Results 4,761-4,780 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Waste Disposal. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: There is an acceptance that a proper inventory of contaminated sites is the least that is required. Two inventories are currently being completed. The first relates to old mines and is being prepared by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the EPA. It is expected to be published before the end of the year. The second relates to old municipal waste disposal...

Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The EPA's reports on the quality of drinking water set out compliance levels across a range of parametric values, including lead. The most recent report for the years 2006 and 2007 is available in the Oireachtas Library. Management of public drinking water supplies to ensure compliance with water quality standards is the responsibility of each local authority. I have put in place a rigorous...

Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I am confident that the record investment of €560 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 19%, in water services and infrastructure will allow us to make the necessary progress. The national development plan includes the objective of ensuring that "good quality drinking water is available to all consumers of public and group water supplies in compliance with national and EU...

Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I assure the Deputy that we have tried to telescope the timeframe involved by significantly reducing the number of criteria. I have spoken to the local authorities about this issue. Whereas cuts have been made in other areas, I was anxious that we continue and increase the investment in the water services programme. Were the impetus to be lost in terms of investment, the programme could be...

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In 2009, some €1.6 billion will be available for allocation via the local government fund. General purpose grants are the contribution my Department makes to local authorities to meet the gap between the cost to them of providing a reasonable level of day-to-day services and the income they obtain from other sources. A total of €935.2 million in general purpose grants will be provided...

Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (22 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Community wardens have a broad range of functions, which fall under three main headings, namely, community liaison; the enforcement of a range of local authority functions, including certain traffic offences, litter offences and casual trading; and the monitoring of housing estates, tourist attractions and public amenities and the reporting of breaches of environmental or planning...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 393 of 7 October 2008. The Planning and Development Regulations 2007 provide exemptions from planning permission requirements in respect of certain classes of micro-renewable technologies for use in the home. The exemptions apply to solar panels and other micro-renewable technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps and biomass, subject to certain...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Development contribution schemes under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 are drawn up by each planning authority and approved by the elected members following a public consultation process. It is also open to a planning authority to prepare a Supplementary Development contribution scheme under Section 49 of the Act. It is a matter for the members of the planning authority...

Written Answers — Toxic Waste: Toxic Waste (22 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: 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 mussel bivalves in the vicinity and ambient air monitoring....

Written Answers — Driving Regulations: Driving Regulations (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The law relating to trade plates for which my Department has responsibility is provided in section 21 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 and the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1992 . This law does not extend to the use of trade plates in Northern Ireland.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The financial provisions for capital spending both by my Department and local authority capital services funded by my Department are set out in the annual expenditure estimates for my Department, details of which are available in the Oireachtas library. The compilation of information, not readily available, on hundreds of capital projects across all local authorities for the period in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Payments from the Environment Fund are allocated on the basis of their ability to best contribute to those purposes as set out in Section 12 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001. These purposes are: (a) to assist, support or promote any programmes or schemes established for the prevention or reduction of waste in the State or the establishment of such programmes or schemes, (b) to...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I anticipate that the private sector will continue to invest in waste management infrastructure. Therefore, I have no plans at present to consult with the Department of Finance to provide incentives to the private sector for the provision of such infrastructure. The significant investment that has already taken place in waste infrastructure by the private sector demonstrates that such...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I have no function in the matter raised in the Question.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for acquiring property under the decentralisation programme. My Department has not incurred any property related costs to date. The total expenditure by my Department in relation to non-property costs for the decentralisation programme for each of the last four years is set out below. This covers training, travel and subsistence, and costs...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Under the decentralisation programme, a site has been acquired for my Department's Headquarter offices in Wexford. The building is under construction and expected to be completed by December 2008 and ready for occupation from February 2009. My Department will then transfer 270 posts into these offices, commencing in Q1 2009. An advance office was established in Wexford on 25 June 2007 and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484, 485 and 493 together. The total pension cost in respect to staff who retired early from the Department in the period 2003 to 2007 is set out in the following table: Year Total Pension Cost â'¬ 2003 18,133.61 2004 0 2005 100,805.44 2006 80,740.64 2007 94,995.89 All staff with one exception were subsequently replaced. Replacement costs for...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: It is the Department's policy to ensure that all newly procured laptops have encryption software installed as standard. A rolling project to ensure that all existing stock is updated with the latest encryption technology is also underway. Blackberry devices are secured using a combination of PIN and password protection. The Department's Information and Communications Technology security...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Bruff Sewerage Scheme, which is being advanced as part of a grouped project that includes Drumcollogher, Hospital and Pallasgreen, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2009. Limerick County Council's Preliminary Report for the grouped project was received in my Department in September 2008 and is being examined.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Oct 2008)

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