonable Cost, if in order, will be carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (2 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administration of the Essential Repairs Grant scheme, including the processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for the local authority concerned and is one in which my Department has no direct function.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (2 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The revised housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability, which were announced earlier this year as part of the Government's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, will be implemented on 1 November 2007. All applications made under the Disabled Persons' and Essential Repairs Grant schemes before 1 November 2007 will be...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not received any such request.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Approval was given to Westmeath County Council in May 2005, under my Department's Remedial Works Scheme, for a pilot project which consisted of refurbishment works to 10 houses in the estate in question at a cost of €1.2m. In March of this year, the Council submitted proposals in respect of further works. The Department met with the Council in May 2007 to discuss their proposals. It is...