Results 2,661-2,680 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is currently assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. The EPA, through its Office of Environmental Enforcement, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities. In addition,...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (27 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Metering is an essential pre-requisite to the introduction of consumption based water charges for non-domestic users and the proper application of the polluter pays principle as required by the Water Framework Directive. Accordingly, I do not propose to review metering policy and I welcome the fact that the metering programme should be substantially completed by local authorities by the end...

Written Answers — Housing Estate Completions: Housing Estate Completions (27 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. The non-completion of any development in line with the planning permission for that development is unauthorised development, which is an offence under the Planning Acts. Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authorities, which have substantial enforcement powers and duties under the Planning Acts, including the new...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: The Legan and Kenagh areas are to be serviced by the Ballymahon Regional Water Supply Improvement Scheme which is included in my Department's recently published Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to begin construction next year. My Department is currently examining Longford County Council's Design Review Report for the scheme. The Council will be in a position to...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: On my own behalf and that of the Green Party I offer sympathy to Deputy Seán Sherlock and his family on the death of our late colleague, Joe Sherlock. I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Joe. Untimely deaths such as this put everything into perspective. Only weeks previously Joe celebrated what was undoubtedly one of the proudest days of his life when Seán succeeded him in...

Written Answers — Serviced Land Initiative: Serviced Land Initiative (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The following table sets out details of Serviced Land Initiative schemes approved by my Department since the beginning of 2002. County No. of Schemes Value â'¬ Carlow 1 714,000 Clare 2 3,066,000 Cork 17 35,660,000 Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown 1 20,000,000 Galway 3 2,230,000 Kerry 2 489,000 Kildare 6 6,099,000 Kilkenny 3 1,986,000 Louth 3 3,086,000 Mayo 8 2,054,000 Meath 3...

Written Answers — Outdoor Events: Outdoor Events (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together. My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts and the Habitats Regulations relate to the conservation of populations of certain wild animals. As foxes are not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts I do not have a licensing or regulatory responsibility in relation to fox hunting. Applications for hunting licences under the Wildlife...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 188 of 27 September, 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: There are various legislative provisions applicable to noise nuisance, as well as a number of practical arrangements to reduce the instances of unnecessary noise from alarms and to tackle persistent incidence of such noise. Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. In the case...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I assume that the Question refers to conditions attached to planning permissions requiring the payment of development contributions. Development contributions are a key mechanism in ensuring that the local community gains from new developments. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The process of route selection for major road schemes is intended to allow road proposals to be refined to avoid or mitigate any adverse effects on the environment discovered during that process. The potential scientific importance of woodland adjacent to Ballyvourney was brought to my attention during the process of route selection for a by-pass of the village which is currently being...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The scheme to extend the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply from Shrah to Westport and to upgrade the water treatment plant in Tourmakeady is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09, to start construction next year. My Department approved Mayo County Council's Contract Documents for the scheme in January 2007, subject to agreement between the Council and the...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The 'Heritage Towns' is a Fáilte Ireland tourism initiative, which in turn is under the aegis of the Department of Art, Sport and Tourism. Funding for the Heritage Towns organisation would be a matter for that Department and I understand that this organisation has received funding previously. However, my Department has a Built Heritage Capital Programme which may benefit Heritage Towns....

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Unlike for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there are no legal requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998; the next local elections are due to take place in 2009. I am at present considering the issues around a review of local electoral areas and I expect to be in a position to make...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together. Section 22 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides for the alteration of the number of members of a local authority; however this section has not been commenced to date. The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform by the end of the year, which will examine a number of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Planning legislation does not make any particular provision for recognition of a right to light or remedy from any nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. This is an issue that should ideally be resolved at a local level by the parties involved rather than through specific primary legislation. However, while I have no specific proposals at present, the matter will...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1137 and 1159 of 26 September, 2007. While no formal study has been carried out, the views of local authorities including authorities with rapidly expanding populations are informing the current consultation between my Department and the Department of Finance in relation to the current ceiling on...

Written Answers — Tree Protection Orders: Tree Protection Orders (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. Under Section 156 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, the maximum penalty for an offence under Section 205 of the Act on tree preservation orders is now €12.7 million and 2 years imprisonment on conviction on indictment, or €1,905 or 6 months imprisonment on summary conviction. I am satisfied that these fines are an appropriate...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 transposed the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings into Irish law and provided for the implementation of a Building Energy Rating (BER) system. From 1 January 2007, when a new dwelling is offered for sale or rental "off plans", a provisional BER certificate must be produced by the vendor or landlord to...