Results 6,461-6,480 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: How unequivocal must I be? All the statements I have made in respect of that matter in the House are completely accurate and they stand. I made reference at the conference in question to the Commission on Taxation, which is considering all of these issues. As matters stand, there is no plan to introduce domestic water rates.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: The capital provision for water services infrastructure in 2009 is €500 million, which represents an increase of 1% on last year's outturn and reflects the Government's ongoing commitment to the sector. In the period since 2000, the Exchequer has spent €2.5 billion on the provision of wastewater infrastructure, with 144 major schemes completed. These schemes include the construction of...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: The Deputy inquired with regard to the capital provision of €500 million. In the context of the water services investment programme, some 150 schemes are currently in progress. Of these, 90 are wastewater schemes. It is expected that 40 schemes will be completed this year. Of these, 30 are wastewater schemes. It is anticipated that construction will commence on some 50 new schemes....

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: It was not quite as straightforward as that. I am very familiar with this plant. I live very close to it. In fact, if Pigeon House Road is the starting point, I live on the same road. The problem is that both parties, Dublin City Council and the contractors, were blaming each other. The contractors were blaming Dublin City Council because in their own document they did not give adequate...

Departmental Agency. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Since its establishment in 1997, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, which operates as a commercial entity and is funded entirely from its own resources, has engaged in the purchase, management, development and sale of lands in the Docklands area. The authority, through its involvement in a joint venture company, Becbay Ltd., made a significant investment in the acquisition of the...

Departmental Agency. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: The Deputy's essential question is whether it merits further investigation. The answer is "Yes". That is one of the primary reasons I appointed someone who is an expert in corporate governance and who has great expertise in all of these areas, Professor Niamh Brennan, who will be assiduous in examining all of these matters. I agree we must examine them in great detail. Again, I am very...

Departmental Agency. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: It is far too early to come to such a judgment. We must await the outcome of these inquiries. In reply to Deputy Tuffy, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is an independent body. No Minister has, or should have, any influence on it. It will come to its own conclusions. It will inquire into whether the matter merits investigation. However, I welcome the fact that the matter...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service numbers no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. This decision is effective from 31 March 2009 and stands until the end of 2010. My Department has, accordingly, written to all local...

Written Answers — Sewage Treatment Systems: Sewage Treatment Systems (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 40 together. 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. The Programme for Government includes a commitment in regard to a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrading of septic tanks older than fifteen years with...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Under the provisions of the Waste Management Acts the relevant local authorities have responsibility for making the statutory waste management plans, including in respect of infrastructure provision. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance in particular circumstances by a local authority of a statutory...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I indicated on a number of occasions that I was considering the position in relation to the electronic voting and counting project. On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Government have decided not to proceed with the implementation of electronic voting in Ireland. A process will now be put in place, including discussions with the supplier, to address the disposal of the electronic voting...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 22 together. The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 - 2008, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating (BER) system. The BER system was implemented on a phased basis as follows:- · in the case of new dwellings,...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: In my Carbon Budget presentation in October 2008, I included projections published by the EPA in September 2008. As these projections were based on economic growth forecasts which were quickly overtaken by events, the EPA was asked to apply a sensitivity analysis which might better reflect the changed economic situation. This analysis, based on the ESRI's Economic Shock scenario, was...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: A planning scheme under Section 25 of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997 indicates the manner in which the Authority considers the relevant area should be redeveloped, and sets out policies in relation to land use, distribution and location of development, overall design, transportation, the development of amenities, and conservation. In preparing a planning scheme, the...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Bogs are important natural habitats and are home to unique ecosystems containing rare flora and fauna. Both blanket bogs and raised bogs are protected habitats under European and Irish Law and representative examples have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive or as Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) under the Wildlife Acts. Ireland has some of the most...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Planning authorities have a range of powers under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2008 that may be used to ensure the timely completion of housing estates in accordance with relevant planning permissions. A planning authority may attach a condition to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of the proposed development and, if...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 37, 38 and 45 together. The National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012 includes a commitment to develop a national adaptation strategy by 2009, the objective of which will be to improve our resilience to deal with the impacts of climate change. It will provide a framework for integration of adaptation issues into decision-making at national and local...

Written Answers — Policy on Local Government: Policy on Local Government (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I am currently finalising the content of the White Paper on Local Government, for Government consideration and subsequent publication.

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Article 8 of the Local Elections Regulations 1995 provides that the cost of local elections is met by each local authority. The information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 81 of 11 March 2009. Development plans provide the over-arching strategic framework for development within their areas. As such, the development plan must offer clear guidance on sustainable development policies and objectives, both national and local, which address the full range of sustainability issues such as climate change, waste management,...