Results 3,321-3,340 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: A number of legislative measures are in place to address the issue of noise pollution. I recently signed into law the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006, which give effect to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. Environmental noise is defined in the Regulations as unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities, including...

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

Dick Roche: The responses received to date in relation to circular letter PD1/06 are being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Circulars: Departmental Circulars (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department will give further consideration to the value of providing general access to circular letters on the our website.

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113, 121, 126 and 433 together. 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...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I have indicated that I am considering revising the motor taxation regime for cars to align it more closely with CO2 emissions from the vehicle rather than engine size. Work on this proposal is continuing in my Department. Vehicle Registration Tax, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, is also levied on the basis of car engine size. While the VRT regime...

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

Dick Roche: Last year, four all-island Species Action Plans were published jointly by my Department and by the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland, covering the Corncrake, the Irish Lady's Tresses Orchid, the Pollan (a freshwater fish of the herring family) and the Irish Hare. Earlier work had led to an action plan for the Natterjack Toad, which is not found in Northern Ireland. A...

Written Answers — Flood Defence Works: Flood Defence Works (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department published Public Consultation Draft Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities on 27 April this year. Comments and submissions on the Draft Guidelines are invited by 21 July next, with the intention of finalising the Guidelines in the Autumn. The Draft Guidelines suggest, inter alia, that development plans should include policies relating to requirements on developers...

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

Dick Roche: Ireland has enjoyed considerable success in recent years in meeting targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. There has been a rapid improvement in our performance in recycling this waste stream: the recycling rate rose from 15% in 1998 to 56.4% in 2004 with Ireland exceeding the EU target of 50% set for 2005. Repak Limited was established by Irish industry in 1997 to...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 146 and 147 together. The Irish Government has in place the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents. The Plan was first drawn up and published in 1992 and the most recent revision took place in December 2005. This Plan is designed to provide the framework for the response to a major emergency at a nuclear installation in the UK or elsewhere if there...

Written Answers — Blue Flag Beaches: Blue Flag Beaches (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: For 2006, Ireland has been awarded 81 Blue Flags for bathing areas and 3 for marinas. This total of 84 Blue Flags represents an increase of 2 over last year, and is the highest number of Blue Flags ever awarded for Ireland. The Blue Flag scheme is an initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international non-governmental organisation, and is administered by...

Written Answers — Illegal Quarries: Illegal Quarries (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department does not have information on the number of unauthorised quarries or on actions taken by planning authorities under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. In April 2004 my Department issued Guidelines on Quarrying and Ancillary Activities under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which requires both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Under Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland and guidelines for Local Agenda 21 issued by my Department, local authorities are encouraged to complete Local Agenda Plans for their areas, including provision in development plans of objectives with regard to the preservation of amenities including the built environment and urban renewal programmes to protect and enhance urban heritage...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Direct greenhouse gas emissions (excluding electricity consumption) from domestic and non-domestic buildings accounted for almost 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2004, down from over 17% in 1990. Over this period, emissions from the residential sector fell by 3.5%, despite an increase of over 40% in housing stock. This reduction is primarily attributable to the shift from coal and...

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

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers — i.e. manufacturers and importers — of farm plastics (silage bale wrap and sheeting) are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The Irish Farm Film Producers...

Written Answers — Audit Committees: Audit Committees (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In light of my review of the role and structure of audit committees under section 122 of the Local Government Act 2001, I have decided that, in line with best practice in this area, local authority audit committees should have a wider remit in relation to financial management and control (including efficiency and value for money) and should have access to external expertise in discharging...

Written Answers — Climate Change: Climate Change (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I fully support the initiative by the European Commission. The central message of the Commission's You Control Climate Change campaign is that individuals can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through small changes in their daily behaviour. In many cases, such changes can be cost-effective for individuals. The Government is actively supporting individuals to make these changes,...

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

Dick Roche: The Race Against Waste campaign, funded by my Department, is an extended environmental awareness campaign to promote better waste management at home and in the workplace. The campaign, which was launched in November 2003, comprises a waste awareness media campaign and a communications strategy. The budget for each year of the campaign has been €3.5 million. The media campaign encourages...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: IBAL is one of a number of anti-litter initiatives supported 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. The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System, which measures the extent and severity of litter pollution nationally, shows that since 2003...

Written Answers — Disability Services: Disability Services (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: As required under the Disability Act 2005, my Department's sectoral plan will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas no later than 28 July 2006. The finalised plan will build on the outline sectoral plan, published in September 2004, and subsequent consultations with people with disabilities, representative organisations and other Government Departments with linked sectoral plans. It...

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

Dick Roche: Ensuring openness, probity, fairness and efficiency in the operation of the planning system is an ongoing and key challenge. Zoning of land by a planning authority is effected as part of the making of a development plan. Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 states that a development plan shall include objectives for "the zoning of land for particular purposes (whether...