Results 5,901-5,920 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: There are two basic elements in the planning system — the determination of planning applications by planning authorities, and the determination by An Bord Pleanála of planning appeals and other matters referred to it. There were an unprecedented 92,650 planning applications in 2006, and some 86,800 in 2007. These levels of activity clearly had implications for the operation of the...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 34 and 228 together. The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system to date is some €51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred in purchasing the voting machines and ancillary equipment. These costs are set out in the following table. Electronic Voting and Counting Project — Expenditure to Date...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Under the Planning and Development Acts, and other relevant legislation, a local authority may, for the purposes of performing any of its functions, compulsorily acquire land, including any structure or derelict site.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 42 together. I am committed to putting in place the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the EU landfill diversion targets that will apply from 2010 onwards. Following extensive consultation, the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste was published in April 2006 and is aimed at diverting 80% of biodegradable waste from landfill through...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The programme for Government includes a commitment to undertake an international review of waste management policy. In February 2008, a procurement process was initiated to appoint consultants to undertake comprehensive research on the waste sector in Ireland and to cover a wide range of issues to help identify how best to proceed with further efforts to reduce waste levels, improve...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. In working to compile the register for 2007/8, local authorities undertook and completed, with assistance from my Department, the most extensive...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The 2007 National Waste Report shows that some 32,000 tonnes of refuse derived fuel was utilised for waste to energy abroad in that year. The composition of this RDF material is not available. Information for 2008 will not be available until the publication of the National Waste Report for 2008 in early 2010. The issue of the diversion of low grade recyclates to co-firing in cement kilns...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Tens of thousands of tonnes of domestic recyclables are collected by local authorities or treated at civic amenity sites each year. The cost to local authorities for the collection, transport and separation of these materials prior to recycling ranges from €35 to €300 per tonne depending on the types of material involved. While the setting of waste charges is a matter for individual...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 2 on today's Order Paper. I intend to bring forward proposals in the near future for legislative change to allow for the introduction of spending limits at local elections. It is my intention to have the limits in place for the local elections to be held this year. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine spending limits at...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for compiling the national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland and for reporting these to the European Union and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These inventories are compiled on an annual basis using the good practice guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: In response to the Programme for Government and the National Climate Change Strategy commitments, I have developed the principles of a scheme to offset greenhouse gas emissions from official air travel by Ministers and civil servants. There are some logistical and administrative arrangements to be finalised, but I am confident that the scheme will be fully operational by the end of the first...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (5 Feb 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. When publishing the reports on 17 June 2008, I announced that, consistent with long established practice in respect of constituency formation at European, national and local levels in Ireland, I was accepting the recommendations contained in them....

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: A study led by the North/South Market Development Steering Group to determine the feasibility of establishing a paper mill on the island of Ireland was initiated in 2004 and the Phase 1 Study Report was published in August 2006. The feasibility study is the first of two phases and the project was funded jointly by the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland through Waste and...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 acknowledged that the public sector, including local authorities, has a key leadership role in adopting high energy efficiency standards and practices that can lead by example and drive change through the wider community. The strategy contained specific commitments for local authorities and delivering on these commitments is primarily a matter...

Written Answers — Motor Industry: Motor Industry (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The law relating to trade plates, for which my Department has responsibility, is provided in section 21 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 and the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1992. This law does not extend to the use of trade plates outside the State.

Written Answers — Local Authority Service Indicators: Local Authority Service Indicators (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: A new local government service indicator in relation to the taking in charge of estates has been introduced, which will provide benchmark data from 2009 onwards for monitoring the taking in charge process. The information to be reported will include: the number of residential estates for which the planning permission has expired, in respect of which formal written requests for taking in...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The timing of European Parliament elections is determined by the EU Council of Ministers by reference to the period corresponding to the first direct elections in 1979. Accordingly, they are held within a specified four-day period in June every five years subsequent to 1979. The Council announced in June 2008 that the 2009 European Parliament elections will take place between 4 and 7 June...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities will be notified of their combined capital allocations for the operation of the schemes in question in 2009, following the publication of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. As in previous years, it will be a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the schemes, from within the combined allocation...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: All County and City Managers, Dublin Assistant City Managers and other posts at that grade in Dublin City Council, and Director of Services and other posts at that grade in all local authorities are free to participate in the Performance Awards Scheme on a voluntary basis. Those who do choose to participate are eligible for consideration for performance related payments. Members of staff...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: My Department has no record of any request for funding for works to Kilmacrennan Abbey. Any such request would be considered by my Department having regard to the available funds under the built heritage capital grant schemes, the overall demand for funding and the relative importance of the works as compared to other project proposals; it should be noted, in this regard, that Kilmacrennan...