Results 7,881-7,900 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (21 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The amounts collected to date under the non-principal private residence charge and the net amounts pertaining to each local authority as at 15 January 2010 are detailed in the following table. The net figures incorporate a reduction of approximately 1% on average to cover administration and transaction charges. My Department does not have figures relating to amounts received by town...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The Bandon sewerage scheme was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. Contract Documents for this scheme are currently under examination in my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the council as soon as possible in light of the finalisation of the Water Services Investment Programme for 2010 to 2012. Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (21 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Housing authorities have been instructed, by Circular letter, to begin the process of designating suitable new-build housing for incremental purchase by way of a Manager's Order. The Housing (Incremental Purchase) Regulations 2009 set out the classes of dwellings to which incremental purchase arrangements apply. Further regulations are required to give full effect to the detailed terms of...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "— shares the Government's appreciation of the work of local authorities, Health Service Executive, the Garda Síochána, Defence Forces, Civil Defence and other statutory bodies in responding to the November 2009 flooding and recent severe weather events; — recognises the contribution by...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I am afraid Deputy Ring repeated it here in this House this evening,-----

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: -----which I find regrettable. I would have expected more support and encouragement of our local councils and responsibility from the party that takes pride in describing itself as the largest party in local government.

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: At central level there was no unnecessary delay in responding to the emerging situation. From the second half of December, staff from the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Transport were liasing with local authorities and the NRA and monitoring the ongoing situation. Local authorities successfully responded to the severe weather demands up to the end of the...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Since mid-December all local authorities were engaged in an extensive campaign of road gritting, using a combination of sand and salt to melt the ice and snow in response to severe weather warnings issued by Met Éireann. One of the criticisms heard during the period related to the extent of the road gritting exercise. One could find fault with the extent of gritting but the ongoing...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the two major areas referred to in the Opposition motion, namely, roads and water supplies. By and large our national roads, other key strategic roads and public transport routes were kept open for traffic during the 24 days that the severe weather lasted. These are the facts. With careful driving, most of our secondary road network remained passable throughout the period, with...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I believe the Deputy agrees with me on this, but he might have been forced into it. I do not know.

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: This Government's intention, which we announced in December, is to introduce charges for water in a way that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. I will shortly bring detailed proposals to Government on a programme of metering of households on public supplies. It is envisaged that the installation of water meters will commence during 2011. International experience...

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I will outline why I see no reason for the introduction of such a quango. Indeed, I can only conclude that Fine Gael wants to establish such an agency because the party wants to privatize our water services.

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Such a move might be in line with Fine Gael's call for a fire-sale of State assets, but I am absolutely opposed to such a measure.

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: There is a clear structure in place-----

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: When I hear Deputy Coveney talking about a company not an authority, of course one immediately grows suspicious.

Severe Weather Emergencies: Motion (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I am generally satisfied with the current arrangements which I believe will improve considerably with the implementation of a river basin approach to water management. The response arrangements of the statutory and voluntary agencies in dealing with the developing situation were substantially tested. The arrangements put in place did work, but there is some room for reflection and review of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The initial 30% instalment of payment for participation in the Hen Harrier Farm Plan Scheme was approved for the person in question on 21 January 2010. This payment will issue in the coming days. The remaining 70% instalment for year one and the initial payment for year two will be paid together on completion of the first year of the relevant plan.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: My Department has a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance for implementation of the general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts in the Local Authority Sector, on the condition that the overall staffing levels in the local authority sector are to be reduced significantly by the end of 2010 in adherence with the Government's Policy on Staffing and Numbers in the Public...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The information on ministerial attendance at the National Emergency Response Co-ordination Committee (NERCC) meetings is as follows: NERCC on flooding- An Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen – 21 November 2009. Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Mr. John Gormley – 21 & 25 November 2009. Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O'Dea – 25 November 2009. NERCC on Severe Weather...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 480 and 506 together. I published the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 on 22 December 2009. The Bill contains provision to give statutory effect to the recommendations of the Working Group that reviewed the management of dog breeding establishments. A dog breeding establishment is defined in the Bill as a premises with not less than 6 bitches of 4...