Results 9,601-9,620 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 215 together. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine the level of contribution and the types of development to which they apply. Section 149 of the Local Government Act, 2001 provides that every function of...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Under the Wildlife Acts and the EU Birds Directive I have certain responsibilities relating to the protection of wild birds and their habitats. The Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 provide for the making of orders relating to the provision of open seasons for the hunting of protected game birds and mammals. The game birds in question include various species of geese and duck. The hunting season...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 224 together. My Department is reviewing the suitability of lands in the area in question for designation as a Special Protection Area (SPA). If I decide that lands should be formally proposed for designation then my Department will notify, and consult with, landowners and land users in the area. Maps of the proposed lands will be made available as...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The current rate of landfill levy is €30 per tonne.It has been agreed by Government that this rate should be increased to €50 per tonne in 2011. As the Waste Management Acts limit any increase in the landfill levy to a maximum of €5 in any financial year it will be necessary to enact new legislation to implement the agreed increase to €50 in 2011. In March 2010 I published for...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The significant places of public worship grants scheme is funded under the built heritage capital programme of my Department. The Heritage Council is responsible for the administration of grants under the scheme including the call for applications, assessment of applications and awarding of grants. I understand from the Heritage Council that the application for funding in respect of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (3 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: My Department provides support to various groups involved in social partnership. Grants are provided towards the administrative and general expenses of a number of organisations and bodies that provide information, research or representative services in the housing area. This funding assists such organisations in the delivery of housing objectives and services. Funding is provided through...

FÁS Training Programmes (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to set out the latest position regarding FÁS training facilities in north Dublin following the closure of the FÁS facility in Jervis Street and the plan to close its training...

School Accommodation (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I am pleased to be able to take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Deputy for raising it as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the Dáil the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position on Midleton in particular. Modernising facilities...

Homelessness Strategy (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: My Department's role in homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, and I have made major advances in this area by developing the homelessness strategy and an implementation plan, retaining current financing for...

Homelessness Strategy (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I assure the Deputy there is no complacency in this area. It is one which is close to my heart. We want to do our very best. In addition, a comprehensive range of measures has been put in place to underpin the role of housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards achieving the strategy's ambitious objective of eliminating long-term homelessness and the need to sleep rough. This...

Waste Disposal (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: On foot of a commitment in the programme for Government, a review of the EPA began in February 2010. Under its terms of reference, the review group has been asked to review the legislation governing the EPA, assess performance against its mandate and evaluate the scope of that mandate, review the resources allocated to the EPA, assess the structures and governance of the agency and assess...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which introduces the charge on non-principal private residences, has as its starting position a universal liability for residential property in respect of the charge. It goes on to exempt certain buildings and owners from this liability, the most important exemption being where a property is occupied by the owner as his or her sole or main residence...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. In 2008, my Department engaged ERA Maptec Limited to prepare documentation for the proposed nomination of the Monastic City of Clonmacnoise and its Cultural Landscape to the World Heritage List; part of the area covered by the work lies within County Westmeath. Inclusion in the World Heritage List will increase international recognition...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Further to the reply to Question No. 514 of 29 June 2010, my Department still awaits the submission of additional information from Mayo County Council, in particular the Certificate of Completion of Planning, to enable the Department to complete its assessment of the Council's contract documents for the collection network element of the Belmullet Sewerage Scheme. My Department is also...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 218, inclusive, together. My Department has received 278 applications for the Interim Compensation for Winter 2010/11 Scheme. So far, 53 of these applications have been deemed to be invalid and 141 have been approved for payment. Of these, the payment of the €1,000 has been completed on 115 applications. A further 84 are being assessed. In total, it...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Wicklow. Three contracts under the Arklow Sewerage Scheme are included in the Programme amongst the list of contracts in the county to start in the period 2010 – 2012. The major...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. However, I have urged local authorities to exercise...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide a strong statutory framework for combating litter pollution. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering must come from the local authorities. Therefore, it is a matter for each local authority to decide on the most appropriate enforcement actions in their areas, taking account of local circumstances and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The information requested in respect of payments made by my Department between 2007 and to date in 2010 is set out in the following table. This does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal; payments of this nature by agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned. Area Solicitor/Barrister Name Description of Services Amount...