Results 9,861-9,880 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: The majority of CLÁR measures were closed to applications in 2008. While some measures accepted applications in 2009 and 2010, all were subsequently closed to new funding requests. All of the remaining commitments under the CLÁR Programme relate to already approved Sports Capital projects. The lead Department for these projects and the source of the majority of funding for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires householders whose properties are served by on-site wastewater treatment systems to register their system with their local authority. The deadline for householders to register was 1 February. At the passing of that deadline, 373,954 applications in respect of the on-site wastewater treatment systems by owners who registered online, by post or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and some Independent Deputies have for the past year opposed this registration and inspection regime for ground water quality. In spite of that, 80% of people who have septic tanks have registered. I thank them very much for this response in spite of the advice given by people not to even register when the fee was €5 at the end of last September. Many...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The national inspection plan which was sent to the Department in recent days is being examined and I expect to publish it shortly.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: As I stated previously to the Deputy, inspections will not take place until after the registration process is complete. Inspections will not take place for several months. The plan will be published in the coming weeks and I have no difficulty agreeing this with the Deputy. It has been the subject of much detailed investigation with the Commission by the EPA and it was forwarded to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I recently received Government approval for the imposition of a levy on both the quarrying and insurance sectors, as recommended by the independent pyrite panel. Preparing the necessary primary legislation, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is now under way and a priority for the Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government in this regard in the coming weeks....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am disappointed that Deputy Ellis is taking such a negative view about a positive proposal. I would have expected that he would be supportive of the speed with which we are acting and getting money from those who are culpable in this regard - namely, the quarrying and construction industries and the insurance sector. Homeowners' interests will be represented with great effect by Ms...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is negative.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is still very negative.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I hope the Deputy is not tempted to advocate that anybody and everybody should apply for an exemption on the basis that they allegedly have Pyrite in their dwelling.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: This will require a protocol to be put in place, so they will have to prove they have pyrite in order to get a property tax exemption. One would expect nothing less, otherwise we would have a serious problem with local government finance and I am sure Deputy Stanley would not like that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion in RAPID areas nationally. The programme was launched in 25 urban areas in February 2001. It was extended to 20 provincial towns in February 2002. Ballyfermot was added in 2006 and in late 2009, following an independent review of the findings from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Ó Cuív has a very serious interest in these matters, which I acknowledge, and the RAPID programme has made progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities, bringing forward important local projects in response to relevant needs. The Deputy brought forward a few projects in his time but did not provide money for them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I subsequently found some money for certain projects in the five designated towns identified in 2009, arising from the same criteria mentioned by the Deputy. The Deputy was associated with leverage schemes and we had to seize the leverage that money could provide with regard to projects like traffic calming, graffiti removal and provision of play groups. That came from other Departments...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am glad to consider the matters raised by the Deputy and I will undertake to ensure that with the local government fund, measures taken to improve the areas identified by RAPID will continue to be prioritised under social inclusion measures in 2014 and beyond. In 2013 all we have is the money necessary for existing contractual obligations. The Deputy knows that when money runs out, as it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Much slicing was done in the Deputy's time and we have had to do a fair amount of salami slicing since to make up for what was done in those 14 years. We do not have money for everything and there must be priorities. I will ask local authorities to prioritise the RAPID areas for funding and I will consider meeting the chairs under the auspices of the national monitoring committee. I will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Work on developing provisions of progressive climate legislation is at an advanced stage and I will issue outline heads shortly for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and stakeholders. The short period of additional time which I am taking before issuing the outline heads of the Bill is related to the importance of ensuring that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: It is like trying to nail what to a wall?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thought the Deputy said "gelignite".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy has pre-empted some of the points I will make when Deputy Catherine Murphy moves her Bill on Friday.