Results 9,521-9,540 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs) originated in 1998 as an initiative of the EU aimed at developing local, participatory and coordinated actions targeting unemployment and new employment opportunities in regions, cities, towns, rural areas and employment catchment areas that share certain socioeconomic characteristics. I understand there were 85 TEPs established throughout the EU. The...

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

Phil Hogan: Discussions with the stakeholders are at an advanced stage and I expect them to conclude very shortly with outcomes arrived at on the basis of the pyrite report. I have already announced my intention to establish a Resolution Board as recommended in the pyrite report. I have previously stated that I will not allow the discussions to drag on and I am anxious to finalise this phase of the...

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

Phil Hogan: I established a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee on 15 November 2012. The press release announcing the establishment of the Committee , including its terms of reference , is available on the website of my Department at. I understand that the Committee has issued an invitation for submissions . The Committee’s website is.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Flood Prevention Measures (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: On 9 October 2012 I briefed the Government on matters relating to the Cork flooding of 29 June 2012. While my Department co-ordinates the response to several types of emergencies including flooding, it has no standing in relation to the development or operation of any compensation scheme for business. The Government decided that the relevant Ministers would agree with the Minister for...

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

Phil Hogan: Based on Fire Statistics returns from Waterford City and Waterford County Fire and Rescue Services , the number of call-outs, which include responses to fires, other service incidents - such as road traffic accidents and flooding - and false alarms, in the past five years (2007 to 2011) were as follows: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Waterford City 1,046 923 789 886 n/a ...

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

Phil Hogan: The Government’s approach to the introduction of a directly elected mayor in Dublin is set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government- Putting People First. Part 5 of the document outlines some of the potential benefits and other issues associated with the concept and indicates that a special forum of the elected members of the four Dublin local authorities will be...

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

Phil Hogan: All power plants in Ireland are subject to the licensing, monitoring and enforcement requirements of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime. The activities of companies operating with an IPPC licence are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the terms of their licences are respected, including in relation to emissions.  In...

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

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to drive a waste reduction programme as part of the overall policy in the area of sustainable waste management. A review of the Producer Responsibility Initiative model in Ireland is ongoing at present. The aim of the review is to assess the nature and level of the challenges which are currently facing the existing Producer Responsibility...

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

Phil Hogan: The local authority sector has delivered expenditure savings of €830 million and staff reductions of 8,600 (a reduction of 23%) whole time equivalents since 2008. Shared services have been identified in the Local Government Efficiency Review and the Public Service Reform Plan as an important opportunity to make further savings in administrative costs without impacting on front line...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together. With reference to the issue of grant aid, I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 172 and 173 on 29 November 2012 . The position is unchanged. The Water Services Act s 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 , which I made on 26 June 2012 , set out the requirements for the desludging of domestic...

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

Phil Hogan: My Department has not provided any such new services during the period in question. My Department is committed to the implementation of the action in the Public Service Reform Plan, agreed by Government in November 2011, to evaluate the opportunity for the external delivery of some non-core public services.

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

Phil Hogan: My Department is responsible for a wide range of programmes, including in the areas of housing, water services, environmental protection, local government services, and community and rural development. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in February 2012, detail gross expenditure of €467 million on the current...

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 312 and 313 together. I announced the establishment of an independent Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee on 15 November 2012. An objective in reviewing electoral areas is to achieve a better balance and consistency in representation ratios and, logically, there is a strong case for reducing the degree of representational imbalance currently in...

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

Phil Hogan: The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 was published on 5 October 2012. Debate on the Bill commenced in the Dáil on 20 November 2012. The constituencies specified in the Bill would come into effect upon the dissolution of the Dáil occurring next after the enactment of the Bill.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wastewater Treatment Systems (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Higgins for the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the registration of domestic wastewater treatment systems. The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provided for the establishment of a new system for the registration and inspection of septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems. I made regulations in June setting out the procedures for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wastewater Treatment Systems (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I wish to make it clear that if we are introducing a scheme of financial support, it will be on the basis that, arising from an inspection under the regulations outlined in the legislation or arising from the Water Services (Amendment) Act, the possible solution of a problem that might arise with a wastewater treatment system is to de-sludge. This is the solution that was found in Cavan. In...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wastewater Treatment Systems (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Higgins for the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the registration of domestic wastewater treatment systems. The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provided for the establishment of a new system for the registration and inspection of septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems. I made regulations in June setting out the procedures for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wastewater Treatment Systems (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I wish to make it clear that if we are introducing a scheme of financial support, it will be on the basis that, arising from an inspection under the regulations outlined in the legislation or arising from the Water Services (Amendment) Act, the possible solution of a problem that might arise with a wastewater treatment system is to de-sludge. This is the solution that was found in Cavan. In...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 25 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank members for the opportunity to present and discuss the proposed supplementary Estimate for my Department's Vote for 2012 for which I am seeking approval. This supplementary Estimate refers to the provision of funding for the EU co-funded programme for peace and reconciliation 2007-13 - known as PEACE III. PEACE III runs from 2007 to 2013 and is co-funded with the EU, the Northern...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 25 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The SEUPB has full oversight and has a significant number of staff to monitor projects at local and regional level. I agree with the Deputy that it has provided good value for money, particularly the local projects. I have seen some of them and they certainly get engagement from the local communities across the board and make a big impact at community level. The SEUPB manages the projects...