Results 14,281-14,300 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (14 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Wexford Villages Sewerage Scheme was included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 amongst the schemes that were to advance through planning during the life of the programme. The scheme was to provide new and upgraded sewerage facilities in the County Wexford villages of Duncannon, Arthurstown, Ballycanew, Clonroche, Ballyhack, Campile and Wellingtonbridge....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Elections (14 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 294 of 6 May 2014, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (14 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: 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 supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Qualifications (14 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has had detailed engagement with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT ) subsequent to the public consultation process undertaken during April and May 2012 which led to the recent Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014. In this regard, my Department has outlined a number of options in keeping with the Building Control Act 2007 which may be pursued...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013 I published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS)as national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. The document was the outcome of a collaborative review process, which included consultation with stakeholders, undertaken by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department. KCS sets out an overall systemic approach to the objective...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 148 to 150, inclusive, 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 provided by it. A customer is the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. The Act also...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 153, 154 and 156 together. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it.  It also assigns responsibility for the independent economic regulation of Irish Water to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and Irish Water will be subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Protection Agency Governance (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 147, inclusive, together. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Review Implementation Plan, which was published in January 2012 and is available on my Department’s website, contains a list of 58 actions arising from the review, some of which are a matter for my Department and others which are the responsibility of the EPA and others. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Projects Expenditure (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in regard to this matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Due to budgetary constraints it has not been possible to develop new walks under the existing Walks Scheme since December 2010. However there are now 39 trails covered by the Scheme. I appreciate there were a number of proposed routes at varying levels of completeness in late 2010 when the Walks Scheme was closed to new applications. Only those projects where contracts had been signed and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Provisions allowing for dogs to be put down in certain circumstances are contained in the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and, in relation to dogs and other animals, in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The operation of dog pounds is a matter for local authorities, whether the pounds are directly under the control of those authorities or whether the service is contracted by authorities, and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme was included as a Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Contract at Granlahan to commence under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Under a review of the Programme, carried out in 2011, my Department approved the inclusion in the Programme, in respect of the West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme of an advance...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (15 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: There are a total of 7 defibrillators located in my Department's offices, as set out in the following table Department office No. of Defibrillators Custom House 3 Wexford 1 Ballina 1 Tubbercurry 2 As the equipment was purchased at different times, costs varied, but the average cost of each defibrillator was €2,000. The defibrillators are available for emergencies...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Wallace for raising this important matter. The Deputy knows the Building Control Act 2007 is not working satisfactorily for the people we are all trying to help, namely, the person who is going to be the owner of the property and the consumer. There are hundreds of problems around the country arising from the implementation of the present building control regulations,...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thought I gave a reasonable and positive response to the Deputy. I said I was prepared to examine these issues. I am concerned about the fees that are being quoted by some existing members of the statutory bodies, particularly for self-build projects. It seems they have developed into a cartel, particularly in rural areas where they are actually talking to each other about the level of...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised that these professional bodies have done that, because all we are trying to do here is protect the consumer from some of the practices the Deputy knows about, which I have dealt with in many cases. The building regulations will ensure that these issues will not arise again insofar as I have anything to do with it. I am dissatisfied with the level of fees being quoted. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function s in relation to procurement of legal advice by the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department had ongoing engagement, both formal and informal, with the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) relating to the implementation of the Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentand the drafting of the Local Government Reform Bill 2013 . The information sought is not readily collated and the collation of all the documentation as requested would involve a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Usage (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 518 together. The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's 3 rdNational Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Reform (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections and referendums . EU citizens may vote at European Parliament and local elections; non-EU citizens may vote at local elections. In addition, British citizens are also eligible to vote at...