Results 10,341-10,360 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with the Water Framework Directive, groundwater is classified according to its chemical and quantitative status. The most recent EPA report Ireland’s Environment 2012 – An Assessment states that the majority of groundwater bodies ( 85.6% ) are in good status as required under the Water Framework Directive. The general reduction in nitrate concentrations in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department’s Environmental Compliance Unit provides a co-ordinating role with the European Commission in respect of all environmental infringement cases and liaises as necessary with other Departments and Agencies which have direct responsibility for managing individual cases, as well as with relevant business areas within my own Department. In that context, in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: Unaccounted for Water is the amount of water (generally expressed as a percentage) which enters a distribution system and which cannot be accounted for by legitimate use. Significant investment in recent years in water management systems and active leakage control has provided the platform for more intensive water mains repair and replacement contracts under the current Water Services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mountain Access Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department is progressing a pilot Mountain Access Scheme at two locations, Mount Gable in Connemara and Carrauntuohill in Co. Kerry. There are 94 landholders associated with the pilot scheme at Mount Gable. The scope of the scheme at Carrauntuohill required review , as it was not feasible to progress a pilot access scheme there in isolation from the rest of the MacGillcuddy Reeks. Subject...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 125, 405 and 416 together. I am keenly aware of the challenges we face in delivering housing supports to a range of vulnerable households and groups. The difficulties facing the State’s finances and the necessity to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels are impacting on capital programmes all across the public service. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 123 together. Under section 157 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax (LPT) paid into the Central Fund during that year. In 2013, the funds raised by the tax will accrue to the Exchequer. Should a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Breeding Regulations (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I do not propose at this point to introduce compulsory microchipping of all dogs; however , a number of recent developments 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am satisfied that Ireland is in compliance with the European Charter of Local Self-Government. In addition, the extensive measures in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which sets out Government decisions in relation to local government reform, will further enhance the quality of local government in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I presume the question relates to General Purpose Grants from the Local Government Fund. The information requested is set out in the table below. I am satisfied that the general purpose allocations provided for 2013, together with the income available from other sources, will enable local authorities to provide a reasonable level of services to their customers. Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: Private vehicles registered prior to 2008 are charged motor tax on the basis of engine capacity with the rates graduating upwards as the engine size increases. Any reduction in motor tax rates for this category would require a compensatory increase elsewhere in motor tax rates or elsewhere in the tax code. I have no plans to revise the basis of taxation for the vehicles in this category .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 432 and 445 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 219 of 27 February 2013, which sets out the position in relation to the procurement process. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Maintenance (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government has no plans to hold a referendum on Article 16.2.2 of the Constitution to allow for TD numbers to be reduced by 20. The focus of the Government is on implementing the Programme for Government commitment to reduce the number of TDs following the publication of the results of the 2011 census. The first step in this was taken with the enactment of the Electoral (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Issues (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 to 402, inclusive, together. The information requested is set out in the following table. Minister Hogan Minister of State Penrose Minister of State O’Sullivan Home Constituency Office Home Constituency Office Home Constituency Office Hardware/Software costs Nil €3,895 €707 (returned when left office) Nil...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: In line with Government policy, I do not use a State car. My Department has employed two civilian drivers since May 2011 for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements, and their salary and subsistence costs, together with the mileage costs paid to me to date, are set out in the Table. The Table also sets out similar costs for the Ministers of State in my Department since...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has issued credit cards to the 8 office holders listed below. The Table also sets out the total amount spent on each credit card since March 2011. Credit card holder Total € Private Secretary to the Minister 14,298.07 Private Secretary to Minister of State (Housing) 2,847.17 Private Secretary to Minister of State (New Era) 1,510.06 Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or she has a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Rate (12 Mar 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: European Parliament Elections (12 Mar 2013)

Phil Hogan: There is a need to adjust the distribution of seats in the European Parliament to take account of the accession of Croatia this year. This is done on the initiative of the European Parliament which will vote this week on a recommendation, from its Constitutional Affairs Committee, on the composition of the European Parliament for the 2014 – 2019 term. The recommendation includes a...