Results 14,501-14,520 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I always have taken on board good suggestions from all sides of the House whenever I deemed them to be good suggestions. Sometimes the problem is who is to be the arbiter of the good suggestion. As Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware, I have an open mind on matters. The proposals outlined in the Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised that the person who started the cohesion process, and ensured that we had an efficient area-based service with integrated delivery, is actually against what I am doing now. Deputy Ó Cuív will have to make up his mind what he is for and what he is against.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: His Topical Issues matter states that I am withdrawing funding.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am not withdrawing funding, so the Deputy is wrong. I am putting it out to tender on the basis of competition law.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Hold on.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am putting the SICAP process out for tender on the basis of legal advice, which the Deputy often had to agree with when he was a Minister. When the Attorney General gave him legal advice, he did not ignore it. There was no prospect of achieving anything unless one proceeded on the basis of law. We must adhere to competition law. The National Collective of Community Based Women's...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Rates for private vehicles registered prior to 1 July 2008 are based on engine capacity, and rates for vehicles registered after that date are based on the CO2emissions of the vehicle given on the Certificate of Conformity for the vehicle. All of the foregoing are based on a graduating scale, with higher rates for vehicles with larger engines or for those with higher CO2emissions. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Issues (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. Applications to the value of some €164 million in loans, were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. The figure of €164 million includes €111 million in respect of loans which were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table. Total annual payments by DECLG which included confidentiality agreements/clauses in the terms of settlement 2009 2010 2011 2012* 2013* 2014 €58,489 €0 €0 €5,696,450 €2,664,000 €0 *€8.3 million of the total payments in 2012 and 2013 related to a High Court judgement in respect of a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentseek to position local government “as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: There are 35 Local Development Companies contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to project approvals on behalf of project promoters. Any issue regarding the leasing of land between the local authority and a project...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In the period of the Government’s term of office up to 31 March 2014, the latest date for which information is available, the appointments set out in the Table below were made to the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Agency / Board Name of Appointee Date of Appointment Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) 29/08/2011 Mr. Conall Boland (Deputy Chairperson)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in relation to legislation on the manufacture and sale of products containing , inter alia, plastic microbeads.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Incidence (18 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 120, inclusive, together. A potential problem concerning pyrite in concrete blocks was signalled to my Department in early April 2014 by the market surveillance authority (i.e. building control authority) in whose functional area the block manufacturer is located. Subsequently, some industry representatives have also contacted my Depart ment in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In April this year my Department was made aware of a potential problem with pyrite in concrete blocks by the market surveillance authority (i.e. building control authority) in whose functional area the block manufacturer is located. It is understood that a small number of construction sites have been supplied with the affected blocks. Testinghas been carried out in a number of the...

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

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 370 of 10 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Decisions in connection with the inclusion or otherwise of a homeowner in the pyrite remediation scheme are operational matters for the Pyrite Resolution Board. The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by the Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel. The scheme is one of “last resort” and only...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together. Under the balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the . The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Gender Balance Issues (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Provisional data indicates that some 21% of the local authority members elected at the 2014 local elections were women. This compares with a figure of 19% at the 2009 local elections. The lack of equality in participation by women in politics has been recognised as a lacuna in public life for some time and I welcome this small, but important, increased level of representation by women in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department, the agencies under the aegis of my Department and Local Authorities are all compliant with Public Sector Pay Policy. There is, however, one limited exception to the consolidated pay policy in respect of a travel allowance of €3,348 paid to one employee acting at Senior Executive Officer level in the Local Government Management Agency.