Results 5,201-5,220 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: There are many complementary elements within the National Spatial Strategy and its equivalent in Northern Ireland — the Regional Development Strategy. These include the recognition of the attractiveness for inward investment of the Dublin-Belfast corridor and the role of the Letterkenny-Derry gateway as a driver for the wider northwest region. Both Governments have been actively...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 4 of 8 November 2006. A number of additional measures have been announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 6 December 2006. These include: a commitment to purchase up to €270 million Carbon Credits; proposals for linking VRT and motor tax to carbon dioxide emissions and for enhanced mandatory emissions labelling; introduction of VRT...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The Review of Local Government Financing by Indecon Economic Consultants estimated, on the basis of different methods of projecting expenditure, that by 2010 local authority expenditure would increase by €1 billion to €2 billion in nominal terms over 2004 levels. Funding this expenditure would be met by a combination of the buoyancy in the existing funding system, some additional funding...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department was notified on 14 November 2006 by Ballina Town Council under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, of a proposed development that includes the site in question. The proposal is being examined by my Department from the point of view of its potential impact on the built and natural heritage and our views will be communicated to the Council as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Property Management Fees: Property Management Fees (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 115 of 8 November 2006.

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 146 together. In February 2005, I announced a Fire Services Change Programme to implement the key fire services and fire safety recommendations of the Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland. This Programme includes measures addressing the development of community fire safety programmes and the development of a competency based approach to...

Written Answers — Development Plans: Development Plans (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans were published for public consultation last April. The draft Guidelines aim to ensure that all development plans are prepared to the highest possible standards on a consistent basis across planning authorities in terms of setting clear aims and objectives. This includes the process of drafting, public consultation, presentation...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Significant powers are available to local authorities and to individuals to deal with environmental noise issues. I am also aware from the recent Second Stage debate on the Noise Bill 2006 of a shared concern to ensure that legislation in this area is adequate and to strengthen existing provisions if that is found to be necessary. The Government did not oppose the Bill and the sufficiency...

Written Answers — Playground Facilities: Playground Facilities (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of the implementation of this policy, my Department has allocated funding of over €8 million to County...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The detailed information sought is not available in my Department. National waste statistics for all waste streams are published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). National Waste Reports have been published in respect of the years 1998, 2001 and 2004 with interim reports published in respect of 2002 and 2003. An interim report will be issued by the Agency early in the New Year...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The Listowel Town Council Upgrade Water Supply Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 to start construction in 2007. My Department is awaiting submission of a countywide strategic water supply study being prepared by Kerry County Council to facilitate further consideration of the Council's Design Review Report for the Listowel scheme.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter lies with local authorities. Local authorities are required, so far as is practicable, to ensure that public roads in their functional areas are kept free of litter. They are also required to take all practicable measures for the prevention, control and disposal of litter...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: There is already good collaboration between the EPA and the relevant Northern Ireland authorities in relation to certain functions, especially environmental research and monitoring. The question of the establishment of new North/South Bodies was addressed in the St. Andrews Agreement which provides that the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive under the auspices of the NSMC...

Written Answers — Constituency Boundaries: Constituency Boundaries (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Following the publication by the Central Statistics Office of the Preliminary Report on Census 2006, I sought the advice of the Attorney General on 21 July 2006 in relation to census results and constituency boundaries. The Attorney subsequently advised that constituencies can only be revised on the basis of the final Census figures. My Department also received a limited amount of other...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) is published on foot of a requirement in the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive. In Ireland, the EPER is compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency every three years, and gives details on emissions to air and water from activities licensed under the above Directive where emissions of specific chemicals exceed a reporting...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department funds comprehensive range of grants and subsidies which are available from local authorities under the devolved Rural Water Programme to bring quality deficient group water schemes up to a satisfactory standard. These include including a 100% capital grant for new water treatment and disinfection plants. Last February, I announced a capital allocation of €133m for the 2006...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 46 on today's question paper. The increase in development contributions in recent years reflects the large rise in construction activity which has led in its turn to increased demands for infrastructure, a fairer application of contributions across all development sectors and more accurate estimates by local authorities of their anticipated...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Section 12 of the Building Control Bill 2005, as amended at Committee Stage, sets out a number of ways in which a person may be eligible for registration as an Architect. These include academic and practical experience options. It also provides that a person who is a fellow or member of the registration body (RIAI) on the date of the passing of the Act will automatically be eligible for...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: By any objective standard, there has been remarkable progress over the lifetime of this Government in relation to the protection and improvement of water quality. This progress includes — since 2000 an increase in waste water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a populations of 3.1 million since 1997 an increase from 20% to 90% in the level of compliance with the relevant EU...