Results 3,481-3,500 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Mullingar Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction this year at an estimated cost of €72.11m. My Department approved the Preliminary Report for the scheme in June 2003 and is awaiting the submission of Contract Documents by Westmeath County Council. The Council will be in a position to invite...

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department publishes, and/or assists the publication of books, leaflets and other material on wildlife, habitats and species, and biological diversity within Ireland. A review of the Department's publication strategy in this area is being undertaken. In relation to the case referred to in the Question, my Department will communicate with the author shortly.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Minimum thermal performance and insulation standards for new buildings are prescribed by Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the national Building Regulations. These standards have been progressively increased since they were first introduced in 1991. The standards were last increased for new Dwellings with effect from 1 January 2003; and for new Non-Domestic Buildings with effect...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 948, 949, 951, 952, 973 and 980 of 25 April 2006. Officials from my Department, the Department of Agriculture and Food and Teagasc met on 20 April 2006 to clarify and elaborate aspects of the advice submitted by Teagasc to the Minister for Agriculture and Food with recommendations for amendment of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Government's international legal proceedings against the United Kingdom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in relation to the Sellafield Mox Plant were suspended in 2003 pending resolution of jurisdictional issues in the dispute raised by the European Commission. These issues were the subject of proceedings by the European Commission against Ireland before the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Killorglin Water Supply Improvement Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007, at an estimated cost of €1.37m. Kerry County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. In accordance with the streamlined procurement...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Kenmare Water Supply Scheme is approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, at an estimated cost of €8.7m. Kerry County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. The Council will be in a position to proceed with the preparation of Contract Documents when the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Killarney Main Drainage Scheme is part of the Lough Leane Catchment Sewerage Scheme which has been approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. A Brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. The Waterville Water Supply and Sewerage Schemes have been approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. I recently approved Kerry County Council's contract documents for the water and sewerage networks and it is now a matter for the Council to proceed with the tender process for these works....

Written Answers — Control of Dogs: Control of Dogs (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has received recent complaints in relation to inadequate dog control at a number of heritage properties under its management. While there are some site-specific Acts that provide for bye-laws, a general power to make bye-laws for the regulation of dog control does not exist for most built heritage properties managed by the OPW. My Department...

Written Answers — Environmental Assessments: Environmental Assessments (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Transposition of the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC of 27 June 2001) in respect of land-use planning is achieved through the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004. With effect from 21 July 2004, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is mandatory in the case of the preparation or review of Regional Planning Guidelines; City and County Development Plans;...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The majority of staff in my Department have Internet access (subject to appropriate controls) and the Department holds one corporate subscription, enabling concurrent access for up to 60 users to one on-line national daily newspaper; 63 staff at Principal Officer level and above receive one Irish national newspaper on a daily basis and one member of staff receives more than one such...

Written Answers — Noise Regulations: Noise Regulations (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 transpose EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Regulations apply to all major roads which have more than three million vehicle passages per year.

Written Answers — Local Authority Reform: Local Authority Reform (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Better Local Government reform programme has brought significant benefits to local government. These include constitutional recognition and fixed term local elections; enhanced levels of funding; strengthened political and management structures; an updated legal framework as well as an efficiency agenda focused on improved corporate planning, IT, human resources, customer service together...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: In January 2004, local authorities were asked to review their capital programmes for library development and to submit a prioritised list of proposals, which they wished to have considered by my Department in its overall review of the Programme. In its submission, Fingal County Council listed Rush as joint third. In October last year, I announced funding for thirteen library projects. Due to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: These amendments are grouped together because they propose to redefine what can best be described as the actors involved in the planning process, namely, the EPA and prospective applicants, thus resulting in consequential deletions. I do not propose to accept them. I am happy that the Parliamentary Counsel has been very clear in the approach adopted. Much effort was put into the drafting of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I accept that the Senator would like to use more commonplace, easily understood language in the Bill but, for the reasons I have outlined, tortuous language is sometimes necessary. I have mentioned already the reference to the EPA, and the language in the Bill is, if anything, more in keeping with common parlance. Amendment No. 11 proposes the deletion of lines 43 to 45, which include a...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I have no problem dealing with them separately but I will give the same general response.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Again, I commend Senator Bannon on his punctilious observations, particularly on punctuation points. Fowler could not have done better. The 45 amendments tabled by Senator Bannon are of a minor technical nature and are to do with drafting style. Many of these issues have been discussed over the years, but I do not think it would be wise to amend a Bill that is as complex as this one simply on...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The amendments I propose to this section involve textual corrections. They have no impact on the substance of the Bill but are necessary to correct some errors which have been detected since the Bill was published and circulated. I ask the House to accept this amendment which is purely technical in nature.