Results 3,161-3,180 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (21 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I understand that on foot of representations made to my predecessor to the effect that the water charges set by Sligo County Council in 2007 were greater than warranted by the non-domestic sector cost recovery requirement, he requested that the matter be examined by his Department. In March 2007, Departmental officials met with Sligo County Council for the purpose of obtaining detailed...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (21 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 provides that I 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. The Ward Union Hunt applied to my Department for a hunting licence for the 2007/2008 season. In my consideration of the licence...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (21 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of the implementation of this policy, my Department has allocated funding of over €8 million to County...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 94/1997), made by the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 26 February 1997. I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 Directives,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Meetings: Local Authority Meetings (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information sought is not available in my Department at present. However, I will have arrangements made to forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The full proceeds of motor tax across local authority areas accrue centrally to the Local Government Fund. This income is supplemented by an annual contribution from the Exchequer into the Fund. The Fund provides very significant funding to local authorities through general purpose grants and non-national road grants. Grants from the Fund take account of the needs of each local authority...

Written Answers — Tree Felling: Tree Felling (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: It is a matter for each local authority to prioritise its spending, within the resources available to it, across the range of services it provides. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are my Department's contribution to local authorities towards the cost of providing their day to day services. The general purpose grant allocation to Fingal County Council for 2007 amounted...

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government in the coming months. This Paper will examine a number of issues in relation to the organisation of Irish local government including the establishment of new town councils in those towns that have shown significant population growth in recent years. A White Paper on Local Government will...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested in the question is set out, insofar as it is available, in the following table. The information requested in the question is set out, insofar as it is available, in the table under. Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 €M €M €M €M Commercial Rates 1,052 1,190 1,245* N/A** Development Levies *** 519 671 N/A N/A Motor Tax 800 878 944**** N/A *Derived from Local...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (22 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Ten state bodies and boards under the aegis of my Department were established in the period since 1997 and none were abolished in the same period. One of these bodies evolved from the restructuring of an existing body.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Packaging plays a necessary role in the safe and hygienic transport of products purchased by consumers and householders. Retailers who deliver items such as white goods and furniture to a private house are not obliged to take away the packaging waste. Producers and retailers who place substantial amounts of packaging on the market do, however, have a range of responsibilities under the...

Written Answers — Representations Protocol: Representations Protocol (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: 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, as set out in Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A)...

Written Answers — Local Authority Procedures: Local Authority Procedures (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: A quality customer service approach by local authorities has been a key objective of the local government modernisation programme. A range of initiatives has been taken by local authorities in this regard, including the provision of One Stop Shops, establishment of complaints procedures and greater use of ICT. While the recording of telephone calls for training and quality purposes is a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table: 31 October 2002 31 October 2007 Numbers Employed 2260.64 1459.93 Includes Temporary Staff 61 36 Includes Contract Staff 67 28 In May 2004 due to the realignment of functions between my Department and the Office of Public Works, 820 Industrial and 65 Non Industrial staff transferred to the OPW.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The amount spent by my Department on air travel from 2004 to 2007 inclusive is set out in the following table. Year Economy Business Class First Class Total â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 2004 132,736 225,448 5,535 363,719 2005 163,049 143,573 17,813 324,435 2006 188,706 198,872 387,578 2007 155,185 119,235 274,420

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to courier and postal costs incurred by my Department to date in 2007 is set out in the following table. The cost of registered and standard post is not separately compiled. Out of the total postal costs of some €3.2m some €2.9m was incurred by the Vehicle Registration Unit in Shannon (being transferred to the Department of Transport). Cost €...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Civil Service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the scheme, the range of awards and the total amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the Department of Finance website...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table: Year Transferred to other Government Departments Left the Civil Service 2003 16 55 2004 126* 50 2005 17 75 2006 41 65 2007 41 55 *Includes 65 staff who transferred to the Office of Public Works due to the realignment of functions between this Department and the OPW.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I am not aware of any allegations of whistleblowing having been reported to my Department since 1 January, 2007.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Question Nos. 635 and 636 together. Both my Department and the Department of Transport have been working effectively together for some years now to ensure better integrated land use and transportation planning, with particular regard to enabling the development of strategically located areas within the Gateways identified in the National Spatial Strategy. Examples of good...