Results 2,501-2,520 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The nitrates directive was introduced in 1991 with the objective of protecting waters against pollution. We are now at the end of 2005 and Ireland is the last country to sign up to and introduce the regulations for the directive. If I had not signed the nitrates directive last Sunday, it would not be possible to have gone into the nitrates committee to commence the derogation negotiations on...

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I listened to the Senator's raiméis and I am putting the record right. The new transitional arrangements obtained for the major pig producers, together with the additional assistance measures being put in place by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, will give the sector a significant window of opportunity to adapt to the new regulatory regime. On 11 December, I made the...

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Senator will know that deferring the date of commencement until 1 February is not simply a delay of six weeks. It means that the closed period will not come into effect until the back end of 2006, which will be more than six weeks. There is a 22 month period concession for major licensed pig farmers. As the Senator is aware, the nitrates committee was due to meet on 12 December. If I had...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The area in and around Rathcroghan contains much valuable archaeology. My Department has recently had discussions with Roscommon County Council with a view to undertaking a conservation plan for archaeological sites at Rathcroghan, which would include matters such as public access. The intention is to consult all relevant stakeholders and to complete the plan by the middle of next year. My...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control and licensing services on local authorities. The implementation of the Acts is vested in local authorities, which have power to appoint dog wardens, provide shelters for stray and other dogs, impose on-the-spot fines for a number of offences and take prosecutions. Local authorities may also make by-laws in...

Written Answers — Regional Road Network: Regional Road Network (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each individual road authority. The choice of final surfacing type to be used on such roads is a matter for each road authority having regard to a number of factors, including location, subsoil conditions, existing pavement construction, type and volume of traffic and relative costs of surfacing...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is in correspondence in respect of 49 cases relating to possible infringements of EU environmental legislation. These cases are at various stages of proceedings as set out in the table below. Fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in regard to any case taken against Ireland. Stage in...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In July 2004, my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Killala sewerage scheme is approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006. Further consideration will be given by my Department to Mayo County Council's contract documents for the scheme on receipt of the information requested from the council in February 2005.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The position is unchanged since the reply to Question No. 1387 of 28 September 2005.

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration: Vehicle Registration (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The review of the vehicle registration certificate has taken place and information relating to year of manufacture is included in all certificates issued from 29 November 2005 onwards.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The functions of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in regard to the compulsory acquisition of land by local authorities were statutorily transferred to An Bord Pleanála from 1 January 2001. Accordingly, my Department does not have information regarding the details of compulsory acquisition orders in the intervening period. The information sought in respect of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Status: Local Authority Status (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Over the past year, I have held both formal and informal consultations with a variety of local government interests on the issue of the creation of new town councils and their prospective functional responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2001, including at formal meetings with the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland, as well as with Celbridge and Maynooth community...

Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Naas Town Council is one of five local authorities where the community warden service has been piloted since 2002. The others are Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Leitrim County Council and Wexford County Council. I am pleased to say that, while the pilot phase of the scheme will end with the cessation of the contracts of employment of existing community wardens, I have agreed...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 582 of 22 November 2005.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 250 of 1 December 2005. The Government's intention to continue to regulate and control numbers in the public service within agreed ceilings was confirmed by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in his Budget Statement on 7 December.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Clondulane sewerage scheme is being funded by my Department under the Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006 as part of the serviced land initiative. I approved Cork County Council's tender recommendation for the scheme in May 2005 and, accordingly, it a matter for the council to arrange for the commencement of works with the successful tenderer. Detailed information in relation to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: A civic amenity site is currently under construction in Drogheda, and has been allocated grant assistance totalling over €2 million from my Department. Construction is at an advanced stage and I understand that the site should open in the first quarter of 2006.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: As I have already indicated, my Department's role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with PPP procurement norms, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department was satisfied...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has no record of purchasing land from the person named. However, if the Deputy would like to forward further details, I will arrange to have the matter examined.