Results 4,441-4,460 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: As stated in reply to Question No. 49 of 29 November 2005, statistics for emissions of carbon dioxide from specific categories of motor vehicles are not available, as emissions are calculated on the basis of fuel sold, rather than vehicle type. Emissions from the transport sector in 2004 totalled 12.58 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, equivalent to 18% of total national emissions in 2004....

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In 2001, my Department initiated a process of reviewing the speech writing function in the Department. This process was organised and managed by my Department with the assistance of a communications company. A report was subsequently prepared which contained a number of recommendations in relation to refreshing the approach to speech writing in the Department. The recommendations were made...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 316 of 28 September 2006.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 161 together. I am satisfied that Ireland's policies in relation to water services, including the exemption of householders from water charges, are consistent with the EU Water Framework Directive. Therefore the issue of metering new homes generally or retrofitting existing homes does not arise now or by 2010. The charging policies of the Water...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Land exchanges under the Affordable Housing Initiative are subject to a public tendering process which involves a range of rigorous assessments and evaluations. In advance of tendering each site, a feasibility report is prepared in order to examine the options available for leveraging the site for the Initiative and recommend the most appropriate course. In the event that the feasibility...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for public procurement policy, maintains the website www.etenders.gov.ie. The website is a centralised portal containing comprehensive information on all aspects of public procurement including the EU Handbook on Environmental Public Procurement which was published in October 2004 by the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Section 34 of the Waste Management Act 1996 provides that any person other than a local authority who wishes to collect waste commercially must do so in accordance with a waste collection permit granted by the relevant local authority. A local authority can attach conditions to a waste collection permit including requirements in relation to the location to which waste may be delivered for...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 167 and 205 together. A coherent, integrated approach to waste management has been put in place through my Department's policy statements Changing Our Ways, Delivering Change, and Taking Stock and Moving Forward. The Government's approach is based on the internationally recognised waste management hierarchy of prevention/ minimisation, significantly...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department's consideration of the implications of this judgment has been overtaken by the publication by the European Commission in December 2005 of a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste which includes text to deal with this case. The Commission proposal is to exclude unexcavated contaminated soil from the scope of the Directive where already...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a development plan must contain objectives for the provision, or facilitation of the provision of services for the community including in particular, schools, crèches and other education and child care facilities. Under the provisions of section 11(3)(c) of the 2000 Act planning authorities are required when proceeding the...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department's Leaflet Safeguarding Ireland from Nuclear Accidents has recently been widely distributed to libraries and Citizens Information Centres. It is also available on the websites of both my Department — www.environ.ie and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, — www.rpii.ie. The question of its wider distribution is being considered in the context of a...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 216 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 1511 of 27 September 2006. It is estimated that up to 2,000 building professionals, mainly in the private sector, will require training as Building Energy Rating (BER) assessors, on a phased basis by 2009, for the BER certification of both new and existing buildings — as required under the Energy...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 229 together. The EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) allows producers to show the cost of recovering and recycling "historic" waste i.e. waste arising from electric and electronic products put on the market before 13 August 2005. These costs are referred to as Environmental Management Costs – or EMCs. They are not...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has regard to the appropriate Department of Finance guidelines on engaging consultants. In addition, the Department's internal guidelines require all general contracts over €25,000 and all consultancy contracts, regardless of cost, to be reported to the Department's Organisation Unit which undertakes a process audit of the procurement prior to award of contract. Proposals for...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 186 and 343 together. To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. This arrangement operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, Offaly...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of the local authority that benefit development in the area, based on a scheme of contributions adopted for the area. Subject to this, the types of public infrastructure that can be funded by a...

Written Answers — Fire Safety: Fire Safety (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The question of requiring the installation of fire doors in existing houses adapted by the installation of lifts, in order to meet the needs of people with disabilities, will be considered in the context of the next review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which I published on 29 June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In June 2005 I approved funding for a pilot programme, proposed by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, to test a range of new, small-scale wastewater collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The pilot programme will also test a low cost, low maintenance system to collect, treat and dispose of effluent from existing septic tanks. The objective of the pilot programme...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has, for many years now, committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to highlighting public awareness of radon and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high radon concentrations. Householders, particularly those in high radon...