Results 4,261-4,280 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The provisions for the establishment of new town councils are contained in Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001. However, these provisions have not been commenced and in these circumstances formal moves to establish a new town council cannot proceed. The Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, contains a chapter on town local government which acknowledges both the...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The local authorities who have adopted the Barcelona Declaration, as advised to my Department by the National Disability Authority, are listed in the following table. The aims and objectives of the Declaration are also largely reflected in the National Disability Strategy. Local Authority County Councils Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Fingal Galway Kerry...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Animal welfare and the legal protection of animals from cruelty, including in circuses, are the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Details of investment in water supply by South Tipperary County Council to date in 2008 should, most appropriately, be sought from the Council. No recoupments have been made by my Department to South Tipperary County Council so far this year under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009.

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The settlement of the Department's spending Estimates by Government in the context of annual Budget decisions for the years in question involved a process of consultation over a period of months with the Department of Finance culminating in Ministerial meetings. Meetings of this nature do not require an agenda to be circulated in advance and minutes of such meetings are not maintained by my...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 228 of 9 April 2008. The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating System, or BER as it is more commonly known. The BER system is being implemented under the Regulations in 4...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together. Section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 provides that the Minister may make regulations prescribing standards for houses let for rent or other valuable consideration. Minimum standards for private rented accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 1993. All landlords have...

Written Answers — Badger Snaring: Badger Snaring (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department annually issues thirty licences to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (one for each District Veterinary Office) to take badgers for the purpose of carrying out necessary research into bovine Tuberculosis in cattle and badgers. Bovine Tuberculosis has serious implications for both human and animal health in Ireland. I understand that the Department of Agriculture,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Ballylicky Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding under the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department is awaiting submission of Cork County Council's Contract Documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The combined Adare and Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008. I approved Limerick County Council's proposals to proceed separately with the Patrickswell element of the scheme in October 2007 because of potential land acquisition delays in Adare. I understand that the Council is now...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I have approved an allocation of €6.47m to Donegal County Council under the 2008 Rural Water Programme, of which €0.36m relates to the provision of new group water schemes. The Rural Water Programme priority continues to focus on addressing water quality issues in existing privately sourced group schemes and the need to bring these schemes into compliance with the Drinking Water...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information in respect of my Department is set out in the following tabular statement. Year Operational Cost of Payroll System (Staffing & Maintenance) â'¬ 2004 347,411 2005 333,765 2006 415,462 2007 421,093 2008 (to 30 April) 59,126 *My Department does not hold information along the lines sought in respect of bodies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Delvin Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding under the Serviced Land Initiative measure of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 at an estimated cost of €4.3m. I understand that Westmeath County Council is preparing Contract Documents for a revised scheme to serve a population equivalent of 2,500 as approved by my Department.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 616 together. The Programme for Government set out a commitment to introduce a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrading of septic tanks older than fifteen years with newer systems. My Department is currently considering the terms, conditions and resource implications that may be appropriate to take forward this commitment.

Written Answers — Car Free Day: Car Free Day (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: A total of €131,500 was provided in 2007 by my Department in support of various local authority initiatives to mark mobility week. A programme of activities was organised by both Cork City Council and Dublin City Council, including events such as walking and cycling tours, and exhibitions. Over 500 cyclists took part in the biggest bicycle parade ever in Cork, which was followed by a...

Written Answers — Biodiversity Awareness Campaign: Biodiversity Awareness Campaign (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The 'Notice Nature' biodiversity campaign commenced in 2007 and expenditure on the campaign amounted to €645,000 last year. Further expenditure of €266,000 is envisaged for 2008. As the campaign is still running, there has been no final audit of its outcome. However, my Department is working closely with the consultants responsible for the design and delivery of the campaign to ensure...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is administered by local authorities and is part of a revised framework of grant aid, introduced in November 2007, to assist older people and people with a disability with their accommodation needs. The Scheme, which amalgamates the provisions of the old Essential Repairs Grant Scheme and the existing Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme (SHAE),...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: As stated in the reply to Question No. 261 of 24 April 2008, An Taisce is an independent, voluntary, non-governmental organisation and in general terms it is a matter for such organisations to regulate their own affairs, without Government involvement. I have no role or responsibility in relation to the operation of An Taisce. When submitting observations on planning applications, prescribed...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The provision of a fire service in a fire authority's functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of the individual fire authority under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No.2) Regulations, 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority for public water supplies. In accordance with the Regulations, the Agency has notified local authorities, including Galway County Council, of supplies where detailed profiling is required from source to consumer to ensure that water provided to the...