Results 3,681-3,700 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 identified the five cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford to be key regional growth centres for future regional investment and development. In addition, the NDP also recommended the preparation of a national spatial strategy to inform future investment decisions, secure more...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The current fleet of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is now capable of running on biodiesel. NPWS avails of a supply contract which has been put in place by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for biodiesel with 5% biofuel content. It is the official policy of my Department, as circulated to all NPWS staff in 2007, that biofuels should be available in all NPWS...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The Government decided in October 2007 that responsibility for a range of matters relating, inter alia, to foreshore licensing, coastal zone management and sea fisheries should be transferred from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Certain functions relating to foreshore licensing in respect of particular...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 632 and 633 together. Development contributions are a key mechanism in ensuring that the local community gains from new developments. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf, of the authority that...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: No member of staff of my Department has been dismissed since the provisions of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act 2005 were introduced.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: Details of amounts paid to civil servants by way of travel, subsistence or overnight allowances, including amounts paid to suppliers for travel services, are set out in the table below for the period in question. My Department employs approximately 1,300 staff who are stationed in over 40 locations throughout the country discharging our responsibility for environment and heritage matters,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: Grant aid of €2.049m in respect of 21 skateparks was announced by my predecessor in November 2005. Local authorities drew down grant aid in respect of three of these projects in 2006 and a further nine in 2007. A total of €1.065m in respect of nine projects remained to be drawn down at the end of 2007.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to my Department and agencies under its aegis is set out in the following table. No. of Posts to be Decentralised No. of Posts Moved to Location No. Assigned to Posts but Not Moved No. of Staff Assigned who are New Recruits No. staying in Dublin Assigned to Dublin Posts Department: Wexford 270 40 58 45 16 Kilkenny 62 0 25 25 New Ross 125 0...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 to 2009 includes 300 projects with an estimated value of €2.3bn to improve the extent and quality of our public water supply infrastructure. The Programme is available in the Oireachtas Library. The Environmental Protection Agency's recent publication "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland — A Report for the Years...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 403, 405 and 406 together. The information requested is set out in the table. The bodies concerned are still in existence. Name of Body Established Purpose and Role Board Members Expenditure by Year ENFO — Information on the Environment 1990 Provides an environmental information service and promotes environmental awareness N/A €705,639...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The Meteorological Service, later renamed Met Éireann, was established in December 1936 and, since its transfer to my Department in 2002, is an integral part of the Department. It has no Board of Directors. Funding provision is made within my Department's Vote, the details of which are published in the Estimates Volumes for the Department — copies of which are available in the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: Section 2 of the Referendum Act 1998 provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may establish a Referendum Commission not earlier than the date on which a Bill proposing to amend the Constitution is initiated in the Dáil. It also provides that any such Commission is chaired by a former judge of the Supreme Court or High Court or a judge of the High Court,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I have had no application for funding from local authorities for community garden allotment schemes.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 to 413, inclusive, together. The rebalancing of VRT and motor tax on cars registered from 1 July 2008 is designed to lower the levels of CO2 emissions from the use of private cars. It is generally accepted that a diesel-powered car has a lower level of CO2 emissions than its petrol equivalent. While historically diesel cars have had higher emissions of...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: I am satisfied that the record level of funding that is available to local authorities in 2008 through grants from central government and income from local sources will enable them to provide an acceptable level of services to their customers while meeting all reasonable demands, including requirements for health and safety. Assessments of the funding needs of local authorities for future...

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: In Circular Letter PD 5/06, issued in July 2006, my Department told planning authorities that conditions requiring management companies should not be attached to planning permissions for traditional housing estates — that is, estates of houses with individual private gardens — except in very specific circumstances, e.g. if a particular service or facility is provided for residents' use...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The Kinvara Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008. My Department approved Galway County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme in December 2006. In accordance with devolved procedures for schemes costing less than €5m, the Council may advance the scheme through the procurement and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The Gort Regional Water Supply Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2009. My Department is awaiting Galway County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme.

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table. Local Authority S.I. Number Title City Councils: Cork S.I. No. 299 of 1998 Cork County Borough Local Electoral Areas Order 1998 Dublin S.I. No. 386 of 1998 County Borough of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 1998 Galway S.I. No. 337 of 1998 Galway County Borough Local Electoral Areas Order 1998 Limerick S.I. No. 298 of...

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (13 Feb 2008)

John Gormley: The number of elected members in each local authority is set out in section 21 and schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2001.