Results 4,061-4,080 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (10 Apr 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. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform, which will examine a number of issues in relation to the organisation of local government. The Green Paper will be published shortly; a White Paper on Local...

Death of Former President: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Fear ciúin séimh ab ea Pádraig Ó hIrighile, but like many quiet people, he was not to be underestimated. Patrick Hillery's career had taken him into well deserved retirement by the time I was elected to Dáil Éireann, but memories of him and his colleagues remained here long after he had ceased to serve as a TD. Like many here today, my abiding boyhood memory of him dates from those...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 591 and 592 on 12 February 2008. The European Commission has proposed a directive for revision to the current EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which includes changes to the scope of the EU ETS, but is not proposing the inclusion of the agriculture sector as part of this new directive. Prior to its proposal, the Commission undertook a review of the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a support scheme for replacing and upgrading septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems. I am currently considering the terms, conditions and other arrangements that may be appropriate to taking forward this commitment.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Prior to the enactment of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities could require payment of a development contribution, as a condition of a planning permission, on a discretionary basis. From 2004, in order to introduce transparency and openness to the system, each planning authority was required to adopt a development contribution scheme stating the basis for determining...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together. The area downstream of Clonlara, including the Shannon Cut, is part of the Lower River Shannon candidate Special Area of Conservation. This area of river is of high ecological value with valuable salmon and lamprey habitat and alluvial woodland of a type classed as a priority for conservation under the 1992 Habitats Directive. Both the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Gorey Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as a scheme to start construction this year at an estimated cost of €13.8 million. My Department is examining Wexford County Council's contract documents for the expansion of the existing wastewater treatment plant and for the upgrade of the town's collection system. Both sets of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the existing statutory provisions for enforcement action by planning authorities in cases of breaches of the planning code. The 2000 Act also made a number of significant improvements to the enforcement provisions for persons who make complaints, in particular that all well-founded complaints must be investigated by the planning...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 and 667 together. There is no exemption from water charges available in Article 9.4 or elsewhere of the EU Water Framework Directive for schools, hospitals, farms or care centres. This has been repeatedly confirmed by the European Commission. The only exemption available to Ireland, and availed of, is contained in Article 9.4 and relates to dwelling...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Land use and planning functions in the area are primarily a matter for Meath County Council. I can confirm, however, that my Department will be reviewing the current management plan for the world heritage site of Brú na Bóinne later this year with the aim of ensuring that the highest levels of protection and presentation continue to be applied to this group of archaeological monuments...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Ireland is required to protect habitats of European importance under the Habitats Directive 1992, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. In accordance with the Directive, Ireland has nominated certain raised and blanket bogs, which are priority natural habitats under the Directive, as...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The cormorant, like all wild birds, is a protected species under the Wildlife Acts and the EU Birds Directive. In 2002 the estimated population in the State was 4,550 pairs. As a protected species it cannot be controlled or culled except under licence from my Department. Section 42 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 allows the scaring, capturing or killing of cormorants in instances where serious...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy centred on the Government's continued support for the internationally recognised waste hierarchy which places major emphasis on the prevention, reuse and recycling of waste while minimising reliance on landfill and other disposal options. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added...

Written Answers — Registration of Architects: Registration of Architects (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Section 13 of the Building Control Act 2007 provides that the registration body for the registration of architects shall be the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Section 14 of the Act sets out the eligibility criteria for registration in the statutory register of architects. A person who is a fellow or member of the registration body is included as being eligible for...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Where an application for a licence for a discharge of effluent to waters is incorporated in an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licence application to the Environmental Protection Agency, the relevant regulations require a site notice as well as a newspaper notice. I have at present no proposals to amend the regulations regarding the licensing by local authorities of...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Current estimates indicate that the average annual sequestration effect of forest areas established as a result of grant aid under the State/EU funded afforestation schemes since 1990 will be 2.074 million tonnes during the Kyoto Protocol period 2008-2012. This represents a significant increase on the estimate for 2006 due to growth of young forests planted in recent years.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: My Department has yet to receive Monaghan County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme. I understand that the Council is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement in respect of the Castleblayney proposal.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 643 together. Drumcollogher and Pallasgreen, along with Hospital and Bruff, are being advanced as part of a grouped sewerage scheme that has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to begin construction in 2009. Athea, Askeaton, Foynes and Glin Sewerage Schemes are part of a separate grouped scheme...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I have no function under the Roads Act 1993. Within the functional area of a local authority, noise mapping and action planning in relation to any road to which the provisions of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) apply are matters for the local authority concerned.

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (17 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The conservation study of the Rathcroghan archaeological complex, Co. Roscommon was published in Autumn 2007 and can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Since the publication of the conservation study, my Department has been in contact with Roscommon County Council to progress the relevant recommendations in the study in the context of the review of the Roscommon County...