Results 4,741-4,760 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Building Regulations (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Daly would have to see a lot of things around corners. I have answered the question she asked which was a highly technical one and I answered it in a technical fashion. If there was any aspect of the question I did not answer, she certainly did not ask a supplementary in regard to it. The Building Control Acts clearly place responsibility for compliance with building regulations on...

Building Regulations (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: We are here as legislators and to make regulations. The people who supplied this material are in breach of those regulations and that has been found by the courts. We do not have to improve any regulations because the courts have found these people to be negligent in regard to compliance. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's regulations have stood the test of...

Building Regulations (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Did it attribute any liability to the State?

Building Regulations (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: That is correct. The quarry owners are liable. Therefore, we must take that into account when we come forward with solutions. The State is not liable but I am prepared to set up this panel to help homeowners who are unfortunately caught between the quarry owners and solving this problem, and to facilitate whatever I can to help them.

Dormant Accounts Fund (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: In December 2009, the previous Government approved disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund for a once-off measure to the value of €1.25 million for the five new provincial towns incorporated under RAPID. These are Ballina, Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Mullingar and Rathkeale. InDecember 2010, Pobal, which advertises, appraises and recommends beneficiaries under various dormant accounts...

Dormant Accounts Fund (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I acknowledge everything that Deputy Niall Collins has said about Rathkeale. The case he has put forward is a strong one. I have been to Rathkeale but I did not meet anybody there. I walked the main street there in recent times and I am familiar with the projects that have been submitted. The problem is that five areas were identified under the Dormant Accounts Fund, but no money was...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: No decision. When we have a decision we will let the Deputy know.

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy should have a bit of patience.

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 15, 28, 38, 44 and 113 together. I refer to the reply to Priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2 on today's Order Paper. On 29 October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled against Ireland in relation to the treatment of waste waters from septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems. The court found that by failing to adopt the necessary...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: If the system works there will be no need to worry because no remediation will be required. Systems such as bio-cycle operations are working and are already in compliance with planning law. The planning officer or relevant local government official who will inspect the system will, I am sure, find that if those systems are doing what they are supposed to do when installed, there will be no...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: There will be a national and local register because it will be the same information that will be available to the local authorities and to the Department. Once the registration system is complete, after one year the local authorities will be charged with inspecting the tanks on the basis of a risk-based approach. The areas which pose the greatest risk to the ground water will be those...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree with Deputy Naughten's last point about giving advice and support to householders to minimise the impact on our ground water and to minimise potential environmental damage in the future caused by the use of certain products. This is in tune with my basic philosophy on local government that there should be a devolved function in so far as possible for many of our national policy...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The question of additional staff resources does not arise as there is capacity in the local government system. Unfortunately, compared to five years ago, as a result of the economic downturn there is a low level of activity in all planning and engineering sections of local authorities. I am sure the Deputy knows this is the case in County Kildare as well as elsewhere.

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Anyone who has no planning work to do or anyone wishing to carry out additional work where there is spare capacity will be asked to do other work such as this. This would be the prudent policy for any local authority management in order to ensure that staff are working to full capacity. The Department will consider carefully any additional staff resources requested by Kildare County...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will answer Deputy Flanagan in turn. A follow-up inspection will ensure the remediation plan is carried out.

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy has been carried away.

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Daly's response to these matters is to raise more taxes, in other words, to get more money in income tax from people and then we will be able to provide every possible service. We have put that view to the test with the electorate in February and the Deputy's party failed; two members of the Socialist Party were elected while 76 members of Fine Gael were elected. That...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I hope the Deputy did a good job.

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I concur with Deputy Wallace that a county council is liable if it passes a septic tank on the basis of the information submitted in a planning application. If it is subsequently found that the system does not work, the council is responsible. We will take that into account. A survey carried out in the Deputy's county of Wexford revealed that 77% of those surveyed were in compliance. It...

Septic Tank Regulation (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I hope Deputy Wallace was involved in constructing some of those tanks. I am pleased to be able to give him the good news that Wexford is not too bad in terms of how we intend to implement the programme.