Results 5,181-5,200 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Under the national development plan-Community Support Framework, NDP-CSF, an environment co-ordinating committee was established to promote environmentally sustainable policies for the programmes and measures comprehended by the current NDP-CSF. The committee meets regularly and its terms of reference require it to, first, act as a forum for the promotion of environmentally sustainable...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The North-South unit of my Department is responsible for co-ordinating matters relating to North-South and British-Irish co-operation in the environmental area in the framework of the Good Friday Agreement. This involves promoting and maximising co-operation, preparing and providing input to policy positions, monitoring progress, reporting to the Government and arranging and servicing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Galway County Council wrote to my Department in July 2005 outlining its plans to advance the development of regional offices in Tuam and Loughrea with an anticipated borrowing requirement of €5.5 million. My Department has sought further information from Galway County Council and as soon as this information is received consideration of the application will be advanced.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Contracts submitted by the solicitor for the person named in respect of the sale of a bog to my Department are being examined in the Chief State Solicitor's office in preparation for completion of the transaction.

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: In July 2004 my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The European Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading) (Amendment) Regulations, which transpose Directive 2004/101/EC, were signed on Friday 11 November 2005. These regulations amend SI 437 of 2004 and allow operators in the EU emissions trading scheme to use credits from the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms for the purposes of compliance with their obligations under the scheme.

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 660 to 662, inclusive, together. All of the projects referred to in the questions have been approved for grant aid under my Department's library capital programme. Grant aid of up to 75% of capital costs is available towards approved library building projects and expenditure in excess of the grant aid is a matter for the relevant local authority. The estimated...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county development plan, 2004-10, was adopted in March 2004 and came into effect on 20 April 2004 following an intensive two year preparation period which included extensive public consultation. The objectives incorporated in the plan include building sustainable communities and maintaining existing population levels within built-up areas. Housing demand and...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 312 of 27 October 2005 which outlines the current position regarding completion of the new library in Leixlip. As regards staffing, in August 2005 Kildare County Council sought approval from my Department for additional staff for the new library and arts facility in Leixlip. On 23 August the council was asked for additional information concerning its...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: To date, a total of 680 projects have been approved for grant assistance under the urban and village renewal measure of the regional operational programmes, 2000-06. Some of these projects included the undergrounding of electric cables, but it would be necessary to examine each project file individually and at some length to identify the number of such cases and, in particular, to estimate...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The report of the working group which was established to review the management of dog breeding establishments was submitted to me on 7 September 2005. A copy of the report has been sent to each working group member and to each individual or organisation which made a submission to the group. The report is available on my Department's website and I am also making arrangements to have copies...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 to 674, inclusive, together. The Ballybay, Castleblaney and Clones sewerage schemes have been approved for funding in my Department's water services investment programme, 2004 — 06, at an estimated cost of €2 million, €3 million and €1.5 million, respectively. The schemes are being advanced as a single grouped project for procurement purposes. I...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Monaghan town sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's water services investment programme, 2004-06, at an estimated cost of €13.2 million. I approved Monaghan County Council's preliminary report for the scheme in June 2005 and my Department is awaiting submission of contract documents by the council for approval.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The low cost safety improvement works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced by my Department in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority, NRA. The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of my Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on...

Written Answers — Rural Housing Guidelines: Rural Housing Guidelines (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities were issued on 13 April 2005 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and came into effect from that date. Section 28 of the Act requires planning authorities to have regard to the guidelines in the performance of all of their planning functions. The circular issued by my Department on 11 May 2005 requested...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The accident referred to occurred on the N59 which is a national secondary road. Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority which operates under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Transport. My Department has no function in relation to national roads.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Under the national disability strategy, my Department was allocated €5 million for current expenditure and €10 million for capital expenditure during 2005 to assist in the delivery of services under the Disability Act 2005 by the Department, local authorities and the other public bodies under the aegis of the Department. A further €40 million in capital expenditure is being made...

Written Answers — Housing Estates Audit: Housing Estates Audit (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 683 together. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires local authorities to take in charge the public services of housing estates once these are completed to a satisfactory standard, and-or where they are requested to do so by the developer or by a majority of the residents of a housing development. It has not been the practice for...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The development plan is the main instrument for guiding physical planning within a county. Section 10(2)(i) of the Planning and Development Act requires that a development plan shall include objectives for the provision of, or facilitate the provision of, services for the community, including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and child care facilities. I intend to publish...

Written Answers — Noise and Air Pollution: Noise and Air Pollution (10 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Assessment of air quality is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and air quality management is a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002. The EPA's, Air Quality and Emissions to Air Report 2003, contains details of the monitoring and assessment of national air quality, and incorporates...