Results 6,141-6,160 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Under section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a person who has an interest in land and who intends to make a planning application may, with the agreement of the planning authority concerned, enter into pre-application consultations in respect of the proposed development. The section also provides that the planning authority must not unreasonably withhold its consent to a...
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: As indicated in reply to Questions Nos. 38 and 45, there is a lack of consistency among local authorities. I presume the Deputy is referring to the local government service indicators relating to pre-application consultations, which indicate that there is a major difference from local authority to local authority. In the context of the forthcoming legislation, I wish to ensure that some...
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Yes, I am aware of this. The guidelines were supposed to deal with many of these issues. The guidelines are very clear and advise people of the requirements. People are told if, for example, there is a need for an environmental impact assessment, a necessity to obtain an IPCC licence or waste licence in certain cases and about the need to comply with other planning guidelines where...
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Yes.
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Yes, absolutely.
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: In reply to Deputy Crawford, I have already acknowledged that the constant changing of planners is causing difficulty for many applicants and is costing them a great deal of money. I was speaking to people in Kinsale recently who had very unfortunate experiences. They wasted a great deal of their time, energy and money because of this. There was no consistency. There were three different...
- Planning Issues. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Yes, I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns. As I said to Deputy Crawford and others, that type of consistency is required across the board so people are left in no doubt. Sometimes planning is quite a subjective issue. We must move away from subjectivity so the applicants can understand where they stand and that if they do X, Y and Z, they have a chance of getting permission.
- Regional Development. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The â¬300 million gateway innovation fund, GIF, was established, as part of the National Development Plan, NDP, 2007-2013, as a strategic targeted intervention to stimulate gateway development in the context of the national spatial strategy and thereby further the NDP cross-cutting objective for more balanced regional development. Following a call for proposals for funding from the GIF...
- Regional Development. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: It is clear that we have a serious financial situation and that we have had to cut back not just on current spending but that capital spending has had to be curtailed quite severely. I have tried to give the Deputy a comprehensive answer but, in essence, we do not have as much money as we would like.
- Water Quality. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The Government is committed to preserving and protecting our water resources as a key element of environmental policy and to putting critical infrastructure in place to support industrial, commercial and other development. The management of municipal waste water treatment plants is generally the responsibility of water services authorities. In addition, my Department co-ordinates and...
- Water Quality. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Deputy Crawford asked specifically about the scheme in Carrickmacross. I cannot give the exact amount for it but I am happy to look that up. I have a list of the various schemes and I am looking to see if Carrickmacross is listed. I am afraid I cannot see it on the list. That is not to say it is not going ahead, it is just not listed on the documentation supplied to me. I will get that...
- Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Since the publication of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 â 2012, work has continued across Government Departments on the development of measures to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Progress in implementing such measures, and the coordination of work across Government with respect to the climate change agenda is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 67 together. The public expenditure provision for my Department amounted to â¬3,198m in 2008 as between capital and current provisions. In Budget 2009 the published expenditure provision for 2009 was â¬3,114m representing a reduction of 3% in overall expenditure by my Department. The reduction in overall expenditure has been brought about by a...
- Written Answers — Local Government Fund: Local Government Fund (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: Section 4 of the Local Government Act 1998 required that the Exchequer contribution to the Fund was to be increased annually in line with inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Section 17 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 amends this provision and provides that the annual exchequer contribution to be paid into the Local Government Fund is to be...
- Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 51 together. 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 2007/08, local authorities undertook and completed, with...
- Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 74 together. I published the Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy â Options for Change in April 2008. The Green Paper presents a set of options which share a common theme of strengthening local democratic leadership. For example, Stronger Local Democracy proposes a Regional Mayor for Dublin to meet the strategic challenges the city faces. The Paper...
- Written Answers — Environmental Protection: Environmental Protection (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 82 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to initiate a study of all legislation relating to environmental fines as part of the review of the EPA. The review will be carried out by an expert group to include members with relevant international experience. I am currently considering the appropriate structure for the review and the...
- Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 53 of 27 November 2008. The EPA is preparing a report on climate impacts and potential vulnerabilities from a national perspective, which I expect to receive shortly. This report will constitute the first step in the development of a national strategy on adaptation. Subsequent steps will be informed by the findings of the Agency on potential impacts and...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The Carrickmacross Sewerage Scheme, involving the upgrading of the collection system and the construction of a new treatment plant, is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, at an estimated cost of â¬22m. In accordance with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, all projects funded under this Programme require that the marginal...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 80 together. Septic tanks are the long established means of sewage treatment for houses in rural areas not served by a public sewerage scheme. The results of the last Census of Population indicated that about 418,000 houses, or 32% of the total stock of just over 1.3 million houses, were served by septic tanks in 2006. In its Water Quality 2004-2006...