Results 12,101-12,120 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 141 of 21 November 2013 and 275 of 12 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% in relation to LEADER. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million. It was therefore necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the Programme in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (28 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: Electromagnetic Fields Studies (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This Report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields and which is available for download on my Department’s website (, examined a wide range of issues in relation to the potential health effects of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: An inter-departmental working group was established under A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, which I published in July 2012, to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households. The Working Group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection (3 Dec 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 self-assessed charge is set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Since its introduction in 2009, the Charge has been an important source of revenue for local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: In September 2011, I established an independent panel to consider options for a resolution of the problem of pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material which had manifested itself in dwellings in a small number of local authority areas. The Panel undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with stakeholder consultation, to establish certain facts in relation to the potential exposure to pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Collection (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provided 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. The Charge has operated on a self-assessment basis with an owner of a residential property determining liability and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department does not pay membership fees in respect of any social or sporting clubs . Expenditure in respect of staff membership fees of professional bodies in 2013 is outlined in the table below. Fees to professional bodies are reimbursed in certain circumstances such as where there is a legal requirement for the staff member to be registered with a professional body (e.g. in order...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department places considerable emphasis on relevant skills development by staff at all levels. It offers on-going educational and training support for staff, in respect of particular business requirements identified through the business planning mechanism and the Performance Management Development System. Under the Refund of Educational Fees Scheme, which operates on an annual basis, staff...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in the question is not collated by my Department. The 2012 Annual Report and Accounts for An Bord Pleanála were received in my Department on 14 November 2013 and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required under section 118 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, shortly, following their submission to Government. Note 7 to the Accounts, on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Grants (3 Dec 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: Leader Programmes Applications (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no plans in relation to the Town Hall facility in Loughrea, Co Galway. I understand, however, that an application for LEADER funding has been submitted to Galway Rural Development (GR D), the Local Development Company (LDC) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) in that area. In line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Administration (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254 and 263 together. The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has no plans to introduce a national community hedge-cutting grant scheme. Regarding a local authority initiative, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard both to locally identified needs and available resources.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Asbestos Remediation Funding (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for the removal of asbestos in buildings. However, the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability provide a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Regulations (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Issues concerning the enforcement of waste management legislation, including the issuing of licences, are a matter for the appropriate regulatory authority and should therefore be pursued with the Environmental Protection Agency or the relevant local authority, as appropriate. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. There are 50 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Local Community Development Programme, with 35 of those also delivering the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, throughout the country. These LDCs are independent companies with their own boards of management...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is managed and administered, on my Department's behalf, by Pobal. The aim of the annual approval process is to facilitate and promote a more co-ordinated delivery of the services provided by Local Development Companies under the LCDP, by facilitating complementarity between their individual plans and the County/City strategy...