Results 8,021-8,040 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: My Department is not aware of any correspondence from Cork County Council on this matter. In any event closure of this landfill is an operational issue for which Cork County Council has statutory responsibility.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: My Department is not aware of any correspondence from Cork County Council regarding the construction of a material recovery facility at the location in question.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The White Paper on Local Government will address a broad suite of local government issues, including in relation to the structure of local government. The approach to the White Paper is under consideration by Government. In addition, the Local Government Efficiency Review Group is currently examining the scope for enhanced efficiency in local government.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The renewed Programme for Government, agreed in October 2009, commits to the provision of democratic leadership for regional authorities and to the strengthening of their strategic role across a range of functions, in addition to their realignment to reflect the National Spatial Strategy Gateways. The issues involved are being considered by Government in the context of current deliberations...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (9 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Planning and Development (Regional Planning Guidelines) Direction 2008 which issued on 19 December 2008 under section 21 of the Planning Acts, instructed regional authorities to review and update Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) for their regions. The review and update is due to be completed with the adoption of new RPGs within each region by mid-2010, including for the south-west...

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: In 2009, current and capital funding of some €2.76m was invested in Glenveagh National Park which is managed by my Department. The Park is open to the public all year round while the visitor centre and Glenveagh Castle are closed only on Good Friday and Christmas week. Details of the number of tourists visiting the park generally are not available as there is no admission fee and there...

Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The monitoring, assessment and management of ambient air quality in Ireland is carried out according to the requirements of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive. This Directive was transposed into Irish law through the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations, 1999. Under further regulations made in 2002, 2004 and 2009, specific...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Killybegs is part of the Donegal Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant – Group B Scheme, which was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. Donegal County Council is preparing Tender Documents for the scheme for submission to my Department. Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Government had decided not to proceed with implementation of electronic voting in Ireland. Since then, a process has been put in place to address the issues that arise from the decision. An Interdepartmental Task Force, chaired by my Department, has been established to bring the project to an orderly conclusion and to oversee disposal of the equipment...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which was commenced with effect from 28 April, 2004, introduced a "once-off" system of registration for all quarries, except those for which planning permission was granted in the previous 5 years. Under the registration system, quarry operators were required to supply full details of their operations to the planning authorities by 27...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by 23 October 2009. My Department is currently considering these assessments, which form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and...

Written Answers — Building Control Act: Building Control Act (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I do not propose to suspend or amend the provisions of Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007. My colleague, the Minster for Housing and Local Services, held a meeting in August 2009 with representatives of the organisation referred to in regard to Part 3 of the Act, in particular the technical assessment process. Part 3 of the Act provides for registration of the title of "Architect". The...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: There is a commitment to introduce comprehensive legislation on noise pollution within the lifetime of this Government. As part of the preparatory process extensive public consultation was undertaken during which 235 submissions were received from the public and key stakeholders. After due consideration of these submissions the General Scheme of a Noise Nuisance Bill was prepared in my...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The qualifying criteria for the inclusion of overtime for pension purpose are set out in Circular Letter S.12/91 of 11 December 1991 and remain unchanged. However, Circular Letter S.4/2009 of 7 August 2009 increased the time span during which payment of an eligible allowance may qualify for pension purposes. Copies of these circulars have been sent to the Oireachtas Library. In accordance...

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion. (11 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of an AAU Authorisation Agreement (Green Carbon Fund) between Ireland and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Ireland's participation in the Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (Green Carbon Fund) , copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 28th January, 2010."

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (11 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 587 of 2 February 2010.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (11 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Nitrates Directive is given legal effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2009, known as the 'Nitrates Regulations'. Local authorities, acting under the general supervision of the EPA, are the competent authorities for enforcing the Nitrates Regulations. The EPA collates and publishes data on enforcement activity. To date,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, my Department's Headquarter Office in Wexford is expected to be completed and ready for occupation by end March 2010. Subject to this date being met, staff will move into these offices in phases during April starting firstly with staff in temporary accommodation in Wexford followed by Dublin based staff. There are almost 40 provincial based...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (16 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Under planning legislation, the decision as to whether to grant a planning application, with or without conditions, is a matter for the relevant planning authority and An Bord Pleanála on appeal. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the...