Results 3,561-3,580 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

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

John Gormley: Works funded under my Department's capital programmes, amounting to some €1.8 billion, are generally labour intensive. Such works include construction in respect of housing and water services, remedial works, provision of extensions and improvement works as well as capital investments involving heritage protection and improvements to national parks. My Department's special provision of...

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

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 202 of 29 April 2009. The capital provision for water services infrastructure in 2009 is €500 million - a reduction of €60 million on the €560 million envisaged in the 2009 Estimates for Public Services and Summary Public Capital Programme published in October 2008. The provision represents an increase of 1% on last year's outturn and reflects the...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP) includes cross-cutting objectives for balanced regional development and endorses the National Spatial Strategy as a key policy instrument for achieving this. Annual monitoring of NDP expenditure on capital programmes, undertaken by the Department of Finance, includes specific analysis on the extent and effectiveness of the Plan's horizontal...

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

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 505 together. The Gweedore Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 –2009. My Department is currently awaiting additional information from Donegal County Council in order to complete its examination of the most recent Design Review Report received from the Council in January 2009.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The Government announcement on 14 October 2008 confirmed that the decentralisation of my Department's Headquarters to Wexford (270 posts) will proceed as planned. However, the transfer of posts to the three other locations in the South East – Waterford (225 posts), New Ross (125 posts) and Kilkenny (62 posts) - is being deferred pending the outcome of a review in 2011. My Department's...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are formally designated by Statutory Instrument under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Proposed NHAs (pNHAs) have yet to be legally designated and as such are not protected under the Wildlife Acts. However, they may be afforded some protection under the Planning and Development Acts where their ecological value is recognised in the Development Plan of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service numbers 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 — National Monuments: National Monuments (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The draft Management Plan and draft nomination documentation in relation to the proposed nomination of Clonmacnoise for inscription on the World Heritage List will be made available for public consultation shortly. I envisage a three month period for the provision of submissions. Consultation with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties is an integral part of the World Heritage...

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

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 140 of 1 April 2009. The position is unchanged.

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

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 211 of 19 February 2009. The position is unchanged.

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

John Gormley: The legal costs incurred by my Department are set out a table. These do not include the costs of the Planning Tribunal. Legal costs incurred by Agencies under the aegis of the Department are a matter for the Agencies themselves and my Department does not collect such information. Year Amount â'¬ 2008 1,766,838 2007 690,631 2006 2,024,389 2005 1,427,968 2004 161,180

Written Answers — Dublin Docklands Development Authority: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: I understand from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority that the Irish Glass Bottle site is being revalued for the purpose of preparing the annual report and accounts of Becbay Ltd., the joint venture company that purchased the site. I have received no information with regard to its current valuation. The Authority's annual report and accounts for 2008 will be submitted to me before 30...

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

John Gormley: The Taghmon Sewerage Scheme is included for funding under the Serviced Land Initiative measure of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department approved Wexford County Council's design proposals for the scheme, together with the Castlebridge and Piercestown Sewerage Schemes and the expansion in treatment capacity of the Wexford Town wastewater treatment plant,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Archives: Local Authority Archives (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Local authorities are required by Section 80 of the Local Government Act 2001 to make proper arrangements for the management, custody, care and conservation of their records and archives and to provide public access to their archives. In order to support and encourage local authorities, my Department established a subsidy scheme whereby local authorities may recoup 50% of the salary of an...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The 2001 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Retail Planning, as amended in 2005, contain no specific recommendations in relation to the location of pharmacies in town centres. The Guidelines recommend that planning authorities should prepare, as part of their development plans, town centre strategies which set out the vision and positive actions which will allow town centres achieve...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations ('the Nitrates Regulations') implement the Nitrates Directive in Ireland and were first introduced in 2005 to protect waters from pollution from agricultural sources. Primary responsibility for the implementation of the Regulations has rested with the local authorities since 2005. The most recent...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (6 May 2009)

John Gormley: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in variable amounts in rocks and soil. When it surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted. However, where it enters an enclosed space, such as an ordinary building, it can, under certain circumstances accumulate to reach unacceptably high concentration levels. Radon is a known carcinogen and contributes to the incidence of lung...

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

John Gormley: Following the embargo on public service recruitment, as announced on 27 March 2009, my Department sought Department of Finance sanction to employ seasonal staff to allow national parks and nature reserves to open and to provide visitor services. I welcome the fact that, as an exceptional measure, sanction has recently been conveyed to my Department to recruit a restricted number of temporary...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (30 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 568 and 591 of 22 April 2009. The position is unchanged. The Building Energy Rating requirement in the case of dwellings offered for letting came into effect from 1 January 2009. My Department will keep the potential role of the Private Residential Tenancies Board in this matter under review.

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (30 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 214 together. The Wildlife Acts of 1976 and 2000 and the EU (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, which transposed the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, provide the statutory basis for the protection of endangered species in Ireland. The designation of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas under the directives helps to conserve and...