Results 3,021-3,040 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I assume the question refers to the Arigna, Boyle-Ardcarne stage 2, Roscommon central and south Roscommon regional water supply scheme, which is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007–09 at an estimated cost of €54 million. My Department awaits the submission of additional documentation from Roscommon County Council to enable the Department to...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department issued approval last month to Roscommon County Council's tender report for the Roscommon group water supply scheme design build operate bundle that will involve the procurement of water abstraction and treatment facilities for six group water schemes and two public water schemes in Roscommon and one group water scheme in County Leitrim under a single design build operate...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: To date, my Department has received 32 applications under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement. The final date for the receipt of applications under the scheme is 1 September 2009. Some 43 applications were received under the Special Incentive Career Break Scheme by the closing date of 1 July 2009. Two Civilian Drivers were made redundant following the reduction in the numbers of...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department has had extensive consultations regarding a number of sites of ecological interest along the possible route corridor, including both of the bogs mentioned, which are Special Areas of Conservation. A single route proposal is now expected, arising from the wider consultation process, and this will facilitate further consideration, as appropriate, including in regard to the need...

Written Answers — Environmental Impact Statements: Environmental Impact Statements (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: In its judgment of 3 July 2008, the European Court of Justice found, inter alia, that development consents given for a wind farm development and associated works at Derrybrien, County Galway, were not preceded by environmental impact assessments which conformed to the requirements of Council Directive 85/337/EEC. My Department is engaged in ongoing discussions with the European Commission...

Written Answers — Quarrying Activity: Quarrying Activity (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department understands from Meath County Council that there is no quarrying taking place on or near the Hill of Slane.

Written Answers — Environmental Information Service: Environmental Information Service (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: There are no plans to terminate the ENFO service, a sub-section of my Department, which has provided an excellent service to the public in its 20 years of operation. The service has been under review in light of technological advances, people's expectations of instant access to up-to-date information, the number of State and other bodies now providing environmental information, the growing...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Details of all major water and sewerage schemes included for funding by my Department in Fingal are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Additional information in relation to progress on individual contracts under the programme, or in relation to activity generally under the small public schemes measure of the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department has received correspondence, and is aware of media reporting regarding the imposition by Dublin City Council of a condition relating to the direction of waste in recently issued waste collection permits. While, as Minister, I am precluded under the Waste Management Act from involvement in specific decisions of local authorities where a statutory function has been conferred on...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 455 of 7 July in connection with lowering the age limit for election to Dáil Éireann. Article 12.4.1 of the Constitution provides that a citizen must be 35 years of age to be eligible for election to the office of President. A lowering of the qualification age would require a constitutional amendment and there are no current proposals in this regard.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department approved funding for 2009 totalling €12 million to local authorities and bodies under its aegis to continue a programme of work begun in 2005 under the National Disability Strategy. My Department has written to all Local Authorities informing them of their allocations. Local authorities and other public bodies have a key role in implementing the requirements of the...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The EPA is responsible for emission projections. Its most recent analysis, which reflected the ESRI's then assessment of the changed economic situation, was published in March 2009. The updated figures indicated a Distance to Target for the Kyoto period 2008-2012 in the range of 1.3-1.8 million tonnes per annum, a reduction of around 3 million tonnes from the projections of Autumn 2008. In...

Written Answers — Docklands Development: Docklands Development (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 767 together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 477, 478 and 499 of 7 July 2009. The Cork Docklands Development Forum Report envisages very significant investment in public infrastructure, including the provision of an Eastern Gateway Bridge and the relocation of the port to Ringaskiddy. Due to the prevailing budgetary conditions, decisions in...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I recently published the 2008 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System results which showed that chewing gum constitutes almost 31% of litter nationally, second only to cigarette related litter at 46%. The empirical data from the results indicate, however, that the general litter levels recorded nationally have decreased steadily over the last number of years. This position is supported...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The White Paper on Local Government will be published later this year following, inter alia, the Government's consideration of the Report of the Commission on Taxation.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Kildare County Council's revised contract documents for the scheme are still awaited in my Department.

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities operate under the general supervision of the EPA in relation to the performance of their environmental functions. Article 29(6) of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2009 requires, inter alia, the EPA to make recommendations and give directions to a local authority in relation to the monitoring and inspections to be...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 777 together. In line with national policy, the Exchequer does not fund new heavy waste infrastructure, landfills or incinerators. These are to be provided as purely private sector commercial initiatives or by way of public private partnerships with local authorities. In consequence, the capital cost of this project will not fall to be met by the...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: In law, 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. Electoral law provides that each application for entry to the supplement to the Register must be signed in the applicant's local Garda station in the...

Written Answers — Electronic Voting: Electronic Voting (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Government had decided not to proceed with the implementation of electronic voting in Ireland. The Government decision provided for the establishment of an Interdepartmental Task Force, chaired by my Department, to bring the project to an orderly conclusion, and to oversee the disposal of the electronic voting and counting equipment and the ending of...