Results 9,001-9,020 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The development of a system of local government funding which is fair, stable, effective and brings greater local responsibility in financial matters is an essential feature of the reform programme for local government. Consistent with the overall local government reform process and as stated in chapter 10 of the action plan for effective local government entitled, Putting People First, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen is well aware that the issue of a property tax was negotiated by his party in November and December 2010 and that it was included as part of the memorandum of understanding. I say as much just in case Deputy Cowen has forgotten.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Thornhill report was to establish how we could implement the decision made by Deputy Cowen's party in government. This will be considered by the Government in the context of the budget. I have stated as much on several occasions. The details of the property tax and its implementation will be outlined in the Budget Statement.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen cannot have it every way. Fianna Fáil was jumping up and down when some of the budgetary details went out prematurely from my office in February 1995 and I resigned. A great deal of information has gone out since and nobody resigned. I will not fall into the situation of detailing what is contained in the budget to the Deputy or anyone else in this House in advance of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The estimate of €420 million in savings on full implementation of the reform programme is comprised of a number of components including savings arising from structural reconfiguration, implementation of the recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group, local authority workforce planning and savings arising from agency rationalisation. Direct savings...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputy for his constructive remarks. He knows from the rationalisation of structures in Northern Ireland that it is not an easy business.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government in Northern Ireland is trying to do the same as we are trying to do here. It is trying to reduce the number of local authorities to 11. I agree with the Deputy that we have taken a lot of staff out of the local government system in the last three to four years. Staff numbers are down by 8,500, the highest number in any segment of the public service. Obviously, numbers in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: How many local authorities are there at present?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: On staff levels, we are keeping everything under review. Given that we have hit the 2015 target in the local government sector, we will examine ways to supplement staff numbers in some areas, such as outdoor services, particularly in rural areas. We are examining ways by which we might be able to achieve this. I cannot make an announcement on it at this stage, but we are working on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: As in most areas of academic work, views on the optimal size of local authorities vary and international comparisons can be complicated by difficulty in comparing like with like. In the light of the range of functions of local authorities, their responsibilities for the delivery of services and the improvements in representational effectiveness and accountability, I am satisfied that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The functions are being devolved to municipal district level in order that they will be as close as possible to the citizens. The regional assemblies will exist for the purpose of monitoring expenditure under EU operational programmes, overseeing regional planning guidelines and driving the efficiencies we require in local government and best practice in the regions. The local government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy will agree that we have a centralised system and that what I am trying to do is to move some functions from central government and national agencies to local authority level and as close as possible to the people. She will see examples of this in the document. I look forward to working with Deputies on all sides of the House in deciding from the legislation as published on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The RAPID - revitalising areas by planning, investment and development - programme targets 51 of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. The programme is committed to directing State assistance towards improving quality of life and access to opportunities for communities in disadvantaged areas. The RAPID programme is one of a number of interventions that address social exclusion and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: As the Deputy knows, I would love to be able to give a commitment to allocate more moneys in 2013 from the sources he identified. In the case of the dormant accounts, we are precluded from doing so by the troika. The Department of Finance will verify that under the general Government borrowing requirement, the dormant accounts moneys referred to by the Deputy are included under the general...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy was not able to do it because he had no money.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for a short period before I entered office in 2011. Even though he announced the allocation of this money in 2010, he was not able to provide it in 2011.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is not a problem for me to announce that various towns will be part of programmes such as RAPID and CLÁR, but the money has to be provided. The Deputy made an announcement on five towns, but he was not able to provide the money. I was glad to be able to find some for that purpose.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I did not say that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I would be glad to do so if it were possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am not able to do it because it is not possible to do so.