Results 6,741-6,760 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. I am satisfied that appropriate powers and resources are available to these enforcement authorities. The 2005 report of the Office of Environmental Enforcement, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identified the unauthorised collection and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste sets challenging targets for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill. These are set out in the reply to a question on today's Order Paper, and are projected to equate to 59% for 2010, 73% by 2013 and 80% by 2016 for this particular waste stream. According to the recent National Waste Report 2007 published earlier in...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy centred on the Government's continued support for the internationally recognised waste hierarchy which places major emphasis on the prevention, reuse and recycling of waste while minimising reliance on landfill and incineration. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added significance in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities are required under the new leasing arrangements to submit their proposals to my Department for approval. As part of this process local authorities are required to submit a valuation confirming the current market rent for the proposed lease properties and a statement confirming the discount below market value that is being achieved. In relation to the issue of break...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: A framework agreement has been reached between Northern Ireland and the State, drawing on the provisions for competent authority co-operation when a waste shipment is illegal under the EU Waste Shipments Regulation, which provides a template for dealing with this historical legacy. Initially, two sites will be dealt with involving some 14,000 tons of waste and estimated costs of some €3...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: 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 cooperation 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 assistance from my Department, the most extensive...

Written Answers — Green Schools Scheme: Green Schools Scheme (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Green Schools programme is an international education initiative that introduces participants (students, teachers, parents) to the concept of an environmental management system and promotes whole school action for the environment. Some 3,185 Irish schools are registered for the programme and over 1,757 schools have earned the right to fly the Green Flag. In Ireland, the scheme is...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Masts: Telecommunications Masts (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The issue of potential health effects of mobile phone masts was comprehensively covered by the Expert Group Report published by Government in March 2007 entitled "Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields", which is available for download on the Department's website, www.environ.ie/en/publications. The Expert Group Report examined a wide range of issues in relation to the potential health...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I assume the question refers to current revenue and expenditure. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are provided to supplement the income available to local authorities from local sources and from specific grants to enable them to provide an acceptable level of day to day services. In October 2008 I announced provisional General-Purpose Grant allocations of €935.2m. As a...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: 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 cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. Authorities were required to publish the Final Register for 2009/10 by 1 February 2009. Individuals not on the Register can avail of the supplement to...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Emissions: Radon Gas Emissions (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has, for many years now, worked towards assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country. Between 1992 and 1999 the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to identify the scale of the radon problem...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 166 together. I also refer to the reply to Question No. 167 on today's Order Paper. Details of all major water and sewerage schemes included for funding by my Department are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Additional information in relation to progress on individual...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. Monitoring at permanent and mobile monitoring stations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities confirms that air quality in Ireland is good. Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the EPA and air quality management a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. Air quality...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual planning application, or appeal, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers a planning authority to grant planning permission for development, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse it, having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the relevant area. Conditions may include a requirement for the completion and maintenance of watermains and drains. Where a planning application...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The operation and management of public wastewater infrastructure, including control of emissions, is a matter for the relevant water services authority. Appropriate capital works relating to the control of emissions are funded by my Department in the provision of new or upgraded infrastructure. Methane is an odourless gas, which in the case of wastewater infrastructure, is most usually...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Having regard to available budgetary resources, priority will be given under the scheme this year to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation in 1999. For these sites, the derogation given by the Government, which allowed the continuation of turf cutting for personal domestic use, expires in 2009....

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: These allegations are under examination in my Department.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within this framework, Returning Officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the conduct of elections and referenda, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station staff to take the poll on...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: As Minister, my role is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of, the local...