Results 8,541-8,560 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Residential Housing Output: Residential Housing Output (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the formulation and evaluation of housing policy. The full range of data compiled can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. However, the information sought in the Question is not collected. Planning permission statistics are published by the Central Statistics Office. The number of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: While economic instruments such as that proposed in the Question can contribute to the achievement of environmental objectives the key to success in tackling the issue in question is to foster a public attitude that looks upon the behaviour concerned as unacceptable. Awareness raising, education and enforcement are critical in this regard and my Department provides support to a number of...

Written Answers — Local Government Charges: Local Government Charges (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who owns a residential property in which he or she does not live as a sole or main residence becomes liable for the charge on that property. The Act defines "owner" as a person "entitled to receive the rent of the property or, where the property is not let, would be so entitled if it were so let." A...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: My Department is currently finalising the Value for Money Study in relation to the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of the Water Services Investment Programme as part of the Government's Value for Money Reviews for 2009 – 2011. The outcome of the study, which I expect to be completed in early Summer, will influence the implementation of future water services investment programmes....

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. The view of the Woodstown Working Group, established to provide expert advice to the Minister, is that the archaeological findings in this case, which are entirely underground, are not suitable for presentation to the public on site and that the interpretation of the site and the display of artefacts should take place at the Waterford...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318, 322 and 325 together. The position regarding implementation of Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 has been set out in replies to previous Questions, and most recently in the reply to Question No. 270 of 10 February, 2010. My colleague, the Minster for Housing and Local Services, Michael Finneran T.D., held a meeting in August 2009 with...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The scope and format of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 is designed to better reflect ongoing environmental and economic priorities, to maximise the return on public funds being invested in the sector and to ensure that the Programme is realistic in its level of ambition. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 162 of 22 April 2010. The position is unchanged. However, on foot of a request already submitted, I have asked my Department to arrange to meet with a delegation from Leitrim County Council. Question No. 322 answered with Question No. 318.

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The scientific evidence available to me concludes that there is significant ongoing damage to protected habitats in these Special Areas of Conservation due to turf-cutting and associated drainage. The ten-year derogation granted in 1999 has now lapsed for these sites and an extension cannot be provided. I expect to receive the report of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Cessation of...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: My Department has not received an application for a foreshore licence in respect of works at Doolin Pier. I understand, however, that Clare County Council is preparing such an application for lodgement.

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The planning code provides a vehicle for controlling noise from construction works and from the use of premises for which planning permission is granted. While there are no times specified statutorily during which construction works are prohibited, on a case by case basis, conditions can be attached to individual permissions, under section 34(4) of the Planning and Development Acts to "reduce...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 to 330, inclusive, together. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) estimates that up to 250,000 tonnes of municipal and commercial waste from Ireland was illegally deposited at 20 sites in Northern Ireland between October 2002 and the end of 2004. As there are legal proceedings involved, NIEA are not releasing specific details of the sites...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relate to the conservation of populations of certain protected species including the badger. Badgers may not be hunted, injured or wilfully interfered with or their breeding place destroyed. However, the legislation enables me, as Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to issue a licence to a person to capture and humanely kill a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: In its ruling in case 418/04, the European Court of Justice found that Ireland had made inadequate legislative provision for the safeguarding of Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation from pressures arising from recreational activities. Scrambler bikes, quads, off-road vehicles, jet-skis and power boats can, if used inappropriately, result in significant damage to sites...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (28 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I, and the Ministers of State at my Department, have replied to some 870 Parliamentary Questions since mid January 2010. Information available or supplied was constrained by the impact of industrial action in fewer than 8 of these replies.

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (28 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: A combination of water conservation measures and investment to increase the supply of water are required to meet additional demand from the Greater Dublin water supply area over the coming years. This approach is reflected in the contracts and schemes included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, which I published last week. The new investment programme...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (28 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The sinking of a well, drilling of a bore hole, erection of a pump or construction of a pump house, for the purpose of providing a domestic water supply, or a group water supply scheme in accordance with a plan or proposal approved by the Minister or a local authority for the purpose of making a grant towards the cost of such works, is specifically exempted from the requirement to obtain...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (28 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I have received correspondence in relation to this particular landfill facility , which is licensed to operate by the EPA, as is required under section 39(1) of the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended). The monitoring of compliance with the conditions of the licence is solely a matter for the EPA and is not one in which the Minister has a role. Indeed, section 60(3) of the Waste Management...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (29 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The EPA is the statutory body responsible for monitoring air quality in Ireland. In order to protect our health, vegetation and ecosystems, a number of EU directives set down air quality standards across the EU member states for a wide variety of pollutants. The monitoring, assessment and management of ambient air quality in Ireland is carried out according to the requirements of the EU Air...