Results 201-220 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Funding (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I assure the Deputy that the circumstances he describes will not arise. A single strategy will apply in each area and where more than one strategy is submitted, the groups involved will be asked to come together in partnership to agree and prepare jointly a single strategy to ensure the programmes can be delivered in the most cost-effective manner possible. In the event that more than one...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy had his chance. In this specific case raised by the Deputy, the report from the Institute of Construction Professionals found that the relevant local authority did carry out a site inspection on 7 April 2014 in respect of the manufacture of the solid 100 mm concrete blocks which it was alleged were contaminated with pyrite and sulfates. Following a site inspection and a visit to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: We cannot be on every site but I have asked the local authorities to become more proactive about enforcement of regulations for quarries and the suppliers of these raw materials. We have inherited serious problems because of their inertia in the past and because they did not comply with European standard regulations for blocks and requirements under the construction products regulations.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Funding (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The overall funding package for the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will be €250 million. While the EU regulations stipulate that a minimum of 5% of the rural development programme is allocated to Leader, Ireland has decided to increase its proportion to 7%. This confirms the Government’s firm commitment to the economic development of rural areas....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Funding (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The current value of the axis 3 and 4 elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is €370 million and it will be €250 million for the next programme. In addition, €5 million has been provided for the axis 1 agrifood measure. To date, €205.7 million has been spent on projects, €12 million has been spent on animation and €55.2 million has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The issues raised by the Deputy have nothing to do with the new building regulations yet, as they have only been in operation since 1 March. However, standards have been in place for these concrete blocks going back to 1987. The problem is with enforcement and I completely agree with the Deputy that the building authority must do more to enforce the regulations that already are in place....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Wallace is referring to a different regulation than the construction products regulation to which his question referred. That regulation has been in place for years. Deputy Wallace will be very familiar from his previous working life outside the Oireachtas about what can happen if people want to cut corners. We have cut corners in the past on the building side and I inherited some of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Not like the communists in Europe with whom Sinn Féin is joined.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The reason I introduced the new regulations is because everything was not well. I acknowledge the proactive approach of the Association of Consulting Engineers in highlighting this matter. It is entirely appropriate that all professional bodies involve themselves in disseminating such relevant information among their membership. Under the construction products regulation, manufacturers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Rate (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of property tax in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the tax. As Deputy Cowen said, the decision must be taken by resolution of the council and must be notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September in order to apply for the following year. There are certain factors that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Rate (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government has indicated its intention to move towards 80% retention from 1 January 2015 and the remaining 20% of the tax will be used to assist weaker authorities in terms of the equalisation of funds. Naturally, the priority for the equalisation would be to support the local authorities with a weaker funding basis. I expect to notify local authorities in the coming weeks of those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Taxation Rate (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I can confirm to the Deputy that local property tax is a discretionary income that is collected locally and the maximum autonomy will be given to councillors in order to discharge their functions in respect of the income and expenditure, which they can vary up or down as the case may be in terms of the service provision they wish to apply. I expect the new found powers of councillors will be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Private Partnerships Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department carried out a value for money review of all water services in 2010 which is available on the Department’s website at The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. From 1 January 2014, Irish Water assumed responsibility for the delivery of water services, including waste...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: As I outlined in my reply to Priority Question No. 64, I welcome the proactive approach of the Association of Chartered Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) and, indeed other professional representative bodies, in highlighting this very serious matter. Under the Construction Products Regulation,manufacturers are required to provide robust and reliable information in a consistent way for construction...