Results 2,061-2,080 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 21 and 78 of 8 November 2006.

Written Answers — National Water Study: National Water Study (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department's National Water Study audited 91 water supply schemes outside the Greater Dublin Area serving more than 5,000 consumers and operated by some 38 local authorities. The study reported on all aspects of water supply, including availability of raw water, treatment capacity, water distribution systems and associated management issues. The study report published in 2000 found, inter...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together. Ireland is experiencing huge levels of population growth across all counties, with the national population rising by over 8% in the last four years alone. This unparalleled growth, together with unprecedented economic expansion have placed large demands on housing and associated infrastructures. This represents a new challenge for the...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 48 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: EU Directive 1999/30/EC set limit values for particulate matter (PM10), currently in force from 1 January 2005. These are the first mandatory national air quality standards for particulate matter PM10 and are transposed into Irish law by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002. The air quality standards in force for particulate matter (PM10) including annual limits, have never been breached.

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 22, 84 and 126 of 8 November 2006. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The Environmental Protection Agency has a wide range of statutory duties and powers under the Environmental Protection Agency Act. The protection of human health is a primary consideration of the Agency. In granting Integrated Pollution Protection and Control (IPPC) and Waste licenses, the Agency sets stringent emission limit values for pollutants and potential pollutants, to meet the...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I intend to make the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations shortly. The Regulations will become operative on a phased basis, over a 3 year period from 1 January 2007 to 1 January 2009. The Regulations will specify the exempted building categories, which will be broadly as outlined on page 14 of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the EU Energy Performance of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 153 together. 224 wastewater schemes have been completed since 1997 under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme at an Exchequer cost of €2.3bn. These schemes have provided additional wastewater treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 3.3 million, including a population equivalent of some 64,000 in County Mayo....

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management Acts, responsibility for the determination and implementation of waste management plans rests with the local authority (or local authorities) concerned and my Department has no direct involvement. Thermal treatment with energy recovery in accordance with the internationally accepted waste management hierarchy is a key element of Irish waste management policy and...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: It is not proposed at present to make it mandatory for local authorities to set targets in local area plans for reductions in CO2 emissions.

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: There are many complementary elements within the National Spatial Strategy and its equivalent in Northern Ireland — the Regional Development Strategy. These include the recognition of the attractiveness for inward investment of the Dublin-Belfast corridor and the role of the Letterkenny-Derry gateway as a driver for the wider northwest region. Both Governments have been actively...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 4 of 8 November 2006. A number of additional measures have been announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 6 December 2006. These include: a commitment to purchase up to €270 million Carbon Credits; proposals for linking VRT and motor tax to carbon dioxide emissions and for enhanced mandatory emissions labelling; introduction of VRT...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The Review of Local Government Financing by Indecon Economic Consultants estimated, on the basis of different methods of projecting expenditure, that by 2010 local authority expenditure would increase by €1 billion to €2 billion in nominal terms over 2004 levels. Funding this expenditure would be met by a combination of the buoyancy in the existing funding system, some additional funding...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department was notified on 14 November 2006 by Ballina Town Council under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, of a proposed development that includes the site in question. The proposal is being examined by my Department from the point of view of its potential impact on the built and natural heritage and our views will be communicated to the Council as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Property Management Fees: Property Management Fees (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 115 of 8 November 2006.

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 146 together. In February 2005, I announced a Fire Services Change Programme to implement the key fire services and fire safety recommendations of the Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland. This Programme includes measures addressing the development of community fire safety programmes and the development of a competency based approach to...

Written Answers — Development Plans: Development Plans (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans were published for public consultation last April. The draft Guidelines aim to ensure that all development plans are prepared to the highest possible standards on a consistent basis across planning authorities in terms of setting clear aims and objectives. This includes the process of drafting, public consultation, presentation...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Significant powers are available to local authorities and to individuals to deal with environmental noise issues. I am also aware from the recent Second Stage debate on the Noise Bill 2006 of a shared concern to ensure that legislation in this area is adequate and to strengthen existing provisions if that is found to be necessary. The Government did not oppose the Bill and the sufficiency...

Written Answers — Playground Facilities: Playground Facilities (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of the implementation of this policy, my Department has allocated funding of over €8 million to County...