Results 2,781-2,800 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: There were 51 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), with 36 of these also delivering the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. One of these companies, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Since 2008, in response to the financial crisis, local authorities have reduced staff numbers by a quarter or 9,129 whole time equivalents. The public service moratorium was introduced in 2009 and my Department operates a delegated sanction, from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. All exceptions to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 and 686 together. The Arigna, Boyle/Ardcarne, Roscommon Central and South Roscommon Regional Water Supply Schemes are included as Water Treatment Plant Upgrade contracts to start and a Network Contract at Construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Approval was given to Roscommon County Council's Contract...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The landfill levy is chargeable on waste presented for disposal at landfill facilities. It is intended, primarily, to act as an economic instrument to encourage more sustainable management of our waste by diverting it away from landfill, as our reliance on landfill as the primary waste treatment method is unsustainable. While there have been a number of increases to the levy in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regulatory Impact Assessment Data (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Since March 2011, my Department has published Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) relating to the following: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 Waste Management (Household Food Waste Collection) Regulations 2011 European Union (Stage II Petrol Vapour Recovery During Refuelling of Motor Vehicles at Service...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water and enabled the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to advise on the regulation of water services. Further legislation, currently in preparation, will provide Irish Water with responsibility for the provision of water services. It is intended that the legislation will also require Irish Water to have regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the domestic metering programme. The installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be implemented nationally as quickly as possible. When fully geared up, at least...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. On receipt of a valid on-line application accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a damage rating of 2, the Board will arrange for the appropriate testing to be carried out at no cost to the homeowner. The cost of the Building Condition Assessment will be recouped to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Audited local authority financial data for 2012 are not yet available. The audit of the 2012 local authority Annual Financial Statements is scheduled for completion by end March 2014. The 2011 Annual Financial Statements are available on my Department’s website at At the 31 December 2011, 41 local authorities recorded a cumulative revenue account deficit amounting to some €74...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department supports the Community and Voluntary Sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. A key aim of my Department’s activities is enabling communities themselves to identify and address social and economic needs and problems in their own areas. There is a particular focus on supporting communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Appointments (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The appointment of ministerial staff was undertaken in accordance with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil and the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices of March 2011. The information requested in relation to Special Advisers I have appointed is set out in the following table. Name Position Qualifications Salary Claire Langton Special...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (5 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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Yield (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668, 688 and 725 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: There are no proposals in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013 that would facilitate the provision of a water supply to the Ballyna Group Water Scheme. However, under the Programme, it was open to water services authorities, in certain circumstances, to make an application to have new proposals inserted into the Programme. Kildare County Council has made an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 70 of 16 October 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. Irish Water will be provided with the power to charge...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The number of dogs in local authority pounds put to sleep has been reducing consistently over the years. Having been at 27,570 in 1998, the number in 2012 was 4,500, itself a reduction of some 20% on the 2011 figure. I welcome this dramatic reduction and compliment the dog control services around the country for this positive development. I am keen to see good practices across all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose taking Questions Nos. 678 and 685 together. A purchaser of a property may subsequently apply for grant aid once they meet the eligibility criteria set down in the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library . The criteria include the requirement that the treatment system serving the...