Results 2,601-2,620 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Budget 2014 makes provision of €102.44 million for Community and Rural Development, reflecting the Government’s commitment to the sector notwithstanding the very difficult choices which have had to be made over a number of years now to address our economic crisis. I am very aware of the great work being done in communities and the need to continue local development initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: HomeBond is a private limited company which provided a structural guarantee scheme to purchasers of new homes; since November 2008 the scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As a private company my Department has no role or function in its operations. I have made my position very clear on the issue of responsibility for providing a resolution of the pyrite problem for affected...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Ireland is subject to legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in respect of the period 2008 to 2012 and as part of its membership of the European Union, pursuant to the so-called Effort Sharing Decision (Decision No 406/2009/EC) in respect of the period 2013 to...

Topical Issue Debate: Fire Stations Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Kyne for raising this matter with me, as he has done several times. The provision of 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 premises and the making of other such provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is, in the first instance, a statutory function of...

Topical Issue Debate: Fire Stations Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Kyne understands well that I have inherited many legacy issues relating to rural areas, one of which happens to be south Connemara fire station. It is remarkable that I have to resolve many of the issues at a time when we have a difficult financial position, when others, who had plenty of money, could not do so. In the first instance, Galway County Council should engage with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Under current Local Government Superannuation Scheme rules, most employees appointed prior to 1 April 2004 must retire by the age of 65. There are no plans to extend this retirement age. The minimum retirement age for employees appointed between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 is 65 but they may work beyond that date. Employees appointed since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 141 of 21 November 2013 and 275 of 12 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% in relation to LEADER. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million. It was therefore necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the Programme in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The overall strategy of investment in water services to date has been to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives, including meeting the requirements of relevant EU Directives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax is payable in respect of vehicles used in a public place, and is not payable where the vehicle owner does not intend so to use it. It is open to the owner of a vehicle to declare it will be kept off the road, either during the final month of validity of an existing vehicle licence or off-road declaration, or upon payment of outstanding arrears plus a minimum of three months motor...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Vehicles are required to be taxed if they are in use in a public place. Motor tax legislation provides that reference to the use of a vehicle includes keeping or leaving a vehicle stationary. The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 did not change the law in this regard and accordingly, making a declaration of non-use in respect of a vehicle kept in a public place does not affect the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I introduced the in April 2013. These Regulations, which build on the commercial food waste regulations introduced in 2009, are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste, in line with the national policy and the Waste Framework Directive objectives of maximising the resource which can be extracted from waste and minimising the disposal of waste.  They...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dog Breeding Establishments (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. It is the responsibility of each local authority to maintain the register of dog breeding establishments in their functional area. However, some data concerning the dog control functions of local authorities are available on my Department’s website at This includes, inter alia, information on the number of dog breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat litter problems. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is a matter for the relevant local authority. Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act (Prohibition of articles and advertisements on and defacement of certain structures, etc.) applies in regard to the display of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 121 of 14 November 2013, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including determination under the Act of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: There are 50 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted on my Department’s behalf to deliver the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), with 35 of those also delivering the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. These independent companies also deliver a range of other programmes and interventions on behalf of other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: As set out in the Government ’s policy on waste, A Resource Opportunity, an effective system of household waste collection is critical to the economy and the well-being of society. I will shortly be publishing a consultation document on the regulation of household waste collection to guide the development of a new regulatory regime to strengthen and improve the regulation of household...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Administration (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: 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 authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (27 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information is being currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.