Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The determination of the policies and objectives to be incorporated in any individual development plan is primarily a matter for planning authorities in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities are required to prepare a development plan every six years and to send notice and a copy of the draft development plan to...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1349 and 1378 together. My Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress in July 2004. A major part of this agreement involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation. The new rates are deemed to reflect the increase in the value of bogs...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers, that is, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics such as silage bale wrap and sheeting, are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The farm plastics recovery...

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Local Government Act 2001 modernises the legislative framework, supports community involvement with local authorities in a more participative local democracy and underpins generally the programme of local government renewal, including the position of county and city councils as the primary units of local government. The Act takes account of the recommendations of the 1996 report of the...

Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Local Government Act 2001 has been designed to provide a modern legislative framework for all local authorities. Under the Act all town councils, including former town commissioners, may take action to promote the community interest; exercise a representational role, with an office of mayor and structured linkage to the county council; provide local amenities and raise a local community...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The lands known locally as the Spit of Inch are located in candidate special area of conservation, cSAC, 000343 Castlemaine Harbour. While I have received representations recently concerning the use of the lands at Inch, these did not seek reduction of the extent of the cSAC. An appeal was lodged in 1997 against inclusion of lands at Inch in the cSAC, but, in view of High Court proceedings,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Belgooly water and sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006, under theserviced land initiative, at an overall estimated cost of €1.05 million. Cork County Council's preliminary report for the water element of the scheme, and an associated application for increased funding, are under examination in my Department and...

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware that the Northern Ireland authorities have recently renewed a ban on hare coursing in their jurisdiction which was introduced in January 2004. In the experience of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, the main determinant of hare population levels is the availability of suitable habitats and land management practice and capture of hares for coursing does not...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The holly is a common shrub or small tree of deciduous woodlands and hedgerows, especially in upland areas. I am aware of concerns recently expressed regarding the impact of cutting of holly from hedgerows. Cutting of holly for traditional Christmas use can indeed cause unsightly localised damage but holly is extremely resilient and grows back strongly after having been cut. This is one of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The Gweedore sewerage scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 to start construction in 2005. A certificate of completion of planning is awaited from Donegal County Council to enable my Department to finalise its consideration of the contract documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Contract three of stage 1 of the Desertegney water supply scheme, which is a public rather than a group water scheme, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 to commence construction as soon as possible. Additional information is awaited from Donegal County Council to allow my Department to finalise its consideration of the contract documents for the scheme.

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: A sum of €3.81 million has been allocated by my Department under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for the construction of a new visitor centre to serve Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo. This is Ireland's sixth national park, established in 1998, and it incorporates some 11,800 hectares of blanket bog. An attractive and extensive site of 42.3 hectares has been purchased by my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The information sought in respect of foreign travel undertaken by my predecessor between June 2002 and September 2004 is set out in the following table. The travel tickets in each case were booked centrally and paid for by my Department in respect of scheduled flights. The Department of Defence bears the costs in respect of travel by Government jet. The table shows those attending the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1365 together. My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, and the Office of Public Works to ensure the active implementation of the Government's decentralisation programme for it. The programme involves relocation of staff to the four locations of Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Relief: Humanitarian Relief (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: No formal request for search and rescue assistance was received through the EU monitoring and information centre in respect of the recent tsunami disaster. As indicated in the replies to Questions Nos. 954 and 955 of 27 January 2004 and Question No. 65 of 29 April 2004, Ireland was not in a position to send search and rescue teams to Bam at the time of the earthquake in 2004.

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I assume the question relates to the final report of the security working group of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. national stakeholder dialogue. This report was published in December 2004 and is available on the UK Environment Council website, www.the-environment-council.org.uk. While the Office of Civil Nuclear Security, the body specifically responsible for the security of civil nuclear...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1367, 1383, and 1384 together. I recently announced my decision to amend the retail planning guidelines to provide that the floorspace cap on retail warehouses will no longer apply within the functional areas of the four Dublin local authorities and in the other national spatial strategy gateways. The gateway towns and cities are Athlone-Tullamore-Mullingar,...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: The State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department, which are not yet subject to the Freedom of Information Acts are as follows: the building regulations advisory board; the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; the Local Government Management Services Board; the Private Residential Tenancies Board; the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland;...

Written Answers — Regional Road Network: Regional Road Network (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: In 2004, grants totalling €480.2 million were paid by my Department to local authorities in respect of non-national roads. Information regarding expenditure outturn in 2004 on non-national roads by local authorities from their own resources is not yet available in my Department.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (26 Jan 2005)

Dick Roche: Total receipts from driving licence duties amounted to €8.29 million in 2004.