Results 5,741-5,760 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The Mountbellew Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09. My Department is awaiting submission of Galway County Council's contract documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: In its ruling of December 2007, the European Court of Justice found that the State was not adequately meeting the requirements of the Habitats and Birds directives in its licensing and regulation of aquaculture activities in Natura 2000 sites. This presented difficulties for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in terms of renewing or granting aquaculture licences in these sites...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: On 16 June 2008, I received the reports of the two independent Boundary Committees I established in January 2008 to review local electoral areas. The reports included the names recommended by the committees for all local electoral areas. When publishing the reports, I announced that, consistent with long established practice in respect of constituency formation at European, national and...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The Sluice River Marsh in Portmarnock is one of a large number of proposed Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) that are under consideration for formal designation. I would like to see the designation of this and other proposed NHA's brought forward as soon as possible. In recent times, my Department has been focusing on meeting obligations under the Habitats and Birds Directives by designating an...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: Any failure to collect waste is a contractual matter between the customer and the waste company involved. Regarding the question of the recyclates markets, representatives from the waste industry met with my Department on 24 October 2008 to discuss industry concerns regarding the sudden drop in international demand for recycled materials. Their principal issue of concern was the need...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: My Department's current Water Services Investment Programme covers the period 2007 to 2009. This scheme may be considered for approval in future phases of the Programme in light of its relative priority and the resources available at the time.

Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: Funding has been made available by my Department to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the purchase of the majority land holding on the Great Blasket Island. The OPW has advised my Department that the necessary legal and other work is well advanced and that the purchase should be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: Section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended) provides for licensing of all digging or excavation in or under land for archaeological purposes. While 967 new licences were issued in 2008, separate data are not maintained on the breakdown between those issued for development purposes and those issued for research projects.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: Following the introduction of the plastic bag levy a national survey on the Environment "Attitudes and Actions 2003" found that 91% of those surveyed believed that the levy is a good idea. Among the many reasons given were that it is better for the environment, there are no plastic bags visible in the streets and that re-usable bags are more convenient for holding shopping. The National...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1070 and 1090 together. My Department is reviewing the overall position in relation to the affordable housing sector against the background of the current housing market and an examination being carried out by the Affordable Homes Partnership, in conjunction with the relevant housing authorities, of the position regarding availability of affordable housing in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: While there is no obligation on local authorities to become certified under the ISO standardisation system, it is open to authorities to apply for such certification if they so wish. I understand the new ISO 9001-2008 standard was introduced in November 2008. Local authorities may re-apply for certification under the new standard in due course as current certification expires. I place a...

Written Answers — European Parliament Elections: European Parliament Elections (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1072 and 1073 together. Section 11(4A)(a) of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997, as inserted by section 2(c) of the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2004, states that where a person who is elected to be a member of the Parliament is a member of either House of the Oireachtas the person shall on such election cease to be a member of the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: My Department recently approved an increased budget of €4.25 million under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09 for the completion of Stages 1 and 2 (the establishment of district meter areas, pressure control areas, trunk main metering, leakage detection and repair, etc.) of South Tipperary County Council's water conservation programme. Such measures are a necessary precursor...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The facility in question is provided for in the Dublin regional waste management plan for which the four Dublin local authorities have statutory responsibility under the Waste Management Acts. Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 precludes the Minister from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in particular circumstances, by a local authority of a...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The issuing of a permit to a private sector waste collector is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority who may attach various conditions to the waste collection permit including in respect of the types of waste permitted to be collected. Following the recent downturn in the market for recyclates, markets have begun to reopen for high quality material, but commingled...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The total amount spent by my Department on foreign travel, including subsistence costs, in the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 was €841,115. This includes expenditure incurred by me, by the Ministers of State attached to my Department and by officials from my Department and Met Éireann. Details of expenditure incurred by the agencies, offices or bodies under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The fee for making submissions or observations to a planning authority in respect of a planning application is €20. It was introduced in the context of the comprehensive review of planning legislation that culminated in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. The revised legislation also provided increased rights for third parties in the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following tables. Private Office Grade No. of staff Salary Scale Overtime/ Allowance € Special Adviser (Personally appointed) 2 Annual Salary €89,819 × 2 Nil Private Secretary — Higher Executive Officer 1 20,187 Executive Officer 3 12,623 Clerical Officer 3 2,902 Constituency Office Grade No. of staff Salary Scale Overtime/...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The Adare Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department is awaiting submission of Limerick County Council's Contract Documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The combined Athea, Askeaton, Foynes, Glin and Shanagolden Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. Limerick County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is being examined in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.