Results 12,041-12,060 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (19 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Laois Grouped Towns Sewerage Scheme – Network Contract is listed in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to start during the life of the programme. The contract, which has an estimated cost of €11.6m , consists of a number of works to service the towns of Abbeyleix, Clonaslee, Durrow, Mountrath, Rathdowney and Stradbally....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (19 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The overall strategy of investment in water services to date has been to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives, including meeting the requirements of relevant EU Directives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic...

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

Phil Hogan: I assume the Question is referring to the former one-stop-shop initiative, launched in 1998. I have no information with regard to the operational costs of these offices as this is a matter for each local authority concerned. Current policy is set out in the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government ; this addresses a range of local government reform measures, and...

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

Phil Hogan: Local authorities have identified total savings of €839m since 2008. In the period since the preparation of the Local Government Efficiency Report, from 2010 to end 2012, the savings achieved are reported at €561m. Shared services have been identified in the Local Government Efficiency Review and the Public Service Reform Plan as an important opportunity to make further...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (20 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Under the balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the . The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Collection (20 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures. Details, sourced from audited local authority Annual Financial Statements, in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Pensions Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. The former Sligo County Manager retired on 3 November and received superannuation benefits under Article 78(1) of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 to 2012. Details of the superannuation benefits are outlined in the following table: Local Authority Manager for: Retirement Date Age on Retirement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (20 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. In December 2012, I announced an increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies Data (20 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department’s agency rationalisation programme has seen the number of agencies reduce from 21 to 10. A further reduction to 8 is planned for 2014 with the merger of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the dissolution of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property in a county council or urban local authority area is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate the owner becomes liable for payment of rates. However, the owner is entitled to a 100% refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes. These are where the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of the execution of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007 set out a clear statutory framework for construction activity based on: - clear legal standards as set out in the building regulations; - detailed Technical Guidance Documents to outline how these standards can be achieved in practice; - the burden and responsibility for compliance resting first and foremost with developers/builders; - a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Office of Public Works Properties (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) leased buildings in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, on a temporary basis, for the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (CEGA). Those offices were provided as an advance office for the decentralisation of that former Department to Charlestown, Co. Mayo. Following a reconfiguration of Government Departments, the Community Division of CEGA...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 275 of 12 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Issues (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Registration of vehicles is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. For payment of motor tax, a vehicle must first be registered with the Revenue Commissioners. If a vehicle is not so registered, it cannot be taxed for use in a public place, regardless of the category into which the vehicle may fall. I presume the reference to the introduction of a light agricultural vehicle category is to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant, Phase 3, and the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant Upgrade schemes are being funded under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. When the upgrade of the Ballymore Eustace plant is completed the sustainable treated water capacity of the plant will be increased to 318 Ml/d and the capacity of the Leixlip plant will, on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 148, 152 and 153 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 681 and 706 of 5 November 2013, which sets out the position in regard to meetings of Sligo Borough Council and the appointment of a temporary County Manager of Sligo. My Department does not maintain a record of the kind referred to in question no. 153.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: A Voluntary Redundancy scheme was made available to local authority employees in July 2013. The Scheme was agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and took account of the terms of the Collective Agreement - Redundancy Payments to Public Servants which was agreed between that Department and the Public Services Committee of ICTU. Part-time employees who had a minimum of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (21 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: In the period of the Government’s term of office up to 30 September 2013, the latest date for which information is available, the appointments set out in the following table were made to the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Agency/Board Name of Appointee Date of Appointment An Bord Pleanála * Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) 29/08/2011 Mr. Conall...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Irish Water is currently recruiting to build up the internal capabilities required within the organisation and the numbers of staff employed is an operational matter for the organisation. It was agreed by the Steering...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The fundamental objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as set out in Article 2, presents challenges for all Parties. A feature of the ongoing negotiations under the Convention is the clear focus on achieving progress at each Conference of the Parties, notwithstanding unexpected issues that can arise from time to time. After a difficult round of negotiations at this...