Results 7,361-7,380 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The telephone number referred is a low call number associated with the web site used for the very successful online motor tax renewal system. The number is available for use by customers for enquiries not catered for in the comprehensive 'frequently asked questions' page on the web site. A helpdesk supporting this number is serviced by staff with expertise in the online motor tax service and...
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Climate Change Commission. It is envisaged that the role of the Commission will include monitoring and assessing Ireland's progress in addressing climate change, and increasing awareness in all sectors of the opportunities and challenges presented by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Arrangements for the establishment...
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to agree an all-party approach on climate change targets and, in advance of this, to set a target of a 3% reduction per year on average in Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the current Government. At this year's Spring meeting of the European Council, EU Heads of State and Government agreed to reduce EU greenhouse gas...
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, published in April 2007, includes a commitment to publish an annual Implementation Status Report. This report is to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, prior to presenting it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government. I intend that this report will set out progress on implementing the measures contained in...
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, published in April 2007, includes a commitment to introduce an environmental levy on incandescent bulbs, to encourage consumers to switch to more energy efficient alternatives. More recently, the Programme for Government commits to the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs. My Department is currently examining the options available to reduce...
- Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the setting of new ambitious waste management targets for maximum prevention, re-use, recycling and modern waste treatment to ensure that we match the best performance in the EU for recycling with the objective that only 10% of waste or less is consigned to landfill. This will require significant further improvements in diverting...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: Under the Waste Management Act, 1996 all major waste management facilities are subject to a stringent licensing system which is the statutory responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency. It is intended to ensure the application of high environmental standards in relation to the development, operation, closure and aftercare of such facilities. While this licensing system is...
- Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: In the last three years my Department has allocated over â¬100m in funding to more than 100 local authority recycling projects. An additional â¬3.3m has been allocated to local authorities for the provision of bring bank networks across the country. Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 some â¬753 million will be invested in supporting the recycling and recovery effort and dealing...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: I am reviewing the overall employment levels in the local government sector having regard to the need to deliver front line services, intensify enforcement activity, and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. Insofar as funding is concerned, the record level of funding available to local authorities in 2007 through grants...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The transposition of Directive 2003/35/EC is well advanced with legislation already completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems. Work is continuing on a number of the outstanding issues which require statutory amendments to be made, and this work will be completed by the Departments concerned at the earliest possible date.
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to a review of the role, procedures and governing legislation of the Environmental Protection Agency. I am currently giving careful consideration to the form which this review should take.
- Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: My Department reviews the effectiveness of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 on an ongoing basis. Local authorities submit data to my Department every six months on their anti-litter enforcement actions under the Acts. These statistics are available in the Oireachtas Library and show that local authority performance on enforcement of the litter laws is being sustained at a high level....
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 identifies proposed investment of â¬4.7bn in new water services infrastructure â an increase of 27% over the previous Plan period. Priorities identified in the Plan for the wastewater sector include: completing the remaining infrastructure needed to provide secondary wastewater treatment in compliance with the requirements of the EU Urban Wastewater...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the requirements on farmers arising from the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006. The EU Nitrates Directive aims to protect all waters against pollution from agricultural sources. Particular care is required for the protection of public health in the case of waters which serve as the source of...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1113 and 1143 together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a support scheme for replacing and upgrading septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems. I am currently considering the terms, conditions and other arrangements that may be appropriate to taking forward this commitment.
- Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: In March of this year the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government hosted a meeting of Environment Ministers from Iceland, Norway and Austria. They were joined by the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Environment for Germany, who also participated in the discussions on shared concerns in relation to nuclear energy, and its future role particularly in the context of climate...
- Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The Local Government Act 2001 modernises the local government legislative framework and consolidates the position of county and city councils as the primary units of local government. Under the Act, there are 29 county councils, including South Dublin County Council, and 5 city councils, each of which is responsible for the widest range of local authority functions in their respective areas....
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: No Directive has issued from the European Commission on this matter. My Department received a Letter of Formal Notice dated 27 June 2007 from the Commission seeking our views as to whether specific elements of the "local needs" test contained in a number of County Development Plans for the granting of planning permission for one-off dwellings in rural areas are compatible with Articles 43...
- Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: The position on motor tax is that, provided a vehicle is used exclusively as an ambulance for the transport of animals, it is exempt from such tax. If the vehicle is used in any other capacity, it must be taxed at the appropriate rate. Responsibility for the administration of motor tax legislation rests with the relevant local motor tax office and, accordingly, the determination of the tax...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1123, 1160 and 1165 together. Details of the revised housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability were announced in February 2007 as part of the Government's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. Three new schemes are to be introduced: a Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, a...