Results 4,941-4,960 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

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

Dick Roche: The Government plans to introduce the building control Bill before Christmas. This Bill will provide for, inter alia, statutory protection of the title of "Architect" so that only those who are suitably qualified and registered will be lawfully entitled to use the title "Architect".

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Land-based wind energy development is governed by the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal, in making a decision on an application must consider, inter alia, the development plan and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area involved, including the preservation and improvement of amenities. They must...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council specifies the conditions under which the safeguard clause, prohibiting in a national territory a GMO approved for use in the EU, may be invoked. These conditions include the emergence of new or additional information made available since the date of the consent and affecting the environmental risk assessment, or...

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

Dick Roche: In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, emissions from the energy sector were 16.124 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, approximately 24% of total national greenhouse gas emissions. The national climate change strategy projected greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector to increase from 11,615 million tonnes in 1990 to 18,816 million tonnes in 2010. Latest...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department's estimate of the number of landowners within candidate special areas of conservation, SACs, is of the order of 25,000. The Department has written to people living within or in the vicinity of 420 sites to inform them of the designation proposals. The information enclosed as part of this notification process included a map delineating the SAC boundary. SAC maps are published at...

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

Dick Roche: Funding has been approved under the small schemes measure of my Department's rural water programme for this project and I understand Roscommon County Council will shortly appoint a contractor for the civil works element of the project with a view to commencing construction in January 2006.

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: There are no legal provisions relating to the circumstances referred to in the question. However, there is a longstanding administrative arrangement whereby local motor tax offices may issue replacement discs free of charge in circumstances where they are satisfied that, through no fault of the vehicle owner, she or he did not receive the original disc. This practice also applies to the motor...

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

Dick Roche: While local authorities have primary responsibility for ensuring efficiency and value for money in their activities, my Department is actively involved on a range of fronts to ensure that this is achieved and monitored. Some key initiatives in this regard include the following. The first report on service indicators in local authorities, published in July 2005, details the performance of...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Correspondence from Terenure Residents Association with regard to a proposed skateboard facility at Bushy Park, Terenure was received in my Department on 30 August 2005 and a reply issued on 5 October 2005 indicating that the location of skateboard facilities is a matter for each local authority. My Department is not providing any funding in respect of a skateboard facility at Bushy Park and...

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 525 and 531 of 11 October 2005. In addition, I can confirm that Trim Town Council refunded my Department the sum of €63,487.00, which had been granted for the provision of car parking facilities, on 26 October 2005.

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

Dick Roche: Part VII of the Local Government Act 1994 provides local authorities with wide ranging powers to make by-laws, including the general power to make by-laws in the interests of the common good of the local community. Matters such as the regulation and controlling of the display of house numbers, if not provided for under specific legislation, may be addressed by local authorities in this way. I...

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 592 and 606 of 22 November 2005.

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The football pitch referred to is on machair habitat within the Inis Mór candidate special area of conservation, cSAC. Planning permission for its development was obtained in 2000. Because of the implications of the development for the SAC habitat, my Department provided advice to Galway County Council and the planning applicants in relation to necessary mitigation measures. For this...

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

Dick Roche: The Clifden sewerage scheme is approved for construction in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006. Galway County Council's preliminary report for the scheme is being examined in my Department in conjunction with a supplementary site location report and a hydrographic marine survey and a reply will issue to the council within a matter of weeks. Once the preliminary...

Written Answers — Civic Amenity Facilities: Civic Amenity Facilities (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has not to date made an allocation for 2006 to Cork County Council for the provision of civic amenity sites. The total allocations made to Cork County Council in 2004 and 2005 for the provision of such facilities are as follows: Raffeen civic amenity facility, €1,134,400; Bandon civic amenity facility, €481,000; and Macroom civic amenity facility, €1,812,000. An additional...

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

Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to media reports in the context of the Environmental Protection Agency's study Dioxin Levels in the Irish Environment Third Assessment — Summer 2004. The attributed comment to the agency that it was not possible to draw clear conclusions from the sampling in the Ringaskiddy area is not linked to any EPA concern about levels of dioxin in the area. The agency...

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

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 648 of 15 November 2005. In addition to the strengthened and simplified enforcement regime introduced by the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Government has increased the resources available to planning authorities to carry out all their planning functions, including enforcement. Planning authorities' staffing levels increased by over 40% in the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The decentralisation programme involves the relocation of my Department's operations to four locations in the south east, namely, Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny. At end October 2005, some 55 staff, including staff newly recruited to the Department, are available for decentralisation and have been assigned to decentralising units. A total of five staff of my Department, who have...

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

Dick Roche: An Bord Pleanála has had a practice of meeting bodies with an interest in the planning process, to keep itself informed and to receive feedback on its performance. I consider that it is entirely appropriate for the board to meet with stakeholders in this way to discuss mutual issues of concern in relation to planning. The chairman of the board has indicated that a meeting was held with...

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

Dick Roche: My Department conveyed approval to Westmeath County Council in April 2005 for the provision of wastewater collection and treatment facilities for Castletown Geoghegan and requested the council to advance the planning of the scheme as quickly as possible with a view to having the scheme completed at the earliest possible date. I understand Westmeath County Council will invite tenders for the...