Results 5,021-5,040 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Local Authority Housing (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: We are working with the resources available to us but because of the reckless policies pursued previously, we are where we are. We have an over-supply of housing which we are trying to marry with the lists of people who genuinely need social housing and we are doing this proactively with rent support, leasing arrangements and, ultimately, allowing people to purchase their own homes and live...

Local Authority Housing (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: We will not do that. We will not do everything the Deputy suggests. We are working with not-for-profit organisations as well as the public sector to deliver quality housing and accommodation through State supports administered by the Department of Social Protection and the local authorities.

North-South Ministerial Councils (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I met Mr. Alex Attwood, MLA, in his capacity as Minister of the Environment in Northern Ireland at a North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting on 10 June 2011 and at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, environment sector, in Armagh on 1 July 2011. A further meeting of the council is scheduled for tomorrow, 21 October 2011, and will be attended by Mr. Attwood. I also had...

North-South Ministerial Councils (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have discussed the issue of Sellafield and we have made substantial progress between Ireland and the UK authorities. We have included the Sellafield projects in the stress tests carried out by the European Union in the aftermath of the recent problems in Fukushima in Japan. The International Atomic Energy Agency is helping Ireland to deal with the risks associated with Sellafield. I am...

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The EU-IMF programme of financial support commits the Government to introduce a property tax from 2012. The programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for them. A property tax would...

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am not surprised that so many people are attending meetings if they are being told by the Deputy and others that the charge will be €1,400.

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I do not know. He did not hear it from the Minister and neither did the Deputy.

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: We will introduce a charge of €100, or €2 a week, in 2012. I do not know from where the €1,400 figure came.

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: If Deputy Joan Collins wants to tell people at public meetings that is how much it will be, I am sure she will draw a crowd. I advise her to proceed on the basis of what is accurate.

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The list of exemptions and waivers from the household charge will include people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement. They will not have to pay it. People living in social housing will also not have to pay it. I am sure the Deputy is telling people at meetings about this. People living in voluntary and co-operative housing, residential property owned by a charity and who have had...

Household Charge (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I wish I did not have to introduce it, but I am being forced to do so by the circumstances in which the country finds itself.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 19 together. A range of work relevant to the reform and development of local government in accordance with the Programme for Government is under way and significant progress is being made. In relation to structural reform of the local government system, I announced, on 28 June 2011, a Government decision to create a single local authority to replace...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I established and am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Banking sector, the Local Authorities, NAMA, and the construction sector as...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 it is the function of local authorities to provide the primary response to littering. My Department's role is to provide the legislative framework for combating litter pollution, and to motivate and energise anti-litter responses as necessary. It is the responsibility of each local authority to both prioritise and determine the most appropriate...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia, through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines) and provision for mediation procedures between neighbours. The development of new noise legislation by my Department will be considered in the context of this commitment: however, as indicated in...

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

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Laois. Phase 1 of the Mountmellick Sewerage Scheme was under construction at the time of publication of the programme, while further phases of the scheme are included among the...

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

Phil Hogan: Appropriate measures to ensure that waste, including wastewater from septic tanks and proprietary waste systems, is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health or harming the environment, have been taken by my Department to address an ECJ judgment (C188/08) which found in October, 2009 that Ireland was in breach of Article 4 of the EU Waste Directive (2006/12/EC). Implementation...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department has responsibility for a range community development programmes which aim to improve the quality of life and welfare of our communities, with a particular focus on those communities that are vulnerable or disadvantaged. I am keen to ensure the long-term sustainability of local and community development supports and ensure the maximum level of available funding is delivered to...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts: Dormant Accounts (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Dormant Accounts Act 2001 together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. The main purpose of the legislation is to reunite account...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I attach high priority to consumer protection in the area of quality construction of new dwellings. That is why, in July 2011, I announced a number of measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with, and oversight of, the requirements of the Building Regulations. In broad terms the measures will involve:- (a) the introduction of...