Results 4,781-4,800 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

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

Dick Roche: Planning authorities currently require the provision of at least one child care facility for each 75 dwellings in a new housing area, in accordance with the child care guidelines for planning authorities published in April 2001. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities have extensive powers to provide or facilitate the provision of child care facilities in their...

Written Answers — Roads Funding: Roads Funding (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The provision of non-national roads, which include local secondary roads, in County Wexford is a matter for Wexford County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by my Department. I intend to announce road grant allocations for 2006 in respect of non-national roads early in the new year. When determining allocations, full account will be taken of the needs...

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I am pleased Senator Bannon turned up tonight because I want to deal with a couple of the mythologies he has outlined. While I bow to his superior knowledge on farming, having listened to him, he does not have a clue what he is talking about in regard to the nitrates directive.

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The nitrates directive was introduced in 1991 with the objective of protecting waters against pollution. We are now at the end of 2005 and Ireland is the last country to sign up to and introduce the regulations for the directive. If I had not signed the nitrates directive last Sunday, it would not be possible to have gone into the nitrates committee to commence the derogation negotiations on...

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I listened to the Senator's raiméis and I am putting the record right. The new transitional arrangements obtained for the major pig producers, together with the additional assistance measures being put in place by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, will give the sector a significant window of opportunity to adapt to the new regulatory regime. On 11 December, I made the...

Seanad: EU Directives. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Senator will know that deferring the date of commencement until 1 February is not simply a delay of six weeks. It means that the closed period will not come into effect until the back end of 2006, which will be more than six weeks. There is a 22 month period concession for major licensed pig farmers. As the Senator is aware, the nitrates committee was due to meet on 12 December. If I had...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is really bumping along the bottom now.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Deputy was the longest serving member of a health board.

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume that the question relates to the assessment prepared by the Netherlands competent authority on the notification of the product concerned under Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. The Netherlands authority, following its assessment, indicated that it was satisfied that the importation of the product for the uses...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In order to avail of the goods — commercial — motor tax rates an estate car must be used commercially and adapted for the carriage of goods. The necessary adaptations are that all seats and seat belts to the rear of the driver's seat must be removed, seat belt holes and anchor points must be welded over and the goods carrying area must be greater than the seating area. Otherwise the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Current accounting policies, as set out in my Department's code of accounting practice, require that all assets above specified threshold values are included in a local authority balance sheet. Accordingly, the proceeds from the disposal of assets such as land would normally be included as a reserve in the balance sheet; this reserve is then available to be applied for the replacement of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 introduced a once-off system of registration for all quarries except quarries which had received planning permission in the five years preceding the date the section commenced, 28 April 2004. This section is intended to ensure that planning authorities have basic information about quarrying operations in their areas. Planning permission may...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Intermittent odour problems being experienced at the Kilkenny city wastewater treatment plant at Purcellsinch are related to inadequate treatment capacity in the plant. To resolve this problem, the upgrading and expansion of the plant has been approved for construction in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06. My Department is awaiting submission of a preliminary report...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 to 484, inclusive, together. In accordance with the arrangements then applying generally to the filling of senior professional posts in the Department, applications were invited on 10 July 2003 from grade 1 archaeologists in the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for promotion to the post of chief archaeologist. The job specification...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The area in hectares of all special areas of conservation is set out in the following tables. In appropriate cases, these areas cover marine and terrestrial-freshwater areas, as well as land. TABLE A Candidate Special Areas of Conservation (sites adopted by European Commission) No. Code Name Area 1 IE0000006 Killyconny Bog (Cloghbally) 191 2 IE0000007 Lough Oughter and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The staffing composition of the private and constituency offices of both Ministers of State at my Department is set out in the following tables. Minister of State (Deputy Noel Ahern): private office. Permanent civil servants Temporary unestablished civil servants Number Grade number title 1 Executive officer, private secretary, nil 1 Executive officer, nil 2 Clerical officer,...

Written Answers — Environmental Protection: Environmental Protection (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive was formally submitted to the European Commission on 29 July 2005. The programme was prepared jointly by my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food, in consultation with Teagasc, and following an extended process of public consultation. Earlier this week, and again following public consultation, I made regulations...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group and the Office of Public Works to ensure the Government's decentralisation programme is implemented efficiently and effectively. A decentralisation implementation team has been established to oversee the arrangements for the transfer of the Department's Dublin-based staff to four locations...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The use of land solely or primarily for particular purposes is regulated by the relevant planning authority, in making or varying its development plan. A number of local authorities have specific zonings for institutional land. I consider it appropriate that this matter is addressed at local level. The disposal of institutional property is a matter for the institution concerned.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Dec 2005)

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