Results 13,621-13,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Yield (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Audited local authority financial data for 2012 and 2013 are not yet available. The audit of the 2012 local authority Annual Financial Statements is scheduled for completion by end March 2014. Data relating to the water charges collected by the local authorities in 2011 were published in the Local Government Audit Service Activity Report 2013. This report is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Funding (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The EU LIFE+ Programme 2007-2013 is a dedicated EU funding instrument for the environment, with the aim of contributing to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects. The Programme is administered directly by the European Commission with funding allocated to projects on merit in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. Upgrade works to the sewage treatment plant at Killimy Road, Emo, Co Laois were not included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013. From 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The local government funding model has changed considerably in 2014. For example, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on the arrangements for local authority financing. In addition, under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, the Minister for Finance, from 2014 onwards, is to pay into the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Under section 20 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, a local authority may, as a reserved function to be discharged by the elected members, resolve to vary the rate of the Local Property Tax within its functional area by a maximum of +/-15%. This power will be available to local authorities effective from 2015, as the relevant sections of the Act will come into operation on 1 July...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department recognises the important role that volunteers and volunteerism plays in our society and provides grant support in support of volunteerism. The organisation in question has received grant aid in support of its mission to provide assistance in the development of the community and voluntary sector by strengthening boards and management committees, building links between the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. I understand that Irish Water will be in contact with Oireachtas members during the course of this week to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Greater Dublin Region Drainage Project (GDRDP) Rathmines and Pembroke Sewerage Scheme was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to advance through planning. In May 2013 my Department approved Dublin City Council’s Brief for the Appointment of Consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report for the scheme and the City...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2009, my Department set out details of the financial requirements for local authorities relating to their overall management of capital and current accounts. These requirements flow directly from the requirement for Government finances as a whole to be managed in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact established under the Maastricht Treaty, and the associated limitation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The new Building Control Amendment Regulations will greatly strengthen the arrangements currently in place for the control of building activity by requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Mulcahy for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to set out the position in relation to the Shannon sewerage scheme. This was included as a scheme at planning in my Department's water services investment programme for the period 2010 to 2013. I approved the commitment of the necessary capital funding of just over €1 million to allow Clare County...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Charges Review (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Senator's is correct to suggest that Cabinet reshuffles are above my pay grade. My colleagues and I are acutely aware of the pressures on businesses at this time, especially outside the major urban areas. The decline in business activity in our city centres, rural towns and villages has meant that many businesses have been unable to survive the downturn in economic activity, resulting...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Charges Review (19 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am familiar with the specific case Senator Noone referred to in Rathdowney. It is just outside my constituency. I familiar with the outlet specifically mentioned in her contribution. I am open to considering all proposals that come from local authorities. Equally, it is a matter for local authorities if they wish to exercise restraint. They can classify a particular property in a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The EU Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre (ERCC) is operated by DG ECHO of the European Commission under the E U Civil Protection Mechanism. The objective of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is to have arrangements in place to co-ordinate the provision by Member States of mutual aid to another Member State or Third Country in the event of an emergency which has overwhelmed that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have had initial discussions with the European Commission on possible EU funding under the Solidarity and Regional Support schemes. The purpose of the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is to allow Member States to request financial aid in the event of major natural disasters. There is a damage threshold per Member State which is set...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 158, inclusive, together. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Section 14 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that the Minister may, from time to time, designate the transfer of rights and liabilities from a water services authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 to 2006 provide that, subject to certain conditions, a councillor who ceases to be a member of a local authority is entitled to receive a gratuity at, or after, the age of 50. Where a person ceases to be a member before age 50, whether voluntarily or as a result of failure to be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) and that the new company should be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. The Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were adopted by Irish Water on its incorporation in July 2013, provide that the appointment of directors to the Board of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment Issues (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the operation of water services infrastructure. The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 provide for the authorisation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of discharges from public waste water treatment works and collection systems that are released to all types of receiving waters. The EPA reports on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (20 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Transition Office (WSTO) was established by the County and City Managers’ Association to assist with the implementation of the water sector reform process. The role of the WSTO is to support the delivery of the water sector reform programme on behalf of the local government sector, by co-ordinating the involvement of the 34 County and City Councils on a range of...