Results 4,881-4,900 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Question Nos. 30 and 84 together. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the making, by planning authorities, of development contribution schemes which set out the basis for the determination of the scheme and the contributions to be paid in respect of the different classes of public infrastructure and facilities. In my Department's circular letter...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: A formal response by Ireland to the judgment of the European Court of Justice issued to the European Commission on 21 October 2005 detailing the measures now being taken in terms of the structures, legislation and policy approach to ensure the implementation of the provisions of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991,...

Written Answers — Local Government Audit Service: Local Government Audit Service (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I am reviewing the role and structure of audit committees which can be established under section 122 of the Local Government Act 2001 in light of experience since the commencement of the relevant section, and I expect to issue appropriate guidelines on the conclusion of this review.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Enforcement of environmental legislation is a matter for local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. I understand the office, through the national enforcement network it has established, is currently formulating enforcement plans against illegal waste activity for 2006 and that the actions planned will include targeting the dumping of construction waste.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 552 and 554 together. The improvement of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by my Department. Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority which operates under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Local authorities should where possible refrain from doing business with companies or individuals with whom they have outstanding planning or legal difficulties and my Department, on appropriate occasions, has brought and will continue to bring this to their attention. For example, with regard to works on non-national roads, local authorities have been reminded on a number of occasions that...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Legislation providing for the direct election of mayors was repealed by section 7 of the Local Government (No. 2) Act 2003. In view of this there is no proposal to introduce legislation to provide for direct election of mayors.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Standard charges for provision of material under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 are prescribed in regulations SI 139 of 1998 and SI 264 of 2003. Local authorities and other public bodies subject to the regulations are required to operate the charges as prescribed.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities to whom my Department provides advice in the exercise of their functions in that regard under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under the provisions of the Act, each planning authority is required, for the purpose of protecting structures or parts of structures, which are of special...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: It is not currently proposed to increase the plastic bag levy. Prior to the introduction of the levy, an estimated 1.2 billion plastic bags were given away free by retailers. The levy has led to a dramatic reduction with a consequent positive environmental benefit. There has been a 95% reduction in the level of litter arising from plastic bags. Analysis of plastic bag levy receipts on a...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 58 and 541 together. I refer to the replies to Priority Question No. 7 and Question No. 12 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Construction Industry: Construction Industry (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Provided systems of construction comply with the performance requirements of the national building regulations, it would not be appropriate for my Department to express an opinion on the relative merits of alternative systems.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I have not received such correspondence, but I am relaying the Deputy's concern to the Office of Environmental Enforcement. Enforcement of environmental legislation is a matter for local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. Under section 59 of the Waste Management Act 1996, each local authority is responsible for the holding, recovery or disposal of waste within its...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The latest available inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, compiled annually by the Environmental Protection Agency, shows that emissions for the entire transport sector for 2003 were 11.85 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, an increase of 130% since 1990. The inventory shows that emissions of C02 from road transport increased by 135% between 1990 and 2003. However, statistics for emissions of...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The compilation and publication of the register is a matter for each registration authority in accordance with electoral law and involves the carrying out of house-to-house or other local inquiries, including in many cases delivering registration forms to households for completion. The draft register is published on 1 November each year and is made available for examination at post offices,...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 106, 114, 126, 152 and 160 of 25 October 2005. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: In view of the importance of the thatched roof as part of our built heritage, I established a steering group of key interests and agencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland to commission the recently published report on the present and future protection of thatched structures in Ireland. A copy is available in the Oireachtas library. The report includes useful data for owners of thatched...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56 and 115 together. Every consumer can now deposit waste electrical and electronic equipment free of charge. If a new item is being purchased, the retailer must accept an equivalent waste item on a one-for-one basis. Alternatively, items can be brought to the local civic amenity site. These facilities for consumers arise from the implementation, from 13...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 502 together. The information which must be provided by a developer in an environmental impact statement, EIS, includes the main alternatives studied by the developer and an indication of the main reasons for the option chosen, taking into account environmental effects. It is a matter for the relevant consent authority undertaking an environmental...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the office of environmental enforcement and my Department does not compile information on the level of such activity. I am satisfied that appropriate powers are available to these enforcement authorities. The recently published report of the office of environmental enforcement — the nature and extent of...