Results 4,241-4,260 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: Following the introduction of the plastic bag levy a national survey on the Environment "Attitudes and Actions 2003" found that 91% of those surveyed believed that the levy is a good idea. Among the many reasons given were that it is better for the environment, there are no plastic bags visible in the streets and that re-usable bags are more convenient for holding shopping. The National...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1070 and 1090 together. My Department is reviewing the overall position in relation to the affordable housing sector against the background of the current housing market and an examination being carried out by the Affordable Homes Partnership, in conjunction with the relevant housing authorities, of the position regarding availability of affordable housing in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: While there is no obligation on local authorities to become certified under the ISO standardisation system, it is open to authorities to apply for such certification if they so wish. I understand the new ISO 9001-2008 standard was introduced in November 2008. Local authorities may re-apply for certification under the new standard in due course as current certification expires. I place a...

Written Answers — European Parliament Elections: European Parliament Elections (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1072 and 1073 together. Section 11(4A)(a) of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997, as inserted by section 2(c) of the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2004, states that where a person who is elected to be a member of the Parliament is a member of either House of the Oireachtas the person shall on such election cease to be a member of the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: My Department recently approved an increased budget of €4.25 million under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09 for the completion of Stages 1 and 2 (the establishment of district meter areas, pressure control areas, trunk main metering, leakage detection and repair, etc.) of South Tipperary County Council's water conservation programme. Such measures are a necessary precursor...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The facility in question is provided for in the Dublin regional waste management plan for which the four Dublin local authorities have statutory responsibility under the Waste Management Acts. Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 precludes the Minister from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in particular circumstances, by a local authority of a...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The issuing of a permit to a private sector waste collector is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority who may attach various conditions to the waste collection permit including in respect of the types of waste permitted to be collected. Following the recent downturn in the market for recyclates, markets have begun to reopen for high quality material, but commingled...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The total amount spent by my Department on foreign travel, including subsistence costs, in the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 was €841,115. This includes expenditure incurred by me, by the Ministers of State attached to my Department and by officials from my Department and Met Éireann. Details of expenditure incurred by the agencies, offices or bodies under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The fee for making submissions or observations to a planning authority in respect of a planning application is €20. It was introduced in the context of the comprehensive review of planning legislation that culminated in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. The revised legislation also provided increased rights for third parties in the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following tables. Private Office Grade No. of staff Salary Scale Overtime/ Allowance € Special Adviser (Personally appointed) 2 Annual Salary €89,819 × 2 Nil Private Secretary — Higher Executive Officer 1 20,187 Executive Officer 3 12,623 Clerical Officer 3 2,902 Constituency Office Grade No. of staff Salary Scale Overtime/...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The Adare Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department is awaiting submission of Limerick County Council's Contract Documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The combined Athea, Askeaton, Foynes, Glin and Shanagolden Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. Limerick County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is being examined in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: An application for the proposed new recycling centre in County Tipperary has been received from the relevant County Council. A decision in relation to this application will be made upon receipt of outstanding items requested from the Council.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: My Department is currently examining options to strengthen legislation on noise pollution, with a view to meeting the Programme for Government commitment to publish comprehensive legislation on noise pollution as a matter of priority. A consultation paper was published on 27 August 2008 which outlines possible future measures which could be introduced to further alleviate noise nuisance....

Written Answers — Unsolicited Advertising: Unsolicited Advertising (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The current legislative controls on the distribution of unsolicited advertising material are to be found in the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, which do not apply to material which is delivered directly to an address, and in the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003, which provide the right to opt out of receiving direct marketing to a named individual. There is no legislative provision that...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: An Bord Pleanála has a key role as an independent planning appeals body in ensuring that physical development and major infrastructure projects respect the principles of sustainable development and are planned in an efficient, fair and open manner. The assumption of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 necessitated a review of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: My Department does not routinely collect data on the extent to which planning authorities have utilised the powers provided under section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Accordingly, the information sought in the question is not available.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: I understand that the concept of "homezones" refers to the designation of roads by relevant roads authorities in order to place limitations on the use of the road in question, e.g. to ban vehicular traffic except for local access in order to provide a safer play area for children, or to limit the speed at which vehicles may travel. Traffic management and control is a matter for local roads...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: The Mallow/Ballyvinniter Regional Water Supply Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009. Cork County Council's revised contract documents for the scheme are being examined in my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the Council as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (27 Jan 2009)

John Gormley: In 2007, my Department established a task force to examine the planning land use implications of the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. The task force was chaired by my Department and comprised representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochana and Dublin City Council. The task force met on a...