Results 501-520 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Local Government Funding: Local Government Funding (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The funding made available to local authorities through general purpose grants from the local government fund has grown to record levels over the past few years. I have allocated a total of €751.66 million for such grants in 2004. This amount represents an increase of 14% over the corresponding allocation for last year and is some 121% higher than the initial allocations for 1997. These...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Given that the typical annual cost of motor taxation is significantly greater than the annual cost of a TV licence and that this tax represents but one of a number of required fixed payments, for example, insurance, associated with motoring, there is no proposal to introduce a stamp savings scheme similar to that in operation for TV licences. It is open to motorists to pay motor tax for...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Southern section B of the Firies-Scartaglin regional water supply scheme has been approved for construction under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2003-2005. The contracts documents for the scheme submitted by Kerry County Council are under examination in my Department and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department is co-operating actively with the implementation committee and the Department of Finance in relation to the decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004. An internal implementation team for decentralisation, which will report regularly to me and my Department's management advisory committee, has been set up in the Department. My Department is also committed to developing...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The CIE service given by the person concerned could only become reckonable under the local government superannuation scheme if CIE were to make its regular wages staff pension scheme reciprocal generally with the local government superannuation scheme and accept financial liability for the period of service in question. To date, the CIE scheme has not been able to meet these conditions.

Written Answers — County Development Plans: County Development Plans (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department does not have details of the charges imposed by each planning authority for a copy of the CD of the authority's development plan. The amount of any such charge is a matter to be determined by each individual planning authority. Section 16 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a planning authority shall make available for inspection and purchase by members of the...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Following the change of Government in mid-2002 my Department now has responsibility for policy in respect of the built heritage and for policy and operational matters relating to the natural heritage. The operational and management functions in relation to the built heritage in State care have transferred to the Office of Public Works. These organisational arrangements are designed to achieve...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Kilmacow sewerage scheme has been approved for funding under the rural towns and villages initiative of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2003-2005 at an estimated cost of €2.7 million. I understand that Kilkenny County Council has invited expressions of interest from consulting engineers in regard to the preparation of tender documents for the scheme and supervision...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The provision of food in my Department's canteens and restaurants is contracted out to private contractors and, accordingly, the information sought is not available. However, a wide variety of food is provided by the various operators and they are open to considering any requests for particular foodstuffs. The invitation to tender for the Department's main restaurant in the Custom House...

Written Answers — Local Government Act: Local Government Act (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The relevant statutory provisions are set out in Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001. While these provisions have not yet been commenced due to a heavy legislative work programme in 2003, I hope to be in a position to commence these and other relevant provisions of the Act during the course of the year so that any proposal for the establishment of a town council can then be considered...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under section 143 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, An Bord Pleanála is subject to a general requirement to have regard, in performing its functions, to the policies and objectives of the Government, a State authority, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, planning authorities and any other body which is a public authority whose functions have a bearing on...

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department paid €1,911,624 in respect of mileage expenses in 2003. A further amount of €94,720 was expended on bus, rail and related expenses, for example, taxi fares and car parking fees. A separate figure is not available for bus and rail expenses; systems are being put in place which will enable my Department to provide details of such expenditure from 2004. My Department also...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department has no proposals to undertake excavations of historical sites for educational purposes. Funding is provided by my Department to the Royal Irish Academy, RIA, which administers grants to approved research excavation projects and also to the Heritage Council which, in turn, supports the archaeological research body, Discovery Programme.

Written Answers — Electronic Voting System: Electronic Voting System (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 509 together. My Department has overall responsibility for the delivery of electronic voting and counting working in conjunction with the system suppliers, returning officers and their staff, the Local Government Computer Services Board and the company handling the public awareness and information campaign. To date, some €20 million has been spent on...

Written Answers — Electronic Voting System: Electronic Voting System (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer to my reply to Question No. 211 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Better enforcement of the waste management code has been, and continues to be, a major priority for me since coming into office. In this regard, I have introduced or arranged for a number of important initiatives, the most significant of which are as follows: the establishment in October 2003 of a new Office of Environmental Enforcement, OEE, within the Environmental Protection Agency. The...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Environmental Protection Agency prepares and makes publicly available a wide range of reports-data on the quality of the environment, both in printed form and on its website, www.epa.ie. These reports-data, as well as other relevant analytical work, are an important input to the ongoing development of appropriate policy responses and have been fully recognised and drawn upon in recent...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Proposals were received by my Department from Cork County Council in August 2002 for the provision of water and sewerage facilities, estimated to cost €1 million, at Ladysbridge under the serviced land initiative measure of the water services investment programme. A proposed water supply scheme to serve Mogeely, Castlemartyr and Ladysbridge, at an estimated cost of €1.6 million, was...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Arising from the recent High Court decision, it is my intention to bring legislation before the Oireachtas as soon as possible to amend the provisions of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 1994.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (10 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I assume that the question relates to the siting of paper recycling bring facilities on school grounds. Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, "class 42" developments relating to the use of land as a bring facility — as outlined in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the regulations — are exempt from planning permission requirements subject to the following conditions and...