Results 5,081-5,100 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Planning Issues. (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I am grateful to Deputy Eamon Ryan for raising this matter and allowing me to put the facts on the record of the House. As Members are aware, An Bord Pleanála plays a key role in ensuring that major developments in Ireland are delivered in accordance with proper planning and sustainable development and in line with best land use practice. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Council Directive 2003/122/EURATOM of 22 December 2003, which relates to the control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources, requires member states to introduce the legislative and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive before 31 December 2005. Ireland is on schedule to meet the transposition deadline.

Written Answers — Housing Developments: Housing Developments (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 267, 270 and 271 together. A working group of the Law Reform Commission is examining a range of legal issues relating to the management of multi-unit structures. The Government will consider the recommendations of the final report, including the necessity, if any, for new legislation in this area. Management companies operate in the majority of apartment...

Written Answers — Land Acquisitions: Land Acquisitions (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I understand that the acquisition of property interests on An Blascaod Mór is currently being addressed by the Office of Public Works in consultation with the Chief State Solicitor's office. This would include consideration of the draft agreements referred to in the question.

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 668 of 15 November 2005. Detailed information on undergrounding of electric cables in the context of urban and village renewal projects is not available to my Department. Such projects are not however likely to have entailed undergrounding of high voltage 220 kv cables.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Ballygar water supply scheme was eighth on the list of water schemes submitted by Galway County Council in response to my Department's request to all local authorities in 2003 to undertake assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. The priority lists were taken into account in the framing of the Water Services...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Enforcement in relation to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, over the last two years my Department has provided funding of €823,930 to Louth County Council on an exceptional basis in recognition of the particular difficulties which arose for that authority in responding to instances of illegal dumping of oil-laundering...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 strengthened the powers of planning authorities to issue tree preservation orders, which in their opinion are required in the interests of amenity or the environment. These orders, inter alia, can place a prohibition on the cutting down or removal of trees or can require the owner or occupier of land to work with the planning authority to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Article 28(j)(ii) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides that planning authorities must notify the National Roads Authority about applications for permission for development that might give rise to a significant increase in the volume of traffic using a national road. I consider that this provision is sufficient in its current form to ensure the authority is notified of key...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: At present six former employees are working in my Department under contract arrangements, in addition to our permanent staff of 1,363 whole-time equivalents. All are paid an appropriate daily rate which is abated to keep the total of fee and pension payments within the relevant salary. All the contractors involved were formerly employed in professional grades in relation to which delays in...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume the question refers to the reply to Question No. 261 of 23 June 2005. As previously indicated, Government efforts and resources, together with those of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, are continuing to focus on highlighting public awareness of radon and on improving information to householders so as to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: If I may respond through the Chair, the Senator made some good and interesting observations. There has been a phenomenal change on the build side and I will send the Senator some details on that.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Much of the latter part of his commentary would be very much in line with my thinking. We will have some words on that in another place.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on the important subject of housing. Housing is as important to the modern dynamic Ireland of the 21st century as it was to our newly established State early in the last century, which was a situation of urban slums and rural deprivation. It was a big focus of public policy. Good quality housing is fundamental to our economic...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I know the feeling.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Payments totalling €6.252 million were made to Laois County Council in 2004 from my Department's capital provision for water and sewerage services.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department's press office serves the Minister, both Ministers of State at the Department, as well as the Department. Details of the staffing of the press office were set out in reply to Question No. 637 of 2 November 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Staffing details for the constituency offices of the Ministers of State at my Department are set out as follows: Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern. Permanent Civil Servants Temporary Unestablished Civil Servants Number of full-time equivalents Grade number of full-time equivalents title 1 Executive Officers 1 Personal Assistant (HEO grade) 2 Clerical Officers 1 Personal...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The lower Liffey valley sewerage scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006 to commence construction this year at an estimated cost of €30 million. The scheme, under which the wastewater collection systems in Leixlip, Kilcock, Straffan, Celbridge and Maynooth will be upgraded and improved, also includes measures to eliminate odours from the existing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Posts at grade IV level, assistant staff officer, in local authorities are filled by a combination of open and confined competitions. In the case of open competitions, the educational qualifications for assistant staff officer posts currently declared by my Department require candidates to have obtained a certain standard in the leaving certificate or in an equivalent examination or hold a...