Results 2,621-2,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: Under Section 145 (4) of the Local Government Act 2001 where a position of manager becomes vacant it is necessary to make a temporary appointment until a permanent appointment is made. In relation to Sligo County Council the manager retired in November 2013 and a temporary appointment was made under Section 145 on foot of a recommendation from the outgoing manager. The recruitment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Irish Water is currently recruiting to build up the internal capabilities required within the organisation and the numbers of staff employed is an operational matter for the organisation. It was agreed by the Steering...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The fundamental objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as set out in Article 2, presents challenges for all Parties. A feature of the ongoing negotiations under the Convention is the clear focus on achieving progress at each Conference of the Parties, notwithstanding unexpected issues that can arise from time to time. After a difficult round of negotiations at this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I understand that an application for funding under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme w as submitted to Mayo North East LEADER Partnership in the last fortnight, and it will be assessed in the normal manner.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department through Met Éireann charges the general public for certain weather forecasting services. The total value of these services for 2012, where the payment was by credit card, was €19,884.72. Commission of 2.5% is charged by the credit card company and the charge for 2012 was €497.12. However, this additional charge is not passed onto the public and is absorbed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: In 2011, my Department's Inspection Service conducted a post payment inspection on the project referred to in the Question and identified ineligible expenditure. This was then subject to the normal appeals procedures. As this is now subject to debt collection and potentially legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for me to comment further in relation to the matter. Due to the level...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Ennis/Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme Phase 1 (Clareabbey and Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plants) is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a Scheme to progress through Planning. Following a Review of the Water Services Investment Programme in July 2011, the Upgrade of the Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant was approved for inclusion...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government decided in July 2011 that an objective review of local government arrangements in Waterford should be carried out. The Waterford Local Government Committee reported in March 2012 and the Government decided, on foot of the report's recommendation, that the City and County Councils in Waterford should be unified to replace the existing councils, with effect from the local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together. 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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Bill 2013 provides the legislative basis for a range of local government reform measures in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, published in October 2012, which sets out Government policy decisions in relation to the reform of local government structures, functions, governance, funding and operational arrangements. The benefits of the reforms set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The legal position in relation to Fire Safety Certificates is set out in the Building Control Act 1990, as amended by Part 2 of the Building Control Act 2007. A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is generally required before construction work is commenced in the case of a new apartment block, a new building other than a dwelling or an existing building undergoing an extension, a material...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Fats , oils and greases (FOG) discharged from commercial properties combine with other constituents in wastewater and congeal and accumulate in pipelines, service pipes and sewers, resulting in loss of capacity and blockages. Accumulations of FOG in wastewater treatment plants can give rise to pipe, equipment and plant blockages and impede treatment processes such as settlement and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013, replacing the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure under which vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am acutely aware of the pressures on businesses at the present time. In recent years local authorities have been asked by my Department to exercise restraint or, where possible, to reduce commercial rates and local charges. Local authorities have responded well to such requests and in 2013, 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it the same as in 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides that, where a new or second-hand vehicle has been purchased and is not going to be in immediate use, the owner may, within ten days of the date of registration of a new vehicle or purchase of a second-hand vehicle, furnish a Declaration of Non-Use of a Motor Vehicle. A Declaration so made provides that motor tax is not payable on the vehicle...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 484 and 485 together. The overall value of the LEADER elements of the current Rural Development Programme is €370m and of that up to 20% can be spent on administration costs leaving approximately €296m available for projects and animation activities. In May 2013 Local Development Companies (LDCs) were advised that all available project...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Water Programme (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I assume the Question refers to the Water Mains Rehabilitation project in West Cork. I have approved funding of €6.61m to enable Cork County Council rehabilitate 50 km of water mains targeted under an advanced phase of Cork County Council’s Water Conservation Programme. Of this allocation 23 km of the priority mains rehabilitation is being carried out in West Cork at the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (26 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. It includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €230 million in the county during the period of the Programme. Contracts for both a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and network for the...