Results 2,121-2,140 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

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

Dick Roche: The Longford Town Network and Waste Water Treatment Plant Scheme has been included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to advance through planning. My Department is awaiting submission of Longford County Council's contract documents for the scheme.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I make that point because it is becoming jaded for us to argue continuously that local authorities do not have money. The major issue now is that local authorities have taxpayers' money, €9,000 million in one way or another in the coming year. That is a huge amount and explains why I have introduced the amendments on the audit committees. Deputy Gilmore was partly correct, the committees...

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: It did.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I certainly did not.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I agree.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: It was signed by me.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: It is a pity that Deputy O'Dowd chooses to personalise his points, although he is entitled to make them.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: He calls me arrogant but I want to make some points.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I am what?

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Name calling in the House is just silly.

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I regret the Deputy takes that point of view but I will not return it in kind. Deputy Crawford said he was worried about this being imposed but it will not be. We are introducing facilitative legislation which will allow businesses in a particular area to come together for a specific purpose. Deputy O'Dowd, until his last few moments in a very constructive contribution, was concerned about...

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As the festive season beckons, I am pleased to bring before the Dáil the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006. The Bill has already been passed by Seanad Éireann having benefited from a wide-ranging and worthwhile debate on its provisions in the Seanad. The primary purpose of the Bill is to provide the legislative...

Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: That is correct.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: There are no proposals for a new countrywide consolidated charge for water services. Each of the 34 city and county local authorities have financial and management autonomy in their functional areas, and will continue to operate individually, in the setting of water charges for non-domestic users. The Government's water pricing policy envisages full and transparent cost recovery of water...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: Individual councils control these matters. The current system of volume charges can be very unjust to individual users. One will find people paying higher charges than necessary if they are charged simply on the volume of water that enters their system. Some councils have also made a single charge for "water in and waste out". The installation of meters is the only way to achieve equitable...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I am not aware of the specific case the Deputy has mentioned.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: If the Deputy wishes to send me a note, I will look into it. It sounds like a perverse effect. It is, of course, more equitable that everyone pays on the same basis.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy has made the point clearly. If that were to continue, it would be inequitable. Some users would be paying the full cost while others are not.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: I will start with the issue of multiple metering raised by Deputies Naughten and Cowley. It is a specific problem, particularly in places like Sligo and parts of the west where there are multiple or fragmented holdings. I have already indicated that I am favourably disposed to resolving that and will issue guidelines to local authorities. More prudent attention could have been paid to this...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (12 Dec 2006)

Dick Roche: That is not quite true.