Results 6,841-6,860 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (21 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 provides that I may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack, during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. The Ward Union Hunt applied to my Department for a hunting licence for the 2007/2008 season. In my consideration of the licence...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (21 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of the implementation of this policy, my Department has allocated funding of over €8 million to County...

Written Answers — Control of Dogs: Control of Dogs (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 535 together. Regulations to give effect to the recommendations of the Working Group to Review the Management of Dog Breeding Establishments are being prepared in my Department and I hope to have them finalised as soon as possible. Matters relating to animal welfare are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table. The Exchequer provision for 2008 will be settled as part of the determination of the public services estimates to be announced in the context of Budget 2008. Local Government Fund Year 2006 2007 â'¬ Million â'¬ Million Exchequer Contribution 532.575 537.141 Exchequer Contribution as % of Total Expenditure 37.53% 35.07%

Written Answers — Electoral Commission: Electoral Commission (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 537 together. The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling electoral...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 563 together. Unlike for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there are no legal requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998; the next local elections are due to take place in 2009. I am at present considering the issues around a review of local...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: A Forum on Fluoridation was established to review the fluoridation of public water supplies in Ireland. The Report of the Forum, published in 2002, concluded that water fluoridation has been very effective in improving the oral health of the Irish population, especially of children, but also of adults and the elderly. The Forum recommended that the fluoridation of piped public water supplies...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 528, 538 and 539 together. In law the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The compilation of the Register and the carrying out of a Census are different processes with...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The River Boyne and River Blackwater candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) (Site Code: 002299) was proposed for designation in accordance with the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 on the basis of scientific information. The area in question contains habitats and species listed on Annexes I and II of the EU Habitats Directive. The landowner in question has...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: In Budget 2007, it was announced that it was planned to introduce changes to the current vehicle registration tax (VRT) and motor tax systems to take greater account of environmental issues, and in particular Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Programme for Government re-affirms the commitment to introduce measures to rebalance these taxes in favour of cars with lower emissions. My...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Section 10 (2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 states that the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community is a mandatory objective for development plans. Part III of the First Schedule to the Act states that facilities for the elderly is an objective which may be provided for in development plans. My Department issued Guidelines for Planning...

Written Answers — Control of Dogs: Control of Dogs (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998 provide that a person shall not permit one of the dogs listed to be in a public place unless the dog is securely muzzled, and is being led by a sufficiently strong chain or leash, not exceeding two metres in length, by a person over the age of sixteen years who is capable of controlling the dog: American Pit Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher;...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: In December 2006, the Law Reform Commission published a Consultation Paper on Multi-Unit Developments which drew attention to a broad range of issues arising in relation to the governance and operation of such developments, including problems arising from the manner in which company law currently applies to property management companies. The Consultation Paper made it clear that action to...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: A successful producer responsibility initiative has been in operation since mid 1997 in relation to farm film silage bale wrap. My Department has been working with industry with a view to replicating this success for other waste materials arising on farms. These discussions are ongoing. The provision of environmentally sound recovery outlets for these materials, such as fertiliser bags and...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. My Department was informed on 24 October 2007 by a contractor working for Shell, that two boreholes had been drilled in the area of Glengad, Co. Mayo, within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Any such works in a SAC require the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the European Communities...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Athea Sewerage Scheme, which is being advanced as part of a grouped project that also includes Askeaton, Foynes Glin and Shanagolden, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2009. My Department is awaiting submission of Limerick County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Part H of the Building Regulations deals with Drainage and Waste Water Disposal. Requirement H1 (1) of the Regulations, which refers to foul drainage, states that "A building shall be provided with such a drainage system as may be necessary for the hygienic and adequate disposal of foul water from the building". The associated Technical Guidance Document TGD H gives guidance for non-complex...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: General legal authority to charge for water supplies derives from section 65A of the Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878, inserted by section 7 of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1962 (as amended). Additional legislation applying to Wicklow, including the Dublin Corporation Waterworks Act 1861 and the Bray Township Act 1866, obliges Dublin City Council to provide a supply of treated...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (20 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Contracts were executed last week and will be returned to the vendor's solicitor via the Chief State Solicitor's Office shortly.