Results 4,741-4,760 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Town Councils: Town Councils (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 649 and 653 of 15 November 2005. I am not aware of any stance on this issue on the part of local government officials.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme has been approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 at an estimated cost of €31 million. In May 2005 I approved Kildare County Council's proposals to proceed with work on an advance section of the scheme at Straffan which I understand is now in progress. Kildare County Council's contract documents for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The cap on local authority staffing levels arose from a Government decision in December 2002 to cap public service numbers at the then existing authorised level and to reduce numbers across all sectors by the end of 2005. Numbers in the local authorities were to be reduced by 1,000 over that period. Returns of the number of persons employed by local authorities for the quarter ending December...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 250 of 1 December 2005.

Written Answers — Hazardous Beaches: Hazardous Beaches (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is advised by the Irish Water Safety Association that there is no known world or European standard to designate a "dangerous beach". The existing policy of completing risk assessments on all beaches that are used by the public with necessary follow up action by local authorities is considered to be the most appropriate approach. Beaches by their nature are hazardous and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: Detailed information on the number of persons employed by each local authority at the end of 2005 is currently being compiled, and is not yet available in my Department.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The Conna regional water supply scheme extension is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to advance through planning, at an estimated cost of €2.55 million. My Department approved Cork County Council's brief and fee proposals for the appointment of consultants to prepare a preliminary report for the scheme in September 2005. The production of...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: As part of a multi-annual programme to include the whole country, my Department carried out surveys of a sample of the architectural heritage of north Tipperary, Westmeath, Offaly, Kilkenny and Sligo under the national inventory of architectural heritage, NIAH, programme in 2004. The purpose of the NIAH is to identify, record and evaluate the country's post-1700 architectural heritage...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: From the commencement of the single mandate for elective local government, local authorities were required to make specific arrangements to provide a reasonable level of service for Oireachtas Members and facilitate them in carrying out their work on behalf of local communities. These arrangements provide, inter alia, for the supply of specified documentation to Oireachtas Members by the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has no proposals from Kildare County Council for the upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant at Sallins. However, the upper Liffey Valley sewerage scheme, stage 3, extension to Osberstown, which has been approved for construction under the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, provides for the extension and upgrading of the wastewater treatment...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (25 Jan 2006)

Dick Roche: The Freedom of Information Acts apply fully to nine public bodies or agencies under the remit of my Department. The Acts will be extended shortly to an additional seven bodies. It is intended that one of these, the Private Residential Tenancies Board, will not be subject to the full remit of the Acts, as matters of dispute resolution and conciliation will be specifically excluded.

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The area in and around Rathcroghan contains much valuable archaeology. My Department has recently had discussions with Roscommon County Council with a view to undertaking a conservation plan for archaeological sites at Rathcroghan, which would include matters such as public access. The intention is to consult all relevant stakeholders and to complete the plan by the middle of next year. My...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control and licensing services on local authorities. The implementation of the Acts is vested in local authorities, which have power to appoint dog wardens, provide shelters for stray and other dogs, impose on-the-spot fines for a number of offences and take prosecutions. Local authorities may also make by-laws in...

Written Answers — Regional Road Network: Regional Road Network (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each individual road authority. The choice of final surfacing type to be used on such roads is a matter for each road authority having regard to a number of factors, including location, subsoil conditions, existing pavement construction, type and volume of traffic and relative costs of surfacing...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is in correspondence in respect of 49 cases relating to possible infringements of EU environmental legislation. These cases are at various stages of proceedings as set out in the table below. Fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in regard to any case taken against Ireland. Stage in...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In July 2004, my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Killala sewerage scheme is approved for construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006. Further consideration will be given by my Department to Mayo County Council's contract documents for the scheme on receipt of the information requested from the council in February 2005.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The position is unchanged since the reply to Question No. 1387 of 28 September 2005.

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration: Vehicle Registration (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The review of the vehicle registration certificate has taken place and information relating to year of manufacture is included in all certificates issued from 29 November 2005 onwards.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The functions of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in regard to the compulsory acquisition of land by local authorities were statutorily transferred to An Bord Pleanála from 1 January 2001. Accordingly, my Department does not have information regarding the details of compulsory acquisition orders in the intervening period. The information sought in respect of...