Results 161-180 of 8,349 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In April this year my Department was made aware of a potential problem with pyrite in concrete blocks by the market surveillance authority (i.e. building control authority) in whose functional area the block manufacturer is located. It is understood that a small number of construction sites have been supplied with the affected blocks. Testinghas been carried out in a number of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 370 of 10 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Decisions in connection with the inclusion or otherwise of a homeowner in the pyrite remediation scheme are operational matters for the Pyrite Resolution Board. The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by the Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel. The scheme is one of “last resort” and only...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together. Under the balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the . The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Gender Balance Issues (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Provisional data indicates that some 21% of the local authority members elected at the 2014 local elections were women. This compares with a figure of 19% at the 2009 local elections. The lack of equality in participation by women in politics has been recognised as a lacuna in public life for some time and I welcome this small, but important, increased level of representation by women in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department, the agencies under the aegis of my Department and Local Authorities are all compliant with Public Sector Pay Policy. There is, however, one limited exception to the consolidated pay policy in respect of a travel allowance of €3,348 paid to one employee acting at Senior Executive Officer level in the Local Government Management Agency.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Rates for private vehicles registered prior to 1 July 2008 are based on engine capacity, and rates for vehicles registered after that date are based on the CO2emissions of the vehicle given on the Certificate of Conformity for the vehicle. All of the foregoing are based on a graduating scale, with higher rates for vehicles with larger engines or for those with higher CO2emissions. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Issues (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. Applications to the value of some €164 million in loans, were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. The figure of €164 million includes €111 million in respect of loans which were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table. Total annual payments by DECLG which included confidentiality agreements/clauses in the terms of settlement 2009 2010 2011 2012* 2013* 2014 €58,489 €0 €0 €5,696,450 €2,664,000 €0 *€8.3 million of the total payments in 2012 and 2013 related to a High Court judgement in respect of a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentseek to position local government “as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: There are 35 Local Development Companies contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to project approvals on behalf of project promoters. Any issue regarding the leasing of land between the local authority and a project...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In the period of the Government’s term of office up to 31 March 2014, the latest date for which information is available, the appointments set out in the Table below were made to the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Agency / Board Name of Appointee Date of Appointment Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) 29/08/2011 Mr. Conall Boland (Deputy Chairperson)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in relation to legislation on the manufacture and sale of products containing , inter alia, plastic microbeads.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Incidence (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 120, inclusive, together. A potential problem concerning pyrite in concrete blocks was signalled to my Department in early April 2014 by the market surveillance authority (i.e. building control authority) in whose functional area the block manufacturer is located. Subsequently, some industry representatives have also contacted my Depart ment in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Private Partnerships Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department carried out a value for money review of all water services in 2010 which is available on the Department’s website at The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. From 1 January 2014, Irish Water assumed responsibility for the delivery of water services, including waste...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: As I outlined in my reply to Priority Question No. 64, I welcome the proactive approach of the Association of Chartered Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) and, indeed other professional representative bodies, in highlighting this very serious matter. Under the Construction Products Regulation,manufacturers are required to provide robust and reliable information in a consistent way for construction...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) currently being established in all local authority areas will develop, co-ordinate and implement a more coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore, with the aim of reducing duplication and overlap and optimising the use of available resources for the benefit of citizens and communities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 109 together. My Department understands that the Mica Action Group recently met with a representative of the Pyrite Resolution Board in connection with the occurrence of structural problems in houses in north Donegal which appear to be related to the use of defective blocks in the construction of these houses. While testing appears to have been carried...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: There are no proposals to review the operation of local development companies. I am currently embarked on a programme of local government reform, which will see an enhanced role for local government in the co-ordination of local and community development programmes. The establishment of Local Community Development Committees, which will include various local partners including local...