Results 13,741-13,760 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (6 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: From 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of both large and small scale water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the 2010 – 2013 Water Services Investment Programme. The further progression of all water services capital projects,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 373 together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services.  The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Panel stated in its report that five quarries had been identified to it as “possible sources” of the hardcore used in dwellings displaying signs of pyritic heave. The report did not name the quarries, nor would it have been appropriate for it to do so; no information was passed on to my Department in relation to the quarries identified to the Pyrite Panel. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 364 and 365 together. The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which came into operation on 1 March 2014, greatly strengthen the arrangements 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The online Building Control Management System (BCMS) has been available for public use since 1 March 2014. Construction professionals who may use the system in connection with the design or the inspection and certification of construction projects may now register their details on the BCMS, familiarise themselves with the system and use it as required to upload and submit documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Issues (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to 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: Rural Development Programme Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 383 together. Ireland has agreed an allocation of €2.1 billion for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) with the EU. Within that, the governing EU Regulations provide for a minimum allocation of 5% for LEADER. The Government has decided to increase this to 7% and I welcome this. Therefore €153 million in EU funding will be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services. Irish Water will not collect charges from any households not connected to a public water supply, including private group water schemes. My Department will remain...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Legislation was enacted in December 2013 (The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013) which established Irish Water as the national water services authority from 1 January 2014. The Act provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 local 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The most recent meeting of the Alignment Working Group took place on 6 March 2014 and the next meeting is scheduled for 2 April, 2014. Previous consideration by the Working Group focused on an approach for the implementation of my Department’s local development programmes under Local Community Development Committees. This involved a key role for the existing partnership companies in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Staffing (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention, of its kind, in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years. It is being implemented by the Local Development Companies (LDCs) on a transitional basis for 2014 pending the roll-out of a new Programme in January 2015. Management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: In line with the Local Government reform process and Putting People First it is envisaged that there will be closer alignment with Local Government for the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP). However, the composition of the Local Action Group (LAG) will be in line with the Regulations which require that the LAG comprises of representatives of public and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The European Court of Auditors (ECA) report examined a number of Members States in its 2010 and 2011 reports. One of the issues highlighted by the ECA related to an imbalance with regard to decision making in the LAGs of some Member States. The ECA stated that the “potential added value of a partnership was not achieved in LAGs where the decision-making was dominated by the local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment Facilities Inspections (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 assigns responsibility to the EPA to make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was adopted and published by the EPA in February 2013. The Plan provides for a minimum of 1,000 inspections to be carried out by the water services authorities (which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in respect of legal fees paid by my Department in 2013 is set out in the following table. The table does not include legal fees associated with the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments. Payments of this nature by agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agencies/bodies concerned.   Law Firm Legal Fees...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board has not set up a panel of approved surveyors and it is not the Board’s intention to do so. In accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and under the terms of the pyrite remediation scheme, each application must be accompanied, inter alia, by a Building Condition Assessment which must be carried out by a competent person. A competent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out Government policy decisions in relation to a range of local government reform measures and the Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides the legislative basis for these measures. Specifically in relation to sub-county municipal governance, the 2014 Reform Act provides that all town councils will be dissolved...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Staff recruitment to and earnings in Irish Water are operational matters for the company and I refer to the reply to Question No. 158 of 23 January 2014 which sets out the relevant information obtained from Irish Water. 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...