Results 14,621-14,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Freedom of Information Data (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in respect of Freedom of Information requests received by my Department is set out in the following table. - Total number of FOI requests received* Total refused Total granted Total part granted Total appealed (including appeals to OIC) ** Total successful appeals ** Total part successful appeals ** Total refusals ** 2009 143 10 62 29 14 4 1 7 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property in a county council or urban local authority is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for rates. However, the owner is entitled to a refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes i.e. if the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of additions, alterations or repairs; where the owner is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in relation to staff on career break is set out in the table below: Duration No of Staff 0 - 6 months 2 6 - 12 months 4 1 - 2 years 4 2 - 3 years 0 3 - 4 years 9 4 - 5 years 0 5 years+ 2

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department engaged the services of photographers on a number of occasions since February 2011. The details of the engagements are set out in the following table. Year Event Photographer Cost 2011 Ireland's Best Kept Towns Ceremony Maxwell Photography €932 2011 Tidy Towns national Awards ceremony The Picture Rooms €600 2011 Meeting of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question 402 of 15 April 2014. The position remains unchanged. In relation to my Department's policy for the engagement of external expertise, this is generally only considered where tasks involve expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (8 Jul 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Qualifications (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: I fully appreciate the important contribution which members of the Institute of Clerk of Works and Building Inspectors in Ireland (ICWBII) make to the construction industry. The executive of the ICWBII has been in contact with my Department on a number of occasions in relation to the development and implementation of the new building control regulations. I am not aware of the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 502 together. A range of contracts are in place for the provision of ICT services including training, software and storage provision. While not considered as consultancy, my Department has engage d an external company for the provision of training and continuing professional development of its ICT unit. Expenditure incurred in the years 2010 to 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provided the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date is liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The Charge has operated on a self-assessment basis with an owner of a residential property determining liability and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: In the period of the Government's term of office up to 4 July 2014, the latest date for which information is available, the appointments set out in the following table were made to the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Agency / Board Name of Appointee Date of Appointment An Bord Pleanála * Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) 29/08/2011 Mr. Conall...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The statutory provisions governing the appointment of a new Director General are set out in Section 21 of the EPA Act, 1992. The Board of Directors of the Environmental Protection Agency consists of a Director General and four Directors. There are no non-Executive members on the Board. While the appointments are made by Government, it must choose from candidates selected by an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: In line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with the Programme's Operating Rules...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Process (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has published 23 Bills and 21 Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) since March 2011. Eleven of these RIAs relate to legislation, with the remainder relating to a range of policy matters. RIAs are generally undertaken within my Department at an early stage in the policy development process, as they are regarded as a valuable tool in deciding the best policy approach to adopt.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Administration (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: In consultation with other relevant Government colleagues, I have been examining the implications of local retention and variation of Local Property Tax (LPT) in recent months, including, how these policies might potentially impact on the overall Exchequer financial position and the financial positions of individual local authorities. In terms of local retention of Local Property Tax, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 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: Noise Pollution (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: Under section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, where any noise is so loud, so continuous, so repeated, of such duration or pitch or occurring at such times as to give reasonable cause for annoyance, then it is open to any person, or group of persons, to bring a complaint to the District Court. The Court may order the person or body making, causing or responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Yield (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 per annum and liability for it...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Debt Collection (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has not engaged the services of a debt collection agency to pursue any monies owing to the Department; accordingly, the question of guidelines does not arise. Debt collection issues relating to agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the bodies concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: In line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAGs are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Phil Hogan: A proposal for works on this scheme, which was received from Limerick City and County Council last week, is being examined by my Department. A response will issue to the Council as soon as possible.