Results 4,001-4,020 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I am arranging to forward to the Deputy details of the water and sewerage schemes identified by Wexford 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. This assessment is the Council's most up to date and complete...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Enniscorthy Main Drainage Scheme Stage 3 is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to start construction in 2007, at an estimated cost of €13.5 million. My Department has asked Wexford County Council to review certain aspects of its Preliminary Report and Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the scheme and a reply is awaited from the...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: This is a little outside the remit of the Bill, but the Deputy is right.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: This is done for schemes costing less than €5 million.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: It is the council that suggests the bundling, for good and cogent reasons. I am not faulting it.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy did not refer to Pallaskenry-Kildimo.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The figure is actually 24.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I have an old interest in Tallaght.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is correct that it is a fabulous road.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: That is not the responsibility of my Department.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Fine Gael only spent €1 million per year on rail when it was in power.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In 1996 Deputy Kenny was talking about the brilliant state of the economy.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: That is the difference between good and bad Government. The economy booms.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Nine good years.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I thank all 64 Deputies who spoke on this Bill. This has been one of the longest debates in this Dáil and it has been intriguing and interesting. A number of Deputies believed in my admonition on waste recycling because much of this debate was recycled. We all recognise, however, the significance of this legislation. Deputy O'Dowd made the point, and I agree with him, that this is one of the...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Green Party's contributions were generally poor, but they missed the concept of the public good entirely. That was a fundamental difference between the contributions of the main Opposition parties and some others. This Government has shown a credible commitment to an efficient and effective planning system. We have a good system in place which is significantly different from many European...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: It was not one of his most scintillating performances. His basic thesis was that the Bill would not speed things up. If all strategic infrastructure developments managed to get through local authorities in 12 or 18 weeks, it would marvellous, but Deputy Gilmore and I know they do not. Developments are delayed, extensions and further information are sought and applications are possibly poorly...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: There is no need to examine the system. That is not a fair analysis. By any standard, a figure of 93% denotes something fundamental. People have a well established propensity to take any large case to An Bord Pleanála and delay it for as long as possible. This represents an abuse of the planning system and lies at the core of many of our difficulties in infrastructure. The Bill provides for...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Fine Gael argued that we could tighten up this period. I am not sure if we could but it was interesting that both Deputies took a diverse view on this. The Bill allows this timescale to be achieved, which is not possible in the majority of cases at the moment. The majority of infrastructural projects cannot proceed through the planning process in six months. Deputy O'Dowd and Fine Gael...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Local democracy was also discussed. The Bill will fundamentally change every planning Act passed since 1963 in that it provides a very specific role for councillors. This point has been generously recognised by a number of contributors. The Bill does not threaten local democracy. I thank everyone who contributed to the debate on this Bill even though I did not agree with all of them.