Results 281-300 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Belgooly water and sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006, under theserviced land initiative, at an overall estimated cost of €1.05 million. Cork County Council's preliminary report for the water element of the scheme, and an associated application for increased funding, are under examination in my Department and...

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware that the Northern Ireland authorities have recently renewed a ban on hare coursing in their jurisdiction which was introduced in January 2004. In the experience of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, the main determinant of hare population levels is the availability of suitable habitats and land management practice and capture of hares for coursing does not...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The holly is a common shrub or small tree of deciduous woodlands and hedgerows, especially in upland areas. I am aware of concerns recently expressed regarding the impact of cutting of holly from hedgerows. Cutting of holly for traditional Christmas use can indeed cause unsightly localised damage but holly is extremely resilient and grows back strongly after having been cut. This is one of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Gweedore sewerage scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 to start construction in 2005. A certificate of completion of planning is awaited from Donegal County Council to enable my Department to finalise its consideration of the contract documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Contract three of stage 1 of the Desertegney water supply scheme, which is a public rather than a group water scheme, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 to commence construction as soon as possible. Additional information is awaited from Donegal County Council to allow my Department to finalise its consideration of the contract documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: A sum of €3.81 million has been allocated by my Department under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for the construction of a new visitor centre to serve Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo. This is Ireland's sixth national park, established in 1998, and it incorporates some 11,800 hectares of blanket bog. An attractive and extensive site of 42.3 hectares has been purchased by my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The information sought in respect of foreign travel undertaken by my predecessor between June 2002 and September 2004 is set out in the following table. The travel tickets in each case were booked centrally and paid for by my Department in respect of scheduled flights. The Department of Defence bears the costs in respect of travel by Government jet. The table shows those attending the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1365 together. My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, and the Office of Public Works to ensure the active implementation of the Government's decentralisation programme for it. The programme involves relocation of staff to the four locations of Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Relief: Humanitarian Relief (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: No formal request for search and rescue assistance was received through the EU monitoring and information centre in respect of the recent tsunami disaster. As indicated in the replies to Questions Nos. 954 and 955 of 27 January 2004 and Question No. 65 of 29 April 2004, Ireland was not in a position to send search and rescue teams to Bam at the time of the earthquake in 2004.

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume the question relates to the final report of the security working group of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. national stakeholder dialogue. This report was published in December 2004 and is available on the UK Environment Council website, www.the-environment-council.org.uk. While the Office of Civil Nuclear Security, the body specifically responsible for the security of civil nuclear...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1367, 1383, and 1384 together. I recently announced my decision to amend the retail planning guidelines to provide that the floorspace cap on retail warehouses will no longer apply within the functional areas of the four Dublin local authorities and in the other national spatial strategy gateways. The gateway towns and cities are Athlone-Tullamore-Mullingar,...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department, which are not yet subject to the Freedom of Information Acts are as follows: the building regulations advisory board; the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; the Local Government Management Services Board; the Private Residential Tenancies Board; the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland;...

Written Answers — Regional Road Network: Regional Road Network (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: In 2004, grants totalling €480.2 million were paid by my Department to local authorities in respect of non-national roads. Information regarding expenditure outturn in 2004 on non-national roads by local authorities from their own resources is not yet available in my Department.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Total receipts from driving licence duties amounted to €8.29 million in 2004.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: In April 2004 Kildare County Council wrote to my Department seeking additional funding of €325,000 for improvements to the road from Straffan Bridge to Sallins via Turnings. The council was informed that the proposed work would be appropriate to the restoration improvement programme and that it would be open to it to seek approval to carry out the scheme in 2004 on the basis that the...

Written Answers — Community Warden Service: Community Warden Service (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Naas Town Council is one of five pilot local authorities for the community warden service, the others being Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Leitrim County Council and Wexford County Council. Following a recent independent review and evaluation of the pilot service, I have decided to continue the pilots for one more year and the relevant local authorities have been informed...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress in July 2004. A major part of this agreement involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation. The new rates are deemed to reflect the increase in the value of bogs since the original scheme was launched in March 1999. The...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department provides compensation for persons who cease to cut turf, and who are owners of land or turbary rights in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation as a special area of conservation or a natural heritage area. This cessation of turf cutting scheme was originally launched in March 1999 and provided standard rates for the purchase of raised and blanket bog. In July...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1377 and 1379 together. My Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress in July 2004. A major part of this agreement involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation. The new rates are deemed to reflect the increase in the value of bogs...

Written Answers — Hunt Licences: Hunt Licences (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1380 to 1382, inclusive, together. Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack, during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. Legal...