Results 8,201-8,220 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Clár Togála Scoile (26 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it affords me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the schools capital building programme to date in 2012. The capital allocation available in 2012 under subhead F01 for primary and post-primary schools amounts to €357 million, of which almost €149 million has been expended to date. This level of expenditure at the...

Seanad: Clár Togála Scoile (26 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I note the Senator's comments. There might be opportunities to provide further funding to be made available for some projects, particularly the shovel ready projects the Senator outlined, in the context of a stimulus package that might emerge in due course.

Seanad: Draft Building Regulations (26 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have read with interest the correspondence received from the former resident of Priory Hall. I acknowledge and commend his constructive contribution to the ongoing process of amending the building control regulations. Coming from someone who is, like many others and through no fault of his own, living with the agony and distress caused by the failure of others to abide by their statutory...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134 and 141 together. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) took place in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June, 2012. The High Level Segment of the conference, which I attended, took place over the last three days of the meeting. The following delegation of five people from my Department also attended the conference: Name...

Written Answers — Property Taxation: Property Taxation (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation-based property tax. The Group has recently completed its work and submitted its report to me. I will now be considering the approach to the report in consultation with my Government colleagues.

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Revenues from the household charge support the provision of essential local services. Internationally, local services are administered by local authorities and financed by local service charges. In Ireland, local authorities are responsible for, among other services, planning and development; fire and emergency services; roads; public parks; libraries; open spaces and leisure amenities;...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provided for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF committed Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 146 together. It is estimated that the annual loss arising from vehicle owners declaring their vehicles off the road is in the region of €50 million. Currently, owners declare vehicles off the road for the purposes of motor tax after the fact, which is effectively unverifiable and open to abuse. I intend to provide that drivers will be able to...

Written Answers — Nitrates Action Programme: Nitrates Action Programme (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Ireland's first Nitrates Action Programme was reviewed in 2010, following which the second programme was given effect in the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water) Regulations 2010. My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine were assisted in the review of the programme by the establishment of an expert advisory group. A...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Efficiency Review Group (July 2010) recommended that a single building inspectorate service could be established on a regional basis to streamline the approach to the inspection of property. 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...

Written Answers — End of Life Vehicles: End of Life Vehicles (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Waste Management (End of Life Vehicles) Regulations 2006 provide the regulatory framework for the implementation of Directive No. 2000/53/EC on End of Life Vehicles in Ireland. This Directive sets out specific measures to be put in place in EU Member States in relation to the collection, storage, treatment, dismantling, re-use and recycling of end-of-life vehicles. Under the Regulations,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (April 2005) continue to support the concept of rural communities being able to meet their housing needs in ways that will protect the environment and the quality of ground and surface waters. As part of the planning process, applicants must submit evidence as to the suitability of their site for development and information regarding the...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The full proceeds of motor tax are paid into the Local Government Fund. The net motor tax receipts paid into the Fund for 2011 are €1,011,640,768. The total amount of motor tax received into the Fund to date in 2012 (31 May 2012) is €462,735,431. This may not represent the final net figure, as reconciliation processes are ongoing.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (27 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department has spent the sums of €220,174, €130,946 and €168,083 on ministerial transport arrangements for 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively. In line with Government policy, I do not use a state car. My Department has employed two civilian drivers since May 2011 for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements, and their salary and subsistence costs, together...

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: How does one keep a straight face when-----

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Is it?

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The courts are dealing with it.

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is hard to keep a straight face listening to this from a Fianna Fáil politician.

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a court case.