Results 1,981-2,000 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Sports and Recreational Facilities: Sports and Recreational Facilities (26 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Earlier this year, I announced a new initiative for the provision of a number of skateboard facilities nationwide. Each city and county council was invited by my Department to submit expressions of interest for grant assistance towards the provision of a skateboard park in its area. City and county councils responded positively to this new initiative and proposals for 34 skateboard facilities...

Written Answers — Playground Facilities: Playground Facilities (26 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Prior to the local authority playground grants scheme 2004, my Department did not operate a specific scheme of grants for playground projects. The 2004 scheme provided up to 50% funding for the development of new or renovation of existing playgrounds throughout the country. While the scheme was administered by the National Children's Office, the grants were paid out from my Department's Vote....

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The Kinvara sewerage scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme for 2004 to 2006 as a scheme to start construction in 2006. Galway County Council's revised preliminary report for the scheme, which was submitted to my Department earlier this month, is under examination and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. Once the preliminary report has been approved,...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (26 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I thank Senator Dooley for raising this issue. I have spoken to him about this matter privately a number of times and I fully share his concerns. It is unacceptable that a town of the size of Ennis, or any town, should be subjected to regular boil notices. The issue was discussed in the Dáil last week by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department does not provide supports to local authorities or voluntary organisations for the maintenance or construction of dog pounds. The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control on local authorities. The implementation of the Acts is vested in local authorities who have power to appoint dog wardens, to provide shelters for stray and other dogs,...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 597 of 25 October 2005.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The draft action plan for the implementation of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC in Ireland was published on 27 April 2005 by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, on behalf of an inter-departmental working group comprising senior officials from my Department, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and SEI. A copy of the draft action plan is available...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Prior to the local authority playground grants scheme 2004, my Department did not operate a specific scheme of grants for playground projects. The 2004 scheme provided up to 50% funding for the development of new, or renovation of existing, playgrounds throughout the country. While the scheme was administered by the National Children's Office, the grants were paid out of my Department's Vote....

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that it shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy, during the period from 1 March to 31 August, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or, during the same period, to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch. There are a number of derogation...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Grant assistance of €471,432 has been allocated to Sligo County Council for the civic amenity site at Tubbercurry. The subvention given to Sligo County Council towards the operating costs of recycling facilities is not ring-fenced for each facility, so a detailed breakdown in relation to the specific site is not available. In total, Sligo County Council has received €96,050 in subvention...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to the service related projects element of the initiatives fund which was launched by my Department in 2001 as part of the local government modernisation programme. This element of the fund was geared towards assisting local authorities in initiatives which would improve customer service and customer care in innovative ways, facilitate the convergence of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: In regard to landfills which are closed or are now closing, but which when in operation complied with the then existing legal requirements, a direction issued by me has reminded local authorities of their obligation to identify and risk assess all such facilities having regard to modern environmental standards. The EPA is preparing a methodology to assist in the risk assessment phase of this...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department does not provide dedicated funding for the collection of household hazardous waste. A subvention is provided towards the operational costs of civic amenity and bring sites, but this is not ring fenced by material type. Sligo County Council has received a total of €96,050 subvention since 2003 and Leitrim County Council has received €111,600. No subvention has yet been issued...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: 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. Since 1997, some 65 communications have been received relating to the transposition of directives in areas for which my Department has responsibility. These have involved directives in the areas of...

Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I am communicating the full attendance at this meeting to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The limited 1996 sampling exercise in Dublin referred to in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 11 October 2005 indicated that, depending on the sampling method employed, a range of between 6% and 12% of the properties sampled at that time would not have met the interim EU standard for the end of 2003. This finding is not likely to be more widely representative since lead water...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: A code of conduct for employees of local authorities was published in June 2004 under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 and it is an integral part of the ethical framework for the local government service. The code includes disclosure requirements concerning employment outside the local government sector and addresses situations concerning a conflict of personal and public interest....

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The procedures for the appointment of county and city managers and their removal from employment are set out in Part 14 of the Local Government Act 2001. Recruitment to such posts is carried out by open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service which recommends a person for appointment as manager to the relevant council. The appointment of a manager by a county or city council,...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: In July 2001, my Department approved a proposal by Kildare County Council for the acceptance of a tender in relation to the provision of a new library atLeixlip. Further progress with this project is a matter for Kildare County Council. I understand that the local authority is currently in the process of commissioning the library which involves book stocking and the provision of IT services...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The information requested is set out in the following table. 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 €'m €'m €'m €'m €'m €'m €'m €'m €'m General Purpose Grant Allocations 339.28 367.97 438.58 469.15 554.81 592.41 663.91 751.66 816.98 Other Exchequer Payments 529.87 491.62 577.65 646.28 768.20 866.38 851.06 896.01 920.00 (Estimate)