Results 4,921-4,940 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Environmental Protection Agency engaged with my Department in the normal manner regarding its funding requirements for 2006. The agency has now been allocated €15.670 million in Exchequer funding for 2006 in the abridged Estimates Volume, an increase of 13% on the 2005 Estimates. Funding is also provided to the agency from the environment fund for certain of its activities. The...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Article 15(2) of the EU energy performance of buildings directive, 2002/91/EC, allows for the phased introduction of building energy performance certificates by 4 January 2009. The draft action plan for the implementation of the energy performance of buildings directive in Ireland — April 2005 — provides for the phased introduction of building energy performance certificates, to be known...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 548 together. The Government decision in February 2000 to move to electronic voting and counting in Ireland aimed at securing a broad range of identified benefits compared with the current manual arrangements, including more democratic outcomes through the minimisation of invalid votes and the more accurate counting of votes; provision of a higher level...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 550 together. Some €3.7 billion will be spent under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 on the provision of water services infrastructure. Substantial increases in water treatment and storage capacity are being achieved as a result of this investment. Schemes completed since 1997 have produced additional drinking water treatment capacity...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 542 of 4 October 2005. The Department of Finance has responsibility for public procurement policy, including guidance and clarification for public bodies as to how environmental considerations may be taken into account and promoted. While it is not within my Department's remit to stipulate the mix or quantities of any product or service that might be...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 542 of 4 October 2005. The role of public procurement policies in assisting climate change policies and increases has been addressed by the European Commission in a 2003 study under the Commission's environment and sustainable development research programme entitled Environmental Relief Potential Of Urban Action On Avoidance And Detoxification Of Waste...

Written Answers — Biodiversity Fund: Biodiversity Fund (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: In launching the review of the implementation of the national biodiversity plan 2002-06 on 4 November 2005, I announced the establishment of a biodiversity fund of €1 million. It will be administered by the Heritage Council, which operates under the aegis of my Department in respect of capital projects promoting biodiversity throughout the State. The fund will be spread over the two-year...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware of the views of IBEC on local government funding, arising from its statement in September 2005 in that regard and its subsequent presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government. I responded publicly to a number of the issues raised in the statement when I addressed the annual conference of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland in...

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

Dick Roche: The task force set up in my Department to address the range of environmental complaints against Ireland in a more comprehensive way has had four formal meetings to date. In addressing its work, the task force has built on an intensified engagement by my Department with Commission officials and with relevant implementing agencies in Ireland. The task force participated in a two-day meeting...

Written Answers — Local Authority Operations: Local Authority Operations (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The value for money unit of the local government audit service has published 22 reports to date covering the following activities: purchasing — general; advertising; insurance; parking charges; photocopying; the machinery yard; energy efficiency in local authority buildings; differential rents; property management; public lighting; stores; water production and distribution; housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 508 together. Income available to local authorities through the local government fund rose from €797 million in 1999 to €1.29 billion in 2005. I am satisfied that the funding I will make available to local authorities, including Donegal County Council, for 2006 through general purpose grants from the fund will make a significant contribution to...

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The national climate change strategy proposed to implement a system of fuel economy labelling for new cars and the monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions rates for all newly registered cars. Since August 2001, regulations require all new passenger cars for sale to be individually labelled with fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions information. A progress report on the national climate...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Gweedore sewerage scheme is approved for funding in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006 at an estimated cost of €22 million. Donegal County Council's preliminary report and contract documents for the scheme will be further considered on receipt of a certificate of completion of planning and a revised water services pricing policy report which have been...

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the replies to Question No. 413 of 12 October 2005 and Question No. 637 of 25 October 2005. 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. On 25 August 2005, I recommended to Dublin City Council...

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

Dick Roche: The office of environmental enforcement is establishing a waste information line to facilitate any individuals or organisations that wish to provide information to the office concerning illegal waste activity. I understand that it is expected to be launched early in 2006.

Written Answers — Biodiversity Plan: Biodiversity Plan (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied that the interim review of the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-06, which I launched on 4 November 2005, demonstrates a significant level of progress in implementing the 91 actions of the plan. The interim review indicates that 23 of the actions have been completed, implementation is ongoing in the case of a further 60 of the actions, and further work is...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The national parks and wildlife service of my Department regularly carries out trapping of mink to protect particular bird colonies. As mink is not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000, they can also be trapped freely by landowners and their agents. A major scientific study carried out over three years 1983 to 1986 into the biology of the feral mink and its impact and...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The national spatial strategy, NSS, is a 20-year strategic planning framework, published in 2002, aimed at achieving more balanced regional development. Substantial progress has been made at national level in implementing the strategy which is having an increasing influence on policies and programmes across a number of Departments and agencies such as the Department of Finance, Department of...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Abridged Estimates Volume, AEV, published on 17 November provided for a gross Estimate of €2.599 billion in 2006 for my Department compared with the Estimate of €2.529 billion for 2005, that is, an increase of just under 3%. This includes an increase of over 6.5% in the current provision of €839 million. These provisions will contribute to a significantly increased resourcing of the...

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

Dick Roche: My Department is continuing its examination of the various options as to how best the rapidly evolving waste market might be regulated in future. In this context, the views of the Competition Authority will be given careful consideration. I would hope to be in a position to advance proposals in this regard early in 2006.