Results 3,381-3,400 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 306 of 20th March 2007 and Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 5th April 2007, signed contracts were forwarded to Vendors Solicitor on 7th June 2007. The terms of the contracts provide for closing in 4 weeks from the exchange of contracts.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland act as general agents for the Department of Education & Science in the acquisition of sites for primary schools. A site has been identified which has been technically assessed as suitable. Negotiations are ongoing with the vendors agent and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point. When agreement is reached on price, the formal...

Written Answers — Drainage Schemes: Drainage Schemes (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are a number of channels in the Lough Mallard area which form part of the Moy Catchment Drainage Scheme and for which the Office of Public Works has a statutory maintenance responsibility under the Arterial Drainage Acts. These channels will be included in this Office's Maintenance Programme for 2008.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: As indicated in my predecessor's response of 24th April, 2007 to the Deputy in this matter, Mayo County Council sought a hydrological analysis of the impact of the development in question from the developer. Details of any data available to the Office of Public Works in relation to the condition of the channel were provided to the Council on 2nd April 2007 at their request. As previously...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: As indicated in the response by my predecessor of 24th April, 2007 to the House in this matter, Mayo County Council prepared a report on flooding in South Mayo, that identified a number of proposals to solve the problems in the different areas, many of which relate to flooding of roads. The Office of Public Works is liaising with the Council in relation to the report and will provide...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Office of Public Works has commenced works to alleviate flooding in the Kilmaine area of South Mayo. In this regard, works are ongoing on an overflow channel from Clyard turlough into an OPW scheduled channel of the Corrib — Headford Scheme. It is planned to follow this work with construction of an overflow pipeline into the same channel from Thomastown turlough. It is expected that...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: The repair of the carpark is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance. On completion of works, the Office of Public Works is prepared to make an equitable contribution towards the cost.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: A Flood Relief Scheme, to protect the Tramore Road against frequent flooding was not economically viable. The Commissioners of Public Works are in discussion with Waterford City Council to see if an economically and environmentally sustainable scheme can be devised.

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are several parties involved in the management of the lands at the Castletown demesne and environs. The Office of Public Works manages the House and adjacent buildings at Castletown and approx. 120 acres of the original 550 acre demesne. Coillte owns some 120 acres of woodlands of the original demesne, Kildare County Council (KCC) has taken in charge some 25 acres approx. on the south...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Question 429: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to widows and widowers pension and the view of same that widows with their own contribution record should get two pensions, namely their own and survivors since they have their own record and the pensions are separately based; if he will make a statement on the issue in view of the increasing number of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Question 430: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to age of eligibility for retirement age pensions; when retirement ages for men and women were co-ordinated; the rules up to that time; if there have been any campaigns or demands since for separate age limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17775/07]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Question 431: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on back to school payments for national and second level school children; the payments and income limits which apply; his further views on introducing a partial or reduced payment for families above the current income limit who also have to pay bills and who often feel discriminated against compared with those...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill is required to give effect to the decision by the Government to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20. As members will be aware, the number has remained unchanged since 1995, when section 1 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995 increased the maximum from 15 to 17. It is appropriate to set...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Members for their wide-ranging comments and thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for his support. Fundamentally, the Bill is about increasing the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20. Deputy Bruton stated it would cost €4 million and I do not know how he arrived at that. The cost of a Minister of State, depending on the number of years' service, is probably between €40,000 and...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: That will follow. From my five years of experience, in some cases one can have a delegation order and in others one does not. As Deputy Noonan will be aware, much depends on the relationship the Minister has with the Minister of State. Some Ministers of State will say that they had great freedom without delegation orders and some of them might be honest enough to say that, depending on the...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Last week, the Taoiseach stated that a number of functions and aspects of functions were being moved between Departments in respect of certain delegation orders. This is a matter of joined-up Government, a phrase Fine Gael used often during the election. As good and as perfect as the Civil Service is, civil servants fight battles on behalf of their Departments in many instances. Where...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: I do not have all of that information. I do not know whether one Department issues orders and another does not.

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: A significant number of Ministers of State have delegation orders.

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Noel Ahern: Yes.