Results 4,681-4,700 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1423 of 24 September 2008 in which I set out the position in regard to this matter.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: As an independent planning appeals body, An Bord Pleanála has a key role in ensuring that physical development, in particular major infrastructure projects, respect the principles of sustainable development and are planned in an efficient, fair and open manner. With effect from January 2007, the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006 substantially extended the remit of the Board. The key policy...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments was established on 4 November 1997. I understand that the Tribunal has substantially concluded its public hearings. Accordingly, it is now a matter for the three members to prepare the Tribunal's final report in an expeditious manner. The cost of the inquiry to date is €81.75 million.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 481 of 30 September, 2008. Payments under the scheme have not yet been made in respect of 2008. Day to day operational matters, including bonus payments, in the agencies reporting to my Department, are matters for the individual agencies concerned. The Committee for Performance Awards in the Local Government Sector was established to deal with the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: My Department has received the correspondence referred to in the question. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are provided to supplement the income available to local authorities from local sources and from specific grants to enable them to provide an acceptable level of day to day services. Local variations in expenditure and in income sources are an inherent feature of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I am satisfied that the appointment of members to An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in 2008 was in accordance with the Local Government (An Chomhairle Leabharlanna) Regulations 1997 and amendments thereto.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The following table sets out the information requested in respect of local storage arrangements, based on returns received in my Department from Returning Officers. Storage of Electronic Voting Equipment Location of Storage Premises Storage Costs 2007 (incl. VAT) Owners of the Premises â'¬ Cavan-Monaghan Monaghan Town 21,608.32 Martin Duffy Clare Ennis 3,600.00 Voting Machines...

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I was not invited.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: As provided for in the Waste Management Acts the relevant local authorities have the responsibility both for making statutory waste management plans and regulating the activities of persons engaged in the collection of household waste. Furthermore, the statutory responsibility for collecting or arranging for the collection of household waste is vested in local authorities by virtue of section...

Written Answers — Rural Housing: Rural Housing (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: At both public consultation stages of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2007-2013, which was adopted in March 2007, my Department expressed serious concerns that the draft plan did not support the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy, the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Border Region or the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities The Council's draft plan...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I am satisfied that the 2009 Exchequer provision for the Environmental Protection Agency, together with its income from licensing and the Environment Fund, will leave it well placed to continue to carry out its important environmental functions. The reduction in the 2009 allocation reflects in part the fact that work on the construction of the Agency's new headquarters building has progressed...

Written Answers — Local Electoral Areas: Local Electoral Areas (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 222 together. On 16 June 2008, I received the reports of the two independent Boundary Committees I established in January 2008 to review local electoral areas. In carrying out their work, the Committees undertook public consultation which involved inviting submissions by way of notices in national and local newspapers; a dedicated website; and writing...

Written Answers — Car Parking Levy: Car Parking Levy (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Finance Bill, which is due to be published in November, will address the implementation of the Government's proposed car parking levy. Suitable arrangements for implementation of the levy will be determined by my Department in that context. With regard to sustainable travel patterns, my Department actively encourages staff to use means of transport, other than cars, wherever possible....

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 190 together. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for assessing Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, including the impact of sequestration by carbon sinks. The forecast figures used in the Carbon Budget last week reflect those contained in the report Ireland's National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections to 2020 issued by the Agency on...

Written Answers — Toxic Waste: Toxic Waste (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 40 together. Following extensive unauthorised works by sub-contractors my Department re-engaged consultants, White Young Green, to carry out an independent and rigorous assessment of site conditions on Haulbowline, including assessment of any health or environmental risks posed by the work, assessing quality of surface water, marine sediment and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to undertake an international review of waste management policy. In February 2008 a procurement process was initiated to appoint consultants to undertake comprehensive research on the waste sector in Ireland and to cover a wide range of issues to help identify how best to proceed with further efforts to reduce waste levels, improve recycling...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 189 together. The National Climate Change Strategy signalled the possibility of supplementing greenhouse gas emission reductions with the purchase of up to 18 million carbon units in respect of the five-year Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012. In this regard, the Government announced the provision of €270 million for the purchase of units,...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Significant progress has been made in reducing emissions in Ireland which contribute to long range transboundary air pollution. The National Programme on Transboundary Pollutants, which the Government approved in 2005 and updated in 2007, provides for the progressive reduction of these emissions by 2010 through a range of policies and measures in different sectors. These include: improved...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments is empowered by relevant Oireachtas resolutions to carry out such preliminary investigations in private, as it thinks fit. My Department has cooperated with all requests by the Tribunal to make files available. However it would not be appropriate to disclose details of material provided in this way to the Tribunal, on a...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. I welcome the recent report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to The Future of the Electoral Register in...