Results 5,681-5,700 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I assume that the Question refers to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. I allocated some €948m in general purpose grants to local authorities for 2007. This represents an increase of 8% over the record amount provided in 2006 and is almost three times the amount provided in 1997. General purpose grants are my Department's contribution towards meeting the cost to local...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Statutory responsibility for the making and implementation of regional waste management plans, including in respect of the provision of recycling infrastructure, rests with the local authority, or local authorities, concerned. Since 2002 my Department has allocated almost €100 million in capital grants to assist local authorities in the provision of recycling and recovery services. The...

Written Answers — Public Play Facilities: Public Play Facilities (27 Feb 2007)

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 — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Ireland's housing stock is comparatively the newest and fastest growing in Europe. Building regulations have represented an important policy instrument for ensuring satisfactory standards of thermal insulation and other energy performance features in new housing stock. Part L Building Regulation insulation standards for new dwellings have been in operation since 1 June 1992 with revisions...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I have allocated record funding of some €948 million to local authorities for 2007 through general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. This represents an increase of 8% over the record amount provided in 2006, and is well ahead of the projected level of inflation for the year. The 2007 funding represents an increase of 60% over the €592 million provided in 2002, and is...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: To date, Ireland has identified over 423 special areas of conservation covering some 1,350,000 hectares, of which slightly less than half is marine. The final main tranche of designations of candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) relate to salmon rivers, in respect of which, 17,500 landowners were notified in December last. I intend that the designation of these final areas will be...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Responsibility for the provision of non-national roads and bridges in its area is a matter for each individual local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. Accordingly, progress with the advancement of the proposed Sligo Eastern Garavogue River Bridge and approach roads project is a matter for Sligo Borough Council. Sligo County...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533, 578 and 581 together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 596 of 17 October 2006, 428 and 429 of 22 November 2006, 1908 of 31 January 2007 and 186 of 15 February 2007.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The recent meeting of the EU Environment Council dealt most importantly with climate change issues. Conclusions were adopted on the EU objectives for the further development of the international climate regime beyond 2012. Council confirmed the EU's willingness to commit to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 provided that other developed countries commit to similar...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Thermal performance and insulation standards under Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992. We are committed to updating these standards every five years in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. (2002/91/EC). This Government has improved the energy...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Clonlara Sewerage Scheme, has been approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 under the Serviced Land Initiative. I approved Clare County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme earlier this month. Under new streamlined procedures I have introduced to speed up progress on the Investment Programme, the Council may now advance the...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter problems including defacement by graffiti lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to ensure that its functional area is, as far as practicable, kept free of litter including graffiti. I am satisfied that local authorities have adequate powers under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 to...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The UK's nuclear power programme, announced in 1955, called for 5,000 megawatts of generating capacity through the construction of a series of Magnox reactors across the country. The fuel used in Magnox nuclear reactors consists of natural uranium encased in magnesium alloy. In May 2000 BNFL announced the planned closure dates for its then remaining Magnox reactors. Following a number of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Details of approved Serviced Land Initiative schemes in County Kilkenny are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The only unapproved application from Kilkenny County Council under the Serviced Land Initiative relates to the Bennettsbridge Sewerage Scheme in respect of which my Department is awaiting additional...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I understand from the Office of Public Works, who are responsible for day to day management of heritage sites, that agreement had been reached between the State and the late owner of this property regarding its acquisition without encumbrances. However, a number of complex legal issues have arisen since the death of the owner. These matters are being pursued by the OPW in consultation with...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 to 548, inclusive, together. Consideration of the EU Commission's proposal for a directive establishing a framework for the protection of soil is in the early stages. In general the Government welcomes the proposal, accepts that it is appropriate to have an EU-wide initiative, but that given the diverse nature and conditions of soils in Member States,...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 268 of 8 February 2007.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together. The procedures for the appointment of ordinary members of An Bord Pleanála are set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by Sections 14-16 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. In the case of the current members, appointments were made following consideration of nominations received from...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The interpretation and implementation of planning law is a matter for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála in the case of an appeal. Section 34(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may attach conditions to a grant of planning permission. The applicant may also make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against a condition or conditions...

Written Answers — Graffiti Offences: Graffiti Offences (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter problems including defacement by graffiti lies with local authorities. I am satisfied that enforcement powers and penalties under existing legislation are adequate. Sections 19 and 20 of the 1997 Act empower local authorities to take action in relation to incidents of...