Results 7,181-7,200 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Local Governance Structures: Local Governance Structures (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I established a high level Steering Group in September 2011 to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to review local governance structures with a view to improving the delivery of services to the citizen. The Group was tasked with examining the scope for enhancing the alignment of local government and local development functions and programmes and advising me on options for a...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 to 526, inclusive, together. The recruitment moratorium in the Public Service, which was introduced by the Government in March 2009 as an emergency measure in response to the financial crisis facing the State, remains in place. Under the terms of the moratorium, no public service post, however arising, may be filled. When vacancies arise, public bodies...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a facility in place for exemption of motor tax in respect of disabled persons. This exemption applies to a disabled driver/passenger where the applicant concerned has been admitted to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme. The scheme is operated by the Revenue Commissioners and, as such, the terms of the scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Day to day operations, including staffing levels and opening hours, in the public library service are a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001. My Department provides funding towards the capital costs of approved new libraries, the refurbishment of existing libraries, and mobile libraries and delivery vans. In...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which has been in operation since 1997, promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. The scheme attracts significant interest throughout the country; a total of 515 projects were funded by the scheme in 2011. Funds provided by my Department are matched by the relevant local...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Recruitment to my Department, as with other Civil Service Departments, is conducted centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), who advertise details of recruitment opportunities, in the national newspapers and via their website www.publicjobs.ie as required from time to time. My Department did not, either directly or via PAS, advertise any vacancies in national newspapers in the...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: In July 2011 I announced a number of measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with, and oversight of, the requirements of the Building Regulations. In broad terms the measures will involve:- (a) the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Earlier this year my Department contacted State Agencies under its aegis requesting that Board members be offered the option to waive fees on a discretionary basis. So far my Department is not aware of any board member that has exercised this option.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 applies only to domestic households. Owners of premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system will be required to register their system with the water services authority in whose functional area the system is located. Larger properties, such as sports clubs, hotels and guest houses etc., served by septic tanks or other on-site waste...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: While my Department does not directly fund the activity covered by the group in question, they may wish to contact their local development company, West Cork Development Partnership Ltd, who can examine ways in which they can be of support.

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: A public consultation process on the Government's proposals for the establishment of a new public water utility and the proposed approach to water charges and water metering concluded on 24 February. My Department received more than 300 submissions and these are now being considered. The approach to be taken for the installation of meters in different household types, including those...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are permitted, under statute, to charge fees in relation to the services they provide. I do not have any role in approving or consenting to the levying of such charges. Most fire authorities have had charges in place for their fire brigade services for many years. In the case of Dublin, I understand that additional charges were introduced in respect of fire service responses...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator was on the A list.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: On what list was the Leas-Chathaoirleach?

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Citizens and residents of the State are bound by the laws of the State as enacted by the Oireachtas in accordance with the Constitution of Ireland. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: In a number of remote rural areas, no household waste collection service is provided. For households without a collection service, there is a network of civic amenity sites and bring banks which accept a wide range of waste materials. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: A fee of €30 is payable with a Commencement Notice required in accordance with section 6(2)(k) of the Building Control Act 1990. Where a commencement notice relates to more than one building, the fee is €30 per building up to maximum fee of €3,800. The Building Control Act clearly places responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations on the owner of the building concerned...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The matter referred to in the question was endorsed by the Oireachtas in the context of the Planning and Development Act 2010 and is intended to enhance the efficiency with which the Board discharges its functions. The reduced quorum applies only in respect of certain cases. I have no plans at present to amend the quorum. As indicated in the reply to question no. 464 of 14 February 2012 the...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I assume the question relates to inspections undertaken by the Housing Inspectorate of my Department following an application by the developer of the Priory Hall complex for Floor Area Compliance Certificates (FACCs) as introduced by section 72 of the 2004 Finance Act. The focus of the FACC process was to determine eligibility for exemption from stamp duty and the certificates issued serve...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: While my Department funds, both directly and indirectly, a number of community and voluntary groups through the various Programmes it operates, my Department is not, and never has been, the employer of staff in these groups. My Department therefore has no role in the internal operations of these groups and does not set the salary or the other terms and conditions of employment, including in...