Results 2,581-2,600 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in relation to any case taken against Ireland.

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The requirement to produce an annual corporate procurement plan comes from the national public procurement policy framework, which was issued by the Department of Finance in May 2005. My Department's statement of strategy for 2005-07 incorporates an objective of promoting procurement management reform by developing policies, processes and practices in support of a more strategic approach to...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: Unlike the situation regarding 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 and there are currently no proposals for examination of these areas....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: All agencies who are required to submit an annual report for 2004, with the exception of the Fire Services Council, have done so. The report for the Fire Services Council is currently being translated into Irish and will be available shortly. All annual reports received, with the exception of the reports for the Heritage Council, Irish Water Safety Association, Local Government Computer...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and the provision of waivers are both matters for the relevant local authority where it acts as a service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. Waste management services...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1504 and 1505 together. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver scheme, is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Local authorities and central Government are working together to comply with the polluter pays...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to general purpose grant allocations from the local government fund for 2006 which were notified to local authorities on 5 December 2005. The statutory prescribed period for local authority budget meetings runs to 13 January 2006 in the case of county councils and 15 January 2006 in the case of city borough councils and rating town councils.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: Stage 2 of the Castleisland sewerage scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007 at a cost of €5.5 million. Kerry County Council's preliminary report and water services pricing policy report for the scheme are under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible in accordance...

Written Answers — Town Councils: Town Councils (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 649 and 653 of 15 November 2005. I am not aware of any stance on this issue on the part of local government officials.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme has been approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 at an estimated cost of €31 million. In May 2005 I approved Kildare County Council's proposals to proceed with work on an advance section of the scheme at Straffan which I understand is now in progress. Kildare County Council's contract documents for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The cap on local authority staffing levels arose from a Government decision in December 2002 to cap public service numbers at the then existing authorised level and to reduce numbers across all sectors by the end of 2005. Numbers in the local authorities were to be reduced by 1,000 over that period. Returns of the number of persons employed by local authorities for the quarter ending December...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 250 of 1 December 2005.

Written Answers — Hazardous Beaches: Hazardous Beaches (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is advised by the Irish Water Safety Association that there is no known world or European standard to designate a "dangerous beach". The existing policy of completing risk assessments on all beaches that are used by the public with necessary follow up action by local authorities is considered to be the most appropriate approach. Beaches by their nature are hazardous and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: Detailed information on the number of persons employed by each local authority at the end of 2005 is currently being compiled, and is not yet available in my Department.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The Conna regional water supply scheme extension is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to advance through planning, at an estimated cost of €2.55 million. My Department approved Cork County Council's brief and fee proposals for the appointment of consultants to prepare a preliminary report for the scheme in September 2005. The production of...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: As part of a multi-annual programme to include the whole country, my Department carried out surveys of a sample of the architectural heritage of north Tipperary, Westmeath, Offaly, Kilkenny and Sligo under the national inventory of architectural heritage, NIAH, programme in 2004. The purpose of the NIAH is to identify, record and evaluate the country's post-1700 architectural heritage...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: From the commencement of the single mandate for elective local government, local authorities were required to make specific arrangements to provide a reasonable level of service for Oireachtas Members and facilitate them in carrying out their work on behalf of local communities. These arrangements provide, inter alia, for the supply of specified documentation to Oireachtas Members by the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has no proposals from Kildare County Council for the upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant at Sallins. However, the upper Liffey Valley sewerage scheme, stage 3, extension to Osberstown, which has been approved for construction under the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, provides for the extension and upgrading of the wastewater treatment...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The Freedom of Information Acts apply fully to nine public bodies or agencies under the remit of my Department. The Acts will be extended shortly to an additional seven bodies. It is intended that one of these, the Private Residential Tenancies Board, will not be subject to the full remit of the Acts, as matters of dispute resolution and conciliation will be specifically excluded.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (26 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: Arising from the package of public service pension reforms agreed by the Government in September 2004, revised pension arrangements for part-time local authority employees, including a right of access to the local government superannuation scheme for all such employees, including school traffic wardens, were notified to local authorities by my Department in December 2005. It is now a matter...