Results 9,501-9,520 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in July 2012, sets out the actions through which Ireland will make the further progress necessary to become a recycling society, with a clear focus on resource efficiency and the virtual elimination of landfilling of municipal waste.  The policy contains measures to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Pollution (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The main ambient air quality monitoring programme in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The Directive sets legally binding limit values, and target values for a range of pollutants and requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring is conducted for the purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Action Programme for Effective Local Government - Putting People First reinforces local government as the primary means of public service delivery at local level. The programme sets out a comprehensive range of measures to address the challenges of the local government system. The sustainable funding of local government is one such challenge and the programme provides for a strengthening...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, group sewerage schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The block grant allocations provided by my Department to the water services authorities are based, in the first instance, on the requests for funding received from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. While there have been improvements in these regards in recent years, I am satisfied that further improvements can be made. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Official Travel (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Participation in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process is an important element of Ireland’s, and the EU’s, engagement in international environmental issues. This is especially so in the context of Ireland’s role as incoming EU Presidency, during which we will be responsible for leading the EU’s follow-up work to the Doha Conference of the Parties...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I presume the question refers to the D'Hondt system, also known as the highest average method , for appointing Councillors to chairs and to local authority committees. Part 7 of the Local Government Act 2001 makes provision for local authorities to establish committees including Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs). Guidance issued by my Department in relation to the involvement of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Safety (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 427, inclusive, together. In 2008, a joint confidential technical information exchange project relating to Sellafield and its associated facilities was set up by the Irish and British Governments. The shared objective of the project was to provide an established co-operative process for sharing information and addressing any technical issues arising....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First, which I published in October 2012 following Government approval, sets out the Government’s decision regarding new arrangements at regional level. Regional structures will be revised and strengthened through the replacement of the present eight regional authorities and two regional assemblies by three new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households. The Government has also decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos . 67 and 69 on today’s order paper which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Taxation (5 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax for private cars is calculated on the basis of CO 2 emissions or engine capacity, depending on the date of first registration of the car. There is no provision for adjustment of motor tax on the basis of personal circumstances. Specific personal needs are addressed through other codes, as appropriate, such as under the health services or social protection. I am not in a position...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Divisions (5 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 437 of 13 November 2012. In publishing the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 the Government has accepted in full the recommendations in the Constituency Commission Report 2012. This is consistent with established practice since the first independent constituency commission reported in 1980. The determination of Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (5 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 492 of 27 November 2012, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Security of the Elderly (6 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The person referred to in the question has now been approved for a pendant alarm.  The installation of the alarm will be arranged by the local community and voluntary group in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (6 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Over 500 submissions have been received by my Department following the public consultation process on the proposed Building Control Amendment Regulations 2012 undertaken earlier this year.  All submissions received have been comprehensively considered and the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 are currently being finalised. My Department has met and corresponded with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The rate of grant available for Group Sewerage Schemes is €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which has a role in advising me on rural water policy, proposed that the rate of grant be reviewed during 2012. As a result of a review carried out by my Department, I propose, in the first instance, to...

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

Phil Hogan: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Travel (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 307 together. My response to Parliamentary Question No. 422 of 4 December includes travel and accommodation costs for all members of my Department, including such costs incurred by me as Minister. In respect of my flight and accommodation costs, my economy return flight ticket to Doha cost €565, while the cost of my hotel accommodation is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Remuneration (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Severance payments, of a type provided for in the ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 (as amended), are not paid to any person who ceases to be an elected member of a local authority. Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001 and Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 281 of 2002) (as amended) provide for the payment of a once-off gratuity subject to...