Results 5,861-5,880 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 115 together. My Department has not contested the ownership of the Lusitania. In 1995, following reports of divers, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of the Lusitania wreck and an underwater heritage order was placed on it. The effect of the order was to extend to the wreck of the Lusitania the same protection under the National Monuments...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: On 4 April 2005, together with officials of my Department, I met representatives of Thom's Directories who are seeking changes to electoral law in so far as it relates to use of the register of electors for other than electoral or other statutory purposes. On 18 May 2005, I received from one of the representatives concerned correspondence about a newspaper article on the issue. Neither I, my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Briefings: Local Authority Briefings (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: There is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003, for each county or city manager to arrange to meet with local parliamentary representatives as a group at least annually. It is understood from informal inquiries made with local authorities that since the regulations came into force, all managers have met with some or all of their relevant...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The South East Agenda 2020 report was prepared by a south east agenda task force on behalf of the south east chambers of commerce. At the invitation of the sponsors I was pleased to launch the report last week. South East Agenda 2020 takes account of the Government's national spatial strategy, which sets out a 20 year planning framework designed to enable every part of the country to achieve...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 85, 106, 124 and 790 together. It is not possible to ascribe any individual death directly to exposure to radon, particularly as a recent European study published in the British Medical Journal on 21 December 2004 shows that the risk of contracting lung cancer from radon is 25 times greater for smokers. However, the Radiological Protection Institute of...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 87, 98, 123 and 792 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 24 and 26 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Community Climate Change Consortium for Ireland, c4i, project, established in 2003, has allowed the development of a regional climate model facility for Ireland within Met Éireann. This will increase national capacity to analyse future climate conditions in Ireland and their impacts at local level. The results outlined in the report, Climate Change — Regional Climate Model Predictions...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Subsequent to the approval of the Waterford bypass road scheme by An Bord Pleanála, test archaeological investigations were carried out which revealed the existence of the Viking site at Woodstown. A proposal to preserve the site underneath the road was made to my Department. An internal working document, evaluating various options including full excavation and preservation under the road,...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: In general, where any person carries out an activity that involves a risk to groundwater, that person carries primary responsibility for protecting the groundwater against pollution. Among public authorities, responsibility for the protection of groundwater is assigned principally to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related regulations. In addition,...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Question Nos. 77, 118 and 128 together. The European Environmental Agency, EEA, report, Annual European Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2003 and Inventory Report 2005, published on 21 June 2005, collates latest available greenhouse gas emissions figures from all EU member states. Collectively, emissions of all greenhouse gases rose by 1.5% from 2002 to 2003 across...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 125 together. The Health Research Board report was commissioned as a literature review which is a recognised research tool. This is particularly so where original research is precluded, as in this case by the absence in Ireland of facilities for the thermal treatment of municipal waste. My response to the report was put on hold to allow regard to be had...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The employment of staff is a matter for each local authority. It is open to the authorities to provide short-term summer employment for students. Such employment could meet relevant requirements of the local government sector, as well as offering work experience of benefit to the students concerned. The cost of any such summer employment would be met from the authorities' own resources and...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The table gives the information requested by the Deputy. Category of Requestor 2005 Jan-June 2004 Jan-June 2003 Jan-June 2002 Jan-June Media 26 11 48 22 Business/ Interest Groups 12 16 35 31 Oireachtas/ Public Reps 6 3 20 14 Staff 1 3 1 1 General Public 24 30 105 87 Totals 69 63 209 155

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Draft amending regulations to the habitats regulations 1997 are being finalised in my Department to include greater powers to control activities that may adversely affect protected sites such as the use of quad bikes. I also understand that some local authorities have made or are in the process of making by-laws to regulate such activities in upland or other vulnerable habitats.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 778 together. Following the recommendation of the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector, in its September 2000 report, a scheme of performance related awards was introduced in the local authority sector for managers, assistant managers and directors of services, commencing with the calendar year 2003. The operation of the scheme is...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The city neighbourhoods competition was established in 2003 on a two year pilot basis. The aim was to replicate the success of the national Tidy Towns competition in the five cities, by encouraging city communities, in partnership with business interests and local authorities, to actively engage in maintaining and enhancing their local environment. On completion of the pilot phase this year,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Regulations (No. 2) 2005 are at an advanced stage of preparation and will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed in this country. There are seven directives in my Department's area of responsibility which are outstanding for transposition. These are: 2000/53/EC — end-of-life vehicles: this directive was due for...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: As indicated in my previous reply, formal statistics on the number of child care places that have been delivered in accordance with the planning guidelines for child care facilities are not collated by my Department. However, a sample survey of a number of planning authorities was recently conducted by my Department to determine the number of child care facilities and child care places being...

Written Answers — Local Authority Functions: Local Authority Functions (28 Jun 2005)

Dick Roche: Local authorities have a role in controlling emissions to air and water. With regard to emissions to air, under the Air Pollution Act 1987, primary responsibility for monitoring air quality, as well as the nature, extent and effects of emissions, rests with local authorities. Statutory responsibility for the enforcement of the Act is vested in local authorities which are empowered to require...