Results 5,621-5,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages and assists the community’s support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. The following table outlines the budget provision from 2008 to 2012....

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

Phil Hogan: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy, and those data are available on my Department’s website . Data on the number of motions, concerning planning issues, made under section 140 of the Local Government Act 2001 where notice is given, the number of motions passed by the council and...

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

Phil Hogan: My Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, managing or dealing with the dredging of rivers.

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

Phil Hogan: On 22 October I announced the membership and terms of reference of the Waterford Reorganisation Implementation Group, which will be chaired by Mr Sean Aylward, who chaired the Waterford Local Government Committee. The Group will complete its work by the end of June 2013 with the production of an Implementation Plan to set a clear agenda and guidance for the completion of the reorganisation...

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 431 and 432 together. An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable local property tax to replace the household charge. The Group has submitted its report to me and proposals will be brought to Government as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government...

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

Phil Hogan: I have no immediate plans to amend the legislation governing commercial rates. Local authorities are under 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 Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility...

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. The Government decided, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment and in line with the commitment in the programme for Government, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government has...

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

Phil Hogan: The Dungloe and Glenties Sewerage Schemes, which are to advance jointly, are included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 among the list of contracts in Donegal to start in the 2010-13 period. My Department has approved the tender documents for the work, which involves the provision of new wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and sewers in Dungloe and Glenties. I...

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

Phil Hogan: The management and maintenance of public toilets is entirely a matter for each local authority concerned and one in which my Department has no direct function. No directive was issued from my Department in respect to these toilets.

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

Phil Hogan: The adoption of a development contribution scheme is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine the level of contribution and the types of development to which they will apply. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of development levy amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to...

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

Phil Hogan: The provisions for managers' orders are set out in section 151 of the Local Government Act 2001. The manager is required to keep a register with a copy of every order made by him or her. Making managers' orders available for inspection by members of the public is a matter for the local authority concerned and is not prescribed by the Local Government Act 2001. In this regard, while the...

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

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia, through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines) and provision for mediation procedures between neighbours.  The development of new noise legislation by my Department will be considered in the context of this commitment. However, as...

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

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. The work of the Western Development Commission (WDC) is important in promoting the development of the western region, specifically in relation to job creation and enterprise, and I will appoint a Chair to the Commission shortly. I can also confirm that the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive Officer for the WDC will commence...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (23 Oct 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: Rural Development Programme (23 Oct 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. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. In this context it may also be possible to consider funding to support...

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

Phil Hogan: Under the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003, it is a statutory function of each individual fire authority to make provision f or a fire service in its functional area. This includes the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable for carrying out...

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

Phil Hogan: My Department provides funding towards group water and group sewerage schemes by way of annual block grant allocations to local authorities under the Department’s Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group scheme proposals for funding and advancement...

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

Phil Hogan: The key objectives of my Department’s Community Division are to facilitate integrated development at local level and foster vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities; and to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. My Department continues to be responsible for a range of programmes and initiatives to support...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges (23 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 my reform programme. By international standards, the revenue base of local authorities in Ireland is relatively narrow, and local authorities here are disproportionately dependent on central Government...

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

Phil Hogan: The independent Pyrite Panel submitted its report to me in late June 2012. The comprehensive report contains twenty four inter-related recommendations which are well researched and underpinned by a broad consultation process. The report provides a framework to make progress towards quickly providing solutions for homeowners and that is now my focus. The Pyrite Panel included a detailed...