Results 2,221-2,240 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I am aware of the recent incident where a deer collided with a vehicle during a hunt meeting. I have had concerns for some time relating to this particular hunting practice for both animal welfare and public safety reasons. Accordingly, the Government recently approved the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds in accordance with a commitment in this...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Following an extensive statutory consultation process, I published new statutory Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (Cities, Towns and Villages) in December 2008 to replace and update the 1999 Residential Density Guidelines. These Guidelines seek to improve the design of residential developments, from the broad neighbourhood to the site...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: There have been significant increases in recycling rates in Dublin, with a corresponding drop in residual waste volumes. In addition, the recommendations of the report which I commissioned to underpin the review of waste management policy provided for in the Programme for Government are designed to achieve further reduction in the volumes of residual waste generated, and to drive more waste...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the €200 charge on non-principal private residences, is structured with a starting position of a universal liability for residential property in respect of the charge. It goes on to exempt certain buildings and owners from this liability, the most important exemption being where a property is occupied by the owner as his...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Under section 23(1) of the Building Control Act 2007, responsibility for the establishment of the Committee in question is vested in the relevant registration body, which, under section 13 of the Act, is the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). The appointment of architect members of the Committee is a matter for the RIAI itself. I am responsible for the appointment of the...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am generally precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual matter with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Under the Planning Acts, as Minister, I may only intervene in the planning process in respect of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I have responded to the correspondence in question which concerned the allocation of monies to South Dublin County Council from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are provided to supplement the income available to local authorities from local sources and from specific grants to enable them to provide an acceptable level of day to day services. ...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: My Department entered into a negotiated agreement designed to tackle chewing gum litter with the chewing gum industry in 2006. The 3-year programme involved a comprehensive radio, outdoor and in-store advertising campaign, a wide-reaching schools education module and the promotion of greater awareness of litter law enforcement in local authority areas across the country. The agreement has now...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The information sought in the Question is not available in my Department. The provision or procurement of legal services is the responsibility of individual local authorities. Local authorities employ a variety of approaches in relation to obtaining legal services. Some local authorities employ legal professionals who are recruited in accordance with public sector recruitment rules. Other...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit their assessment of needs for water services infrastructure to my Department by 23 October 2009. These assessments, which are currently under examination in my Department, will form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme, which will be published as soon as possible in 2010.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 864 and 889 together. The Faithlegg and Ring/Helvic Water Supply Schemes were included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. Planning phases of these schemes have progressed during this period, and a revised Preliminary Report for the Faithlegg scheme and a Preliminary Report for the Ring/Helvic Scheme are under examination in...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The cost of salt importation is a matter for the individual local authorities concerned and the National Roads Authority under the aegis of the Minister for Transport

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, the National Treasury Management Agency has been designated as purchasing agent for the State. In 2009, the Agency spent some €23.9m exclusive of VAT from the Carbon Fund in connection with the purchase of carbon credits. This sum will be refunded from my Department's Vote in 2010. It is expected that the National Treasury Management will spend some €4.5m...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: I met representatives of the Alliance for Animal Rights on 30 June, 2009 at their request to discuss a number of issues with regard to my responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts. I also met members of my Party's animal welfare policy group on 28 September, 2009 in the context of the review of the Programme for Government. Neither meeting was related to the Lisbon Treaty. While I have not...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act, 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for the following: ·all foreshore energy-related developments (including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy); ·aggregate and mineral extraction developments on the foreshore; ·foreshore projects in respect of port companies and harbour authorities...

Written Answers — River Basin Management: River Basin Management (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The making of a river basin management plan is a function reserved to local authorities and the process of finalising plans, including that for the Shannon International River Basin District, will be completed in the coming months. A National Advisory Committee has been established to coordinate this work across each of the Districts and to oversee the subsequent implementation of the plans....

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: The developer of a residential estate is statutorily required to complete a development in accordance with the terms of the planning permission. A development which has not been completed in accordance with the planning permission is unauthorised development. Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority, which can take action where a development requiring planning...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: While a major emergency was not declared during the recent severe weather event, the Framework for Major Emergency Management and the major emergency plans prepared under it include arrangements for co-ordination of interagency responses to be used by the principal response agencies whether or not a major emergency is declared. Local authorities used the Framework's co-ordination of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Expenditure provisions for 2010 for my Department are set out in the Estimates Volume published by the Minister for Finance as part of Budget 2010. These provisions have been determined in the context of the overall provision for public services, reflect the need to reduce public spending and, as indicated by the Minister for Finance in his Financial Statement on 9 December 2009, have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

John Gormley: Since 2000, Exchequer funding in excess of €1.3 million has been provided for: research in the preparation and ongoing implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS); publication and launch of the NSS in November 2002; and public awareness, as well as other resources allocated to the development of associated measures such as the Atlantic Gateways Initiative and Regional Planning...