Results 4,481-4,500 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In accordance with the Performance Management framework for the Civil Service, business plans are prepared in my Department each year, which translate the goals and objectives set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy into a set of objectives for each business unit. In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Department's Statement of Strategy and its Annual...

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

Dick Roche: The following table sets out the membership and payments (other than travel and subsistence expenses) made since 1997 to members of the state bodies/agencies currently under the aegis of my Department. The procedures for taxation of such payments are a matter for each of the bodies/agencies concerned subject to compliance with the Revenue Commissioners Statement of Practice SP — IT/1/04...

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

Dick Roche: It is not intended in short term to increase the existing landfill levy of €15 per tonne. However, I have initiated a public consultation seeking the views of stakeholders and the general public in regard to the future regulation of the waste management sector. Views have been sought on a range of relevant issues including the determination of an appropriate waste charging structure....

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 78 and 101 of 13 June 2006. Following a public consultation by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland notified its National Allocation Plan for the 2008-2012 trading period to the European Commission on 13 July 2006. The notified Plan is available on the website of the Agency at www.epa.ie. A decision on the Plan is expected before the end of...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Building Control Act 1990 and the related Building Control Regulations 1997 provide for the issue of Fire Safety Certificates (FSC) for the designs of new non-domestic buildings and apartment blocks in advance of the commencement of work on the relevant building projects. However, projects have in the past started in advance of the seeking or granting of a FSC; and local building control...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: All specific non-national road projects, grant aided by my Department, must comply with eligibility criteria and conditions of grant schemes. Outputs and value for money are monitored on an ongoing basis by my Department based on returns submitted by local authorities and site visits.

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 56 of 13 June 2006. The position remains unchanged.

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

Dick Roche: In Ireland as in other countries, a diverse range of plastic materials are in use; these fall into different categories, including low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Factors influencing the recycling of plastics include the market price for the polymer in question,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in correspondence in respect of 34 cases relating to possible infringements of EU environmental legislation. There were 49 such cases in December 2005. This considerable improvement illustrates the positive outcomes from my intensive efforts to resolve issues in dialogue with the Commission and...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 106 of 13 June 2006, which sets out the range of legislation on noise pollution which is already in place. Given these extensive controls on noise pollution from various sources, I have no plans to introduce further legislation in this area.

Written Answers — Census of Population: Census of Population (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I welcome the release by the Central Statistics Office of the preliminary results of the 2006 census which shows strong population growth on a national basis. This population growth augurs well for the sustainable development of the country. The National Spatial Strategy forecasted a continuing population growth. The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016...

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

Dick Roche: My Department issued Circular Letter PD 1/06 in January of this year which required each planning authority to establish, as a priority, a policy on taking in charge of housing estates to be approved by the elected members. The circular also required that progress on the implementation of the policy would have to be reported on to the members on a regular basis and at least once annually....

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

Dick Roche: My Department provides regular expenditure reports to the Department of Finance, including financial tables, that are used by that Department in the publication of monthly Exchequer statements on aggregate levels of receipts and expenditure. The Exchequer Statement for the period ended 30 September 2006, was published on 3 October. In addition, in accordance with the Public Service...

Written Answers — Election Expenditure: Election Expenditure (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Section 32 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended, specifies the maximum amounts of expenditure which may be incurred on behalf of a candidate at a Dáil election. The amounts are €25,394.76 in a 3 seat constituency; €31,743.45 in a 4 seat constituency; and €38,092.14 in a 5 seat constituency. Section 3 of the Act provides that these amounts may be varied, by order of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: At end-September 2006, the overall cost of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments amounted to €58,401,332.

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In general, planning permission must be sought for the erection of an antenna support structure or mast. In July 1996 my Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures. Their purpose was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance...

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

Dick Roche: I assume that the Question refers to recently released figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). These show that in the second quarter of 2006 a total of 19,097 residential units were granted planning permission, which was a decrease of 33% on the equivalent figure for the second quarter in 2005, that is, 28,818. However figures taken over 4 quarters, that is the year up to June...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Local authorities are required to recover the cost of providing water services from all users of these services, with the exception of householders. The intention is that the cost of providing water services to the non-domestic sector will be recovered by local authorities by means of a meter based volumetric charge. Wavier provisions in relation to local government services are designed...

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

Dick Roche: The proposed sewerage works at Carrigaline form part of the Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme which is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007 at an estimated cost of €71.4 million. My Department is awaiting submission of a Preliminary Report for the scheme by Cork County Council. Following approval of the...