Results 10,641-10,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The number of councillors for each Dublin local authority area currently is as follows: Dublin City – 52; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – 28; Fingal County Council – 24; and South Dublin County Council - 26. I announced the establishment of an independent local electoral area boundary committee on 15 November 2012 to carry out a review of local electoral...

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: As Deputy Cowen will be aware, the terms of reference already provide for an increase from 52 to 63 in the number of councillors on Dublin City Council. The local boundary committee will make decisions on numbers based on its terms of reference and subject to the maximum and minimum number in each other local authority area, including the Dublin local authorities. If one takes a ratio of...

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: No, I do not interfere with boundary commissions as Fianna Fáil may have done in the past.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I can tell the Deputy what the current ratios are. In Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the ratios of councillors to population are as follows: 1:11,416, 1:10,200, 1:10,146 and 1:7,366, respectively. If we were to apply the ratio of 1;4,830 that applies in the rest of the country, the number of councillors...

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I do not know the outcome of the boundary committee's deliberations.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: No.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: If we were to apply the 1:4,830 ratio, the number of councillors in Dublin would increase to 264. That is not my intention.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: If the Deputy were to read the terms of reference of the boundary committee, he would note that it is precluded from applying that ratio.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The number of public representatives nationally will be reduced from 1,647 to 950, which is a radical decrease in numbers. I thank Deputies Murphy and Humphreys for highlighting the imbalance in the number of councillors per head of population in respect of the Dublin area. A colloquium, chaired by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and involving all councillors in Dublin city and county, will be...

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Nationally, we expect the costs associated with providing support and services for local authority members to be reduced by €4 million.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I do not have a figure for Dublin.

Other Questions: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Yes, that will be the case. If one is intent on increasing the number of councillors, then there must be a corresponding increase in costs. We are quite clear on that fact but I cannot indicate what will be the precise cost until the exact numbers become apparent.

Other Questions: House Purchase Schemes (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: So the Deputy is now a property owner.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to priority Question No. 4 on today’s order paper. I have allowed the issuing of contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects that have all the necessary approvals in place.  The Local Development Companies (LDCs) have two weeks to notify my Department as to whether all of the projects considered within this €42 million are ready to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Domestic Violence Policy (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the nister for Health and is delivered through the Health Service Executive. In addition Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was established in June 2007 as an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Properties (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: In general, premises and sites occupied by my Department are rented or leased by the Office of Public Works, rather than directly by my Department. My Department rents office space for Met Éireann at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports at a full year rental cost of €86,106 for Dublin and €159,818 for Shannon. In relation to the office space at Cork Airport, rent for 2009 to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: At 31 March 2013 there were 224.70 , whole time equivalent (WTE), local authority staff on salary scales the maximum points of which are in excess of €100,000. The grades concerned are City and County Managers, Assistant Managers and Directors of Service. Since 2008 local authorities have reduced staff numbers by almost a quarter from 37,243 to 28,268. In the same period the senior...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The national building regulations prescribe construction and performance standards for buildings and dwellings, and include provisions relating to septic tanks. The regulations were introduced under the Building Control Act, 1990, and are operative since 1 June, 1992. Compliance with the regulations is the responsibility of the owner or builder of a building. Enforcement of the regulations is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: RAPID Programme (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) covers urban areas designated as disadvantaged by reference to a range of socio-economic criteria including the levels of early school leaving; the proportion of one parent households; the unemployment rate; the proportion of social housing; and the age dependency rate. The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Official Engagements (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 57 together. Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) continuously supports and oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy and its associated schemes, programmes and activities, including the Walks Scheme. The last meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe was held in Dublin on 27 February, 2013. The next meeting is...