Results 5,641-5,660 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: The European Commission's proposal for a directive establishing a framework for the protection of soil was considered at the Environment Council meeting of 20 December 2007 and did not have sufficient Member State support to achieve a political agreement. The proposed Directive has the objective of establishing a common strategy for the protection and sustainable use of soil based on the...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 628 of 17 April 2008. As indicated in that reply, a recent review of the state of our bogs confirmed that continuing damage was occurring, with losses of the remaining raised bog at a rate of 2%-4% per annum. In the light of this scientific evidence, it would not be appropriate to extend the 10-year derogation for raised bogs designated prior to 2002.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating System, or BER as it is more commonly known. The BER system is being implemented under the Regulations in 4 phases: BER for new dwellings was introduced with effect...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government I have overall responsibility for the legislative and policy framework governing development contribution schemes. Under sections 48 and 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of, the local...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in the question is set out in the tables below: Ministers Minister Duration Number of Civil Servants working in Constituency Office Noel Dempsey 1997 – 2002 4 Martin Cullen 2002 – 2004 4 Dick Roche 2004 – 2007 4 John Gormley 2007 – to date 4 Ministers of State Minister of State Duration Number of Civil Servants working in Constituency Office Dan...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 252 and 253 together. A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards and bodies under the aegis of my Department. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the Minister for the...

Written Answers — Light Pollution: Light Pollution (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: There is no environmental legislation pending or in force, at either EU or national level, on light pollution. However, steps have been taken at a national level to help alleviate the effects of light pollution. Irish regulations on environmental impact assessment (of projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment) require an environmental impact statement to...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The EU operates in a manner which encourages and facilitates the search for agreement between the Member States. While the Treaties provide that the principal method of reaching Council decisions is by Qualified Majority Voting (QMV), recourse to voting is very rare because agreement is normally achieved through negotiation. The table below gives the dates for meetings of EU Environment...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1329 of 30 January, 2008. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The recommendations which related to planning in the 2005 Consumer Strategy Group Report focused on the requirement to ensure that the needs of consumers are taken into account within both forward planning and development management stages, the promotion of competition through retail planning guidance and ensuring that planning is not used as a barrier to entry in respect of pub and other...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested in relation to firms of solicitors or barristers engaged by my Department in the past 18 months is set out in the following table: Name of Solicitors / Barristers Purpose of Engagement Fees / Estimated Fees William Fry Solicitors. To provide legal advice for Social Housing Section on the conveyancing aspects of the new Incremental Purchase Scheme. The solicitors...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: I have already announced my intention to increase the landfill levy from €15 per tonne to €20 per tonne. The statutory instruments necessary to give effect to the increased levy are currently being finalised. I intend to make these shortly which will allow the increased levy to take effect from the beginning of the third quarter of this year i.e. 1 July 2008.

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (15 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department does not hold information on the extent to which management companies are operating throughout Co. Kildare or on the number of estates currently taken in charge in Co. Kildare. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides, in relation to any residential estate containing roads, watermains, sewers, drains, etc, that where the estate is completed in accordance...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 656, 657, 658 and 659 of Thursday, 17 April 2008. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 249 and 250 of 3 April 2008. The Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities were published in April 2005, and have a statutory basis as they were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Guidelines are designed to achieve a balance between a good planning framework for rural housing and the...

Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: The pilot community warden service, which was established in five local authorities in 2002, has since been placed on a permanent footing. There are currently 45 warden posts across these authorities. Following a process of adjudication, the practical issues concerning the extension of the service to other local authorities have recently been settled. Accordingly, it is now open to other...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. Section 10(2)(m) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to include objectives for the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht, including the promotion of Irish as the community language, where there is a Gaeltacht area in the area of the development plan. Guidelines for Planning...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Council has already received funding of €1.1 million to undertake a pilot phase remedial works scheme in this estate. This was completed in May 2007. A proposal to extend the pilot phase was received by the Department in March 2007. The proposal, however, did not address a number of issues that arose in the pilot phase and did not meet with public procurement policy. A letter to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet the needs of low-income families...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 May 2008)

John Gormley: A sewerage scheme to serve Blenheim and other areas was sixth on the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Waterford City Council in response to my Department's request to all local authorities in 2006 to undertake assessments of needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of these assessments. The priority lists were taken into account in...