Results 4,061-4,080 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 63 together. I am attaching a high priority to putting in place the necessary structures to deliver a resolution to the pyrite issue for homeowners who have been waiting a considerable period of time for solutions . Following Government approval of the general scheme of a Pyrite Remediation Bill, work will be undertaken, as a matter of urgency, on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: IBRC Liquidation (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: It is a matter for each local authority to manage its own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, including investment arrangements for moneys received.  Information on individual local authorities’ investment arrangements is not available in my Department. I am advised that development bonds that were previously entered into by IBRC in favour of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The overall allocation for group water and group sewerage schemes and for small public water and sewerage schemes under the Rural Water Programme in 2013 is €35 million. The majority of this funding is provided, by way of block grant allocations, to the local authorities who are responsible for administering the programme. While the administration of the programme is devolved to local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 6 on today’s order paper. This year, I have allocated €2.835m from the Dormant Accounts Fund from my Department to support labour activation measures in local authorities. The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced later this year by a new disbursement scheme in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Information regarding potential cost savings which could arise in the circumstances outlined in the question is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 402 of 30 April 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Wide-ranging and detailed legislation is required to provide for the range of measures set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government. Work on drafting the Local Government Bill 2013 is proceeding satisfactorily and I am firmly committed to ensuring that the Bill will be published in good time to enable enactment well ahead of the 2014 local elections.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Grants (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Disbursements on dormant accounts measures are paid in the first instance “up front” from Departmental Votes in the same way as with any other spending programme. Therefore, Government Departments have to source funding for dormant accounts programmes from their annual Exchequer allocations. I have provided funding in my Department’s estimates for 2013 of €2...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Membership (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The three construction stakeholders, the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Concrete Federation and HomeBond agreed to set up a not-for-profit entity to operate a pyrite remediation scheme under the supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB). The entity is currently in the process of being established. Representatives of the three bodies have had a number of meetings to agree...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Following on from the publication of Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government, an Alignment Working Group has been established to assist and advise on the implementation of the recommendations of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group. The Group has had three meetings to date and is overseeing the practical arrangements necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Deposits (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of March 2013, the transfers to the Fund have totalled some €678.5 million, which includes interest earned of approximately €38.7 million. Funds reclaimed in that period by account holders amounted to around €255.4 million. The net value of uncommitted funds is currently €85 million. This does not include a Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Expenditure (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 73 together. Following a thorough examination of project activity under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) I announced on 24 April 2013, the lifting of the embargo on project approvals. The completion of this review has facilitated the issuing of RDP contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects which have...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I assume that the Question refers to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants are my Department’s contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers. Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another and calculating an appropriate distribution...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 416 of 30 April 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Following a thorough examination of project activity under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) I announced, on 24 April 2013, the lifting of the embargo on project approvals. The completion of this review has facilitated the immediate issuing of RDP contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects which have been approved by the Boards of the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department provides funding to groups to facilitate engagement with the Social Partnership process to cover costs directly related to their contribution to policy-making that is not funded by any other sources. In 2013 I am providing funding of €565,200 to the members of the Community & Voluntary pillar of the Social Partnership process. My Department provided funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Register Issues (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. British citizens may vote at Dáil, European Parliament and local elections; EU citizens may vote at European Parliament and local elections; non-EU citizens may vote at local elections. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at Presidential...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: Following a thorough examination of project activity under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) I announced on 24 April 2013 the lifting of the embargo on project approvals. The completion of this review has facilitated the issuing of RDP contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects which have been approved by the Board of the Local Development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos.160 and 161 together. I announced the establishment of an independent Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee on 15 November 2012 to carry out a review of local electoral areas. An objective in this context is to achieve a better balance and consistency in representation ratios and, having regard to the terms of reference for the review, logically, there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors Administration (1 May 2013)

Phil Hogan: The preparation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for each registration authority in accordance with electoral law. The opportunity to change registration details on the register of electors arises in November of each year when registration authorities publish a draft of the register which will come into force for the period of twelve months from the following 15...