Results 9,241-9,260 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The proposals in relation to local government arrangements within counties contained in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government will give rise to a review of local electoral areas and associated membership in Dublin. This will be a matter for examination by an independent statutory boundary committee in accordance with relevant criteria to be set out in terms of reference. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicated that it would be reasonable to project a target for overall savings in the range €15 to €20 million per annum relative to 2010 expenditure figures as potentially achievable from changes in sub-county governance when the new arrangements have bedded down. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The FixYourStreet Review Group was established in September 2011 and was chaired by my Department (Mr Donal Enright, Principal Officer). The Review Group included representatives from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, South Dublin County Council and the Local Government Management Agency. The Review Group met once, subsequently finalised the drafting of its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Audit Service and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General Critical Review Group was established in June 2012. The Group was independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). It included representatives from my Department, the Departments of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: A group has been established to oversee implementation of Green Tenders:An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement which was published earlier in 2012. The Group is co-chaired at Principal Officer level by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. The first meeting of the Group was held on 18 July 2012. A further meeting of the Group is due to take place in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: A roster system is in use in the local authority sector and in Met Éireann, a division of my Department. There are no plans at present to change those systems, which are necessary for business reasons. There are no employees employed on a roster basis in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are no retired staff employed by my Department There are two former public servants employed on a consultative basis in State agencies under the aegis of my Department. I understand that there were two requests to my Department for derogations in relation to very short term arrangements for two local authority personnel, who retired before the end of the grace period this year, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a range of political reform measures a number of which are in my area of responsibility as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Many of the measures have already been implemented through legislation enacted in 2011 to provide for a reduction in the number of TDs, reduced spending limits at Presidential elections and time limits...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together. The information sought is not readily available in my Department. Its compilation by the Local Government Management Agency, established in August 2012 and nationalising the functions of the Local Government Management Services and Computer Services Boards, would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The role of the Finance and Audit Committee, as part of the on-going systematic review and development of the control environment and governance procedures within the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), is to promote good accounting practice, better and more informed decision-making and continued focus on regularity, propriety and value for money throughout the LGMA. The Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) was established in August 2012 under the Local Government (Corporate Bodies) Acts 1971 to 2012. The Agency rationalises the functions of the Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board in line with the Public Service Reform Plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The number of persons employed in Kilkenny County Council in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 to date is set out in a table on a whole time equivalent basis (WTE). Kilkenny County Council Permanent WTE Temporary WTE Total December 2008 564.50 51.17 615.67 December 2009 550.55 17.49 568.04 December 2010 532.75 12.49 545.24 December 2011 523.49 5.6 529.09...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question 700 of 6 November 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the Non Principal Private Residence Charge. The Charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. It is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes, self-catering accommodation and other non-principal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Following an extensive public consultation process undertaken earlier this year, I am now in the process of finalising the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 for signature into law. The new regulations will provide, among other things, for the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Service Contracts (7 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Issues concerning compliance with procurement legislation and guidance are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The procurement of products or services by a local authority is a matter for the authority concerned. Notwithstanding this, guidelines by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit (NPPPU) of the Department Public Expenditure and Reform apply...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Pay (8 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. Information regarding potential cost savings which could arise in the circumstances outlined in the questions is not available in my Department. On the issue of savings, some €830 million has been saved since 2008 in local authorities' spending, and local authority staffing numbers are down 23% to approximately 28,600.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (8 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The Charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Collection of the Non Principal Private Residence Charge is ongoing for 2012 but, as of 7 November,€68,082,800...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environment Fund (8 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Copies of the Environment Fund Annual Accounts, up to and including 2010, are available from the Oireachtas library and are also on my Department’s website . The Comptroller and Auditor General is currently auditing the 2011 Environment Fund Accounts and once concluded, the 2011 Accounts will be published.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (8 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Environmental standards in relation to the collection of waste, and their enforcement, are the responsibility of local authorities and are governed by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 as amended by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. The treatment and management of waste material is subject to a registration and permitting system by...