Results 5,221-5,240 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The overall costs of the decentralisation programme to my Department cannot be quantified at this stage but will be agreed with the Department of Finance in the context of the Estimates process over the lifetime of the programme. The more significant costs arising, which are being borne by the Office of Public Works, involve the acquisition and fit-out of office accommodation. The Department...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The audit committee in my Department has a role regarding reviewing the development and implementation of a risk management strategy in the Department. The committee receives a briefing on progress in that regard at its quarterly meetings. The committee has been supplied with copies of the Department's decentralisation implementation plans. The committee noted that the plans, inter alia,...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The application from the persons named is being assessed by my Department and an offer to purchase the lands in question should issue shortly.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: A reed bed is a common term for various natural biological waste water treatment systems employing constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands are, in appropriate circumstances, a suitable form of waste water treatment for small communities if properly designed, constructed, operated and maintained. In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency published a manual on treatment systems for small...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: On 7 October 2003, my Department issued approval in principle to Monaghan County Council for the construction of a new library headquarters and branch library at Clones. Monaghan County Council subsequently submitted a detailed design and cost plan for the project. On 10 October 2005, my Department wrote to Monaghan County Council seeking clarification of aspects of the proposal. Further...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The compilation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority in accordance with electoral law and includes the carrying out of house-to-house inquiries, delivery of registration forms and running local awareness campaigns. It is the duty of registration authorities to ensure as far as possible the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register;...

Written Answers — Departmental Planning: Departmental Planning (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Department's primary concern is to ensure that, when severe weather conditions arise, the local authorities are geared to respond promptly and effectively to offset the worst effects of these conditions. The Department reminds local authorities each year of the need to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to deal with severe weather conditions. This includes the need to...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter problems rests with local authorities. I am satisfied that local authorities have adequate powers under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 to tackle any potential littering problem that the distribution of free newspapers may cause. On the broader issue of recycling of newsprint, the Department is in discussion...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume the question refers to proposals from local authorities regarding funding for skateboard facilities. The 34 proposals submitted to the Department by city and county councils included applications from Laois County Council and Kildare County Council. Town councils were not invited to submit applications and accordingly no proposal was received from Athy Town Council. All applications...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 767, 777 and 778 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 97 of 25 October 2005. Planning authorities have been asked by my Department for a report on their policies on the attachment of conditions relating to management companies to planning permissions for various types of residential developments. On receipt of their responses, I intend to consider...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The draft action plan published on 27 April 2005 by Sustainable Energy Ireland on behalf of an interdepartmental working group comprising senior officials from the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and SEI provides for the phased implementation of the directive over the period 2006-09. The definitive action plan is...

Written Answers — Dog Breeding Industry: Dog Breeding Industry (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: A working group to review the management of dog breeding establishments nationally was appointed in September 2004. The group was established in response to a number of cases of mistreatment of dogs on so called "puppy farms". The terms of reference of the group were to examine the current position regarding management of kennels and to make recommendations for such improvements, including...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in north Tipperary county is a matter for North Tipperary County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by the Department. In June this year, local authorities were invited to submit proposals to the Department for inclusion in the 2006-08 restoration improvement programme. It is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and waivers is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. Traditionally waste management services have been...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Appointments to the boards of State bodies under my aegis are made on the basis of reference to the qualifications of the individuals concerned. There is no information available as to whether appointees may suffer from a disability.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers — manufacturers and importers — of farm plastics such as silage bale wrap and sheeting are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The Irish Farm Film Producers...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has recently had discussions with Roscommon County Council with a view to undertaking a conservation plan for archaeological sites at Rathcroghan, which would include matters such as public access. The intention is to conclude consultation on the plan with relevant stakeholders and to complete the plan by the middle of next year.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: It is open to local authorities to fund community-led projects from within their own resources. Funding is available from my Department to community groups in the Border region under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2000-06, PEACE II, in respect of a range of infrastructure projects, which could include parks and heritage related facilities. Applications for funding under this...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Milltownpass sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in the Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 under the rural towns and villages initiative at an estimated cost of €4.28 million. The Department approved Westmeath County Council's proposal to appoint a client's representative to prepare contract documents for the scheme in June 2005 and the Department is...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Rathowen sewerage scheme, estimated to cost €1.23 million, is included in the Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 as a scheme to complete planning. Westmeath County Council's preliminary report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and will be dealt with within the next few weeks. Following approval of the preliminary report, the council will be in a...