Results 6,081-6,100 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (7 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under Government Accounting procedures, disbursements on Dormant Accounts measures are paid in the first instance "up front" from a Department's Vote in the same way as with any other spending programme. My Department has to source funding for Dormant Accounts programmes from our Exchequer allocation in the annual Revised Estimates Volume. I can confirm that no funds were allocated or...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Ireland, along with the majority of other Member States, has developed a Green Public Procurement (GPP) Action Plan. The Plan, which I propose to publish next month, is consistent with the principles set out in EC Communication (COM (2008) 400) which defines GPP as "a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 to 55, inclusive, 57 and 58 together. The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 59 to 61, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Water quality in Ireland compares favourably with that of other European countries. The most recent EPA report on water quality, Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009 , found that the overall quality of surface waters had stabilised while that of groundwater had improved over the previous three-year period. A 50% reduction in the number of seriously polluted river sites was noted in the report...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: The development and maintenance of critical walking infrastructure is fundamental to the whole approach to facilitating access to the countryside for recreation and activity tourism purposes. The Wicklow Way is one of over 40 National Waymarked Ways that are the backbone of the walking product in Ireland. Wicklow is one of the first counties to develop an integrated representative management...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: The €200 charge on non-principal private residences is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and other non-principal residences. The most important exemption under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 is for a person's sole or main residence. However, any one individual can have only one such residence. In a situation where a person owns a property in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: In line with overall national policy which promotes a reduction in energy use, the enhancement of energy efficiency standards remains a priority within my Department's overall strategy for the improvement of local authority housing. Under the Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Kilkenny County Council has submitted this project as one of its priority projects for the period 2012-2014 under the Social Housing Investment Programme. The 2012 Housing Programmes for all county and city councils will be determined in early 2012.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: On 27 July 2011, I established a Constituency Commission under the Electoral Act 1997 to review Dáil and European Parliament constituencies. The terms of reference of the Commission were amended by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011. The revised terms of reference provide that a Constituency Commission will now recommend Dáil constituencies based on a reduced number of TDs between a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: There was no such retirement from my Department in the period since January 2008, and the term of the current Secretary General extends beyond March 2012.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Local Government (Household Charge) Bill's purpose is to give effect to the EU-IMF programme of financial support 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,...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Senators also pointed to the provisions in the Bill which enable the level of the charge to be increased in line with changes in the consumer price index, CPI, in the future. I stress that this provision would only allow for minimal changes in the level of the charge and it is also included in the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009. Any significant change in the quantum of the charge will...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Persons will have a full three months from the liability date to pay the household charge. Significant efforts will be made to ensure that property owners are aware of the household charge and the liability and payment dates. My Department and local authorities will undertake a national information campaign to advise people of the charge and their responsibilities in regard to payment. A...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: That is up to the Deputy if he wants to break the law.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is getting a little excited about the charge and he is working hard on it.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Late payment fees and late payment interest will only apply if the household charge is not paid in respect of a liable property by or on the due date of 31 March. These are similar provisions to those that apply under Revenue legislation in respect of the late filing and payment of certain taxes and will act as an incentive for persons to pay the self-assessment household charge on time....

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: Is there with a problem with socialism that the Deputy-----

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Bill contains 20 sections and is a relatively straightforward piece of legislation, which will be easy for Deputy Higgins to understand. Essentially, owners of liable residential property will be required to pay to the Local Government Management Agency an annual charge of €100. I consider it important to minimise the costs associated with its collection. Accordingly, county and city...