Results 9,841-9,860 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme (29 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The reforms relating to local development, which I am now implementing, arise from Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government, approved by Government and published in October 2012; this incorporates the recommendations made in the Final Report of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group. That report noted the number of local development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (29 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government has approved enhanced alignment between Local Government and Local Development as part of Putting People First– Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which was published in October 2012. The alignment proposals were developed by an expert steering group following consultation and inputs from the key stakeholders, including the Irish Local Development Network....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (29 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 , for which my Department has responsibility, continues to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities. One of the objectives of the RDP is to provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. I am pleased, therefore, that the...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputies McNamara and Broughan for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to deal with some of their concerns. I know the Deputies have read the documentation about the alignment of local government and community and this should have allayed some of their fears. Putting People First: An Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out a range of reforms that will...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: We can always rely on Deputy Broughan for the easy way out.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no intention of transferring a total of 1,968 staff to local authorities. I have no intention of doing that. I do not think the taxpayer has any intention of doing it either.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The document on local government which I published some time ago will position local government with the overall responsibility - not the dead hand as referred to by Deputy Broughan. Perhaps he had a bad experience with local authorities . The powers we envisage giving local authorities and the level of accountability we expect of them means we will not see any dead hand flourishing in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: On 26 June 2012, I signed the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 which set out performance standards for on-site treatment systems, including requirements regarding the maintenance and de-sludging of such systems. With limited exceptions, they must be de-sludged by a permitted contractor. The regulations currently in force which are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Audit Service provides a professional audit service to local authorities which are funded from a number of sources including central Government grants and the provision of goods and services. Section 116 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that local government auditors shall be independent in the exercise of their professional functions. While, in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Safety (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: In November 2012, I published a summary of a report prepared by an independent team of international experts, commissioned by Ireland, which assessed the probable risks to Ireland from incidents at the Sellafield nuclear site. The experts quantified the likelihood of incidents occurring at Sellafield, and as stated in the public summary, an incident at the Sellafield site resulting in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: Deposits held by town councils comprise cash balances and short term bank investments. The amount held on deposit by each town council at 31 December 20 10, the latest year for which audited information is available, is set out below. Town Councils Total Arklow €8,767,025 Athlone €4,064,175 Athy €2,411,038 Ballina €3,847,743 Ballinasloe ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) is an umbrella organi sation for 32 environmental NGOs in Ireland. It was established as the Environmental (Ecological) NGOs Core Funding Limited in 2001 and trades as the Irish Environmental Network. My Department provides funding to the IEN to help build and maintain the capacity of its member organisations to assist them to contribute effectively to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Security of the Elderly (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme (SAS) provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of safety and security equipment to enable older persons, without sufficient means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Applications are made through the applicant's local community or voluntary group. Since March 2012 funding has been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Rathmines & Pembroke Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013, as a scheme to advance through the planning stage. My Department has received a Brief for a Consultant to prepare a Preliminary Report for the scheme from Dublin City Council and this is currently being examined. The submission also includes a Planning Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. Last month I announced an increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house or 75%...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Agencies (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is as follows: Agency Number of Vacancies Date Vacancy Arose Number of Vacancies Advertised Number of Applications Received to date An Bord Pleanála 2* 30 June 2010 and 1 January 2012 N/A N/A Housing Finance Agency 1** 1 March 2012 N/A N/A Housing Sustainable Communities Agency 3 1 August 2012 All Process being handled by Public...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 140 together. My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has developed a policy document, Keeping Communities Safe (KCS), which is intended to set the future direction of fire services in Ireland. It sets out a system of national processes and standards for fire service delivery in Ireland based on a risk management...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Deontais faoi Údarás na Gaeltachta (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: D'fhógair mé le déanaí go raibh sé ar intinn agam scéim deontais a chur ar fáil le cúnamh airgeadais a sholáthar do theaghlaigh lenar gá dóibh feabhsúchán nó ceartú a dheanamh ar a mhúnlaigh umair agus a gcórais chóireála fuíolluisce tar éis iniúchadh faoin Acht um...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Collection (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date is liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. It is a matter for an owner of a residential property to determine liability and pay the Charge. The Local Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (31 Jan 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires that all owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems must register their system on or before 1 February 2013. This includes owners of premises which may for the time being be unoccupied, unless the treatment system serving the property has been emptied and de-commissioned. Septic tanks and other domestic waste water...