Results 5,281-5,300 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: The draft action plan for the implementation of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC in Ireland was published on 27 April 2005 by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, on behalf of an inter-departmental working group comprising senior officials from my Department, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and SEI. A copy of the draft action plan is available...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: Prior to the local authority playground grants scheme 2004, my Department did not operate a specific scheme of grants for playground projects. The 2004 scheme provided up to 50% funding for the development of new, or renovation of existing, playgrounds throughout the country. While the scheme was administered by the National Children's Office, the grants were paid out of my Department's Vote....
- Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that it shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy, during the period from 1 March to 31 August, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or, during the same period, to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch. There are a number of derogation...
- Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: Grant assistance of â¬471,432 has been allocated to Sligo County Council for the civic amenity site at Tubbercurry. The subvention given to Sligo County Council towards the operating costs of recycling facilities is not ring-fenced for each facility, so a detailed breakdown in relation to the specific site is not available. In total, Sligo County Council has received â¬96,050 in subvention...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to the service related projects element of the initiatives fund which was launched by my Department in 2001 as part of the local government modernisation programme. This element of the fund was geared towards assisting local authorities in initiatives which would improve customer service and customer care in innovative ways, facilitate the convergence of...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: In regard to landfills which are closed or are now closing, but which when in operation complied with the then existing legal requirements, a direction issued by me has reminded local authorities of their obligation to identify and risk assess all such facilities having regard to modern environmental standards. The EPA is preparing a methodology to assist in the risk assessment phase of this...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: My Department does not provide dedicated funding for the collection of household hazardous waste. A subvention is provided towards the operational costs of civic amenity and bring sites, but this is not ring fenced by material type. Sligo County Council has received a total of â¬96,050 subvention since 2003 and Leitrim County Council has received â¬111,600. No subvention has yet been issued...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed in this country. Since 1997, some 65 communications have been received relating to the transposition of directives in areas for which my Department has responsibility. These have involved directives in the areas of...
- Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I am communicating the full attendance at this meeting to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: The limited 1996 sampling exercise in Dublin referred to in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 11 October 2005 indicated that, depending on the sampling method employed, a range of between 6% and 12% of the properties sampled at that time would not have met the interim EU standard for the end of 2003. This finding is not likely to be more widely representative since lead water...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: A code of conduct for employees of local authorities was published in June 2004 under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 and it is an integral part of the ethical framework for the local government service. The code includes disclosure requirements concerning employment outside the local government sector and addresses situations concerning a conflict of personal and public interest....
- Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: The procedures for the appointment of county and city managers and their removal from employment are set out in Part 14 of the Local Government Act 2001. Recruitment to such posts is carried out by open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service which recommends a person for appointment as manager to the relevant council. The appointment of a manager by a county or city council,...
- Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: In July 2001, my Department approved a proposal by Kildare County Council for the acceptance of a tender in relation to the provision of a new library atLeixlip. Further progress with this project is a matter for Kildare County Council. I understand that the local authority is currently in the process of commissioning the library which involves book stocking and the provision of IT services...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: The information requested is set out in the following table. 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m â¬'m General Purpose Grant Allocations 339.28 367.97 438.58 469.15 554.81 592.41 663.91 751.66 816.98 Other Exchequer Payments 529.87 491.62 577.65 646.28 768.20 866.38 851.06 896.01 920.00 (Estimate)
- Job Losses. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and apologise on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who unfortunately cannot be present. The Minister has asked me to say how concerned he is that Seafield Technical Textiles Limited has announced that owing to adverse trading conditions, it has become necessary to cease trading with the loss of 38 jobs. He is...
- Job Losses. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: On behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, I assure the House that the State development agencies, including the local county enterprise board, under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, will continue to work closely together and with local interests in promoting Youghal and the surrounding area for further job creation and...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is an interesting case and as he stated no fraud was intended on the part of the 237 households. However, because of a glitch they were effectively receiving a double allowance for the same purpose. The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive payments...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: In other cases it has happened and from the taxpayer's point of view the Deputy understands why that is. There was no fraud by any of these people. As a long-standing policy within the scheme, fuel allowance is not payable to those who are able to provide for their heating needs from their own resources, for example, if they have access to their own fuel supply or benefit from a subsidised...
- Electoral System. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: I thank Deputy O'Malley for raising the issue and I assure her that being an ex-Government backbencher is even more frustrating than being a backbencher. I say that as one who has suffered that ignominious situation, when the people of Wicklow turned the other way once. I welcome the report of the Democracy Commission. The report, entitled Engaging Citizens, is the culmination of over two...
- Electoral System. (26 Oct 2005)
Dick Roche: Indeed, shame on them. The reality is that it was an exercise in real politics and the cynics who often criticise politicians castigated that practice but the situation has worsened since it ended. There is a collective responsibility on us all as individual citizens to check the register and make sure our details are correct. There is also a clear role for public representatives to promote...