Results 4,161-4,180 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: In response to the commitment in the Programme for Government to phase out incandescent light bulbs, I propose to introduce an energy efficiency standard from 1 January 2009. My Department is currently developing the proposed standard and I will announce details as soon as they are finalised. It will then be a matter for manufacturers and importers to respond with products that meet the new...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 419, 420, 423 and 424 together. As an input to the overall strategy for meeting water services infrastructural requirements, local authorities, including Kildare County Council, are required by my Department to undertake regular assessments of needs for new or upgraded infrastructure in their areas and to determine their priorities in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Ballyna Regional Water Supply Scheme, which replaces a previous proposal to serve the area through a group water scheme, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007- 2009 as a scheme to advance through planning at an estimated cost of €11.5 million. My Department is awaiting submission of Kildare County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The aim of the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities, which were published in April 2005, is to achieve a balance between the accommodation of rural housing needs and the need for development to be sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms. The guidelines provide that reasonable proposals on suitable sites for persons who are part of and contribute to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Chapter 6 of my Department's Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas deals specifically with small towns and villages with a population of between 400 and 5,000 people. The guidelines state that there should be no significant development in small towns and villages in the absence of an adopted local area plan. The guidelines also state...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The information sought in the question is available on the Oireachtas website, www.oireachtas.ie, which gives a comprehensive list of all legislation, including that prepared by my Department, in the period from 1997 to date. The following list details the holders of office of Minister for the Environment and Local Government or Environment, Heritage and Local Government in that time: From...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Statutory responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality, including groundwater, is assigned to local authorities, acting under the general supervision of the EPA, and to the EPA in the context of its licensing functions. Pollution at former mining sites is addressed in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, which provides, inter alia,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The scheme to extend the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply from Shrah to Westport and to upgrade the water treatment plant in Tourmakeady is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to start construction in 2008 at an estimated cost of €21.35m. My Department is awaiting Mayo County Council's tender recommendation for the scheme. Invitation of tenders and...

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: In my recent contribution to the Environmental Protection Agency's lecture series on climate change, I said — in a reference to the new Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security — that the "Committee will be extremely important in forging the vital cross-party consensus, not just on targets but also on measures required to tackle climate change.". In my own presentation to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to advertising campaigns carried out by my Department in each of the past five years is set out in the table. Advertising Campaign Year Cost of Advertising Consultancy/ Other Awareness/ Production Costs Total Costs â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ Anti-Litter Initiative 2003 7,343 0 7,343 Register of Electors Awareness Campaign 2003 133,217 26,390 159,607...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Ballyvaughan, Corofin and Doolin Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008. I approved funding of up to €6.025m for the scheme in August 2007 following my Department's examination of Clare County Council's Water Services Pricing Policy and Economic Review Reports. I understand that the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together. As mentioned in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 638 of 27 November 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering submissions received during the public consultation phase of the preparation of a comprehensive Code of Practice on Waste Water Treatment Systems. The EPA intends to publish the document as a Code...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: No such funding was provided by my Department in the period.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together. Ireland has made significant progress over the past decade in recovering and recycling waste. Overall recovery rates have increased from 9% in 1998 to 36% in 2006. These increases in the proportion of waste diverted from landfill have been driven by a combination of factors, including increased awareness through the Race Against Waste...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together. The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (23 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Under the Electoral Act 1992, members of the Defence Forces must be entered in the Register of Electors as postal voters and may register in respect of premises used for military purposes where they are resident or in respect of their home address as in the case of electors generally; the Postal Voters List gives details of the Army number, rank and unit of the elector concerned. Members of...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (23 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 990 of 11 December 2007. Pending finalisation of the scheme, no money has been paid to offset air travel through investment in urban forests.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (23 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I have, in the circular letter referred to, directed that travel and subsistence allowances at standard rates are payable in relation to attendance by members of local authorities at meetings of a River Basin District Advisory Council. Such allowances are payable with effect from the date of appointment of the member to the Advisory Council and are additional to the annual expenses allowances...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (23 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Councillors receive a fixed annual allowance which covers expenses incurred by them in attending meetings associated with their council business, including meetings of Joint Policing Committees. Separate expenses may not be paid in regard to matters covered by the annual allowance. The annual allowance (including the meetings' indices element of the allowance) and other financial supports...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Masts: Telecommunications Masts (23 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: My Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures in 1996. The guidelines are intended to facilitate planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, the licensed providers of mobile telecommunications services and the public by providing guidance on dealing with these developments within the planning system. The guidelines set out a...