Results 2,141-2,160 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: If it wishes to do so, I am sure there is nothing stopping it at the moment.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: We will have a look at that.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I acknowledge the spirit and intent of what Deputy Catherine Murphy is seeking to do here. I believe the Bill caters fairly well for her objective, particularly through the establishment of a national oversight and audit commission. This commission will scrutinise local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates. It promotes value for money where State funds...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: All I would say to Deputy Deasy is that the issues he has raised are being discussed during the course of the day. Any savings that will accrue from the reforms we are undertaking should not impose any additional cost on business. This is about harmonisation of the systems in place downwards, not upwards. At the end of the day, it is a matter for the elected members, who have a reserved...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 1, 10, 11, 12, and 15 relate to discussions we held on Committee Stage. I assure Deputy Cowen and others I do not decide what amendments are included or not. I hope they appreciate that it is a matter for others to make those decisions. The amendments we are discussing are similar to those they discussed on Committee Stage. During that debate we considered the word...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: We have gone through all that nonsense previously.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together. The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Collection (11 Dec 2013)

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 has been liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. It has been a matter for an owner of a residential property to determine liability and pay the Charge. The Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Management (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: 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 interest due. In addition, the legislation provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am pleased to report that there are no directive s awaiting transposition in areas for which my Department has responsibility and for which the deadline has passed. My Department continues to work hard to ensure that directives are transposed by their due date.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department has not incurred any costs in relation to legal challenges in the courts taken by members of the Oireachtas over the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: It is a statutory function of each individual fire authority, under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981, to provide a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable. Cork County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Fire Safety requirements are addressed under Part B of the Building Regulations. The Building Control Act 1990 clearly places responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations on the owner of the building concerned and on the builder/developer who carries out the works. There is no question of grant assistance being made available for remediation works where an owner or a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Elections (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Under section 28 of the Electoral Act of 1992, a local authority, following consultation with the returning officer for Dáil elections in respect of the county, is required to make a polling scheme dividing the county into polling districts for the purposes of Dáil elections, European elections and local elections, and appointing a polling place for each polling district. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 681 and 706 of 5 November 2013 which sets out the position in this matter. I agree there is no place in the workplace for bullying, and understand that local discussions are underway with a view to resolving the issues involved. I hope that these discussions will be brought to an early and satisfactory conclusion.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Regional management contractors were appointed by Irish Water following a public tendering process. These contractors have responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department is responsible for a wide range of capital programmes, including in the areas of housing, water services, environmental protection, local government services, and community and rural development. The following tables give details of capital expenditure broken down into programme areas over the period 2008 to 2012. A regional or county breakdown of the expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Projects (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, as agreed with the European Commission, stipulates that all projects in excess of €150,000 require prior approval from my Department. This project in question was submitted to my Department for consideration at the end of June 2013 but required detailed discussions with the Local Development Company and the submission of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Administration (10 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 346 together. The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local...