Results 5,481-5,500 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 have funding of €314m for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department is at an advanced stage in developing a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework, which will set out a process by which we can help to reduce Ireland’s vulnerability and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. I expect the Framework, which will be designed to evolve over time as further evidence and policy options become available, to be finalised by year-end.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Section 13A(3) of the Electoral Act 1992, as inserted by section 4 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, makes it an offence to use the register of electors for a purpose other than an electoral or other statutory purpose. It would be a matter for any Department to ensure that adequate provision in law has been made for use of the electoral register by that Department or by its agencies. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 673, 704 and 706 together. Illegal dumping and the operational implications of the transfer of waste collection services in the area covered by Dublin City Council are matters in the first instance for the City Council. My Department’s role is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the enforcement authorities,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 to 681, inclusive, together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 51 and 428 of 23 October 2012. The Report of the Waterford Local Government Committee estimated savings, primarily payroll related, associated with the merger of Waterford City and County Councils at €3.87m. In addition, the Committee has indicated that further savings in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 703 together. The Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the metering programme.  In addition, the Government has recently approved the preparation of legislation to assign the necessary powers...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Audited financial information on the local government sector is available in the 2010 consolidated Annual Financial Statement available on my Department's website at Each local authority is also required to prepare and publish a financial statement in respect of each financial year. Detailed financial arrangements for the local authority mergers in Limerick,Tipperary and Waterford are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s approach to the reform of local government, as set out in Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government provides, inter alia, for the introduction of Socio-Economic Committees (SECs) within each city/county local authority area. These SECs will assume many of the local and community development responsibilities of City/County Development Boards...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 691 and 692 together. The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Ballybofey/Stranorlar Sewerage Scheme upgrade is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013, as a scheme to start construction during the lifetime of the Programme. My Department is awaiting the submission by Donegal County Council of its Preliminary Report for the scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Rural Development Programme (RDP) is governed by EU regulations and is subject to the rigorous audit and verification requirements. My Department is charged with ensuring that there is no misappropriation of funds and that all expenditure under the RDP is in line with the regulations as set out by the European Commission. In this regard a robust system is in place to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The correspondence in question relates to proposals to amend the Building Control Regulations which were the subject of an extensive public consultation process earlier this year and which are currently being finalised for signature into law. A detailed reply to the representations will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: As set out in the programme for the development of climate policy and legislation which I published in January 2012 , the commitment to issue heads of a Climate Bill in the fourth quarter of 2012 to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and stakeholders, for their consideration, remains on schedule. While I am committed to an open and transparent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland , was published in July 2012. Among the measures included in the policy is the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households. The working group, which comprises representatives of my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Collection (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 709, 716 and 718 together. The Local Government Management Agency is administering the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. There was no existing comprehensive database of residential properties and their owners within the State prior to the Household Charge being introduced. The collection of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Collection (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 715 and 723 together. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the H ousehold C harge. Under section 4(4) of the 2011 Act, a person is currently entitled to a waiver if the residential property is situated in an unfinished housing estate. The 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) is decided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Exchequer Savings (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: Information regarding potential cost savings which could arise if the salaries in question were reduced is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Household Charge Exemptions (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: I see no reason why a person who is not liable for the Household Charge and who has paid in error should not obtain a refund. Queries in relation to operational issues, such as the time taken to process a valid refund, should be directed to the Household Charge Bureau or to the local authority in question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Nov 2012)

Phil Hogan: The rate of grant available for Group Sewerage Schemes is €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which has a role in advising me on rural water policy, proposed that the rate of grant be reviewed during 2012. As a result of a review carried out by my Department, I propose, in the first instance, to...