Results 4,801-4,820 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am taking it seriously. I am seeking explanations for how these situations arose. While I have seen the response of the county manager in the media, I have not received a response in writing to my Department in respect of the cherrypicking of some of the recommendations made in the report. People in that position must be responsible and accountable to the taxpayer, the elected members...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Electoral law provides for postal voting for specified categories of persons, including members of the Defence Forces and Irish Diplomats serving abroad. I will consider extending the categories of voters for which such arrangements should be put in place to Gardaí serving abroad in the context of any future amendments to electoral law.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. Ireland recognises the right of States to determine their own energy mix, including whether or not to develop nuclear power. It is Ireland's expectation that, where a State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection....

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. The provision of fire...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 , a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the commencement of water conservation contracts to the value of just under €18.8 million during the programme period in County Kerry. Since the publication of the programme, Kerry County Council has completed its countywide watermains rehabilitation strategy...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The greater the degree of separation of different categories of waste by consumers and businesses, the easier it will be to reduce the proportion of our waste disposed of in landfill and to create the conditions for investment in much needed recovery and recycling infrastructure. Waste presentation is largely determined by permit conditions and local bye-laws. The Waste Management...

Written Answers — Temple Bar Cultural Trust: Temple Bar Cultural Trust (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Temple Bar Cultural Trust organisation is a private limited company with the Dublin City Manager as the sole shareholder. Therefore, in the first instance, governance arrangements and financial management of the Trust are a matter for Dublin City Council and its Audit Committee. I understand that an independent consultancy report into the operation of the Trust, commissioned by Dublin...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I met with the Cathaoirleach and Manager of Sligo County Council on the occasion of the official openings of the new Library and Fire Station in Ballymote on 20 May 2011. The meeting commenced at 3.30 p.m. and concluded at 3.45 p.m. approximately. At this meeting the financial position and the funding challenges facing the Council were briefly discussed with a view to further exploration...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and...

Written Answers — Leader Programmes: Leader Programmes (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: There are 36 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Rural Development Programme throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 359 together. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in households connected to public water supplies and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to...

Written Answers — Referendum Proposals: Referendum Proposals (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2011 is being sponsored by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government has approved the establishment of a Referendum Commission in relation to the proposed amendment of the Constitution contained in this Bill. Arising from that decision, I exercised the powers conferred on me under...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: On 15 September I announced the establishment of a panel to seek to identify a way forward in regard to pyrite contamination in private housing stock. Arrangements for the establishment of the panel should be finalised this week.

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department considers water conservation to be of paramount importance. The current Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas library, places a significant emphasis on water conservation, providing for network rehabilitation contracts with a total value of some €321 million to commence in the period 2010 – 2012. In the aftermath of the severe...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities have arrangements and applications in place which facilitate citizens in making complaints or suggestions or in reporting problems through various mediums, including by post, phone, text, fax, e-mail and on-line through their websites. In the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department is working with local authorities in developing options for...

Written Answers — Local Government Audit Service: Local Government Audit Service (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The audit of the accounts of all local authorities is required to be carried out by the independent Local Government Audit Service under the Local Government Act 2001. I have no plans at present to alter this statutory arrangement. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The embargo on the filling of posts in local authorities was introduced on 24 March 2009 following a Government decision to implement savings measures across the wider public service. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of this general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts across all local authorities. This...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: Harvested rainwater can potentially be used as an alternative source of water for various domestic purposes, e.g. supplying toilet cisterns, washing machines etc., and for various business and commercial operations. Environmental and economic benefits can also accrue from reducing the demand for water abstraction at source and the subsequent and expensive treatment of raw water for human...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Sep 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Sligo and Environs Sewerage Scheme, which includes the extension to Cumeen, is included as a scheme at planning in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010–2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. My Department wrote to Sligo County Council in July 2011 advising that the design review report for the scheme could not be considered further until such...