Results 4,821-4,840 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on 25 June 1998. Progress towards full ratification of the convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the convention. These deal with public access to environmental information, 2003/4/EC, and public participation in certain environmental decision...

Written Answers — Local Authority Procedures: Local Authority Procedures (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Most acts of a local authority, which are reserved functions or questions duly coming or arising before a meeting of a local authority, are determined by way of simple majority of those present and voting or, where there is an equality of votes, with the chair having a second or casting vote. In certain specific instances, a particular weighted majority is required or a specified number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The details requested in regard to the €2,604.8 million available to my Department this year are contained at pages 101 to 108 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2005 published by the Department of Finance. The final outturn for 2005 will be contained in the Revised Estimates for 2006, which are expected to be published in February 2006.

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In 2001 the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which is now part of my Department, provided some €896,000 towards the Burren display centre at Kilfenora, which includes interpretative material on the Burren National Park. More recently, a number of small lay-bys for limited car parking, and road improvement works surrounding the national park, have been carried out; and improved...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Under section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 a person who has an interest in land and who intends to make a planning application to the planning authority may with the agreement of the planning authority concerned, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, enter into pre-application consultations in regard to the proposed development. Section 247 also provides that a planning...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department is the national co-ordinator of applications for funding under the European Union LIFE nature programme. In addition, my Department may take a lead role in a specific LIFE project or may participate in a project in an advisory capacity. My Department is currently involved in an advisory capacity in two LIFE nature projects concerning bogs in special areas of conservation, where...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Greystones Harbour redevelopment project is being sponsored by Wicklow County Council. Use of its compulsory purchase powers is a matter for the local authority and a compulsory purchase order must be confirmed by An Bord Pleanála in any case where there is an objection. I understand that the Greystones Harbour project is being processed in accordance with the PPP guidelines issued by my...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, provides that relevant local authorities shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste other than in certain circumstances, including where an adequate collection service is otherwise available. My Department has no function in this regard. Section 34(1)(a) makes provision for a waste collection permit system. Under the Waste...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 1387 of 28 September 2005.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Roscommon County Council's design review report and water services pricing policy report for the Roscommon towns and villages sewerage scheme is being examined in my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the council within the next few weeks.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Leitrim towns and villages sewerage scheme, which includes Roosky, is approved for construction under my Department's water services investment programme 2004 to 2006. I approved Leitrim County Council's contract documents for the sewage collection systems for all of the locations included in the scheme on 30 September 2005 and it is a matter for the council to invite tenders for these...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and waivers is a matter for the relevant local authority where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. Traditionally, waste management services have been...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: Under Article 5 of Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, member states of the European Union are required to prepare and oversee the implementation of a national strategy on biodegradable waste which will set out measures to progressively divert biodegradable municipal waste away from landfill in accordance with specified targets over a fifteen year period. In April 2004, Ireland's...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Kerry villages sewerage scheme, which includes Boolteens, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004 to 2006 as a scheme to commence construction in 2006 at an estimated cost of €8.3 million. Kerry County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to draw up a preliminary report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and is being dealt...

Written Answers — Outdoor Events: Outdoor Events (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has not been made aware of this group's initiative. It would appear appropriate for the group to take the matter up with the local authority for its area.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (6 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The low cost safety improvement works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced by my Department in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the NRA. The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of my Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data, inspection of...

Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (1 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department is committed, from within its capital envelope, to provide €1.7 million in respect of the agreed purchase price for land interests on An Blascaod Mór. Other elements of the draft management plan for the island are to be brought forward under the responsibility of the Office of Public Works and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs within an overall...

Written Answers — Hunting Licences: Hunting Licences (1 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The report on the monitoring of the Ward Union hunt for the 2004-05 season compiled by Department of Agriculture and Food veterinary inspector indicated that two stags died during hunts. Both animals died following recapture: one from a ruptured pericardium and the other from a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Prior to issuing a licence for the 2005-06 season, officials of my Department met...

Written Answers — Hunting Licences: Hunting Licences (1 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 247 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 528 of 29 November 2005. Issues relating to animal welfare are the statutory responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Food under section 2 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1965 and section 1 of the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Dec 2005)

Dick Roche: The Malin town sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006 under the rural towns and villages initiative. My Department approved the preliminary report for this scheme in June 2004, subject to a review of the proposed phasing of the scheme and of the water services pricing policy report which calculates the value of the...