Results 11,721-11,740 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (15 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, and I launched the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) in October 2012. The aim of the Commission was to carry out an extensive public consultation and research exercise on the future economic potential of rural Ireland and how best to channel funding and resources between 2013 and 2025. The most...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Staff Issues (15 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in this matter. The terms of employment of a public servant or a semi-state employee are a matter between the individual concerned and his/her employer in consultation where required by law or public policy with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and where appropriate, the Government Department with specific sectoral responsibilities. The local government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (15 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 249 together. Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was agreed with the European Commission in February 2007 and stipulates that all projects in excess of €150,000 require prior approval from my Department. These projects are regarded as potentially higher risk to the fund due to their high value. I have no plans, therefore, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Administration (15 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Queries concerning Local Property Tax liability are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. 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 Non Principal Private Residence Charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (15 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. My Department is monitoring the situation carefully regarding expenditure and approvals under the Programme. I will examine all unallocated funding in early November with a view to reallocating funding to other qualifying projects. The European Commission recently allowed commitments under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013 , replacing the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure whereby vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB, now the Local Government Management Agency or LGMA) acted as the host agency for The Local Authority National Partnership Advisory Group. I understand that a LANPAG Study Visit to New York took place from 7 to 15 September 2001 with seven participants. An eighth person was due to join the visit on 11 September 2001, flying from Shannon to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: An Expert Group, established by the then nister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to examine and make recommendations on the Legal Issues of Land Access for Recreational Use and issues around legislating for countryside access, submitted its report in May 2007. It did not set out specific recommendations but examined existing legislation, such as the Occupiers' Liability Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Indemnity Scheme for Landowners (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: A National Indemnity Scheme for Landowners to facilitate access to private lands for recreation purposes is currently under development through Comhairle na Tuaithe and the State Claims Agency. The Occupiers Liability Act of 1995 already provides significant protection to landowners, but the upfront costs of successfully defending a claim from a recreational user can be significant. In that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mountain Access Schemes (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: These pilot schemes for mountain access have been developed with the purpose of facilitat ing access to the uplands for hill walking and similar activities. A pilot scheme has been developed at Mount Gable in Connemara where 94 landowners are involved; a second pilot is under development in Carrantuohill and the McGillicuddy Reeks in Co. Kerry. The pilot in Kerry was expanded over time from...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tax Code (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no plans to introduce a new motor tax rate for quad bikes used by farmers. Quad bikes are taxed at the private rate of motor tax, based on engine capacity, if the vehicle is being used for private, domestic or pleasure purposes, which includes road usage by farmers. The rate of motor tax for a quad with engine capacity of less than 1,000cc, not used for haulage, is €199 per...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Burial Grounds (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The provision and approval of burial grounds is entirely a matter for each local authority concerned and one in which my Department has no direct function.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Improvement Schemes (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has no function in relation to this road, which is a private access route shared by Coillte; the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and the Catholic Youth Care group who have an interest in Youth Hostels in the area. I understand that in 2007 works were carried out on the road and were jointly funded by the three bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Green Tenders – An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement was published in 2012 by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The overall objective of the Plan is to assist public authorities successfully to plan and implement green public procurement (GPP) by highlighting existing best-practice and outlining further actions to boost GPP.  With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I note the issues raised in the correspondence.  Under existing legislation, the operation and maintenance of the water network is a matter for the water services authorities.  However, the Water Services Bill (No 2) 2013, which is currently in preparation, will provide for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is not available in my Department. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has published 15 Bills and 16 Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) since March 2011. RIAs are generally undertaken within my Department at an early stage in the policy development process, as they are regarded as a valuable tool in deciding the best approach to take.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Inspections (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The facility in question operates under waste licence granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I have no role in relation to the monitoring and enforcement of conditions attaching to waste licences. These are matters for the EPA and I am precluded from exercising any power in relation to the performance by the EPA of its licensing functions in specific cases under the Waste...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Exemptions (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The charge was set at €200 and liability for it has fallen, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. The charge has operated on a self-assessment basis and 2013 is the final year of operation of the charge. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Exemptions (16 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Maybe the Senator will send me the details.