Results 4,781-4,800 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Local authorities provide a dog warden service in accordance with the provisions of the Control of Dogs Acts. Dogs which are impounded are generally kept for five days before being put to sleep. The cost of operating this service is a matter for each local authority. Details in respect of dogs put to sleep in 2007 by each local authority are provided in the following table. No statistics...

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

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to the period 2003 to 2007 is set out in the following table: Average Level of Absenteeism 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 DOEHLG Staff 3.12% 2.92% 3.31% 3.58% 3.78%

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

John Gormley: Day to day operational matters, including the level of staff absenteeism, in the agencies reporting to my Department are matters for the individual agencies concerned.

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

John Gormley: Day to day operational matters, including ill health retirement and cost neutral early retirement, in the case of staff of the agencies reporting to my Department are matters for the individual agencies concerned. My sanction would be required to the application in these agencies of any other early retirement scheme and this has not arisen in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Draft regulations to transpose Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries, and amending Directive 2004/35/EC, were published for public consultation on 29 September 2008. Following consideration of any submissions received during the public consultation period, which ends on 7 November 2008, I...

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

John Gormley: Since the Creggs proposal is not included in the current Water Services Investment Programme, Galway County Council is not required to furnish a Preliminary Report in respect of it. Schemes to be considered for a future capital investment programme will be assessed in relation to their relative priority and the resources available for the Programme in future years.

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (21 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are formally designated by Statutory Instrument under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Proposed NHAs (pNHAs), have yet to be legally designated and as such are not protected under the Wildlife Acts. However, they may be afforded some protection under the Planning and Development Acts where their ecological value is recognised in the Development Plan of the...

Written Answers — Icelandic Investments: Icelandic Investments (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Banking and investment arrangements with financial institutions for the prudent management of money are matter for individual local authorities under section 98 of the Local Government Act 2001. Following enquiries made my Department, I am advised that local authorities and bodies that come under the aegis of my Department do not have funds invested in Icelandic financial products.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In July 2007 I met with Ms. Anne Butler, an environmental consultant acting on behalf of the proposers of the project. The purpose of this meeting, and of a separate meeting with my Department, was to outline a form of thermal treatment of waste which differs from conventional municipal waste incineration. There was, of course, no question of these discussions comprehending matters proper to...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I am not aware of any proposals to build a crematorium in the north-west at this time. The establishment and operation of a crematorium would require planning permission under the Planning and Development Acts, 2000-2006 and may also be subject to the provisions of other environmental and health legislation.

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Urban and Village Renewal Grant Scheme operated by my Department was to support local authority projects designed to improve the quality of the environment for persons living, visiting and working in the area. The grant scheme did not relate to housing or the refurbishment of housing units: separate schemes are operated by the local authorities for refurbishment or repair of housing...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In recognition of the key role An Bord Pleanála plays in relation to delivery of local and national infrastructure, the demands arising from sustained record levels of appeals over recent years and the implementation of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) 2006 Act, sanction was given in 2007 for a considerable increase in the Board's staffing resources. The total...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: A letter of offer issued to the vendor in October 2006 in this case. However, my Department is advised by the Chief State Solicitor's Office that contracts have not yet been received from the vendor's solicitor in response to this offer.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Any proposed changes to the fees payable to planning authorities in relation to the making of submissions or observations respecting applications would require the prior approval of the Oireachtas to regulations made under Section 262 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the planning framework and processes at regional, city and county, and local area plan levels. These requirements take account of the aims and objectives of the National Spatial Strategy, the 20-year spatial planning framework published in 2002. The Act provides that Regional Planning Guidelines have a lifespan of not...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide respectively that a planning authority may attach conditions to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a proposed development and, if a development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, empowers the Authority to apply a security given under...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Under section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, a planning authority is empowered to refuse to grant planning permission where it forms the opinion that the applicant for such permission has substantially failed to comply with a previous planning permission. No appeal shall lie to an Bord Pleanála from a decision of a planning authority in this regard. However, an...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: My Department is finalising arrangements for a scheme to offset carbon dioxide emissions from air travel on Government business by Ministers, civil servants and officials. This will apply retrospectively to air travel since June 2007, but no expenditure has as yet been incurred. I am aware that some Ministers, including myself, have also made individual arrangements to offset particular...

Seanad: Report on EU Climate-Energy Package: Statements (16 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senators for inviting me today to discuss the Oireachtas joint committee's report on the EU climate package. Before addressing the report, I wish to make a few general comments on climate policy. The 7 October was a milestone in terms of the people of Ireland and Europe taking responsibility for the future of the climate. On that day, the European...