Results 3,281-3,300 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Ireland has had a long-standing concern about nuclear activities at Sellafield since they began in the late 1940's. These concerns were significantly increased following the Windscale fire in 1957 and an incident at Sellafield in 1983 which caused widespread radioactive contamination of the adjacent beaches. In December 1986 Dáil Éireann unanimously agreed a motion calling on the British...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The local authority sector has exceeded the Government's target of 3% for the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector each year since 2001. Local authorities are required to make every effort to maintain or exceed this level of employment of persons with a disability. The employment target will be reviewed by the Monitoring Committee to be established later this year under...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand that the Chief State Solicitor's Office, on behalf of my Department, is in contact with the landowner's solicitor with a view to resolving the issues in this case as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I am arranging to forward to the Deputy details of the water and sewerage schemes identified by Wexford County Council in response to my Department's request to local authorities in 2003 to produce updated assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. This assessment is the Council's most up to date and complete...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Enniscorthy Main Drainage Scheme Stage 3 is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to start construction in 2007, at an estimated cost of €13.5 million. My Department has asked Wexford County Council to review certain aspects of its Preliminary Report and Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the scheme and a reply is awaited from the...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I never get the chance to do so.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: If ever. Deputy Paul McGrath is speaker No. 53.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Bill does not apply in those circumstances. Offices are not covered.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: No. They are not strategic infrastructure. Nor are housing estates, which could also be built under public private partnerships.

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 62 and 72 together. I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 56 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 69, 110, 130, 142 and 420 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 53 and 55 on today's Order Paper. As indicated in that reply, the Government have taken action on a wide front to maximise access to home ownership, particularly through measures to promote adequate supply of housing to meet very strong demand. In particular, we have supported first...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The United Nations has labelled electrical & electronic waste as one of the world's fastest growing and most dangerous waste streams. The European Union was so concerned about this form of waste that it enacted the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive aimed at bringing the problem under control in 2002. On 13th August 2005, Ireland became one of only 3 EU Member States to fully...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The project in question is being advanced by Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the local authorities in the Dublin region whose regional waste management plan identifies the need for the facility concerned. The initial costings drawn up in 1997 related to outline assessment of the thermal treatment option. The site in Ringsend had not been identified at that stage. The 1997 projections...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: National policy on waste management is based on the internationally accepted waste hierarchy. This places the prevention and minimisation of waste at the top of the hierarchy followed by reuse and recycling, with energy recovery from waste preferred to the least environmentally desirable outcome of landfilling. In line with this approach, my Department is actively supporting local authorities...

Written Answers — Species Action Plans: Species Action Plans (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: There are two types of freshwater pearl mussel in Ireland, one of which (Margaritifera durrovensis) is unique to a short stretch of the River Nore. The other (Margaritifera margaritifera) is more widespread. My Department has designated nineteen special areas of conservation for freshwater pearl mussel species. Freshwater pearl mussels demand the highest level of water quality, and even...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Final compilation is being completed in my Department of detailed information received from planning authorities on their policy on attaching planning conditions relating to management companies. I will forward this information to the Deputy shortly. Some 90% of respondents have indicated that they do attach conditions to planning permissions requiring management companies in the case of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The European Communities (Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 were made in response to a case taken against Ireland by the European Commission, (Case C-183/05), which related to the Commission's concerns that Ireland's transposition of the Habitats Directive was in some respects inadequate. Ireland also presented to the European Court of Justice the wide range of monitoring schemes...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has granted licences for certain archaeological investigations at Thornton. Three licences for geophysical testing have been issued: to archaeologists working on behalf of a local group and to archaeologists working for the Irish Prison Service. One test excavation licence has also been granted to facilitate work to be undertaken on behalf of Irish Prison Service. The reports on...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The provision and funding of the public library service is a function of the individual library authorities. Grant aid is provided by my Department to local authorities and An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in respect of the development of the library and archive service including on-line services in libraries. In 2006, the provision in my Department's Vote for this programme is €12.32 million.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 79, 129, 139, 153 and 454 together. A programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system is underway to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately. As part of this programme, my Department engaged consultants in...