Results 6,041-6,060 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Other Questions: Pyrite Issues (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I concur with the Deputy. If we can sort it out without legislation, all the better. However, it must be sorted out independently and properly, particularly for the unfortunate home owners who must live with the issue.

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the Environmental Protection Agency will make the national inspection plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. A public consultation on a draft plan was publicised by the agency on 11 October, and submissions received are being reviewed. A training course for the water services authority personnel who will be appointed to carry...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister has stated repeatedly that he is prepared to consider all possible options to provide financial support to householders whose systems are deemed, following inspection, to require substantial remediation or upgrading. Any financial support will have regard to the overall budgetary situation and the financial position of individual households. I understand this matter is under...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The reason this was brought in by the Minister was to avoid potentially quite severe and continuous penalties under the Commission's legislative role. In an effort to avoid that but primarily to protect drinking water and water courses, it is very important that and issues around contamination of drinking water in particular are addressed. In a separate and different category, there was an...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Any financial support will have regard to the overall budgetary situation and the financial position of individual households, and we know who is responsible for the overall budgetary position.

Other Questions: Building Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge the distressing and stressful situations which individuals face when building works in their home are not completed to the required acceptable standard. Since 1 June 1992, all new, extended or materially altered buildings, including those which have timber frame structures, must be built in compliance with the requirements of the national building regulations. Primary...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Daly put her finger on the issue. Non-invasive inspections are visual inspections in many respects, and unless someone is physically examining each stage of construction as it proceeds there cannot be absolute certainty about any construction. People certified the works were in order when they were not, as the Deputy rightly pointed out. Local authorities and the building...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have met fire officers in local authorities and they are very active. Highly professional staff examine all of these issues and I am sure that first and foremost in their minds is identification. In Offaly, 22% of valid commencement notices were inspected in 2010 where previously the level had been much lower, perhaps 10% or 15%. A total of 408 buildings were inspected with regard to...

Other Questions: EU Directives (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Set closed periods for the spreading of fertilisers, including slurry, is a requirement of the Nitrates Directive and is mandatory. The purpose of closed periods is to protect ground and surface water bodies, including drinking water sources, by prohibiting the application of fertilisers when such application poses an unacceptable risk to water courses. The closed periods in Ireland were...

Topical Issues Debate: Gas and Oil Exploration (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank both Deputies for putting this matter before the House for debate. It is an important and current debate and I wish to refer to some of the facts. The first fact obviously is that were oil to be discovered off the Kerry coast or off any other part of the coast, it would indeed be good news. I can confirm for Members that there has not, as yet, been a discovery of oil off the Kerry...

Topical Issues Debate: Gas and Oil Exploration (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank both Deputies for their comments. So far, Ireland has had approximately 146 wells drilled. That compares with over 4,000 wells drilled in Britain and over 1,200 in Norway. The reason people have not been coming here until now is that a chance of a find is much greater elsewhere. We have resources in the Department, and the petroleum affairs decision is very much involved in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 together. The vision set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First is that local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Security of the Elderly (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 , and of limited means, who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age. Over the five years 2007 to 2011, some €14.5 million has been spent on the Seniors Alert Scheme. A table showing the annual funding breakdown follows. Year Money spent 2007 €3.71m 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland contains a commitment to introduce a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally-delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such services. It...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Plants (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: In 2008 arising from contacts at Head of Government level, a confidential technical information exchange project relating to the Sellafield Site was established, with the cooperation of UK authorities. Through this process, an assessment of the potential risks to Ireland posed by the Sellafield Site and the nearby Low-Level Waste Repository was undertaken on Ireland's behalf by a Team of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that Minister Hogan has not been involved in any such discussions. The Constitutional Convention will be considering a number of issues, including giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections at Irish embassies or otherwise. Proposals for change to electoral law will be brought forward in light of the decisions for change which may arise...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 currently has a minimum project allocation of €252 million based on the revised programme complement which came into force in January 2012, and further allowing for a maximum of 20% for administration costs . Of this allocation project funding of €171 million has been approved, which represents 67% of the...

Seanad: Statute of Limitations (Amendment) (Home Remediation-Pyrite) Bill 2012: Second Stage (5 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is an important debate. I welcome the opportunity Fianna Fáil has given to us by organising a discussion on this important issue. It is welcome that the legislation will remain on the Order Paper for further debate as this issue develops. It is a major issue for the thousands of homeowners affected. Senator Averil Power has spoken about the concerns of people she knows in her...

Seanad: Statute of Limitations (Amendment) (Home Remediation-Pyrite) Bill 2012: Second Stage (5 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Departmental officials continue to engage with HomeBond with a view to getting it to re-enter the negotiations to solve this problem. The National Standards Authority of Ireland will set up the best standards in this regard. The pyrite resolution board will commence work in the first quarter of 2013. As stated, that may be the best time for the reintroduction of this proposal for further...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Registration of Architects (5 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this issue. There are no plans to amend the arrangements in place for the registration of architects along the lines suggested. Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of persons permitted to use the title of architect. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, RIAI, has been designated as the registration body. ...