Results 5,241-5,260 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Under the Waste Management Acts the statutory responsibility for national hazardous waste management planning rests with the EPA which has prepared a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan. Section 60(3) of the Act precludes the Minister from exercising power or control over a matter for which the Agency has statutory responsibility. The Department therefore does not compile or maintain a...
- Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: There are standing arrangements for regular discussions on matters of interest between my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the farming representative organisations. I have no plans to have a special meeting with the Irish Farmers Association on this issue.
- Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: As indicated in the reply of 17 April 2008, these works include cutting of mature trees and the excavation of over 9,000 cubic metres of sand and silt within a candidate Special Area of Conservation. An ecological assessment of the effects of the works is required under the Habitats Directive. This assessment was carried out by the OPW, and received by my Department of 17 June. It is...
- Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The conservation study of the Rathcroghan archaeological complex, Co. Roscommon was published in Autumn 2007 and can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Since the publication of the conservation study, my Department has been in contact with Roscommon County Council to progress the relevant recommendations in the study in the context of the review of the Roscommon County...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: My Department has funded a pilot programme, proposed by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, to test a range of new, small-scale wastewater collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The objective of the pilot programme is to evaluate new approaches to meeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of rural communities and to examine the potential role for...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: A successful Producer Responsibility Initiative has been in operation since mid 1997 in relation to farm film/silage bale wrap. Producers â i.e. manufacturers and importers of farm film/bale wrap â pay a levy of â¬127 per tonne of farm plastic placed on the market to a compliance scheme, the Irish Farm Films Producers Group (IFFPG), who in turn are required to meet targets for the...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: A provision of â¬471.374 million is available to my Department in 2008 for the Water Services Investment and Rural Water Programmes. By the end of June, â¬81 million from this provision had been recouped to local authorities under these Programmes in respect of water supply schemes.
- Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Management of public drinking water supplies is in the first instance the responsibility of the relevant local authority, which has a range of instruments and measures available to produce and conserve sufficient supplies to meet anticipated needs and to ensure quality standards. The Government's commitment to improving water services infrastructure to meet the highest international...
- Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE). I am satisfied that appropriate powers are available to these enforcement authorities. The 2005 report of the OEE, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identifies the unauthorised collection and fly-tipping of waste as one of the problem...
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: My Department received a Letter of Formal Notice dated 27 June 2007 from the European Commission under Article 226 of the Treaty, seeking the observations of the Government on whether the "local needs" test contained in a number of County Development Plans for the granting of planning permission for one-off dwellings in rural areas is compatible with Articles 43 and 56 of the EC Treaty which...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: My Department has carried out a review of rating legislation with a view to the future introduction of a consolidated rating code. The Commission on Taxation, established in February 2008 in line with the Programme for Government, is currently considering options for the future financing of local government as part of its overall review of the structure, efficiency and appropriateness of the...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I am providing substantial general purpose grant funding of over â¬990 million from the Local Government Fund to Local Authorities for 2008. The amount being made available for general purpose grants this year represents a significant increase over the final allocations for 2007 which totalled â¬947.7 million. These grants are my contribution to meet the difference between the cost to each...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: 1,387 staff (Whole Time Equivalents) were employed in my Department on 31 May, 2008 including seasonal and temporary staff. All staff have office or workstation space and the necessary supports to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.
- Written Answers — Recreation Facilities: Recreation Facilities (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: A once-off scheme for the provision of skateboard facilities was introduced in 2005. 21 projects with funding of over â¬2m were announced in November 2005. Progress with the provision of the facilities is a matter for individual local authorities and timescales vary taking account of matters such as planning and procurement requirements. 17 local authorities have completed their projects...
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The Planning Code provides for extensive public notification of proposed development. It is a general requirement that a valid application for planning permission must be advertised by site notice and newspaper notice. The site notice must state, inter alia, that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the planning authority, and that submissions or...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Funding is not available for this project from the Environment Fund.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Grant aid in respect of 161 playgrounds has been awarded to local authorities by my Department under the 2004, 2005 and 2006 playground schemes. Progress with the completion of these projects is a matter for the individual local authorities and time scales have varied considerably due to a range of planning and procurement issues locally. At the end of 2007 there were still some 80 playground...
- Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question 628 of 17 April. It is important to appreciate that only 139 of Ireland's 1,500-1,600 raised bogs are designated and only 32 of these are subject to the 10 year derogation that comes to an end this year. While a similar 10 year derogation applies to the balance of the 139 bogs designated after 1999, turf cutting may continue as before on the vast majority of bogs.
- Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Turf cutting may continue on Lismorocha/Lismuragh Bog and Trumera Bog as they are not designated either as a Special Area of Conservation or a National Heritage Area.
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Accounts of State agencies do not generally show the administrative costs separate from other expenditure. The administrative costs of the agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned and my Department is not involved in their day to day operational activities.