Results 10,081-10,100 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Projects (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. My Department provides capital funding towards the provision and refurbishment of new and existing public libraries. In this regard, in 2008 my Department requested library authorities to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 495 together. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has therefore decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Appointments (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 to 490, inclusive, together. Up to 31 December 2012, the latest date for which information is available, the position is as follows: Agency / Board Name of Appointee (Chairperson highlighted) Date of Appointment An Bord Pleanála Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) 29/08/2011 An Bord Pleanála Mr. Conall Boland (Deputy Chairperson) ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Upgrade Grants (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 497 together. The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems to register their systems. The requirement to register does not apply to schools. If a school’s treatment system has been registered in error, the person who registered it should apply to the Local Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Merchandising of Coal (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating. Air quality monitoring carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the ban has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Recruitment (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The embargo on the filling of posts in the Local Government Service was introduced on 24 March 2009 following a Government Decision to implement savings measures across the wider public service. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of this general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts across all local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges (19 Feb 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: Water Framework Directive (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 507, inclusive and 524 to 528, inclusive, together. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive requires Member States to establish the outer (seaward) limits of estuaries for the purposes of the Directive. In a February 1995 report to my Department, Identification of the Outer Limits of Estuaries in Ireland, the EPA, in consultation with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have recently published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) as national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. KCS was developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department. The document was prepared through a collaborative process, which included consultation with stakeholders, and it was recommended for adoption as national policy by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have recently published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) as national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. KCS was developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department through a collaborative process, which included consultation with stakeholders, and it was recommended for adoption as national policy by the Management Board of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Prompt Payments (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Payment of invoices by my Department is governed by the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997. The legislation provides for the payment of interest on valid invoices that are unpaid after 30 days from the date of receipt. In June 2009, the Government introduced a further non-statutory requirement to reduce the payment period by Departments to 15 days. The EU/IMF Programme of Financial...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Collection (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The introduction of the Local Property Tax will provide a more sustainable funding model for local government, devolve greater responsibility for financial decisions to the local level, and help renew the relationship between the citizen and his or her local authority. In distributing Local Property Tax income to local authorities through the Local Government Fund, I will seek to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 174 of 5 February 2013. Under the Climate and Energy Package, adopted by the European Council in December 2008, the main elements of policy and legislation are already in place to enable the EU to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2020. However, two legislative proposals in relation to CO2 emissions from cars and vans need to be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: 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 Valuation Office is responsible for calculating the rateable valuation of premises and the type, size and location of the premises...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together. There have been no new , or no recent, changes to Building Regulations which would prevent the insulation of attics with sloping ceilings. I have no responsibility in relation to the Better Energy Homes scheme which provides grant assistance for specific energy efficiency measures in homes, including attic insulation. This scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment Facilities (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I understand that the Derrycreha School is served by a private sewerage system. My Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, the management, maintenance or operation of privately owned wastewater treatment facilities.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charge Exemptions (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The programme for Government and the memorandum of understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB provide for the introduction of domestic water charges. It is not intended that domestic water charges will commence before 2014. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (19 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The European Council of Ministers reached agreement on 5 February 2013 on the Multi Annual Financial Framework for the EU. The Irish Presidency will now engage with the European Parliament to seek its assent to the deal agreed by the Council. In parallel to these discussions, the negotiation processes for the large range of regulatory instruments required to implement the various parts of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (20 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: While I have no proposals at present to introduce compulsory microchipping of all dogs, there have been a number of recent developments that have increased microchipping usage. The regulations I introduced in early 2012 under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010 stipulate that all dogs held in such establishments be microchipped once they reach 8 weeks of age or when a dog is moved from...