Results 2,841-2,860 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Monaghan County Development Plan 2007-2013 was adopted in March 2007 following public consultation at draft and material amendment stages. At both stages, my Department expressed serious concerns that the draft plan did not support the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy, the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Border Region, or the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines. My...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: My Department received a Letter of Formal Notice dated 27 June 2007 from the European Commission, seeking the observations of the Government on whether the "local needs" test contained in a number of County Development Plans for the granting of planning permission for one-off dwellings in rural areas is compatible with Articles 43 and 56 of the EC Treaty which guarantee respectively the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 597 together. Under the decentralisation programme, all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and a small co-ordination section which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. A total of 682 Dublin...

Written Answers — Special Protection Areas: Special Protection Areas (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Overgrazing of livestock in the Nephin Beg area has given rise to environmental problems, particularly loss of vegetation and soil erosion in commonages. In this regard, damage to the habitat of the Red Grouse in the Owenduff/Nephin Beg Complex Special Protection Area (SPA) in County Mayo has been the subject of a continuing infringement case, under the Birds Directive, taken against Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to the state bodies and boards under the aegis of my Department was compiled in response to Question No. 519 of 2 October 2007 and forwarded to the Deputy on 15 October 2007. The information concerned is also set out in the table. Name of body/board Date of establishment No. of members No. of staff Budget Year applicable € Affordable Homes...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Poverty proofing was introduced in 1998 on foot of a commitment in the first National Anti-Poverty Strategy. It is defined as 'the process whereby Government policies and programmes are assessed at design, implementation and review stages in relation to their impact on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty, with a view to poverty reduction'. Since 1998 it has been...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 594 on 16 October 2007.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 121 of 10 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The issues of adult entertainment and the regulation of associated venues require consideration because of the recent growth of this sector. Given the relevance of a number of different statutory codes to this matter, it is not clear that planning regulation alone can adequately support a local control regime with regard to these activities, and the interaction of these various codes needs...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) give effect in Ireland to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Environmental Protection Agency is the national authority with overall responsibility for implementing the Regulations. At local level, implementation of strategic mapping requirements is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Under Article 12 of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006), noise mapping bodies are required to make strategic noise maps 'available to the public and disseminate them by any appropriate means, including through the use of available information technologies'. I expect the maps to be easily available from the websites of the noise mapping bodies.

Written Answers — Industrial Pollution: Industrial Pollution (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. Under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003, activities that have potential for significant environmental pollution are regulated by means of integrated licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control licensing is a function of the EPA and I am precluded from exercising...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Phase 1 of the Athlone Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to start construction in 2008, at an estimated cost of €15 million. The Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme, and a brief for the appointment of consultants for the design and construction stages, are being examined in my Department and a reply will issue to the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Gort Regional Water Supply Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2009. Galway County Council has now confirmed that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required for the scheme and that a revised Preliminary Report will be submitted to my Department for approval by the end of the year.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Government's decentralisation programme provides for the relocation of the Local Government Computer Services Board (91 posts) and the National Building Agency (48 posts) to Drogheda and Wexford respectively. The Local Government Computer Services Board has a total of 32 staff that have taken up posts to decentralise, of which 20 are moving with their current posts and 12 as new...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology. (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will outline the legislative and policy context in which Waterford Institute of Technology's application must be considered. As the Senator may be aware, the Government commissioned a major OECD review of higher education to support Ireland's strategic ambition of placing our higher education system at the front rank of the...

Seanad: Waste Management Policy (17 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I thank Senator Boyle for raising this issue. I am happy to have an opportunity to spell out the Government's position on waste management. I will also set out the progress already made in delivering the many commitments on waste management in the Government's policy programme. The objective underpinning all these initiatives is the creation of a world-class waste management system that...

Regional Orthopaedic Unit Closure. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I thank Deputy English for raising this matter. I will be taking the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Department of Health and Children is advised by the Health Service Executive that the orthopaedic department in our Lady's Hospital Navan, which performs elective orthopaedic procedures, will not be admitting patients for the month of...

Regional Orthopaedic Unit Closure. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Health Service Executive advises that six patients who have had procedures booked for December will be given alternative appointments for January 2008. Patients suffering fractures or trauma, as well as day cases and those with outpatient appointments, will continue to be treated during the month of December. The Health Service Executive has indicated that the orthopaedic department in...

Regional Orthopaedic Unit Closure. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: If there is no point in reading it out, I will not read it.