Results 5,901-5,920 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan
- Housing Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: There is a considerable number of people in emergency accommodation. They have a roof over their heads and they have an integrated care plan to one extent or another. Not all of this accommodation is of a standard I would like, and that is why the Government has decided to adopt a housing-led approach, rather than an approach which puts people into bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels...
- Housing Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I agree with the Deputy that the level of proactivity on the part of the authorities in dealing with disputes is quite slow. Only 43% are resolved within one year, and that is not acceptable. That is why the legislation will be brought forward in the middle of 2012. We have to do a little bit of research in the first half of 2012 to make sure we get it right.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: Measures to alleviate flooding are generally the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, which is the lead agency for flood risk management and funds a capital and maintenance programme for major and minor flood relief schemes in known areas at risk. The Department's multi-annual water services investment programme funds the provision of water services infrastructure to address...
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I am surprised someone as intelligent as the Deputy cannot understand it.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I know that Deputy Boyd Barrett expects the State to do everything and to provide resources to everybody and anybody, including the local authorities that are responsible in the first instance for making sure that the gullies are clean. He should direct his question to the local authorities and ask what they are doing with their maintenance budgets to introduce preventative measures so we do...
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: Those people have insurance.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: If they do not have insurance then they are entitled to apply for the scheme and if Deputy Boyd Barrett has details of these matters and where they have been refused I will have them investigated. The local authorities are devolved from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and are responsible within their budgets for the works which Deputy Boyd Barrett has...
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: Naturally, it is about resources; let us remember we are in an EU-IMF programme.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I propose to take questions Nos. 6 and 15 together.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: Should we move to another one?
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I will briefly summarise what I just stated.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I have elaborated a good deal already. As I stated in reply to Question No. 5 on today's Order Paper, measures to alleviate flooding are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. I must repeat the answer. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management and it funds a capital and maintenance programme for major and minor flood works. The Deputy should ensure that his local...
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: There is a Government task force on emergency planning under which all Departments come together to deal with emergency responses. It performed this work in October after the recent flooding. There is already joined-up thinking in place. Deputy Boyd Barrett should acknowledge that those with responsibility must take responsibility and must perform the roles they have been given. I am...
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I have already dealt with that. The Deputy should try to be a little generous.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I cannot do anything about it but I will deal with the issues raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett in regard to those with no insurance.
- Water Services (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I would very much like to be able to inform Deputy Ellis that I have a magic wand to provide all of the resources needed to deal with all the problems of the country as they relate to my Department, but I do not. We are in a difficult financial situation and there is only a limited amount of money. It is up to the local authorities to prioritise their projects and to submit them to the OPW.
- Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 19, 22 and 31 together. In July 2011, I announced several measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with and oversight of the requirements of the building regulations. In broad terms the measures, which include the streamlining of inspection arrangements on a regional basis, will involve the...
- Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I have not come to any conclusions about how the system will work. There are a few principles. The builder and owner of the property, who are professional people, are responsible in the first instance for making sure everything is in order under the Building Control Act 1990. With mandatory certification local authority staff will be in a better position to have more power and resources in...
- Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I can assure Deputy Daly I am very concerned about the level of enforcement and activity on the building control side for many years, which is why I prioritised this area when I became a Minister and retained the function of dealing with the Building Control Act. The Deputy raised an interesting question about who will adjudicate a dispute which arises at the end of the process. I will...
- Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)
Phil Hogan: I am conscious of what the Deputy has asked. That work is underway. We are engaged with local authorities to establish the extent of the problem.