Results 1,081-1,100 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The amount collected by An Bórd Pleanala in third party appeals in the years 2000 to 2006 is set out in the table below: Year Amount of 3rd PartyAppeal Fees Received € 2000 561,636 2001 569,711 2002 456,150 2003 555,400 2004 687,800 2005 837,080 2006 841,890 Total 4,509,667 The total fees revenue collected by the Board is applied in full towards meeting its ongoing operational...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: There are no proposals along the lines referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Unlike for Dáil constituencies, there are no constitutional or statutory requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998. The June 2004 local elections took place on the basis of the existing local electoral areas. The next local elections are due to take place in 2009. Consideration can be given...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Contamination of drinking water by cryptosporidium is an ongoing risk in relation to which water authorities in Ireland and other countries must exercise constant precaution and vigilance. Management of public drinking water supplies is the responsibility of the relevant local authority and information on the specific procedures put in place by Mayo County Council to safeguard against...

Written Answers — Development Levies: Development Levies (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 660 and 666 together. Sections 48 and 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 set out the framework within which planning authorities must draw up a development contribution scheme in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of the local authority that benefit development in the area. The Act provides for three types of...

Written Answers — Public Bodies: Public Bodies (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied, having regard to the legal advice available to me, that additional legislation is not necessary to meet the access to justice provisions of EU Directive 2003/35 (Public Participation Directive).

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662, 663 and 665 together. I understand that the European Commission at their meeting of 21 March decided to refer to the European Court of Justice a case against Ireland that will include issues regarding protection of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel. However, my Department has yet to receive official notification in that regard. The Guidelines to which the...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The appropriate level of resources required by the Environmental Protection Agency to discharge its functions is monitored, on a continuing basis by my Department, in consultation with the Agency.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The 1997 Report of the Strategic Review Committee on the Construction Industry – Building Our Future Together — recommended that the title of "Architect" should be registered by law. Subsequently, the Forum for the Construction Industry submitted proposals to my Department for the registration of Architects, following consultation and agreement with the architectural representative...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: My Department and the Department of Finance are currently working up the terms of the operational framework for the Gateway Innovation Fund, which has been established under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to help fund targeted strategic investments that can trigger the accelerated development of the Gateways and their wider regions. When the qualifying and assessment criteria have...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. These special arrangements operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford during June and July of last year....

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Section 12 (3) of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 provides for the protection of monuments and places listed on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places. Two months notification in writing of any works proposed at or in relation to a listed monument is required to be given to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Contravention of this requirement...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: In the first instance, the maintenance and improvement of public roads, including modifications to associated public footpaths, would normally be a matter for the relevant roads authority and not for private householders. Under class 6, schedule 2, Part 1 of the 2001 Regulations, the provision of a hard surface within the curtilage of a house is exempt from the requirement to obtain planning...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: In May 2005, I introduced a new initiative for the provision of skateboard facilities by local authorities. Each City and County Council was invited to submit expressions of interest for grant assistance towards the provision of a skateboard park in its area. Applications were assessed in my Department in conjunction with the National Children's Office and some 21 projects in 21 different...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Prior to 2004, my Department did not operate a specific scheme of grants for playground projects. Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provided a new framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The provision, improvement and maintenance of non-national roads is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. In 2007, the grant allocation by my Department to Kildare County Council for the improvement and maintenance of non-national roads is €23,685,337. This is over three and a half times the funding...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: My Department currently provides two or more phone lines to the homes of twenty-eight members of staff, all of whom operate away from the Department's main offices. In the case of twenty-two of the staff concerned, two phones lines are required to provide telephone and Internet access as broadband is not available. The other six staff concerned are provided with three phone lines: these...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 678 and 679 together. The Department has a number of offices outside Dublin. Training courses are provided to staff as required and may involve travel to Dublin or to other locations. In the period 2004-2006, a total of €10,809 in travel and subsistence was paid to my Department's training officers. During that time a total of 9,981.5 training days were...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 562 of 20 February 2007. To date 124 people have transferred to or joined my Department to decentralise to Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny. Of this group, three staff members were assigned different work duties within 6 months of joining the Department. Such reassignments are commonplace in an organisation as large and diverse as my Department...

Building Control Bill 2005: From the Seanad (3 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 10 to 15, inclusive, were discussed at some length. During the debate on Report Stage in the Dáil an amendment was accepted to define the term "grandfather clause" and I have since been advised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel that the reference is inappropriate and I believe it is also politically incorrect. This was also the feeling in the Seanad. I will...