Results 2,941-2,960 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Environmental Education Programmes: Environmental Education Programmes (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 256 together. The green schools programme implements in Ireland an international environmental education programme known as eco-schools, a programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education, FEE. FEE is an organisation founded to raise awareness of environmental issues through education. In Ireland more than 2,000 schools participate in the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The Dromcollogher sewerage scheme, which is being procured in conjunction with a number of other schemes in the county, is included in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 to advance through planning. I approved Limerick County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a preliminary report for the grouped project in June 2005. I understand that...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: National waste statistics for all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent national waste report being in respect of 2004. As outlined in successive national waste reports, we are substantially reliant on foreign-based materials recycling infrastructure, which dealt with 73.8% of recycled waste in 2004. The export of...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 134 and 184 of 25 October 2005. I am considering advice recently received from the Office of the Attorney General on this matter.

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Communications masts are not exempt from the requirement to obtain planning permission. The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 do, however, set out certain exemptions in this area including, subject to certain conditions, the attachment of additional antennae to an existing antenna support structure, the erection of an antenna support structure in place of an existing antenna support...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The Enniscrone sewerage scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2006 at an estimated cost of €2.04 million. Sligo County Council's tender documents for the Enniscrone sewerage scheme are under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible. Once the tender documents have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The letter in question was received by my Department on 23 February 2006, and a response is being prepared. A portion of Connaught Street, Athlone, was designated for residential, commercial and industrial tax incentives under the urban renewal scheme 1999, and I understand that major development is currently under way on that site. With the phasing out of area-based tax incentives, as...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: As I have previously stated, my Department's role in the approval process for the 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 the National Development Finance Agency, my Department was satisfied that the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand that the pipeline works concerned were preliminary proposals being considered by Wicklow County Council in the context of the planning of the Wicklow water supply scheme, which has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. The council has since determined that the proposed upgrade is not required and has informed the landowner...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the nitrates directive in this House and I hope to throw some light as opposed to some of the heat that has been thrown on it. I agree with Senator O'Meara on two issues. One is that this directive is about protecting water resources. The presence of nitrates in our water resources is nasty. People in rural Ireland are drinking those waters and...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: It is in the document and I ask the Senator not to hide his head in the sand and deny the facts. That is the truth. It is on page 51 of the document signed by the former Minister, Mr. Yates, who was a good Minister for Agriculture, and the then Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, who cares as much as I do for water quality. If Members read appendix 3 — table 1, they would note that...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Does the Fine Gael Party forget that only one and a half years ago, in its European election manifesto, it stated that "Fine Gael remains very concerned at the failure of the Government to prioritise environmental matters, and to implement key EU Directives ...". There is no EU directive of more significance to water than the nitrates directive. How can Fine Gael, which rightly prides itself...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: In complete contrast, the Labour Party in the Dáil last week asked me who was standing up for the environment. I say to Senator O'Meara that I am. Her party's spokesperson in the Dáil last week indicated his impatience with this process, and he was right because we cannot continue to delude ourselves that we can ignore the realities. One wonders whether Fine Gael cares one whit about Irish...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I did not interrupt the Senator. He should have the courtesy to listen to me because although what I am saying may be unpalatable in many ways, it is the truth. The Senator will please have some forbearance. We face daily fines and will lose the opportunity to negotiate the derogation. Farmers, particularly the 10,000 dairy farmers, will face difficulties as a result and, because of...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I am sorry to interrupt the Senator but, on a point of information, that is precisely the issue — the European Commission has to sign off. I mentioned the issue of our bona fides, which is important. What the Commission sees and how it judges our behaviour is what is important.

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I apologise for having interrupted the Senator.

Written Answers — Soil Erosion: Soil Erosion (2 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Overgrazing has led to environmental problems, particularly loss of vegetation and soil erosion in commonages throughout the country, including the Nephin Beg range. Payments to farmers for destocking under commonage framework plans, were introduced from end of 1998 as an attempt to aid vegetation recovery in these areas. A recent monitoring survey in this area, carried out as part of an...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (2 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 257 of 1 March 2006. It will be a matter for Dublin City Council and its PPP partner to provide assurance to the statutory planning process that waste can be delivered to the proposed plant satisfactorily having regard to considerations of local amenity and infrastructure.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (2 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Regulations 2005 generally exempt peat extraction below a threshold of ten hectares from the requirement for planning permission. However, there are exceptions where the peat extraction would have significant effects on the environment. In these limited cases, planning permission must be applied for, accompanied by an environmental impact statement. Where the peat...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (2 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The provision and improvement of non-national roads in County Roscommon is a matter for Roscommon County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants. In August 2005, my Department sought applications from road authorities for funding under the 2006 EU co-financed specific improvements grant scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted for...