Results 1,281-1,300 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Ireland's national nitrates action programme will be introduced on 1 January 2006 and will apply in all areas. The programme will provide for a range of measures differentiated by zone to protect waters against pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources and will include measures such as set periods when land application of fertilisers is prohibited, limits on the land application of...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: In July 2004, my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress that involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turfcutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. Since this agreement, there has been significant interest in the scheme and a very large volume of applications have been received. I have been...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Policy on the protection of the built heritage has been under review and in this context I will be bringing proposals to Government for the establishment of a trust type organisation to acquire and manage significant heritage properties. This trust should have a strong commercial focus and could be an alternative to State ownership in appropriate cases.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department does not have detailed information on the number of applications for retention planning permission currently being made for quarries. It may be that a number of such pre-October 1964 quarries are taking the opportunity to regularise their position under the planning code in the context of the new registration process mandated by section 261 of the Planning and Development Act...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Under the Air Pollution Act 1987, as amended by the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, primary responsibility for monitoring air quality and the nature, extent and effects of emissions rests with local authorities. Statutory responsibility for the enforcement of the Act is vested in local authorities and they are empowered to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit air...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: No costs are incurred directly by my Department by the holding of a referendum. Costs incurred by returning officers in this regard are recouped to them from the Central Fund by the Department of Finance. Details of the costs involved are not available in my Department.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: There are currently seven directives in my Department's area of responsibility that are outstanding for transposition. Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles contains two stages of transposition, the first by 21 April 2002, for new vehicles sold after 1 July 2002, and the second by January 2007 for all other vehicles. It is anticipated that this directive will be fully transposed in...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (23 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: During the years 1992 to 1999, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, carried out a national survey of radon concentration levels in domestic dwellings aimed at assessing the extent of the radon problem in homes. The survey involved the measurement by the RPII of radon for a 12 month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km by 10 km grid square throughout the...

Local Authority Housing. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Deputy has lost the argument so he should sit down.

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 26 together. There is a problem in this area and not enough attention has been paid to the issue of the voting register. We have had a number of priorities in recent years. Throughout the 1990s, we had the issue of the electoral code. The expenditure and donation regime was discussed and then we discussed the voting system. There has never really been a...

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I do not disagree with the Deputy on any point other than his attempt to introduce a different issue in his introductory remarks. The Deputy is correct to say local authorities have differing records. In some areas, there is good practice while in others it is very clear the practice is not good enough. I will engage with local authorities as soon as the guidelines have been produced. I have...

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: ——and inform its improvement. I am willing to engage in the most open way possible with Members on the matter.

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I agree with Deputy Cuffe on many of his points, including his reference to the accuracy of electronic voting. We will leave that for another day, however.

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: While local authorities are currently required to conduct door-to-door inquiries, Deputy Cuffe was correct to say standards vary from authority to authority. I will put it no stronger than that. The process has always been decentralised and I am not disposed to centralising every activity. I would prefer, with reference to Deputy O'Dowd's contribution, if local authorities did their job more...

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I take Deputy O'Dowd's point. He is an excellent public representative but does not know absolutely everybody living on the highways and byways of Louth. If we had a postal code system, it would improve matters. It is also the case that local authorities are, to put it at its mildest, remiss in the matter of naming roads. Even in centres like Greystones, there are roads which have yet to be...

Register of Electors. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I see the attractions of the PPS approach as it offers a unique number which can be cross-checked. However, a system of cross-checking would have to be built into that to ensure efficiency when the registration system is in operation. Local authorities would have to be able to counter-check names against PPS numbers, and that is not as simple as it would appear. It is not rocket science if...

Social and Affordable Housing. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: It is absolutely certain that there will be more houses completed than Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has delivered in the past ten years. It is an appalling council dominated by the Deputy's party.

Radon Gas Levels. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Over the years the Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, has committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and increasing public awareness of radon and public health. While the provision of Exchequer grant assistance for testing or remediation works is not envisaged, efforts will continue to be...

Radon Gas Levels. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I do not agree with the Deputy's gloomy view of the effect of the 1997 regulations. In so far as we do have a study — the study conducted by the RPII on houses in Kilkenny after the regulations came into effect — it suggests there has been a significant improvement. I accept it also suggests there is room for further improvement. I have sought to make the issue much more clear in the new...

Radon Gas Levels. (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Deputy touched on a number of issues. Grant schemes announced by one Government in 1997 were never funded.