Results 2,621-2,640 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: As Minister, my role is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine the level of contribution and the...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The cessation of turf cutting is due to come into effect at the end of this year on just three bogs in Cos. Westmeath and Longford. The cessation will only apply in the following candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) in these counties: Lough Ree (Co. Westmeath and Co. Longford), Garriskill Bog (Co. Westmeath) and the Lough Forbes Complex (Co. Longford). Turf cutting for personal...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Having regard to available budgetary resources, priority is being given under the bog purchase scheme this year to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation in 1999. For these sites, the derogation given by the Government, which allowed the continuation of turf cutting for personal domestic use,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The costs incurred by my Department in relation to the containment of dung in Killarney National Park are set out in the table. I am satisfied that this expenditure was necessarily incurred and represents a good investment in making Killarney National Park, which attracts over one million visitors a year, a cleaner, safer and more attractive place to visit. Items Cost (Euro) Cost (Stg.)...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, published in June 2009, provides an amendment to section 42 of the Planning and Development Acts, which currently provides that the duration of a planning permission must be extended, subject to certain conditions, where substantial works have been carried out before the expiration of the original permission. The proposed amendment provides for...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Having regard to available budgetary resources, priority is being given under the bog purchase scheme this year to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation in 1999. For these sites, the derogation given by the Government, which allowed the continuation of turf cutting for personal domestic use,...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities were asked in July 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 it is anticipated will be published in early 2010.

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances Regulations: Hazardous Substances Regulations (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 and Regulations made under that Act, which are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, provide for the licensing of petrol stations. Operators of petrol stations are required by the Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations 1979 (as amended) to apply to the relevant licensing...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: In December 2009 the Local Authorities published Draft River Basin Management Plans for each of the River Basin Districts. These draft plans were open to public consultation for a period of six months up to June 2009 and over 300 submissions from interested parties were received. Work is continuing on the finalisation of the plans, including addressing issues raised through the public...

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (10 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The allegations referred to in the Question have been investigated by my Department and no evidence has been found to substantiate them.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 199 together. The Government has decided to broaden the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of this charge on non-principal private residences, which is set at €200 per dwelling and is being levied and collected by local authorities. While detailed guidance has been provided to local authorities for the purposes of applying the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Government has decided to broaden the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on all non-principal private residences. The charge is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole or main residence. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the charge,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the €200 charge on non-principal private residences, provides for a starting position of universal liability and goes on to exempt certain buildings and owners from the charge, the most important exemption being where a property is occupied by the owner as his or her sole or main residence on the liability date. While...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The retention of an appropriate financial expert is currently being progressed and I expect that the analysis will be completed within a short period and forwarded to the Attorney General for his consideration in conjunction with previous economic analysis already provided.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Due to the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotion in the Public Service, my Department is not currently recruiting staff. However, any future recruitment by my Department will be carried out through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and the person concerned should regularly check the PAS website www.publicjobs.ie for updates.

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: In accordance with Articles 12 to 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 refunds of motor tax can be made in certain circumstances including where a vehicle in respect of which a tax disc has been taken out has not been used in a public place at any time since the issue of the disc. In addition the regulations require that the annual rate of tax for...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: While my Department is currently reviewing the legislation which governs the imposition of motor tax, I have no plans to change the basic principle that private cars are taxed on the basis of certain physical criteria i.e. the engine size or the CO2 emissions of the vehicle.

Written Answers — Housing Developments: Housing Developments (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Based on returns made to my Department, 35 City, County and Borough Councils, as listed below, have a policy on taking in charge of estates, virtually all of which contain a protocol on the steps for the taking an estate in charge, as requested by my Department in Circular Letter PD 1/08 on Taking in Charge of Residential Developments/Management Arrangements. My Department is following up...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The White Paper on local government will address a broad suite of local government issues, including in relation to town government. I expect that the White Paper will be published later this year following, inter alia, consideration of local government financing in light of the Report of the Commission on Taxation and in line with the commitments in the renewed Programme for Government.

Written Answers — Local Authority Members: Local Authority Members (5 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Local Government Act 2001 provides that it is the duty of every local authority member to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest, and this is emphasised in the Code of Conduct for Councillors that has been issued under the Act. The Act also provides that a person is disqualified from being a member of a local authority in a range of...