Results 4,441-4,460 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

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

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 510 of 11 March 2008.

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

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 131 together. Ireland, by letter dated 16 May 2008, has responded to a letter from the European Commission dated 31 January in regard to matters concerning the transposition of elements of the Landfill Directive. The concerns of the Commission have been substantially addressed in the Waste Management (Registration of Brokers and Dealers) Regulations...

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

John Gormley: General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are structured to bring about equalisation, over time, so that each authority will have sufficient resources, either from central grants or from its local income base, to provide an acceptable level of day to day services to its customers. In determining these grants I take into account a number of factors including the overall funding...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic water consumers the costs incurred in the provision of water services to those consumers in accordance with the polluter pays principle and the requirements of Article 9 of the EU Water Framework Directive. The requirement for non-domestic consumers to pay for water services supplied to them applies regardless of the use to which...

Written Answers — Turf Cutting: Turf Cutting (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: There are long established procedures for representing the views of domestic turf cutters to my Department and to the Government. In particular, the farming organisations represent the interests of turf cutters, as well as those of farmers, in a standing committee which meets with representatives of my Department on a regular basis. I have no plans for a separate meeting with turf cutters at...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter, including the issuing and enforcement of litter fines, lies with local authorities. Statistics on local authority enforcement action on litter, including the number of on-the-spot litter fines issued, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months....

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department recently published the Green Paper on local government reform, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change. The Green Paper outlines a range of issues for consideration including the establishment of expenditure limits at local elections. The submissions made in the course of the preparation of the Green Paper were generally...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Postal voting is provided for in respect of certain categories of person as specified in electoral law. Electors who are eligible for, but not already included on, the postal voters list may apply for entry on the supplement to this list and they can do this at any time. However, in accordance with electoral law, such persons must apply for inclusion on the supplement to the postal voters...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 to 428, inclusive, together. The facility in question is provided for in the Dublin regional waste management plan for which the four Dublin local authorities have statutory responsibility under the Waste Management Acts. Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 precludes the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: In accordance with requirements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Environmental Protection Agency prepares an annual National Inventory Report on greenhouse gas emissions. The 2008 inventory, which reports on actual emissions in 2006, is available on the Agency's website (www.epa.ie). Future inventories will report on emissions in 2007 and 2008, and will...

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

John Gormley: In order to be able to vote at elections and referenda in this jurisdiction, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Subject to this primary requirement, the person's citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Under article 47.3 of the Constitution only Irish...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: There are no proposals on the lines suggested in the Question.

Written Answers — Seanad Reform: Seanad Reform (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to determine the extent of cross-party agreement on the recommendations of the April 2004 Report on Seanad Reform by the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, and to advance proposals for implementation. The Report sets out comprehensive recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information sought is not available in my Department. The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within this framework, Returning Officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the conduct of elections and referendums, including the provision of ballot...

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

John Gormley: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a support scheme for replacing and upgrading septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems. I am currently considering the terms, conditions and other arrangements that may be appropriate to taking forward this commitment.

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

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together. My Department is awaiting submission of Carlow County Council's Preliminary Report for the Tullow/Hacketstown/Rathvilly Wastewater Treatment Plants Scheme which has been approved for funding under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009.

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

John Gormley: The Freshford/Johnstown/Goresbridge 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 €7.9 million. Kilkenny County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is being examined in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: There are 161 administrative staff at the grade of assistant principal officer or higher currently serving in my Department. Of these, 5 were recruited via open competition, including 1 from outside the civil service.

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

John Gormley: Under Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may attach conditions to planning permissions in relation to appropriate naming and numbering of, and the provision of appropriate signage for, proposed developments. I have no plans to issue national guidance on this matter, which I consider is more appropriately dealt with at local authority level.

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

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to the number of schools which are metered for water charges is not available in my Department. However, the metering of all non-domestic water users, including schools, is expected to be completed before the end of 2008. Water charging of non-domestic users on a volumetric basis should incentivise efficiency and conservation in the use of water,...