Results 1,281-1,300 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for a change to rating law in relation to the refund of rates on vacant properties. The Act, was signed by the President on 27 January 2014. While the Local Government Bill 2013, as initially published, provided for the introduction of a harmonised regime of 50% refunds in respect of rates on vacant properties in all local authority areas, I...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner of Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the method of valuation. The annual rate on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: An application for funding from Cork Environment Forum was received by my Department on 8 November 2013. This application is currently being considered, along with other funding requests, in context of the overall funding to be provided from the Environment Fund in 2014. The Cork Environmental Forum was advised by email on 22 January that the funding allocations for 2014 were not yet decided....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Carrigtwohill Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a contract to start during the period of the programme. Cork County Council’s Report on Tenders for the Contract was received in my Department on 18 December 2013. It was not possible to deal with the Report prior to the transfer of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 , which came into effect on 1 January 2014, provides for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. As such, infrastructure which has been taken in charge by a planning authority is now the responsibility of Irish Water and there is no question of homeowners being liable for leakage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 218 of 16 January 2014 and 137 of 30 January 2014 which set out the position in relation to Killorglin. 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. The Act also provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship, and my Department funds a network of twenty one Volunteer Centres, including Carlow Volunteer Centre. The centres act as ‘brokers’ between potential volunteers and organisations seeking volunteers. The centres are linked by a common database and a common best practice...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 557 of  28 January 2014 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Haulage Industry Regulation (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Irish Road Hauliers Association have proposed the introduction of a road charging scheme for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), along with a change in the basis of motor taxation from unladen to gross design vehicle weight. The proposal in relation to the road charging scheme is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. His Department has established an Inter-Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. Among the measures included in the policy was the establishment of an inter-departmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low-income households. The working group, which comprises representatives of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. A fundamental underpinning of the water reform programme is to ensure that the skills and experience built up over many years in local authorities are put to best use for the long-term benefit of the customer and that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001.  The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Under rates legislation the person liable...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, the management, maintenance or operation of water infrastructure.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Information and Communications Technology Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has been involved in the development of a mobile app by Cora Systems for use on Android devices to assist with the Water Meter Survey programme. The development was part of a larger project and costs attributable to app development were circa €28,000. The development of a pps by agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies concerned, as are the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The Act provided for a three month transition period on commencement to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax status up to date by making both a retrospective and prospective off-road declaration. The new arrangements, only allowing for a future declaration, have been fully in force since 1 October 2013. Monthly...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Prior to the introduction of the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013, the estimated level of motor tax evasion was 5%, representing an annual loss to the Local Government Fund of some €50m. I consider it too early to evaluate the success of the new measures, but the experience in the UK of introducing a similar system resulted in a drop in evasion rates from a similar level to under 1%....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Liability for motor tax arises from the date of registration of a vehicle and arrears of motor tax are not applied to a date prior to the date of entry of the vehicle on the register. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (4 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The consultancy contracts awarded by Uisce Éireann in 2013 relate to consultancy services which were required by the Irish Water Programme as part of the establishment phase in connection with the set-up of the new utility in advance of asset transfer on 1 January 2014. The consultancy firms employed operate in three broad areas of support: HR Support; Corporate Support and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Building Regulations Compliance (30 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am glad of the opportunity to outline the position for Senator Daly. The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 will strengthen the arrangements currently in place for the control of building activity by requiring greater accountability in compliance with building regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Aquaculture Licences (30 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am responding on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. Aquaculture licensing is governed by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, as amended, and regulations including, in particular, the Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, SI 236 of 1998 as amended. The 1997 Act obliges the Minister for...