Results 7,421-7,440 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Architectural Qualifications: Architectural Qualifications (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 354, 356, 363 and 390 together. I am aware of the response given by the European Commission on 21 February 2012 to Question No. E-012450/2011 in the European Parliament. I am satisfied that the Building Control Act 2007 is in keeping with the requirements of relevant EU legislation and, in particular, the provisions of Directive 2005/36/EC as regards the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 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. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts. Section 2 of the Act provides the meaning of residential property for the purposes of the legislation....

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 358 and 407 together. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The net value of the Dormant Accounts Fund (uncommitted funds) was €68.25 million on 29 February 2012. A summary of the current status of the Dormant Accounts Fund is available on my Department's website. Government Departments and agencies have to source monies for dormant accounts programmes and measures from their Exchequer allocation, in the same way as with any other funding...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Harvested rainwater can potentially be used as an alternative source of water for various domestic purposes, e.g. supplying toilet cisterns, car washing etc. and for various business and commercial operations. There are also environmental and economic benefits that can accrue from reducing the demand for water abstraction at source and the subsequent and expensive treatment of raw water for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 395 together. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. I understand, from data provided by the LGMA, that as of 9 March, 2012, a total of 209,965 properties and as of 14 March, 2012, a total of 240,645 properties had been registered...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is no specific requirement under the Waste Management Act for horse riding establishments to produce an environmental policy or environmental management plan in respect of their horse riding activities, nor does the Act cover the environmental impact of horse fouling on public roads by such establishments. However I understand that under the Control of Horses Act all local...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Panel is an independent body and I am not aware of the details of the arrangements it has made to undertake its work. I understand that it has engaged in an extensive consultation process and is now preparing its report which I hope to receive shortly.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: A review of options for the improvement in Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and motor tax revenues in future years was announced on Budget day, 6 December 2011. Interested parties were invited to make submissions regarding the proposed revision in the current system of VRT and motor tax to adjust CO2 bands and rates in line with technological advances in motor vehicles while maintaining a...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government has established the Inter-Departmental expert Group to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. This Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me by end April 2012. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, set out the legislation underpinning the household charge and the charge on non-principal private residences respectively. Application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland under its fiscal consolidation measures commits to the introduction of a property tax for 2012. In light of the complex issues involved, a property tax, requiring a comprehensive property valuation system, would take time to introduce and accordingly, to meet the requirements in the EU/IMF Programme, the Government decided to introduce the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383, 384 and 385 together. My Department has a role in agreeing overall staff numbers, with the agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for agencies under its aegis. However, the day to day management of each agency, including the payment of salaries and expenses, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The mileage claimed by each Minister of State in my Department during the period in question is set out in the Table below. Michael Finneran Tony Killeen Batt O'Keeffe Noel Ahern Kms. € Kms. € Kms. € Kms. € 2005 __ __ __ __ 101,257 45,225 46,337 18,577 2006 __ __ __ __ 96,540 44,966 47,631 19,902 2007 __ __ 43,822 22,491 102,717 51,612 21,078 10,407 2008 59,634 30,036 28,424...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: An Post is assisting in broadening the number of local outlets where the household charge declaration form is available. The declaration form is available outside the counter in the network of 1,152 local post offices. Persons may complete the declaration and forward it to the central payment bureau at Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. There is a range of other options available for...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department is routinely contacted by members of the public who are experiencing noise nuisance and seeking information on how this can be addressed. A public information leaflet A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department's website www.environ.ie. The investigation of noise complaints is a...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (21 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings. Exposure to high levels of radon increases the risk of lung cancer, especially for smokers. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) estimates that radon exposure is linked to approximately 150 to 200 lung cancer deaths in Ireland each year. The majority of radon linked cancers occur among smokers....

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 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. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household...