Results 3,841-3,860 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: There have been numerous discussions between my Department and the Department of Education and Science in relation to water charges for schools, most recently in the context of the government announcement in January 2008 in relation to transitional arrangements which will apply to schools water services over the period 2007-09 as part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive....
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Section 10 (1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the plan area. Section 10 (2) of the Act sets out the mandatory objectives of a development plan which include, inter alia: the zoning of land for particular purposes (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural,...
- Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic consumers all costs incurred in the provision of water services to those consumers. The application of the polluter pays principle, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive, entails the metering of non-domestic consumers so that a volumetric charge can be applied, with the cost of meter installation being borne by the metered...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: A formal response by Ireland to the judgment of the European Court of Justice issued to the European Commission on 21 October 2005 detailing the measures being taken in terms of structures, legislation and policy approach to ensure the implementation of the provisions of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991, and...
- Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The pilot community warden service, which was established in five local authorities in 2002, has since been placed on a permanent footing. There are currently 45 warden posts across these authorities. Following a process of adjudication, the practical issues concerning the extension of the service to other local authorities have recently been settled. Accordingly it is now open to other...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The Courtmacsherry/Timoleague Sewerage Scheme, which will provide a new wastewater treatment plant in Courtmacsherry and upgrade the collection systems in both villages, has been included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 â 2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2009 at an estimated cost of â¬2.47m. My Department is awaiting submission of Cork County Council's...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The Race Against Waste Campaign, which commenced in 2003, has been the most extensive waste information campaign ever run in Ireland. The campaign combined a multi-media national awareness campaign and a supporting communications strategy which aimed to stimulate the prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling of waste. It featured initiatives and practical measures that could be taken by...
- Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 397 of 19 December, 2007. As indicated in that reply, the certification of products is the responsibility of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). When the issue of pyrite arose, and following an intervention from my Department, the NSAI moved quickly to reconvene their Aggregates Panel in order to give urgent consideration to publication...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: A provision of â¬207m has been included for new water and wastewater infrastructure in County Kildare under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 â 2009 which I published in September 2007 and which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The schemes in the Programme are derived from the Assessment of Needs drawn up by Kildare County Council in 2006 at my Department's...
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Under Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 I am specifically precluded from any involvement in any matter for which a local authority or the EPA has statutory responsibility. This includes the waste licensing system for which the EPA is responsible, including licensing of landfills and the application of any criteria governing gas emissions.
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: In July 2007, my Department approved Kildare County Council's proposals to carry out works to eliminate odours from the waste water collection system in Leixlip as an advance section of the Lower Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme. I understand that the Council has now appointed a contractor and that work will commence shortly.
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Landfills within individual local authority areas are developed and operated either by local authorities or private sector service providers. All are required to have a waste licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is statutorily independent of the Minister in discharging this function. My Department has no function in the provision or management of landfills. Data in...
- Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency and air quality management a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. Where the indicative level for any pollutant is exceeded, the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 require the local authority concerned, following notification by the Agency, to develop a long-term air...
- Written Answers — Illegal Dumping: Illegal Dumping (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: Actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE). I am satisfied that appropriate powers are available to these enforcement authorities. The 2005 report of the OEE, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identifies the unauthorised collection and fly-tipping of waste as one of the problem...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government clearly sets out the approach to waste management that will be reflected in national policy in the years ahead. It is firmly grounded in a continuing commitment to the waste hierarchy with a renewed drive towards the achievement of international best practice in the reduction, re-use and recycling of our waste. This, coupled with an increasing emphasis on...
- Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: I thank the many Senators who contributed to the debate on this important topic. Their concerns ranged across a number of issues, including this country's overall approach to waste management and the regulation of the waste management sector. Like the Senators who contributed, I am also conscious of how important is a sustainable approach to waste management. Since coming to office I have...
- Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The Senator also raised the issue of refuse-derived fuel, RDF. Ireland is the only member state that does not use RDF and this must be addressed. I have begun discussions with Lagan Cement Limited, which has an EPA licence. Progress is being made on this and, therefore, RDF will be used in cement kilns. Currently, no kiln uses this fuel. Ireland is bottom of the league in Europe in this...
- Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: The Senator is also correct that new technologies come on stream regularly and the waste review will seriously examine these because they are changing all the time. Other Senators raised important issues. Senator Glynn referred to people in the private sector who are making an important contribution. Some people in the private sector are making important contributions. When the interaction...
- Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: That is an important issue. Most local authorities operate weight or volume based systems and, where a service is farmed out to another provider, it is usually done on the basis of one of those systems. It makes sense to do so because the more one produces, the more one pays. I can find out for the Senator where the exemptions exist and which local authorities do not have these systems in...
- Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)
John Gormley: I have asked my officials to find out which local authorities do not operate weight or volume based systems.