Results 2,881-2,900 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Departmental Audits: Departmental Audits (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: In keeping with the recommendation in the Task Force Report on Active Citizenship, an audit of community, sports and arts facilities at local level was commenced in the second half of 2008 by each County and City Council, under the auspices of the relevant County/City Development Board and in line with guidelines issued by my Department. These guidelines were developed in consultation with...

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: A public consultation process on a new National Biodiversity Plan took place last year in association with other Government Departments and the Biodiversity Stakeholders Forum, which operates as a Standing Committee of Comhar (the National Sustainable Development Council). All of the submissions received have been examined. Detailed consideration with Government Departments on the Plan is now...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 959 and 964 together. Work is under way in drafting an amendment to the Control of Dogs Acts and I hope to publish proposed new legislation in the near future. The process has included discussions with a number of organisations, bodies, public agencies and interests active in the area. The draft Bill is being designed to give statutory effect to the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in correspondence in respect of 29 cases relating to transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. The cases are at various stages of proceedings as listed in the attached table. As indicated in the table nearly all cases are of national application. Some are also site specific and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: A ministerial policy direction issued on 3 May 2005 in regard to compliance by local authorities with the requirements of section 22 of the Waste Management Acts to prepare an inventory and risk assessment of all non-licensed closed landfills where disposal or recovery activities have taken place. To assist local authorities in this process, the EPA has developed a dedicated web site....

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 477, 478, and 499 of 7 July 2009 and Questions Nos. 757 and 767 of 9 July 2009. My Department, in conjunction with the Inter-Departmental Senior Officials Group established to consider the analysis and recommendations in the Cork Docklands Development Forum Report, is urgently considering what enabling measures can be put in place to further progress...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 500 of 7 July 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 965 and 1007 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 998, 1024, 1057 and 968 of 16 September 2009. I have no plans to suspend Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2009 and the associated regulations, all development commenced on or after 1 October 1964 requires planning permission unless specifically exempted. While certain developments are exempted under section 4 of the Act and Part 2 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, there is no specific exemption for car parks....

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: The Loughrea Regional Water Supply Scheme, which includes a proposed connection to serve Kilrickle, is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009. My Department awaits the submission of a revised Design Review Report for the scheme from Galway County Council.

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Electoral law provides that the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an independent Electoral Commission. It states that the Commission's...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 320 of 22 September 2009. The Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, as amended, requires that all candidates, both successful and unsuccessful, furnish a statement of election expenses and statutory declaration to the local authority concerned within 90 days following polling day. Section 20 (1) of the Act provides that where...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Ireland is required to protect habitats of European importance under the Habitats Directive 1992, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. In accordance with the Directive, Ireland has nominated certain raised and blanket bogs, which are priority natural habitats under the Directive, as...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: The Government's Water Pricing Policy, in consistency with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services by means of a volumetric charge based on actual metered consumption. Accordingly, under the Pricing Policy, all non-domestic users are obliged to pay water charges.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: It is a matter for the appropriate consent authority to ensure that any development or activity that could have a significant impact on a Natura 2000 site is granted such consent in compliance with the provisions of the Habitats and Birds Directives, as transposed into Irish law in the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations. Waste water treatment plants are generally subject to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, where an estate is completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the planning permission, the planning authority must initiate taking in charge procedures as soon as possible following a request to do so by the developer or by the majority of the owners or occupiers. Similarly, where an estate...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Rates are local property taxes that are levied by local authorities on commercial properties rateable under the Valuation Act 2001. 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. The determination of the annual...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide respectively that a planning authority may attach conditions to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a proposed development and, if a development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, apply a security given under section 34 for the satisfactory...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: The Freshford/Johnstown/Goresbridge Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 at an estimated cost of €7.9 million. Following my approval of the Preliminary Report for the scheme last November, Kilkenny County Council have been progressing the preparation of contract documents. Local authorities were asked in July to submit an...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (6 Oct 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 985 and 986 together. The primary purpose of the levy on plastic bags is not to generate revenue but to change consumer behaviour and achieve a significant reduction in the consumption of plastic bags dispensed at retail outlets. The introduction of the levy at the rate of 15 cent per bag in 2002 led to a dramatic reduction in the number of disposable plastic...