Results 4,421-4,440 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: So far no steps have been taken to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice. Next week, I will meet the Commissioner for the Environment, Stavros Dimas, in Luxembourg. We have met frequently to discuss this issue. On taking office I made it clear that my first priority was to meet the Commissioner to assure him that this Minister puts the transposition of EU directives at the top of...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 108, 119, 140 and 456 together. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the legal requirements for planning authorities for the taking in charge of residential estates where certain conditions have been met. Updated policy guidance on this matter in the form of circular letter PD 1/08 was issued to all planning authorities by my...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The developer of a residential estate is statutorily required to complete the development in accordance with the terms of the planning permission. A development which has not been completed in accordance with the planning permission is an unauthorised development. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities have substantial enforcement powers. A planning authority may...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: In reply to Deputy Ciarán's Lynch's question, no local authority has reported but the deadline is the end of June. As I stated in my previous reply, I am of the view that they have the necessary resources. The Department is issuing circular letters to the local authorities to say that this is important work which must be done. It is not just a question of allowing them to issue...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: New service indicators are now in place. Planning authorities will be asked each year to provide the following information in respect of the previous year — the number of residential estates for which the planning permission has expired in respect of which formal written requests for taking in charge were made either by residents or developers; the number of estates taken in charge in the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 99 together. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently finalising a revised edition of their Code of Practice on Wastewater Treatment Systems serving Single Houses in consultation with all interested parties, including my Department. Part H of the Building Regulations (Drainage and Waste Water Disposal) sets out the requirements for the...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. In working to compile the Register for 2007/8, local authorities undertook and completed, with assistance from my Department, the most extensive...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: As announced in my Carbon Budget of 6 December 2007, a fundamental change is being made in the manner in which motor tax is charged for new cars to give effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce measures to rebalance motor tax in favour of cars with lower CO2 emissions. The Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2008, giving effect to the changes was enacted in...

Written Answers — Electoral Commission: Electoral Commission (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling electoral register, take over the functions of the Standards in Public Office Commission...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 107 together. Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste sets challenging targets for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill. In the case of Ireland, the diversion rates required are projected to equate to 59% for 2010, 73% by 2013 and 80% by 2016 for this particular waste stream. The recent National Waste Report 2006...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 118 together. Guidelines for planning authorities are issued by my Department as statutory guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which requires planning authorities to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. In September 2007, I issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Urban Housing:...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: This year I am providing €999.2m in general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund to local authorities. These grants are my contribution to local authorities to meet the difference between the cost to them of providing an acceptable level of day to day services and the income available to them from local sources and specific grants. The amount being made available for general...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The European Court of Justice has delivered judgments in fourteen cases relating to EU environmental laws in areas for which my Department has responsibility. In one case, case C-216/05, the Court dismissed the action by the Commission. In thirteen cases, the Court found fully or partly against Ireland. Five of these cases have now been closed. My Department is working to meet the...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Arising from the Budget Day announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, an efficiency review of all administrative spending has been conducted by my Department including agencies under the aegis of the Department. The results of the review have been communicated to the Department of Finance. My Department has also commenced a review of the Local Government Management Services...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 124 together. The Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, presents a set of options which share a common theme of strengthening local democratic leadership. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, Stronger Local Democracy proposes a Regional Mayor for Dublin to address the strategic challenges the city faces....

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 134 together. Section 144 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides powers of direction in respect of a tenancy that is not registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) but which, in the opinion of the Board, ought to be registered. The improper use of licensing arrangements in order to avoid tenancy registration is an offence...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 126, 137 and 139 together. My Department's Report on the Status of Habitats and Species in Ireland is the first comprehensive compilation of the status of those habitats, animals and plants in Ireland which have protected status under national and EU law. The Report highlights the pressures and threats that habitats and species face in Ireland including...

Written Answers — Boundary Committees: Boundary Committees (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: On 8 January 2008, I announced that I had established two boundary committees to review local electoral areas. The committees, which are independent in the performance of their functions, are required to report as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 20 June 2008. The committees' website is www.electoralareacommittees.ie.

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 451 and 452 together. In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. In working to compile the Register for 2007/8, local authorities undertook and completed,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: It is a matter for each local authority to deal with requests for access to information by a parliamentary representative as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with a proper level of customer service. In this regard local authorities are required to put in place arrangements to ensure that systems, procedures and time frames equivalent to those used by them in relation to...