Results 1,381-1,400 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Local Government Modernisation Programme: Local Government Modernisation Programme (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The local government modernisation programme provides an enhanced role for elected members in policy formulation and review, in partnership with representatives of the social partners and sectoral interests through the establishment of strategic policy committees. The role of the elected member is further strengthened through the operation of the corporate policy group which comprises the...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Public private partnerships, PPPs, represent an important additional procurement option for local authorities in providing important infrastructure in areas such as water, wastewater, waste and housing. To date, more than 100 PPP projects, with an estimated capital cost of €2.1 billion, have been completed or are at various stages of progress in the local government sector. Most of these...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: While the concept of site value taxation has been raised in other contexts, it has not previously been considered as a viable alternative to commercial rates. Independent consultants were engaged by my Department last year to carry out a wide ranging review of local government financing. The consultants are assessing, inter alia, the totality of local authorities' current funding requirements...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: As part of a programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system, tenders have been sought from suitably qualified consultants to undertake a security and risk assessment of all aspects of the system and to devise a programme of additional testing. This work is intended to address issues raised by the commission on electronic voting and...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 was presented to the Government on 24 May 2005. The printed bilingual version of the strategy statement will be available within days and will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is listed on Annex V of the EU habitats directive in addition to being protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000. The directive provides that if member states deem it necessary, in the light of surveillance of Annex V species, they shall take measures to ensure the taking in the wild of specimens of such species as well as their exploitation is...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Under section 50 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, road authorities are responsible for the preparation of environmental impact statements in respect of any relevant road development. Section 51 of the Act, as...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department is not aware of any reliable data on the number of domesticated or wild cats. Funds are not available to my Department to resource a national feral cat neutering programme. However, where a local authority considers it appropriate, it may assist a body which is endeavouring to reduce, in a humane manner, the problems caused by feral cats. A number of local authorities have...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, NIRSA, at NUI Maynooth was commissioned by my Department in late 2004 to prepare a study on spatial trends and related issues in rural areas. NIRSA has an extensive database which, inter alia, contains data on house numbers and their locations, farm numbers and their locations and construction statistics. The data will allow for...

Written Answers — European Council Meeting: European Council Meeting (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 126 together. A full report of the Environment Council meeting of 24 June 2005, held in Luxembourg, is available on the Council website http://europa.eu.int/pol/env/index_en.htm. The most significant outcomes of the meeting were: agreement on a draft directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution; agreement on a draft directive...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 127 of 18 May 2005. The fire services change programme involves a series of measures designed to bring about direct improvements in key areas of the fire services. I expect to see significant progress in community fire safety in particular in a relatively short time but other measures are likely to be developed on a phased basis over a longer period.

Written Answers — Official Languages Act 2003: Official Languages Act 2003 (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has been included in the first tranche of public bodies required to produce an Irish language scheme under the Official Languages Act 2003. Our scheme, which has been recently approved by the Minister for Community, Rural andGaeltacht Affairs, will take effect from August 2005. Specific costs incurred by my Department in the implementation of the Act to date amount to €11,277...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I expect that the high-level group will complete its work within the timeframe designated for response to the European Commission, which is 1 September 2005, or within any further period which may be agreed with the Commission.

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The World Health Organisation, WHO, has recently announced the launch of an international radon project which it will coordinate and which is aimed at helping countries reduce the health risks associated with radon gas. The project, which is initially expected to run for three years, 2005-07, will seek to identify effective strategies for reducing the health impact of radon, promote sound...

Written Answers — Public Relations Contracts: Public Relations Contracts (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 789 together. My Department does not employ the services of modelling agencies. A number of consultancy firms are utilised from time to time to promote awareness of issues relating to my Department's functions. Invitations to tender would require the successful firms to implement high-impact awareness campaigns, including a national campaign launch,...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to the litter problem lies with local authorities. My Department provides financial support for a programme of anti-litter initiatives to support action against litter including the national spring clean campaign, the Irish business against litter, IBAL, national litter league and the development of the national litter pollution...

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Killarney House was transferred to the State by its previous owners in 1998 and, as part of Killarney National Park, is under the responsibility of the national parks and wildlife service of my Department. The future of Killarney House is being considered within the context of the management plan for Killarney National Park, which is currently being finalised following a period of public...

Written Answers — Nature Conservation: Nature Conservation (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The nature conservation designation appeals advisory board visited the site in question and considered this appeal on 16 June 2005. This non-statutory board has the role of providing independent advice to me, following consideration of the scientific grounds for inclusion or exclusion of the lands under appeal. The board's recommendation on this appeal was transmitted to me last week, and I...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 516 of 26 April 2005. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Lough Talt water supply scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 as a scheme to commence construction this year at an estimated cost of €1.8 million. A preliminary report for the scheme submitted by Sligo County Council was incomplete in a number of respects and could not be approved by my Department. In addition, the appointment of the...