Results 4,341-4,360 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Rathowen Sewerage 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 €1.9 million. My Department is in communication with Westmeath County Council in relation the level of Exchequer funding for the scheme and a decision will be conveyed to the Council shortly.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 252 and 253 together. A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards and bodies under the aegis of my Department. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the Minister for the...

Written Answers — Light Pollution: Light Pollution (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: There is no environmental legislation pending or in force, at either EU or national level, on light pollution. However, steps have been taken at a national level to help alleviate the effects of light pollution. Irish regulations on environmental impact assessment (of projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment) require an environmental impact statement to...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The EU operates in a manner which encourages and facilitates the search for agreement between the Member States. While the Treaties provide that the principal method of reaching Council decisions is by Qualified Majority Voting (QMV), recourse to voting is very rare because agreement is normally achieved through negotiation. The table below gives the dates for meetings of EU Environment...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1329 of 30 January, 2008. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The recommendations which related to planning in the 2005 Consumer Strategy Group Report focused on the requirement to ensure that the needs of consumers are taken into account within both forward planning and development management stages, the promotion of competition through retail planning guidance and ensuring that planning is not used as a barrier to entry in respect of pub and other...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to firms of solicitors or barristers engaged by my Department in the past 18 months is set out in the following table: Name of Solicitors / Barristers Purpose of Engagement Fees / Estimated Fees William Fry Solicitors. To provide legal advice for Social Housing Section on the conveyancing aspects of the new Incremental Purchase Scheme. The solicitors...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I have already announced my intention to increase the landfill levy from €15 per tonne to €20 per tonne. The statutory instruments necessary to give effect to the increased levy are currently being finalised. I intend to make these shortly which will allow the increased levy to take effect from the beginning of the third quarter of this year i.e. 1 July 2008.

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department does not hold information on the extent to which management companies are operating throughout Co. Kildare or on the number of estates currently taken in charge in Co. Kildare. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides, in relation to any residential estate containing roads, watermains, sewers, drains, etc, that where the estate is completed in accordance...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: I launched the consumer communication aspect of the Government's communications and public awareness climate change campaign, including the www.change.ie website, on 8 April 2008. Since then there have been 23,439 unique site visitors. In addition, since I launched a user-friendly carbon calculator as a development of the website on 5 May 2008, almost 12,000 people have calculated their...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: As indicated in the reply to Question Nos 197 and 198 of 27 September 2007, the non-completion of any development in line with the planning permission for that development is unauthorised development, which is an offence under the Planning Acts. Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authorities, which have substantial enforcement powers and duties under the Planning...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: I have requested my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate this matter and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: The principal recommendation in the Ninth Progress Report of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution (APOCC), on Private Property, was for the implementation of the central proposal of the 1973 majority — Kenny Report — a "designated area scheme" under which local authorities would be empowered to compulsorily acquire land for general development purposes, at its existing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: In addition to the comprehensive legislative framework already in place, and in keeping with the Programme for Government commitment, my Department issued updated policy guidance to planning authorities in February 2008 on the taking in charge of estates in the form of circular letter PD 1/08. Each planning authority is now being asked to develop or update, as appropriate, its policy on...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 to 565, inclusive, together. My Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for Apartments on 18 September 2007, with the aim of promoting sustainable urban housing by ensuring that the design and layout of new apartments provide high quality accommodation for a variety of household types and sizes,...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 incorporates a national water conservation sub-programme under which grant aid of €288 million is available over the three years to local authorities to fund: management systems to monitor water use and loss in the public supply networks, targeted leakage control measures, whereby local authorities locate and repair leaking...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: As indicated in the reply to Question No. 609 of 8 May 2008, my Department is currently examining options to strengthen legislation on noise pollution and I will announce my preferred approach as soon as possible. Part E (Sound) of the Building Regulations 1997, and the related Technical Guidance Document E, TGD E, sets out requirements in relation to sound insulation in buildings. Home...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: A Floor Area Compliance Certificate has recently issued in respect of this property.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: Under the Waste Management Acts statutory responsibility for the making of regional waste management plans, which includes determinations in regard to the waste management infrastructure appropriate to each region, rests with the local authority (or local authorities) concerned and my Department has no function in this regard. The proposed development in question is by a private company and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.