Results 261-280 of 8,349 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (10 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Pyrite Resolution Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. To date the Pyrite Resolution Board has received approximately 500 applications, almost all of which are accompanied by Building Condition Assessments with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. The level...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (10 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 365 and 398 of 9 July 2013 which sets out the conditions for gratuity payments to councillors who cease to be a member of a local authority. Once a gratuity becomes payable under the scheme, there is no cut-off date for qualification for the gratuity, or for the ex-councillor to seek payment. I have no plans at present to change the provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residentially Zoned Land (10 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I assume the Deputy is referring to the amount of land zoned for housing. The Housing Land Availability Survey (HLAS) is an annual survey undertaken by my Department seeking information from local authorities to inform the publication of the amount of zoned residential land in their areas that is currently serviced. In 2013, my Department reviewed the HLAS approach taking account of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (5 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. This is done on an ongoing basis in accordance with the Electoral Acts. There is no provision for linking the electoral register to PPS numbers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Qualifications (5 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The statutory certificates of compliance prescribed under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 must be signed by a registered professional i.e. a person who is included on the statutory registers of architects or building surveyors, as maintained by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) respectively under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (5 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Building Control Act 2007, among other things, requires me to appoint an independent chair and to nominate a majority of independent members to the Admissions Board referred to and I notified the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI) of my decisions in this regard on 26 February 2014. The establishment and functioning of the Admissions Board is a matter for the registration...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (5 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The costs of construction activity and related professional services are determined by market forces and I am precluded by trade and competition law from introducing any measures which would interfere with the normal functioning of the market in that regard. A number of cases have, however, been brought to my attention whereby consumers have been quoted exorbitant charges for professional...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (5 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, the relevant returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The report of the independent Pyrite Panel (June 2012) provides the framework and context for the pyrite remediation scheme and the eligibility criteria are reflective of the conclusions and recommendations of the report. The scheme , which has recently been made by the Pyrite Resolution Board, is limited in its application and scope, is applicable to a restricted group of homeowners within...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Building Control Act 1990 places a clear statutory obligation on owners, designers and builders to ensure that buildings are designed and constructed in compliance with the building regulations. This applies to all sectors of the construction industry, including the self-build sector. Neither the Building Control Act 1990 nor any regulations made thereunder, including the new Building...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 95 of 29 May 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residential Property Sales (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2013. Details regarding the review are avail able on my Department’s website: As regards the review of Part V, the recently published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: European Parliament Elections (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish citizens, who meet the age and residency requirements, can vote in all elections and referendums in the State provided they are registered in the register of electors. The letter ‘L’ placed against the name of an elector in the register indicates that the person concerned is registered as a local government elector and is entitled to vote at local elections only. Presiding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (29 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Volunteer Strategy (29 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship. My Department funds a network of twenty one volunteer centres. It also provides funding to Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency. The focus of Volunteer Ireland is to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. The further progression of all water services capital projects and issues pertaining to them is now a matter for Irish Water. Irish Water has recently published its proposed Capital Investment Plan 2014 – 2016 and this is available to download from the Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Governmentsets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish Water is the only commercial semi-state company under the aegis of my Department. Irish Water does expect to seek a standalone credit rating in due course as a track record in revenue collection is built up.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Projects (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. My Department provides capital funding towards approved new library projects carried out by local authorities subject to availability of resources. All available funding under the Library...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013 I published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS)as the national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. KCS sets out an overall systemic approach to the objective of reducing the number of fires and consequent annual loss, based on a risk management approach to fire safety. Following an in-depth examination of a number of different service delivery options,...