Results 3,661-3,680 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I do not propose to amend the Building Control Bill 2005 to provide for the setting up of an independent Architects Council, as recently recommended by the Competition Authority. The 2005 Bill assigns a limited role to the registration body the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). First, the basic registration eligibility criteria are specified in the Bill and will not be...

Written Answers — Property Management: Property Management (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has no role in this matter. I understand however that legislation is being drawn up by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to establish the new National Property Services Regulatory Authority and provide for its regulatory regime, including the regulation of managing agents.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 7 of 8 March 2006. A review of the National Climate Change Strategy is being finalised in light of recently updated projections of greenhouse gas emissions for the 2008-2012 period, as well as recent Government decisions regarding participation by Irish installations in the EU emissions trading scheme and use of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms in...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) incorporates measures aimed at ∙meeting new recovery and recycling targets for ELVs; ∙ensuring that all end-of-life vehicles are deposited, dismantled, treated and recovered by industry at no cost to the final holder / owner of that vehicle and in a manner that does not cause environmental pollution; ∙producers meeting the costs of...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 97 together. On 30 March 2006 the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) published their new strategy document. This outlines how the NDA proposes to tackle the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 nuclear sites, including Sellafield, over which they have control. The decision by the UK Government to approve the sale of British Nuclear Group...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I appointed an Advisory Committee to the Environmental Protection Agency in February 2006. I am satisfied that the Advisory Committee as constituted leaves it well placed to carry out its functions under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. Its membership is broad and balanced both in the seven members appointed from the nominees of the different sectors and professions included in...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: At national level substantial progress is being made in implementing the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), which is having an increasing influence on policies and programmes across a range of Government Departments and agencies. At regional level, a key policy bridge between national development priorities and local planning has been put in place with the adoption of Regional Planning...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The latest Quarterly National Household Survey data published by the Central Statistics Office shows the level of employment in construction grew moderately by 1.5% in the final quarter of 2005. Employment in the sector is now at a record level of 251,800. It is unrealistic to assume the dramatic increases in construction employment evident in recent times can be continued. My Department will...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: A wide range of measures is in place in order to assist local authorities in the execution of their functions in relation to water quality. For example, the local authorities acting jointly are designated as competent authorities for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive under the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003. Their task in this regard is being...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Waste collection is properly a local service with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. Consequently, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has at no time exercised a function in determining waste management charges, or any associated waiver arrangements. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas,...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I met with representatives of the City and County Managers' Association on 12 July 2005 in conjunction with the Management Advisory Committee of my Department. The discussions were broad-ranging covering a number of housing, planning, waste management, local government, financing, performance and service delivery issues. Arrangements are being made for another such meeting with the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Directive 2003/87/EC sets out the categories of activities which are to be included in the EU emissions trading scheme. I am satisfied that the Directive has been properly transposed and is being implemented correctly in Ireland. Accordingly, I do not propose to extend the scope of the scheme to include additional activities.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Since the reply to Question No. 128 of 14 February 2006, the Steering Group has given further consideration to their report and submitted some amendments. I am now finalising consideration of this report, and I will shortly advise Government on how proposals for the Trust are to be taken forward. I will announce the details publicly thereafter.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: As part of an overall response to meeting Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol, the Government has stated its intention to purchase carbon allowances over the Protocol commitment period 2008-2012. The ultimate cost to the Exchequer will depend on the final purchasing requirement and the price of carbon when the allowances are actually...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Views from the house building industry on proposals to improve the energy performance of new dwellings are generally secured by means of an open and transparent public consultation process. In 2001, the Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) submitted comments on draft proposals to amend Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations so as to prescribe stricter thermal...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Funding for the development of the group water scheme sector is provided by my Department through annual block grant allocations to the local authorities under the Rural Water Programme. The overall provision for the Programme in 2006 is a record €133m. I understand that issues relating to group scheme compliance with mandatory drinking water standards in County Mayo are largely confined to...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: To date, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has carried out 776,838 radon measurements in homes in County Kildare. Of these, 4,144 were found to be above the National Reference Level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3), with the highest level being 1,114 Bq/m3 in a house in Naas. As part of a nationwide survey of schools carried out at the request of the Department...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Contracts submitted by the solicitor for the person named in relation to the sale of turbary rights only to my Department are currently being examined in the Chief State Solicitor's Office, in preparation for completion of the transaction. I understand that an offer to purchase the turbary rights only on a second parcel of land offered for sale will issue from my Department within the next...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I assume that the Question relates to my official position as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department has not received any notification of a decision by the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters pursuant to paragraph J(2) of its amended terms of reference. I have no official role in relation to any such notifications that may have been issued to...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I expect Ireland to comply fully with its greenhouse gas limitation target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol. This will be achieved through: a variety of measures to reduce emissions throughout the economy, including those set out in the National Climate Change Strategy and measures adopted subsequently by Government; emissions reductions, or purchase of carbon allowances in lieu of...