Results 5,481-5,500 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied that local authorities have sufficient powers at their disposal, including under planning and roads legislation, to deal with issues of the kind mentioned in the Question. Solutions to particular problems of this kind will also be appropriately addressed at local level. Further specific regulation of such issues is not envisaged at present.

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: In support of balanced regional development, the National Development Plan 2007-2013 proposes to enhance the growth capacity of the nine Gateway cities and towns, designated under the National Spatial Strategy, and to strengthen their role as drivers of the development of their wider regions. As an incentive to stimulate and reward joined-up strategies and action at Gateway level, a Gateway...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. This arrangement operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford during June and July of last year. This service...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: This scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to start construction this year. My Department is awaiting submission of an Economic review and revised Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the scheme from Clare County Council.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The maintenance and improvement of non-national roads and bridges in County Kerry is a matter for Kerry County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. The question of special funding to take account of emergency improvements to non-national roads is regularly raised. The standing approach in my Department is not to hold back a...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Funding for a Preliminary Assessment of Phase I of Kerry County Council's Villages Sewerage Scheme Refurbishment proposals, which includes Tarbert, has been approved under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. My Department is awaiting submission of Kerry County Council's report on the Preliminary Assessment. I understand that the Council is also developing a...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Regulations are being drafted in my Department to give full effect to Council Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. I expect to make these regulations shortly. The new Register will replace the current European Pollutant Emission Register, compiled in Ireland by the Environmental Protection Agency....

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: There are various legislative provisions applicable to noise nuisance, as well as a number of practical arrangements to reduce the instances of unnecessary noise from alarms and to tackle persistent incidence of such noise. Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. In the case...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: In 2006, my Department answered some 3,093 parliamentary questions. It is not possible to indicate the cost involved in answering these questions.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Kerry County Council has made an application for my consent under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended) to carry out works in respect of a proposed extension to this graveyard. A national monument in State ownership, Aughamore Abbey, is located within the graveyard. Due to the sensitive nature of the site from both an archaeological and ecological viewpoint, detailed...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Caherdaniel is approved for funding under Phase I of the Kerry Village Waste Water Project in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, at an estimated cost of €8.5m. My Department is awaiting the submission of a Preliminary Report for the scheme by Kerry County Council.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority which operates under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Transport. Under Section 10 (1) of the Roads Act, 1993, where a national road has been realigned or a by-pass has been constructed on it, the section of the existing road which remains following such realignment or...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: As indicated in reply to Question No. 227 of 4 October 2006, local authorities have been asked as a priority to establish a policy on taking in charge housing estates to be approved by the elected members. These arrangements are premised on the principle that local authorities themselves are best placed to monitor and implement action in this area. The Working Group established by...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 598 together. During 2006, my Department made payments totalling €737,710 from the Environment Fund to An Taisce. €726,358 of this was in grant assistance towards meeting An Taisce's costs arising from its involvement with a number of specific environmental awareness and education programmes throughout the country. A breakdown of the expenditure...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Funding for the Rural Water Programme, which includes an element for small public water and sewerage schemes, is provided by my Department to county councils through annual block grant allocations. The prioritisation and approval of individual proposals under the Programme is a matter for the council concerned.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, which I signed into law on 19 December 2006, provide for the introduction of Building Energy Rating on a phased basis, as follows:new dwellings, with effect from 1 January 2007; new non-domestic buildings, with effect from 1 July 2008; and all existing buildings when sold or let, with effect from 1 January 2009. The...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Building Energy Rating will be carried out by assessors registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), who have successfully completed training which meets the requirements of the Training Specification published by SEI on 6 October 2006. A copy of the specification has been placed on the SEI website: www.sei.ie/epbd, and also in the Oireachtas Library. I understand that 62 assessors had...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Government has recently established a Ministerial Taskforce on Climate Change to finalise the revised National Climate Change Strategy. I intend to publish a revised Strategy by April 2007.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: There are a number of schemes currently in operation under which grant aid is available for the replacement of windows in private houses. The essential repairs grant scheme enables people in houses, which cannot be made habitable in all respects at a reasonable cost, to have basic works, including the replacement of windows, carried out to them. The scheme is directed primarily at older...

Written Answers — Water Conservation: Water Conservation (13 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Water conservation works are ongoing in County Kilkenny on foot of the allocation of €1.3 million included for that purpose in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005–2007.