Results 13,681-13,700 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (26 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services including the provision of water services infrastructure. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: As of 31 December 2013, the latest date for which information is available, 33% of places on Boards under the aegis of my Department were held by women. All appointments to State Boards are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering appointments, due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table: 2011 2012 2013 Total €1,910,071 €2,322,977 €738,721 €4,971,769 The Market Development Programme for Waste Resources, launched in 2009, involved expenditure of some €1.6 million in the years concerned in respect of work by a number of firms to assist in the development of sustainable...

Topical Issues: Building Regulations Application (27 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, the lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and...

Topical Issues: Building Regulations Application (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I do not know for how long or how often people have been refusing to listen and acknowledge that we are proceeding with new building regulations on 1 March 2014. The new regulations have been the subject of consultation with all of the people involved in the construction industry for the past two years. I am prepared to establish an oversight group, as suggested by Deputy Cowen, to monitor...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Deposits (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of January 2014, the transfers to the Dormant Accounts Fund have totalled some €724million.  Funds reclaimed in that period by account holders amounted to around €273.6million, with €252million disbursed on projects designed to benefit the community over the same period.  The current balance of uncommitted funds...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 169 together. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment for the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution Legislation (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat the litter problem. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is, in the first instance, a matter for local authorities. A range of penalties exist under the Acts, including an on-the-spot fine of €150, a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: As I outlined in the reply to Question s No 141, 142, 143 and 150 of 22 January 2014 , the Programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation, which I issued in January 2012 in response to a request from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, is the process under which national greenhouse gas mitigation policy and climate...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: International Agreements (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Drafts of Ireland’s Sixth National Communication and First Biennial Report are currently undergoing a final check and will be submitted to the UN Secretariat very shortly. My Department has kept the Secretariat fully informed of the position, including progress and timelines towards finalisation and submission of the reports.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish Water has informed my Department that it is unaware of any substance called tetra that is used in the manufacture of water meters. There is however a system called TETRA which stands for Terrestrial Trunked Radio which is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification. Irish Water has informed my Department that each water meter has a low power radio unit fixed to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (27 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: Firstly I acknowledge the distressing and stressful situations which individuals face when building works are not completed to the required acceptable standard. The powers to enforce the statutory requirements arising under the Fire Safety Act, the Building Control Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be at issue in relation to a situation where apartments are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. Section 5 of the Act also sets out the share structure of Irish Water, providing for one share to be allocated to Bord Gáis Éireann and for the remaining shares to be issued equally between the Minister for the Environment, Community...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Job Initiatives (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: My colleague the Minister for Social Protection has put in place an initiative called Gateway to provide short-term quality working opportunities in local authorities for those on the live register for a minimum of two years.  Gateway is fulfilling the obligation in the Government’s programmes Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs which sets out specific commitments to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (27 Feb 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems to operate and maintain their systems so as to ensure that those systems do not create a risk to human health or the environment. The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (4 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The second report of the Moriarty Tribunal (March 2011) contains one recommendation (62.15) directly relevant to my area of responsibilities - that office holders should be able to elect voluntarily to have their financial affairs audited by the Standards Commission. This affects the Ethics Acts 1995-2001. Following the publication of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal in March 2012, I...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The cost of offsetting greenhouse gas emissions in excess of Ireland’s target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision will depend on a range of factors.  The Decision includes provision for various flexibilities, such as limited use of units created under the Kyoto Protocol.  It also provides for purchasing arrangements between Member States, if necessary.  The cost...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution (4 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC sets out certain requirements for the assessment and management of environmental noise from transport sources, including from major airports with more than 50,000 aircraft take-off or landing movements per year. The END was transposed into national law by the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006. The Regulations set out a two-stage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (4 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Following consideration of a report from me on the severe weather that affected Ireland in the period from mid-December 2013 to 6 January 2014, the Government decided on 11 February that a sum of up to €70 million will be made available for a programme of repair and remediation works. €62 m of this will be for local authorities in the areas worst affected by severe weather to...