Results 12,521-12,540 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government is to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. Together with the Minister for Housing and Planning, I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme is optimise d in terms of resources and focus to maximise the response...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The existing Wind Energy Development Guidelines were published in June 2006. They provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan and development management processes. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Youghal Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department’s current Water Services Investment Programme. The scheme includes a Wastewater Treatment Plant DBO Contract and a Network Contract. Cork County Council has recently submitted a Report on Tenders to my Department for the Wastewater Treatment Plant DBO Contract and this Report is currently under examination. The Council has also...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: As well as the new tenant purchase scheme for local authority apartments, there is also an incremental purchase scheme in operation for newly-built local authority houses. I will shortly bring the General Scheme of a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill before Government for approval before the end of this year. Among other things, the Bill will underpin a new tenant purchase scheme for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The final text of an EU Directive requires the agreement of both the Council of Ministers, representing the Member States, and the European Parliament in the final trilogue negotiations on any particular EU Directive. In the case of the current negotiations on the Commission proposals for a revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, I understand that the European Parliament...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Recreation Policy (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy is overseen by Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) which is chaired by my Department, meets on average 3 to 4 times a year, and continuously supports and oversees the implementation of the Strategy and its associated schemes and activities. The main initiatives which are being progressed through Comhairle na Tuaithe...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: On 25 June 2013, I signed the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which are available in the Oireachtas library. The Regulations brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Any changes to the current legislation on taking in charge, as set out in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, will be further considered in the context of the next Planning Bill review, which I expect to undertake in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has a range of measures in place to assist disadvantaged urban communities. The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is one of my Department’s main social inclusion programmes. The objective of the LCDP is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government, and its agencies, and people in disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 32 together. The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under 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 paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Philanthropy Initiatives (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government established the Forum on Philanthropy in May 2006 in order to promote a culture of philanthropy in Ireland. The Forum initially comprised the Departments of An Taoiseach (in the Chair), Finance and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, as well as five private philanthropic organisations. On 1 May 2011, responsibility for the Forum was transferred to my Department. I...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Arising from Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government, new governance arrangements will come into effect in relation to local and community development programming. Local Community Development Committees will be established in each local authority area to have oversight and planning responsibility for local development and community related funding on an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 161, 162 and 165 together. 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. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for p ublic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Negotiations (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No.9 on today’s Order Paper, which sets put the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have not proposed the introduction of any “green charges”. At the Waste Summit on 28 November 2013, I launched a number of important policy developments for the waste area in line with commitments set out in Government’s national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland. I announced public consultation processes on two further...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The selection and appointment of a County or City Manager is governed by primary legislation, including the Local Government Act 2001. Managers are selected following open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service.  I understand that the Public Appointments Service has initiated the recruitment process to replace the Fingal County Manager.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Taxation is primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance. The purpose of the carbon tax, which was introduced in Budget 2010, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by incentivising companies to bring low-carbon products and services to the market. Generally, reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also reduce air pollution, although this is not always the case; for example, the increased...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Elections Expenditure (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. Provision is made in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Local Government Bill 2013 for amendments to the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, ‘the 1999 Act’, to change the spending limit provisions at local elections. This Bill is currently before the Oireachtas. Spending limits were first...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: No fines or penalties have ever been imposed on Ireland in respect of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, as non-compliance has never arisen. In this regard, Ireland is on course to confirm compliance with its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the commitment period 2008 to 2012. In respect of the ambitious...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Regulations (5 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 make it an offence to dispose of waste by uncontrolled burning and various actions are prohibited by the regulations, including burning within the curtilage of a dwelling. Article 5 of the Regulations provides for the permissible disposal of waste by burning under certain conditions, including, inter alia, where...