Results 5,421-5,440 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 560 together. The process for declaring a major emergency by a principal response agency is set out in the document "A Framework for Major Emergency Management" and in the local authorities' major emergency plans. If a local authority is the principal response agency, it is a matter for the appropriate local authority personnel in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I understand that this land purchase closed on 3 November.

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I understand that contracts in this case have been executed. The Office of the Chief State Solicitor received closing documentation from the vendor's solicitor on 20 October 2008 and the case is expected to be closed shortly.

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I am arranging to have reports of hare coursing meetings attended by wildlife rangers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service placed on my Department's National Parks and Wildlife website.

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex and Maumturk Mountains Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) contain valuable wildlife habitats that the State is obliged to protect under EU law. Sheep stocking in these areas is currently too high to be compatible with the preservation of these habitats and agreement has been reached with farmers and their representative groups to return stocking rates. In...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 538, 539, 540 and 541 of 11 November 2008. The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings was transposed into Irish law in the form of the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. In accordance with Article 7 of these Regulations a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate will be required for existing buildings of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The estimated cost of incremental pay increases for staff in my Department in 2009 is approximately €900,000. However, the year to year costs of incremental pay increases are normally offset by corresponding reductions in costs associated with retirements and other movements by staff on higher points on the incremental scales and their replacement by staff on lower points. It is not...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Proposals have been received from all nine National Spatial Strategy gateways for funding under the competitive €300 million Gateway Innovation Fund (GIF); these proposals sought some €720 million in total funding under the GIF. Following an examination and prioritisation of capital funding programmes by the Government as part of the estimates process, my Department's estimates do not...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to the period 2006 to 2008 is set out in the following table: 2006 2007 2008* DOEHLG Staff 10 days 11 days 7 days DOEHLG Staff ( Excluding long term illness cases ie those exceeding blocks of 6 weeks absences) 6 days 7 days 4 days *The 2008 figures include sick leave absences up to the 31/10/08.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 to 473, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government signalled the development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability and, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies. Arising from a commitment in the Programme, a major international review of waste management strategy is now...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (18 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I assume that the question refers to planning applications submitted to An Bord Pleanála in respect of development specified in the Seventh Schedule of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, which came into operation in January 2007, amended the 2000 Act to provide for a streamlined, single-stage consent process for certain...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 405 of 4 November 2008. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Following discussions with the European Commission, my Department issued Circular Letter SP 5/08 to all County Managers on 30 September 2008, regarding local need policies in cases where there is an application to build a dwelling from which a full-time business will operate. Local authorities were asked to examine their development plans in light of the updated guidance provided in the...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (19 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Following a pilot programme, Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) are currently being established in all local authorities. Revised guidelines in relation to the operation of the JPCs were recently issued by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, under the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, following consultation with myself and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I assume the question refers to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General-Purpose Grants are the contribution that my Department makes to local authorities to meet the gap between the cost to them of providing a reasonable level of day-to-day services and the income they obtain from other sources. The Local Government Fund is also providing significant funding to local...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (20 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Data in respect of the annual costs associated with the local storage of electronic voting machines are compiled by my Department. Based on figures received in my Department from Returning Officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment (including the cost of insurance, service charges, rates and heating) for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were some €658,000;...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (20 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Responsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials (such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments and stationery) is a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to Returning Officers to make the necessary arrangements in relation to the storage of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: On foot of Circular Letter PD 1/08 of 26 February 2008, planning authorities were required, by the end of June 2008, to develop or update, as appropriate, their policy on taking in charge of residential developments on the basis of the framework, and wider housing and planning policy guidance, set out in the circular. As part of the monitoring and review arrangements set out in the circular,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 205 and 208 of 13 November 2008. The position is unchanged.