Results 3,161-3,180 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Further to the reply to Question No. 330 of 17 May the responses from Galway and Laois County Co are now available and are set out in the following table. County Council How many housing estates do you anticipate will be taken in charge in your area this year? How many houses are affected? How many housing estates for which the life of the relevant planning permission expired more than...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: IBAL is one of a number of anti-litter initiatives assisted by my Department aimed at raising public awareness of litter pollution and energising support for local authority anti-litter actions. This specific initiative has been supported since 2003. My Department liaise on a regular basis with local authorities in relation to anti-litter initiatives and activities, including IBAL. Under the...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: 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 co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. I recently announced a package of measures, to be implemented over the coming months, aimed at assisting local authorities to improve the Register. The...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together. The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and my Department has no direct role in this matter. My Department supports the local fire authorities through the setting of general policy, the provision of capital funding, the issue of guidance to fire authorities in...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department constantly generates internal reports in the course of its work. These reports are generated on an almost daily basis, vary in size and complexity and cover a range of topics across the entire business remit of the Department. Among the Department's more significant published reports that were prepared internally are the National Spatial Strategy, the National Biodiversity Plan...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department coordinates and finances a major programme of investment in new and improved water services infrastructure. Details of projects approved for Departmental funding are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The water supply schemes included in the Programme are derived mainly from regular assessments of needs...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (21 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Monitoring and enforcement of environmental legislation in individual cases is a matter for the local authority concerned or the Environmental Protection Agency.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Glin Sewerage Scheme, which is being advanced as part of a grouped project that also involves Athea, Askeaton, Foyes and Shanagolden, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007. My Department has given Limerick County Council approval to prepare Preliminary Reports for the five locations involved and it is now...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Limerick County Trunk Water Mains Scheme to serve Patrickswell and Adare is approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005 — 2007. Limerick County Council's Contract Documents and Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the scheme will be further considered by my Department on receipt of additional information requested from the Council in October...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (21 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: To date, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has carried out 1222 measurements for radon in homes in County Sligo. Of these, 302 had radon concentration levels in excess of the national reference level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). Of the 209 homes measured by the RPII for radon in County Leitrim, 13 had concentration levels in excess of the national reference...

Written Answers — Local Authority Facilities: Local Authority Facilities (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In May 2005, I introduced a new initiative for the provision of skateboard facilities by local authorities. Each City and County Council was invited to submit expressions of interest for grant assistance towards the provision of a skateboard park in its area. Applications were assessed in my Department in conjunction with the National Children's Office and some 21 projects in 21 different...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The present state of progress in relation to the transfer of staff to my Department's new decentralised offices in Wexford and New Ross is set out in the table. Wexford New Ross Total posts to be Decentralised 249 125 Total number of civil servants that have accepted a decentralisation offer from the Department 132 28 Total number of Dublin-based civil servants that have...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 530 together. I have asked my Department to review the exempted development regulations to ensure that they support the use of renewable energy for domestic and small business users. Any revisions to the exempted development regulations, for example to permit the construction of small wind turbines without planning permission, would require the...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The surcharge on non-annual discs is designed to cover the higher administrative costs involved. Current surcharge levels are lower than the maximum permitted under motor tax law, and were slightly reduced in 2001. My Department will continue to keep the level of surcharge under review in light of the expansion of e-motor tax arrangements. A surcharge at the level referred to in the Question...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: No such reports or correspondence have come to my Department's attention. In so far as this may relate to asbestos as a waste the primary responsibility for the management of any waste lies with the holder or producer of the waste. The Waste Management Acts 1996-2005 prohibit any person from holding, transporting, recovering or disposing of waste in a manner which causes or is likely to cause...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Downings Sewerage Scheme was twenty-seventh on the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Donegal County Council in response to my Department's request to all local authorities in 2003 to undertake assessments of needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of these assessments. The priority lists were taken into account in the framing of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Rathmullan Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme approved to commence construction in 2007. My Department is awaiting submission of a Preliminary Report for the scheme by Donegal County Council. The Milford/Rathmullan/Ramelton Water Supply Scheme was twelfth on the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Donegal...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In agreement with Roscommon County Council and under its responsibility for the conservation of archaeology, my Department has commissioned consultants to carry out a conservation study of the Rathcroghan, County Roscommon archaeological complex. It is intended the study will assist in the development of a conservation framework for the site, which will prioritise features of archaeological...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: EU co-financing has operated in relation to my Department's Architectural Conservation Grants under the Urban and Village Renewal Scheme. Conservation grants are paid to local authorities and bodies such as Civic Trusts to upgrade public buildings of significant architectural and heritage merit. A sum of €2,141,358 has been recouped from the European Commission in respect of expenditure...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 562 of 16 May 2006. It is not proposed at this stage to regulate in this area beyond the requirements of EU Directive 2002/49/EC which apply to major airports only.