Results 3,221-3,240 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Capital Grant Schemes: Capital Grant Schemes (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Allocations to Laois County Council under the Social and Community Facilities Capital Grants Schemes of 2006 and 2007 are outlined in the table below. There were no similar schemes in 2008 or 2009. 2006 Scheme — total allocation €240,000 Allocation Amount Paid Date Paid € € Redevelopment of Durrow Courthouse, Co. Laois as a multi-purpose community centre 240,000 240,000...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, on application, the duration of a planning permission (normally 5 years) shall be extended, subject to certain requirements being complied with, including that substantial works have been carried out before the expiration of the original permission. Section 23 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009, which was...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Planning authorities are empowered under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to attach conditions to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of the proposed development. There is no legal obligation on a planning authority to attach such conditions to a planning permission. However, as stated in the reply to Questions 60...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The total level of funding made available to local authorities under the anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness grant scheme over the last 5 years is as follows: 2009: €1.07 million; 2008: €1.245 million; 2007: €950,000; 2006: €673,000; and 2005: €510,000. The details of allocations and payments to local authorities are shown in the following table. The variance between allocation...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 411 together. I recognise that significant regulatory issues have emerged as waste management services have rapidly evolved in recent years, including through the rapid growth in, and consolidation of, the private waste management sector. The existing regulatory framework requires modernisation and I am currently giving consideration to the broad...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Department has executed the contracts of sale and has issued a deposit in this case. The Chief State Solicitor's Office is in the process of arranging the closing of the sale and payment of the balance. The transaction is expected to be concluded shortly.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (30 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, the primary response to litter is a matter for local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to enforce the litter laws and to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution within the relevant legislation including the engagement in local litter management activities involving community groups,...

Written Answers — Communication Masts: Communication Masts (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Following the report in June 2005 of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts, the Government, approved the establishment of an inter-departmental advisory committee and an expert group, working to the committee, on the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The committee reported to the Government...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. This decision is effective from 31 March 2009 and stands until the end of 2010. My Department has, accordingly, written to all local...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: My Department is currently assessing Cork County Council's latest design proposals for this scheme, which were submitted in May 2009, and expects to be in a position to notify the Council of the outcome of this process in the near future. On the question of funding, I expect that the €500 million available for the Water Services Investment Programme for 2009 will allow up to 50 major new...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 - 2009 at an estimated cost of €73.5 million. My Department will complete its assessment of Cork County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme on receipt of confirmation from the Council of the approval by An Bord Pleanála of the Environmental Impact Statement...

Written Answers — Building Energy Rating Scheme: Building Energy Rating Scheme (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Some 50,000 BER certificates for dwellings have been issued to date since the BER system first became operational on 1 January 2007, for new dwellings, in the first instance, subject to certain planning related transitional exemptions. Some 46,000 of these BER certificates were issued since 1 January, 2009 indicating a substantial increase in BER related activity since the scheme was...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Carrigaholt/Labasheeda Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. I approved grant assistance of €1.547m for the scheme in June 2008 following examination of Clare County Council's Preliminary Report Review for the Carrigaholt element of the scheme and its Design Review Report for Labasheeda. Further information in...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Killeagh Water Supply Scheme is included for funding under the Serviced Land Initiative measure of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department approved Cork County Council's design proposals for the scheme in 2006. In April 2009, my Department, following a review of the Serviced Land Initiative in light of developments in the economy at large, and in...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The proper planning and sustainable development of urban and village centres is underpinned by the legislative and regulatory frameworks set out in planning legislation and existing statutory planning guidance. Building on the 2007 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans which comprehensively deal with the function, content, process and implementation of development plans as...

Written Answers — Electoral Commission: Electoral Commission (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling Electoral Register, assume the functions of the Standards in Public Office...

Written Answers — Building Energy Regulation: Building Energy Regulation (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 45, 52 and 75 together. The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 – 2008 requires that any person offering a building for sale or letting, or any agent acting on behalf of a person in relation to such an offering, must produce a copy of the relevant Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate to any person who expresses an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: A number of initiatives supported by my Department such as the Green Schools programme, TidyTowns, Agenda 21 Local Partnership and initiatives implemented through Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations contribute to varying degrees in raising awareness of climate change. In particular, the Change campaign, led by a consultancy consortium was launched in November 2007 with the specific...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 53 and 156 together. The EPA's report, The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland - A Report for the Years 2007-2008 published in April 2009, found that the quality of drinking water in Ireland is generally good and highlighted the progress which has been made in improving quality in recent years. While I am unaware of any water sources at risk...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 42, 66, 69 and 73 together. On 12 May 2009 I announced that the Government had decided to introduce a directly elected Mayor for the Dublin Region in 2010. Work is now under way in my Department towards preparation of the necessary legislation to provide for the election and the powers and functions of the Mayor. I hope to bring the legislation before...