Results 601-620 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Local Authority Retirement Scheme: Local Authority Retirement Scheme (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 introduced a retirement service related gratuity for councillors. This involves the payment of a lump sum calculated as 3/20 of representational payment rate on retirement for each year of service since May 2000, up to a maximum of 20 years' service with a minimum three year service requirement. Subject to certain conditions, the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: It is intended that I will visit China during St. Patrick's week where, supported by the Irish Embassy and Enterprise Ireland, I will seek to build on the recent successful visit by the Taoiseach and his delegation to that country. The programme for my visit to Shanghai and Beijing has yet to be finalised. However, I expect to meet with the Vice-Mayor of Shanghai and to present the George...

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. Section 185 of Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001 sets out the steps involved in setting up a new town council. In summary, section 185 provides that qualified electors of a town having a population of at least 7,500 as ascertained at the last preceding census and not having a town council may make a proposal for the establishment...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: Last week I announced a new initiative to provide facilities, such as skateboard parks, for teenagers. I intend as an immediate measure to provide assistance for a number of facilities as a pilot project, the results of which can feed into the further improvement and targeting of this initiative. As the National Children's Office is developing policies in this area, I will ask my Department...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: Any landowner or person with a legal interest in land proposed for designation as part of a special area of conservation, SAC, may lodge an objection to my Department, on scientific grounds, to have the proposed designation reviewed. Three months are allowed for lodging such appeals. The first stage of the appeals process is an internal review within the national parks and wildlife service,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: An officer will be permanently assigned to this duty in the very near future. The position of secretary to the SAC appeals advisory board has been normally filled, on a part-time basis, by an appropriately qualified member of staff from my Department's national parks and wildlife service. Given the need for the person acting as secretary to report directly to the chairperson of the board, my...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1310 of 26 January 2005.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The report on the landslides at Dooncarton, Glengad, Barnachuille and Pollathomais, County Mayo, on 19 September 2003, prepared by consulting engineers on behalf of Mayo County Council, recommended that works on the Cornhill road and bridge be carried out. Works on the road and bridge have been completed since last autumn, funded by grant aid from my Department. Any proposal for widening the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a planning authority is required to include in its development plan a housing strategy which relates to the period of the development plan. Under the 2000 Act, each planning authority is required to review its development plan and to prepare a new development plan not later than four years after the making of its existing development...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I published details of the block grant allocations to county councils under the 2005 rural water programme on 16 February. I have allocated €1 million to Kildare County Council for the construction of new group water and sewerage schemes and the upgrading or extension of existing schemes. I have also allocated €650,000 to the council under the 2005 programme for small public water and...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I am considering at present the appointment of a chairperson of Comhar, the national sustainable development partnership, taking account of the brief of the organisation and the skills and competencies likely to be required of any appointee. In the meantime, Comhar continues to fulfil its remit to advance the national agenda for sustainable development.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The Glenties sewerage scheme has been included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006 as a scheme to commence construction in 2006, at an estimated cost of €4.2 million. My Department is awaiting the submission of a preliminary report for the scheme by Donegal County Council.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The annual block grant allocations to county councils for small public water and sewerage schemes are made under my Department's rural water programme. The objective of the small schemes measure is to assist in the provision or upgrading of public water supply and sewerage services in areas where existing infrastructure is deficient. Having regard to the predominantly rural focus of the small...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The Drinagh sewerage scheme was not accorded a high priority ranking in the list of water services schemes submitted by Cork County Council's for its western division in response to my Department's request in 2003 to all local authorities to undertake fresh assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. The priority...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I am examining two applications for directions under section 14A(2) of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, as regards archaeological works to be carried out in respect of sections of the proposed M3 motorway which was approved by An Bord Plenála in August 2003. Such directions allow for proper standards to be specified for the carrying out of archaeological works associated with...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: The Local Government Act 2001 was designed to modernise the legislative framework, support community involvement with local authorities in a more participative local democracy and underpin generally the programme of local government renewal, including the position of county and city councils as the primary units of local government. The Act takes account of the recommendations of the 1996...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I am pleased to have this opportunity of setting out for the House the Government's approach to waste management, one of the most wilfully misunderstood of policy areas. I also look forward to hearing the views of Senators on the many complex aspects of the waste management agenda. There are no simple solutions in this area despite several disingenuous comments to the contrary, which suggest...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: It sounds like unrequited love.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: That is completely untrue.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Dick Roche: I would need more than five minutes to deal with some of the myths that have been trotted out in the House today. I will deal only with the major ones. No issue has been handled more dishonestly in political debate than incineration. It is simply dishonest for any politician, irrespective of where he or she comes from or the identity of his or her party, to suggest that we can somehow...