Results 7,001-7,020 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic water consumers all costs incurred in the provision of water services to those consumers. The application of the polluter pays principle, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive, entails the metering of non-domestic consumers so that a volumetric charge can be applied, with the cost of meter installation being borne by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table. The data show a decrease of €135,735 in the amount spent on Travel and Subsistence in the first nine months of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006, which represents a decrease of 5.7%. My Department also operates a Travel Pass Scheme for staff under which they purchase an annual bus or rail pass in a tax efficient manner...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Motor tax law requires notification by the registered owner of a vehicle that is scrapped or destroyed and a refund facility is available for motor tax on such vehicles. Application for a refund can be made on form RF120 to the local motor tax office. The refund form is completed by the registered owner (i.e. the person whose name is entered on the national vehicle record) and includes a...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: In accordance with a long-standing approach provided in section 1 of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 (and regulations made under this Act), the cost of motor tax is calculated on the basis of whole calendar months for periods of three, six or twelve months. In each case, the tax expires on the last day of a month. This approach greatly facilitates the administration of the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Milltownpass Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, as part of the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative at an estimated cost of €2.3 million. Westmeath County Council's Design Review Report for the scheme is being examined in my Department and a reply will issue to the Council shortly. Once this report has been...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Athenry Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008. My Department is awaiting submission of Contract Documents for the scheme by Galway County Council.

Written Answers — Community Recreational Facilities: Community Recreational Facilities (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities published earlier in 2007 sets out a vision to guide the transformation of the Irish housing sector over the next ten years, by delivering more and better quality housing responses, and by doing this in a more strategic way focused on the building of sustainable communities. This focus on sustainability will...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Matters relating to animal welfare are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Local authorities undertake a range of dog control functions under the Dog Control Acts of 1986 and 1992. In addition my Department is drafting regulations to give effect to the recommendations of the Working Group to Review the Management of Dog Breeding...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Stone Mansion at Sarsfield St., Kilmallock, Co. Limerick is a national monument owned by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government having been transferred from Limerick County Council in 2003. As with all national monuments, operational control is retained by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and a programme of works was completed in 2005 by OPW, including repair to...

Written Answers — World Heritage Status: World Heritage Status (7 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Nominations to the World Heritage List are only considered if the nominated site has already been included on the tentative list. There are 8 sites on the current tentative list which can be considered for nomination. As indicated in the reply to Question No. 148 of 10 October 2007, my Department will be reviewing the tentative list of sites next year. The timeframe for nomination of a site...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 enables a planning authority to grant a planning permission subject to or without conditions as appropriate. While the interpretation of planning legislation is a matter in each case for the planning authority concerned and ultimately for the Courts, the legislation sets out that in making decisions on planning applications, planning...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Details of water supply schemes in Kildare that I have approved for funding are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, published in September 2007, which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The position regarding the proposal to provide additional water supplies for the Greater Dublin Area, including parts of Co Kildare, from the Shannon is set out in...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I have no proposals to introduce a levy on cable ties. These items are used primarily for binding electric cables or wires, to keep wires away from moving parts and to help trace and service wiring systems. They are also commonly used to prevent hub-caps from falling off moving vehicles. While I agree that the use of cable ties for public postering needs to be discouraged, I do not believe...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become or continue to be a derelict site. It also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps (including the exercise of any appropriate statutory powers) to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become...

Written Answers — Local Government Organisation: Local Government Organisation (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government in the coming months. This Paper will examine a number of issues in relation to the organisation of Irish local government including the establishment of new town councils in those towns that have shown significant population growth in recent years. A White Paper on Local Government will then...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together. The staffing composition of my private and constituency offices (detailing permanent civil servants and temporary unestablished civil servants) is set out in the following tables. Private Office Permanent Civil Servants Temporary Unestablished Civil Servants 7 2 Constituency Office Permanent Civil Servants Temporary Unestablished...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. The staffing composition of the private and constituency offices of the Ministers of State at my Department are set out in the following tables. Minister Tony Killeen: Private Office Permanent Civil Servants Temporary Unestablished Civil Servants 3 0

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Civil Service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Awards made under the scheme in my Department are made in accordance with Guidelines approved by the Committee for Performance Awards in November 2001. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the scheme, the range of awards and the total amounts paid...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. The staffing composition of the office of the Minister of State with special responsibility for Environment and Energy is set out in the following table. Number (Full time Equivalents) Grade 1 Higher Executive Officer (Private Secretary) 2 Executive Officer 2 Clerical Officer 1 Personal Assistant (HEO Grade) 1 Personal Secretary...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 Directives, have by now been transposed in this country. There are currently four Directives in my Department's area of responsibility which are outstanding for transposition. A further five Directives are due for transposition between March 2008 and...