Results 4,761-4,780 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Local Authority Status: Local Authority Status (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Over the past year, I have held both formal and informal consultations with a variety of local government interests on the issue of the creation of new town councils and their prospective functional responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2001, including at formal meetings with the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland, as well as with Celbridge and Maynooth community...

Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Naas Town Council is one of five local authorities where the community warden service has been piloted since 2002. The others are Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Leitrim County Council and Wexford County Council. I am pleased to say that, while the pilot phase of the scheme will end with the cessation of the contracts of employment of existing community wardens, I have agreed...

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 582 of 22 November 2005.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 250 of 1 December 2005. The Government's intention to continue to regulate and control numbers in the public service within agreed ceilings was confirmed by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in his Budget Statement on 7 December.

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

Dick Roche: The Clondulane sewerage scheme is being funded by my Department under the Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006 as part of the serviced land initiative. I approved Cork County Council's tender recommendation for the scheme in May 2005 and, accordingly, it a matter for the council to arrange for the commencement of works with the successful tenderer. Detailed information in relation to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: A civic amenity site is currently under construction in Drogheda, and has been allocated grant assistance totalling over €2 million from my Department. Construction is at an advanced stage and I understand that the site should open in the first quarter of 2006.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: As I have already indicated, my Department's role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with PPP procurement norms, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department was satisfied...

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

Dick Roche: My Department has no record of purchasing land from the person named. However, if the Deputy would like to forward further details, I will arrange to have the matter examined.

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

Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to the revised peat extraction controls introduced under the Planning and Development Regulations 2005 which I made on 14 July 2005 following approval of both Houses and to ensure compliance with EU requirements on environmental impact assessment. The regulations generally exempt peat extraction below a threshold of 10 hectares from the requirement for...

Written Answers — Housing Estate Management: Housing Estate Management (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The first national report, Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2004, which was prepared by the Local Government Management Services Board and published in July 2005, details the performance of local authorities in relation to 42 service indicators, covering the broad range of local authority activity. At the launch of the report, I indicated my agreement with the report's conclusion that...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Noise pollution related to roads is generally dealt with either by the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the Department of Transport in the case of major national road schemes, or by the relevant local authority in the case of non-national roads. I understand that the NRA published Guidelines for the Treatment of Noise and Vibration in National Road Schemes in January 2005. These guidelines...

Written Answers — Local Authority Procedures: Local Authority Procedures (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. There is a range of powers available under various codes governing local authority activities through which local authorities can be held to account. These include provisions in environmental legislation which allow the Environmental Protection Agency to exercise a supervisory role in relation to the performance by local authorities of...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Responsibility for the regulation of aircraft noise and for related operational matters rests with the Minister for Transport and the Irish Aviation Authority, as appropriate. There are no statutory limits for noise emitted from airports or aerodromes, nor is there a specific statutory requirement on local authorities to monitor noise emissions from airports or aerodromes. However, section...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (15 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to the litter problem rests with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the level of expenditure on local services, including their anti-litter activities, as part of its estimates process. In this context, I recently notified South Dublin County Council of its 2006 general purpose grant from the...

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

Dick Roche: My Department has not contested the ownership of the Lusitania. Having considered the High Court judgment in relation to the judicial review sought by the owner of the Lusitania of the Minister's decision to refuse a licence under section 3(5) of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 and following legal advice, an appeal to the Supreme Court has been lodged. Legal costs in respect of...

Written Answers — EU Programmes: EU Programmes (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Applications for grant assistance under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, 2000-2006, Peace II, are submitted to, and determined by, relevant county council led task forces, operating under the management of a special EU programmes body based in Belfast. My Department has no function in project approval. I understand that the company in question has already received €125,000...

Written Answers — Local Government Funding: Local Government Funding (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 3 of 29 November 2005. The review report is now being considered interdepartmentally with a view to its early publication.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: It is open to any individual with an interest in the site to make a planning application for a site, notwithstanding the conditions which may have been attached to a previous planning approval. It is the responsibility of the planning authority to make its decision on each planning application having regard to proper planning and sustainable development and the development plan for the area....

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware of the recent judgment referred to. While it would be inappropriate at this stage to comment directly on a case that may yet be the subject of an appeal, it is important that standards and practices of administration should be continuously improved across all planning authorities. The draft development management guidelines, which I published recently for public consultation, are...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department provides funding to all elected local authorities, 29 county councils, five city councils and 75 town councils. In addition, the following bodies operate under the aegis of my Department. With the exception of those asterisked, all receive some funding from my Department: Affordable Homes Partnership, An Bord Pleanála, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, Building Regulations Advisory...