Results 5,321-5,340 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Health Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to express my appreciation of the good work done by the voluntary housing sector in Ireland. The sector works in close co-operation with local authorities and other statutory bodies to deliver many local services for the public. Last June my Department launched a new housing policy framework which puts the voluntary and co-operative sector at the very...

Health Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am delighted the Deputy's long experience is coming into play, as he has a great reputation of beinga ble to knock heads together in agencies and local authorities. I am sure he could try it on this occasion also. If there is a response to the letter we have sent, we can see what progress can be made. We must receive a response in line with the terms and conditions of what was approved...

Health Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand that and that the Deputy has much experience. He had plenty of opportunities to ensure we had fewer rather than more agencies.

Health Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am trying to solve the problem and the manner I suggest involves a leasing arrangement that could be entered into under certain conditions. If we receive a response to the initiative taken by the Department, perhaps we might make progress.

Health Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: If I receive a response to the letter, I will be prepared to revert to the Deputy to see where we can make progress.

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: — acknowledges that the Government is acutely aware of the pressures on small and medium-sized businesses and the challenging economic environment in which many property and business owners are operating at the present time; — recognises the very important contribution that commercial rates...

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Niall Collins and his party colleagues are well meaning in tabling the motion, but I never cease to be amazed by Fianna Fáil's capacity to lose its memory and have all of the solutions to various issues after it leaves office. It was in government only eight months ago.

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Its collective amnesia is astounding. Is this not the same Fianna Fáil Party which was in government from 1997 to earlier this year when all of these issues were apparent but nothing happened? What did it do when it was in government to ease the pressures on small and medium-sized businesses? What changes in the rating system did it deliver? Why has the rating system suddenly become not...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme but has not received an application for the person referred to in the question. The Scheme supports qualifying older people, aged 65 and older, by providing funding towards monitored personal alarms and other items of security and safety equipment. Applications are made through the applicant's local community or voluntary group. My...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The developed country Parties who associated with the Copenhagen Accord (including the EU and all Member States) agreed to provide a fast-start finance package, over the three years 2010 to 2012, to assist developing countries address climate change. Ireland undertook to contribute up to €100m to the package and, to date, has reported funding amounting to €66m. The question of providing...

Written Answers — Emergency Homeless Accommodation: Emergency Homeless Accommodation (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together. My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on all non-principal private residences. The charge is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole or main residence. I have no plans at present to amend the 2009 Act to provide exemptions...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The value of the chewing gum market in Ireland is estimated at approximately €40 million per annum. Therefore, a levy of 2 cent per packet, assuming an average price of 50 cent per packet of chewing gum, would raise approximately €1.6 million per annum. However, such a levy would not directly address the root cause of the associated litter problem, which is the incorrect disposal of...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The training of fire service personnel is the statutory duty of individual fire authorities under the Section 15.1 of the Fire Services Act 1981. Fire authorities provide initial recruit training, as well as training in the use of breathing apparatus to an agreed national syllabus, for all entrants to the fire service. While my Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The statutory position is set down at subsection 62(4) of the Building Control Act 2007 which provides that a registration fee must not in any case exceed the combined costs of providing the registration service and any reasonable charges incurred in collecting, accounting for and administering the fee.

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together. My Department does not lease computer servers. My Department is currently engaged in consolidating servers to a bladed infrastructure which utilises virtual server technologies thus reducing significantly the need for separate physical servers and the power consumption associated with them. This consolidated infrastructure is supported...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing (2005) are designed to achieve a balance between a good planning framework for rural housing and the local housing needs of those who are part of, or have links to, local rural communities. They elaborate on the physical development policies for rural areas as set out in the Government's National Spatial...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is no firm estimate of cost for the Greater Dublin Regional Drainage Project - North Dublin Wastewater Treatment Plant and Orbital Sewer, being planned by Fingal County Council but my Department understands from the local authority that the entire scheme is not expected to cost more than €500m. A firmer estimate of cost will be available when the Preliminary Report for the scheme is...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 351, inclusive, together. The position in relation to the appointment of returning officers is as follows: · Section 30 of the Electoral Act, 1992 sets out the provisions relating to the appointment of returning officers for Dáil constituencies. Section 30(2) provides that where a constituency is situated wholly within one county or city the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: In response to the requirement in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland for an economic analysis of the potential impact on competition and consumer prices of eliminating or relaxing the floorspace cap on retail premises, my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation commissioned Forfás to undertake an evidence-based and focused study to analyse the...