Results 3,541-3,560 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Some €1.6 billion has been invested by the Government in drinking water infrastructure in the period since 2000 and substantial additional funding is being provided this year from the total Exchequer provision of €500 million for the water services investment programme. In the period since 2000, additional drinking water treatment capacity and additional water storage capacity equivalent...

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I agree with the Deputy that it is very important to invest in good quality drinking water. I consider this as an absolute necessity. In a country such as ours there is no reason for people to be drinking contaminated water. While I accept there have been boil notices, I am pleased that there has been a reduction in the number of such notices. The EPA has identified 341 public water...

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: That comes under the water framework directive. As the Deputy knows that directive is still out for consultation. As soon as it returns we will have further results in that regard and I would be happy to communicate that information to the Deputy at that time.

Local Authority Funding. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: In February, my Department set out details of the financial requirements for local authorities relating to the overall management of their capital and current accounts. These requirements flow directly from the requirements for Government finances as a whole to be managed in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact established under the Maastricht treaty and the associated limitation on...

Local Authority Funding. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: There has been controversy in some quarters, but only four local authorities are affected in terms of development levies etc. The figure amounts to approximately 14% of total spend. As the overall capital spend is approximately €6 billion, I do not anticipate a significant impact. I will supply some details. The general state of the economy and the need for prudent management and control...

Local Authority Funding. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: The local authorities and their managers in particular are in constant contact with my Department. As this is done on an aggregate basis, it must be calculated to ensure that certain local authorities can borrow sufficiently and this probably constitutes a bigger problem. I understand that only four local authorities are in a position to spend those development levies. However, and I...

Local Authority Funding. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: I have been reading the highly interesting document on local government that Deputy Hogan published today on the Internet. However, the Government must abide by what has been set down in the Stability and Growth Pact under the Maastricht treaty. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has received considerable latitude from Brussels in respect of exceeding the 3% limit, and we have gone far beyond...

Economic Development. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities have a central role to play in supporting economic development and enterprise at local level. They do this in a number of ways including through their capital and current budgets, economic planning and development and the provision of goods and services, as well as community infrastructure. More recently, local authorities have taken direct action to reduce the burden on...

Economic Development. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: As for the Deputy's point on commercial rate increases, at my request commercial rates have been kept down and the increases for 2009 were approximately 1%.

Economic Development. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: Yes. It is significant that 34 local authorities held their rates at 2008 levels. This constitutes significant progress because, as the Deputy appreciates, the business sector is under extreme pressure and I am highly aware of that. I have undertaken a number of measures and some of the Deputy's suggestions are constructive. I have asked local authorities to examine rigorously their costs...

Economic Development. (7 May 2009)

John Gormley: On the Deputy's last point, this matter can be addressed in the forthcoming planning and development Bill. However, this must be considered carefully. One cannot give a full blank cheque as all the existing permissions must meet the new energy standards. In addition, one also must consider carefully what constitutes good planning and whether such proposals fit in. Overall, however, and I...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The 2002 National Spatial Strategy recommended the development of an Atlantic Gateways corridor, linking the gateway cities of Galway, Limerick/Shannon, Cork and Waterford, to create an inter-connected network of co-operating and complementary cities which would help to secure more balanced regional development across the western and southern parts of the island of Ireland, and complement the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Following a submission from my Department, the Minister for Finance has sanctioned the hiring of temporary and seasonal positions of life-guards that are necessary to ensure that beaches can be opened, especially to help domestic tourism. A circular letter to that effect issued to all local authorities on 1 May 2009.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 499 together. My Department recently approved loan borrowings of €17.7 million by the local authority concerned in respect of completed water services schemes and outstanding balances on previously approved loans. Other borrowing requirements for water services schemes will be considered in the context of the next tranche of local authority loan...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 501 together. Allocations for the various programmes and schemes under the 2009 built heritage capital programme could not be finalised pending publication of the Revised Estimates for the Public Service 2009. Allocations for the various programmes and schemes, including the Conservation Grants Scheme for protected structures, are currently being...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Statutory protection of the architectural heritage of their area is primarily a matter for each planning authority under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Act also enables me, as Minister, to make recommendations to a planning authority concerning the inclusion of specific structures in the authority's Record of Protected Structures, and a planning authority must have...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The national monument site at Rathcrogran, Co. Roscommon, is managed by the Office of Public Works and local consultation and other management issues are matters for OPW. However, I understand that OPW has now completed the priority works required to secure the property. I also understand that OPW has invited statements of interest for sheep grazing which is the preferred option for grass...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: I intend to introduce the legislation necessary to give effect to the €200 charge on non- principal private residences in the near future.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: I have not had any contact with An Bord Pleanála in relation to Government policy regarding waste management, including in respect of incineration. However, earlier this year An Bord Pleanála referred a planning application by Indaver Ireland for a proposed waste to energy facility for hazardous and non-hazardous waste at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork to my Department, in its role as a prescribed...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The Clonlara Sewerage Scheme is included for funding under the Serviced Land Initiative in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. My Department approved Clare County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme in 2007. Last month, my Department, following a review of the Serviced Land Initiative in light of developments in the economy at large, and in the...