Results 5,581-5,600 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputy for his constructive remarks. He knows from the rationalisation of structures in Northern Ireland that it is not an easy business.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government in Northern Ireland is trying to do the same as we are trying to do here. It is trying to reduce the number of local authorities to 11. I agree with the Deputy that we have taken a lot of staff out of the local government system in the last three to four years. Staff numbers are down by 8,500, the highest number in any segment of the public service. Obviously, numbers in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: How many local authorities are there at present?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: On staff levels, we are keeping everything under review. Given that we have hit the 2015 target in the local government sector, we will examine ways to supplement staff numbers in some areas, such as outdoor services, particularly in rural areas. We are examining ways by which we might be able to achieve this. I cannot make an announcement on it at this stage, but we are working on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: As in most areas of academic work, views on the optimal size of local authorities vary and international comparisons can be complicated by difficulty in comparing like with like. In the light of the range of functions of local authorities, their responsibilities for the delivery of services and the improvements in representational effectiveness and accountability, I am satisfied that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen cannot have it every way. Fianna Fáil was jumping up and down when some of the budgetary details went out prematurely from my office in February 1995 and I resigned. A great deal of information has gone out since and nobody resigned. I will not fall into the situation of detailing what is contained in the budget to the Deputy or anyone else in this House in advance of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The estimate of €420 million in savings on full implementation of the reform programme is comprised of a number of components including savings arising from structural reconfiguration, implementation of the recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group, local authority workforce planning and savings arising from agency rationalisation. Direct savings...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen is well aware that the issue of a property tax was negotiated by his party in November and December 2010 and that it was included as part of the memorandum of understanding. I say as much just in case Deputy Cowen has forgotten.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Thornhill report was to establish how we could implement the decision made by Deputy Cowen's party in government. This will be considered by the Government in the context of the budget. I have stated as much on several occasions. The details of the property tax and its implementation will be outlined in the Budget Statement.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The development of a system of local government funding which is fair, stable, effective and brings greater local responsibility in financial matters is an essential feature of the reform programme for local government. Consistent with the overall local government reform process and as stated in chapter 10 of the action plan for effective local government entitled, Putting People First, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 61, 64, 80, 91, 92 and 98 together. The questions tabled cover a range of issues related to the Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First which I published on 16 October 2012 following Government approval. This is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. The Action Programme sets out Government policy for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Priory Hall Development (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The resolution process, which I understand is ongoing, arose in the context of legal proceedings which were adjourned to afford relevant parties the opportunity to work together, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Finnegan (retired President of the High Court), to identify a way forward in relation to the complex problems at Priory Hall. Given that the matter is before the courts, it would...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced by a new disbursement scheme to be created in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012, which was enacted in July 2012. The 2012 Act, inter alia, amends Part 6 of the Principal Act, which relates to disbursement of monies from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Section 42 provides forthe...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 74 together. Following receipt of the pyrite report in June, I requested the key stakeholders urgently to consider the relevant recommendations in the report and respond to me with their proposals by the end of September. While I have received the responses, they do not provide any definitive proposals that would lead to a voluntary solution for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations in an independent assessment, to establish a public water utility company to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government also decided that the question of whether the role of Irish Water should be assigned to an existing State Agency merited...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The establishment of Irish Water is a key element of the Government’s policy for the water sector and the series of reforms designed to provide a better organisational and funding model for the sector to address the challenges of the future. There are essentially three inter-related components to the reform programme and to date decisions have been taken by Government to: - establish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Expenditure provisions for my Department will be published as part of Budget 2013. These provisions, consistent with the allocations decided by Government in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011 and the associated capital spending review process, will reflect the critical need for further reductions in public expenditure in order to address the major imbalances in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. The primary outcome from its implementation is the provision of a comprehensive, integrated and adequately resourced, world class outdoor recreation product. This will significantly enhance job creation and retention in the sector, support economic and community development in rural areas and boost GDP...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Divisions (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is my intention that the Committee for the review of local electoral area boundaries will be established shortly and that the review will be completed in good time before the 2014 local elections.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are already significantly involved in the regulation of the domestic waste collection industry, particularly through their role in deciding on applications for waste collection permits from service providers and in the enforcement of permits granted. In July 2012 I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland. This new waste policy statement sets...