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Tag Archives: Jan O’Sullivan

Government approves plan for homelessness

THE Government has this Tuesday approved significant measures proposed by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, to implement a housing-led approach to homelessness. The measures approved by Government follow on from the recommendations of the Homelessness Oversight Group which presented its first report to the minister in December. Minister O’Sullivan said, “There was full support among Cabinet colleagues today for the proposals I brought to Cabinet. There has been considerable pressure on homelessness services in recent months and it is vital that we bring a very focused approach to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. “I believe that long-term homelessness can be eliminated by 2016. To achieve that goal it is vital to source a steady supply of suitable permanent accommodation. That is an essential part of a housing-led approach to homelessness. We will now put in place a practical plan to access this accommodation and support people in new tenancies. This will result in the closure of expensive …

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€30m to warm up more homes

MINISTER for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan has announced that €30m will be invested in upgrading the energy efficiency of local authority homes this year.The funding is part of a three year jobs stimulus programme that will see the energy efficiency of 25,000 of the poorest insulated local authority homes improved. Last year, Clare County Council carried out energy efficiency retrofitting on 366 houses. Clare, which had a 2,330 local authority dwelling stock in 2011, will receive a general allocation of €75,000 this year, together with a supplementary allocation of €222,632, based on the proportion of exisating stock, which brings the initial allocation to €297,632. Minister O’Sullilvan said an initial €15m funding should substantially complete the first phase of the insulation programme announced in June 2013 and ensure that every local authority house will have at a minimum draught proofing, attic insulation and where appropriate cavity wall insulation. When Phase 1 is complete a further €15m will be allocated for …

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€20m aid for distressed council mortgages

MINISTER for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, has this Tuesday announced a €20m fund to assist the most distressed local authority mortgage holders. The fund will be used to offer the ‘mortgage-to-rent’ solution to these local authority mortgage holders across the country. “The mortgage arrears problem is particularly acute in the local authority sector, with approximately 31% of all loans in arrears for 90 days or more. It is important that these households are given access to the same options available to other mortgage holders. The Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) has been implemented across the local authority sector and today’s announcement will ensure that the ‘mortgage to rent’ option is available to local authority mortgage holders,” the minister stated. Mortgage to rent was one of the solutions identified in the Keane Report on mortgage arrears. It enables low to middle income families in an unsustainable mortgage situation to remain in their home. For holders of mortgages from private lenders, …

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