Results 4,021-4,040 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area and the assessment of fire cover needs having regard to the nature of the fire hazards and the probable incidence and extent of fires in its area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department's main role in this area is to ensure that fire authorities are equipped...

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: For the purposes of implementing Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), the following areas are excluded; · The City Council boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick · The Borough Council boundaries of Kilkenny, Sligo and Wexford · The Town Council boundaries of Athlone, Ballina, Castlebar, Cavan, Dundalk, Ennis, Killarney, Letterkenny, Mallow, Monaghan,...

Written Answers — Illegal Dumping: Illegal Dumping (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency. My role as Minister is to ensure that the necessary legislative provisions are in place to enable the relevant authorities to discharge their enforcement functions effectively and that appropriate penalties are...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish climate legislation to give certainty and clarity in relation to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved in line with EU targets. In progressing this commitment, I intend to follow a transparent process which will provide an avenue for engagement by all the relevant stakeholders. My priority in the climate area...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Grange/Strandhill/Tubbercurry Sewerage Scheme (Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrade contract) is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 as a contract to start during the lifetime of the Programme. Under this scheme it is envisaged that wastewater treatment plants will be constructed at these three locations under a single Design/Build/Operate...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Government continues to bring pressure to bear on the UK authorities through a number of channels to decommission and close the existing Sellafield reprocessing plant on the basis that it poses an unacceptable risk. In addition to the reprocessing activities conducted there, Sellafield is the location of a large inventory of radioactive waste which will require active management by the...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 the primary management and enforcement response to littering must come from local authorities. The role of my Department is to provide the legislative framework within which to combat litter pollution and to motivate and energise anti-litter responses as necessary. Under the Anti-Litter Awareness Grant Scheme, which is administered by my...

Written Answers — Commercial Rates: Commercial Rates (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied...

Written Answers — Waste Policy: Waste Policy (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. I am prioritising this commitment, as I am anxious to provide early regulatory certainty, in the form of both policy and legislation, to ensure that the necessary actions and investments are...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Ireland, through its membership of the European Union, is proactively supporting ongoing efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reach agreement on a comprehensive, global response to the threat of climate change. While welcome progress was made at 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention in December 2010, Parties must intensify their efforts towards...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. Section 26 of the 1981 Act requires each fire authority to prepare, and as occasion requires...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in all households and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals, including the funding of the metering programme, and I will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am very much aware of the urgent need to strengthen local government in Limerick. I am carefully considering the report of the Limerick Local Government Committee, published in September 2010, which contains recommendations in that regard and I intend to bring proposals to Government as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Economic Development: Economic Development (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities play a central role in supporting economic development and enterprise at local level. They do this in a number of ways including through their capital and current budgets, economic planning and development and the provision of goods and services as well as community infrastructure. A number of initiatives have been taken by local authorities to promote and support...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 passed all Stages in the Seanad on 14 July, 2010 and was signed by the President on 21 July, 2010. I understand that the Act was not commenced, under the last Government, primarily in order to allow sufficient time for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to progress the Greyhound Welfare Bill 2010, providing separately for the...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: In addressing the legacy of the electronic voting project, my priority is to see that the equipment is disposed of as soon as possible. I have asked the Task Force that was established to oversee the cessation of the project to consider proposals for the disposal of the equipment, with a view towards immediately progressing arrangements. The Task Force met on 12 April 2011, and the necessary...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was published in July 2009 and, since publication, its recommendations have provided important input to Government and Ministerial consideration of options for expenditure reduction and policy development. Consistent with the approach of the Special Group, the Report of the Local Government Efficiency...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 341 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 257 of 10 of May 2011. Under the programme in question, I understand that an Area Implementation Team (AIT), which draws up a plan based on the particular needs of the area so that available funding can be targeted where it will do the most good in the community, has been established for the area in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Information regarding the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) staff employed in each local authority on 31 December 2010 and gross cash remuneration as a percentage of the overall expenditure for each local authority (based on the latest unaudited 2010 Annual Financial Statements data available to the Department) is presented in the following table. Local Authority No . Of WTE Staff at...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in respect of the main programmes for which my Department is responsible is set out in the following table. Programme 2011Allocation Amount paidto end April 2011 Remaining Balance Expected Payment Date Housing Rental Accommodation Scheme No predetermined annual allocation €1,872,910 n/a n/a Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a...