Results 501-520 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: I am providing some €870m in general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund to local authorities in 2010. These grants are my contribution to meeting the difference between the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of day to day services and the income available to them from local sources and from specific grants. Clare County Council's general purpose allocation...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The herd number supplied with the question does not relate to any participant in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. On receipt of more information regarding the applicant, my Department will confirm the situation in relation to the payment.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The most recent round of negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Tianjin, China from 4 to 9 October 2010. According to the secretariat to the UNFCCC, the meeting was attended by some two and half thousand participants from more than 176 countries, including Government delegates, representatives from business and industry, environmental...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department, and the appointments made to them by me since my appointment in 2007, are as follows: Name of State Body/Board Names of Persons Appointed since July 2007 Affordable Homes Partnership* Catherine GormanConn Murray An Bord Pleanála Thomas O'ConnorMargaret Byrne Building Regulations Advisory Board Jay StuartBrian McKeonCian...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: My Department set out details of the financial requirements for local authorities relating to the overall management of their capital and current accounts in 2009 and 2010. These arise from the requirements for Government finances as a whole to be managed in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact established under the Maastricht Treaty, and the associated limitation on budget...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: Under the Local Government Act 2001, an elected member who is authorised to attend a conference, seminar or other event is required to submit a summary of the proceedings of that event to the next ordinary meeting of the local authority concerned. Local government auditors may review this matter during the course of their independent statutory audits. A specific reminder about this...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: There is no provision in my Department's Estimate for 2010 for direct receipt of EU funds. Issues relating to receipts from such funds are generally a matter for the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 436, inclusive, together. A judgment delivered by the European Court of Justice in December 2007 (C-418/04) found Ireland to have been in breach of the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives in a number of areas. This included a finding that the designation of Ireland's original suite of Special Protection Areas (SPA's) was inadequate and did...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The information requested in respect of contracts held by my Department with telecommunication providers is provided in the table below. Mobile contracts have been procured under the Government Mobile Framework Agreement. My Department is in the process of procuring services under the Fixed Voice and IP Voice Framework. Data circuits are procured through open tender procedures where more...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The energy requirements of Government Departments, Offices and Agencies were catered for by the former Government Supplies Agency (GSA). The National Procurement Service has subsumed responsibility for GSA contracts. Details of the energy contracts, including the total value for all Government Departments covered by the contract, are indicated below. My Department's main buildings are...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The current rates of motor tax that apply to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles, are set out in Part 1 of the Schedule to the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 as inserted by section 3 of the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Act 2008. I have no plans at present to amend these rates.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: No new agencies have been established on a statutory basis or come under the aegis of my Department since my appointment in June 2007. However, it is intended that the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, a single streamlined housing agency, will take on a range of housing functions currently performed by the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP), the Centre for Housing Research (CHR) and...

Written Answers — State Companies: State Companies (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: In 2010 year I approved the establishment of Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd., as a subsidiary of the National Building Agency, principally to manage land transferred to the company by local authorities under the Land Aggregation Scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, the land is transferred to HSC Ltd after the local authority redeems the loan from the Housing Finance Agency. There...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 445 together. Continued high levels of funding in recent years for the Water Services Investment Programme and Rural Water Programme demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to the sector. Investment in the period 2000 – 2009 has seen an increase in water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 1.1 million and an...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The most recent three-year report on water quality, by the Environmental Protection Agency, Water Quality in Ireland 2004-2006, identifies nutrient enrichment causing eutrophication as the main threat to water quality in Ireland. Municipal sources (mainly sewage discharges) and agricultural activities are identified as the main sources of nutrient enrichment. Of the 2,985 river and stream...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The Government in the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. With some exemptions, the charge applies to a residential property that is not the sole or main residence of the owner. A...

Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together. The monitoring, assessment and management of ambient air quality in Ireland is carried out according to the requirements of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive. This Directive was transposed into Irish law through the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations 1999. Under...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes : Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Kildare. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the programme in County Kildare is some €172m. The Ballyna Regional Water...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has, over many years, taken a number of steps designed to assist in assessing the extent of the radon problem in Ireland. Between 1992 and 1999, the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to identify the scale of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (19 Oct 2010)

John Gormley: I have indicated my intention to publish an Environmental (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill later this session which, inter alia, will amend the Waste Management Act 1996 to provide for greater flexibility in the setting of both the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. It will also introduce a waste facility levy for waste sent to incineration facilities. The Act will also be amended later...