Results 5,501-5,520 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. My Department and I are directly involved in ongoing and frequent North South engagement up to a very high level. This involves regular contact with the Department of Environment in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the North South Joint Secretariat based in Armagh. This work is undertaken in the context of...

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

Phil Hogan: The Historical Landfills Working Group was established in September 2011 . The Working Group provides a platform to share experience and to assist local authorities to standardise the certification of old unlicensed legacy municipal landfills, in accordance with the Waste Management (Certification of Historical Unlicensed Waste Disposal and Recovery Activity) Regulations 2008. Given its...

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 734, 743 and 744 together. The Waterford Local Government Committee was established on 23 September 2011. Full details in relation to its work , including the matters raised in the question, are contained in The Report of the Waterford Local Government Committee which was submitted in March 2012. The Limerick Reorganisation Implementation Group was...

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

Phil Hogan: The steering group referred to in the Question was established in June 2011 to oversee the independent assessment on the transfer of responsibility for water provision from local authorities to a water utility which was required under the Programme of Financial Support for Ireland with the EU/IMF/ECB. The group , which is chaired by my Department ( Mr Mark Griffin, Assistant Secretary ), has...

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

Phil Hogan: Under the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011, which transposed the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) into Irish law, there is a requirement to evaluate existing waste management plans by 31 December 2012 and, consequent to such an evaluation, to revise plans as appropriate. The Waste Framework Directive requires waste management plans to set out “an...

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

Phil Hogan: I established the independent Pyrite Panel in September 2011, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Brendan Tuohy with Mr. Noel Carroll and Mr. Malcolm Edger as the other members . The Panel held 67 meetings and issued a comprehensive report containing 24 recommendations in July 2012 . I am now in the process of implementing the report’s recommendations in a way that will deliver solutions for...

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

Phil Hogan: I established the Alignment Steering Group on 28 September 2011 with the following membership: Mr Jim ley, Chairperson; business strategy consultant and company director; Dr. Patricia O’Hara, regional policy expert and Adjunct Professor at the National Institute for Regional Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) NUI Maynooth; Mr. Liam Keane; former public servant with the HSE; Ms. Martina...

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

Phil Hogan: The local government efficiency review implementation group was established on 29 April 2011. The Implementation Group is independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). In addition to the Chair, the members of the Implementation Group are as follows; Mr. Des...

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

Phil Hogan: The independent group to review staffing levels in Cork City Council was established in December 2011. The Implementation Group is independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). In addition to the Chair, the members of the Implementation Group are as follows; Mr. Des...

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

Phil Hogan: The Environmental Law Implementation Group ( ELIG ) was established in December 2011 to assist in the protection and enhancement of Ireland’s environment by seeking to support further transposition, implementation and enforcement of environmental law through improved communication between policy makers and environmental non-Government organisations, including An Taisce. The membership...

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

Phil Hogan: I established the independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable Local Property Tax in the context of decisions to replace the Household Charge. The Group had an independent chair, Dr. Don Thornhill, and comprised the following representation:- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - Department of the...

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

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the Household Charge. The legislation provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the Household Charge. The waivers which apply concern - - Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and -...

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

Phil Hogan: The proposals in relation to local government arrangements within counties contained in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government will give rise to a review of local electoral areas and associated membership in Dublin. This will be a matter for examination by an independent statutory boundary committee in accordance with relevant criteria to be set out in terms of reference. It is...

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

Phil Hogan: The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicated that it would be reasonable to project a target for overall savings in the range €15 to €20 million per annum relative to 2010 expenditure figures as potentially achievable from changes in sub-county governance when the new arrangements have bedded down. In relation to...

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

Phil Hogan: The FixYourStreet Review Group was established in September 2011 and was chaired by my Department (Mr Donal Enright, Principal Officer). The Review Group included representatives from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, South Dublin County Council and the Local Government Management Agency. The Review Group met once, subsequently finalised the drafting of its...

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

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Audit Service and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General Critical Review Group was established in June 2012. The Group was independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). It included representatives from my Department, the Departments of...

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

Phil Hogan: A group has been established to oversee implementation of Green Tenders:An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement which was published earlier in 2012. The Group is co-chaired at Principal Officer level by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. The first meeting of the Group was held on 18 July 2012. A further meeting of the Group is due to take place in...

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

Phil Hogan: A roster system is in use in the local authority sector and in Met Éireann, a division of my Department. There are no plans at present to change those systems, which are necessary for business reasons. There are no employees employed on a roster basis in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

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

Phil Hogan: There are no retired staff employed by my Department There are two former public servants employed on a consultative basis in State agencies under the aegis of my Department. I understand that there were two requests to my Department for derogations in relation to very short term arrangements for two local authority personnel, who retired before the end of the grace period this year, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges (25 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The development of a system of local government funding which is fair, stable and effective and brings greater local responsibility in relation to financial matters is an essential feature in the reform programme for local government. The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland contains a commitment to introduce a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the...