Results 3,801-3,820 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Following extensive public consultation on draft guidelines, I intend shortly to publish revised Planning Guidelines for Wind Energy Development, which will assist planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in determining the siting of future wind farm developments. The Guidelines will assist planning authorities to identify areas where there is significant wind energy potential and to map...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (25 May 2006)

Dick Roche: According to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) Co. Kildare is not considered to be a high radon area HRA, with the exception of very small area in the south of the county. In this regard it is a matter for the public authorities concerned to consider whether testing for radon is required in their buildings. To date the RPII has carried out radon measurements in 20...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The employment of staff is a matter for each local authority. It is open to the authorities to provide short-term summer employment for students. Such employment could meet relevant requirements of the local government sector, as well as offering work experience of benefit to the students concerned. The cost of any such summer employment is met from the individual authorities' own resources...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 332 and 333 together. The assignments that have taken place to date for each of my Department's four locations identified for decentralisation are set out in the following table: Wexford Kilkenny Waterford New Ross Total posts to be decentralised 249 62 225 125 Total staff assigned to date 52 24 12 10 of which are new recruits 18 14...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The decentralisation programme involves the relocation of my Department's operations to four locations in the South East viz, Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny. It is expected that the Department's offices in Wexford will be completed in the third quarter of 2008. Indicative construction dates for the remaining locations are Kilkenny — end 2008, New Ross in early 2009 and Waterford...

Written Answers — Lottery Funding: Lottery Funding (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. Capital lottery funding provided for my Department has remained constant over the past five years at €2.539 million. In the years 2005 and 2006 the funding is within Vote 40 for the HSE. This lottery funding forms part of the overall Capital Programme for that Vote. It is not available for the provision of discretionary grants to...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: In July 1996 my Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures. Their purpose was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications masts and base stations within the planning system. The Guidelines advise...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The following is a list of the public bodies under the aegis of my Department, the function, role, location, establishment date of each body and the funding granted to each body by my Department in 2005: Name of public body: Affordable Homes Partnership Function/ Role: To co-ordinate and add impetus to the delivery of affordable housing in the Greater Dublin Area Location: Fenian...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Creggs Sewerage Scheme was fourth on the list of sewerage schemes submitted by Galway County Council in response to my Department's request to local authorities in 2003 to produce updated assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. The assessments were taken into account in the framing of the Water Services...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The improvement of non-national roads in County Mayo is a matter for Mayo County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by my Department. In 2005, my Department sought applications from local authorities for funding under the 2006 EU Co-Financed Specific Improvements Grant Scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted for consideration for...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Belmullet and Foxford Sewerage Schemes are being advanced as a joint project under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 and are approved to commence construction this year, at an estimated cost of €12.99 million. Further consideration will be given by my Department to Mayo County Council's Preliminary Reports and Water Services Pricing Policy Reports for both...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has no function in relation to the operation of the farm plastics recycling scheme in individual cases. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers — i.e. manufacturers and importers — of farm plastics (silage bale wrap and sheeting) are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has received no such request for funding from Kildare County Council. I have, in any event, no function in relation to flood alleviation works which are primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is currently in negotiation with farmers' representatives with a view to agreeing an appropriate level of payment for the management regime to be applied to the Shannon Callows. The rate of payment must fairly reflect the restrictions required on farming as well as delivering value for the pubic expenditure involved.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 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. Westmeath County Council's Tender Documents for the treatment plant element of the scheme are under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible. The Council will be in a...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Rochfortbridge Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 under the Serviced Land Initiative. Westmeath County Council's tender recommendation for the scheme was submitted on 3 April last and I expect a decision to issue to the Council shortly. Following approval of the tender recommendation the Council will be in a...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Athlone Main Drainage 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 €10.4m. My Department has requested additional information from Westmeath County Council to facilitate further consideration of the Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme. Following approval of the...

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Improvements have been made by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department to visitor-related facilities in the Burren area since 2001. In that year, some €896,000 was provided towards the Burren Display Centre at Kilfenora, which includes interpretative material on the Burren National Park. More recently, a number of small lay-bys for limited car parking, as well as road...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is co-operating fully with the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has an independent mandate to report to the Ceann Comhairle on the secrecy and accuracy of the electronic voting and counting system. The Department has facilitated all requests from the Commission to enable it to carry out its work in this regard, including by providing to the Commission a number of...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (30 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Cavan, Clare, Meath and Roscommon County Councils, and Trim and Passage West Town Councils, have written to my Department expressing, in one form or another, their opposition to GMOs.