Results 4,341-4,360 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My role in relation to the North South Ministerial Council (Environment Sector) established under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement is co-ordinated by a unit within the Environment Division of my Department. The unit is headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to international environment matters and sustainable development. The main work of the unit...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter. I apologise that the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure is unable to be present. It is not for any legal reason. The first progress report of the implementation body under the public service agreement or Croke Park agreement was published on 15 June. The conclusion of the body was that the parties have made solid and...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand the Senator's concerns but pension costs have been reduced by €100 million and that is commensurate with savings in future years. The achievement of that objective is clear from the figures presented.

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter. I acknowledge the courage and commitment of all personnel engaged in the fire and emergency services in County Donegal and throughout the country. The professionalism and dedication of the retained service in Donegal received particular attention in early May during the spate of gorse and wildfires which caused substantial damage in Ard...

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I do not wish the Senator to misinterpret what I have said. I have been very clear.

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Senator might choose for it not to be clear, but to be absolutely clear, there are proposals in the Department from Donegal County Council to build new fire stations in the three locations mentioned by Senator Ó Domhnaill, namely, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Gleann Cholm Cille. I have no money to build any of them at the moment, thanks to the fact that we have ceded our economic...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the €200 charge on non-principal private residences, is structured with a starting position of a universal liability for residential property in respect of the charge. It goes on to exempt certain buildings and owners from this liability, the most important exemption being where a property is occupied by the owner as his...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Commercial rates are local property taxes that are levied by local authorities on commercial properties rateable under the Valuation Act 2001. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered on the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation. The determination of...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Walks Scheme is currently operating on 40 trails being managed by 14 Local Development Companies around the country. The Scheme involves 1,804 participant landholders who are contracted to carry out maintenance work on these trails. In 2011 payments to these landholders will amount to some €1.9m. In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government and the requirements of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 117 together. 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 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 237, 247, 248, 249, 250 and 259 of 21 June 2011 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authority rates are legally payable in two moieties. However, local authorities also facilitate the payment of rates by instalments, including by direct debit, standing order, cheque and cash. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority and this would include the arrangements for ratepayers in making payment by instalments. In this regard,...

Written Answers — Environmental Protection: Environmental Protection (23 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 give effect in Ireland to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is designated as the National Authority for the purpose of the Regulations. The EPA's role includes supervisory, advisory and coordination functions in relation to noise-mapping, action planning,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 345 together. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs entered into a contract to fund the Community Workers Co-operative (CWC) for three years from 2008-2010 under the Scheme toSupport National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. This funding contract was fully honoured by Government, and extended until the end of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Savings: Local Authority Savings (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information sought is provided in the table. Each local authority provided details of the savings made, in terms of pay and non-pay, and costs avoided under the main headings contained in the local government action plan. The non-pay savings reported are in respect of the specific period, the year ending March 2011, covered by the First Report on Progress under the Public Service...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In 2008 a commitment to support emergency coastal protection works at Inch was entered into as part of the CLÁR Programme's Coastal Development Scheme, under the former Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. My Department now has responsibility for the CLÁR Programme. The funding committed to this project at the time was on the basis of 12.5% from the CLÁR Programme, 75% from...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is no Labour Relations Commission (LRC) Review in progress regarding the retirement age of firefighters. A case was brought to the LRC and was referred on to the Labour Court regarding the retirement age of retained firefighters. That case is currently adjourned. A review of the retirement age for retained firefighters was carried out in 2003. The normal retirement age for retained...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Mr. Willie Penrose, TD, Minister of State at my Department, has comprehensive responsibility for the housing and physical planning functions of my Department. In summary, Minister of State Penrose is responsible for the implementation of the Government's Housing Policy Framework and a range of associated housing and planning functions. These include, in the housing area, social housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Kerry County Council has completed its countywide watermains rehabilitation strategy required as part of its water conservation programme. This strategy identifies specific defective water supply networks requiring rehabilitation and/or replacement. The Council is also identifying the works to be included in the Countywide Watermains Rehabilitation Project Phase 1 contract to be progressed...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. Accordingly, it is a matter for each local authority to make appropriate arrangements, in terms of overtime, in accordance with national agreements...