Results 7,041-7,060 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Market House, Castlepollard, is in the ownership of Westmeath County Council. Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities in the exercise of their functions under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under the provisions of the Act, each planning authority is required, for the purpose of protecting structures, or...

Written Answers — Local Government Representation: Local Government Representation (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998. I am at present considering the issues around a review of local electoral areas and I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter shortly. The number of elected members in each local authority is set out in section 21 and schedule 7 of the Local...

Written Answers — World Heritage Sites: World Heritage Sites (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: As outlined previously, it is intended to review the current tentative list of sites submitted to UNESCO which was compiled in 1992. Georgian Dublin can be considered in the context of that review. UNESCO Natural and Cultural World Heritage sites are only considered for inscription where they are deemed to be of 'Outstanding Universal Value' i.e. "has cultural and/or natural significance...

Written Answers — EU Petitions: EU Petitions (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: My Department responded to the European Commission's requests for information relating to this petition in December 2006, January 2007 and June 2007. The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions visited Ireland in June 2007 and met with officials to discuss, amongst other issues, the subject matter of this petition. My Department has not yet located the files referred to in the response...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Article 3(5) of the Directive 2003/4/EC deals mainly with practical arrangements by public bodies to assist persons to access information on the environment. The Directive has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 133 of 2007). Article (5)(a) requires a public authority to inform the public of their...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: 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 electoral areas and I expect to be in a position to make a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. It does not apply to Secretaries General. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards. Since 2002, the funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit,...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 542 together. The legislative framework for development consent is set out in the Planning and Development Acts 2000 — 2006. In general, planning permission must be sought for the erection of an antenna support structure or mast, and generators, subject to certain exemptions, as set out in the planning regulations under the above Acts. In addition...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The number of drivers without motor insurance is estimated by the insurance industry to be in the range of one hundred thousand drivers. This is calculated by taking the number of registered vehicles from the National Vehicle and Driver File maintained by the Vehicle Registration Unit and subtracting the number of exempted vehicles, e.g., State vehicles. The resulting figure is compared to...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I have been advised by the Chief State Solicitor's Office that a letter has re-issued to the Solicitor acting for the vendor on 23 October, seeking information originally requested on 8 August 2007. The contracts cannot be executed until a satisfactory response has been received.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Arising from previous research completed by the Institute of Public Administration on behalf of the Department in 2004, my Department commissioned further research by a Trinity College / Dublin City University joint team to establish a clear profile of formal systems for regulating lobbyists in public life in certain jurisdictions, thereby facilitating an assessment of their relevance to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Among the core objectives of my Department's 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities is the need to maintain the rural fabric of society, secure more balanced regional development which will facilitate continued economic prosperity in both urban and rural locations and reverse population decline in remoter rural areas. Accordingly, the guidelines are aimed at...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: A sewerage scheme to serve Binghamstown was forty-sixth on the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Mayo County 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. These assessments were taken into account in...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 570 and 571 of 16 October 2007.

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 262 of 24 October 2007. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Mayo Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme, which includes Charlestown, Cross, The Neale, Ballyheane and Crossboyne is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008. Mayo County Council's proposals to service Crossboyne under a Serviced Land Initiative scheme, under which waste water from Crossboyne would be treated in...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Letterkenny Sewerage Scheme is approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 at a cost of €29.2 million. Donegal County Council's contract documents for the procurement of a new wastewater treatment plant for Letterkenny are currently under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible. Once approved, the...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: In April 2007 my Department was asked for its view on a proposal to develop an access road to the graveyard in question. This graveyard, like many others throughout Ireland, is located within an ancient church site, which dates back to between the fifth and seventh century AD. In cases like this, the surviving walled graveyard is usually part of a much larger archaeological site defined by...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: A series of works has been carried out at Killarney House in Killarney National Park over recent years: the golden gates and railings of the house have been restored, a security system has been installed; and heating pipes and radiators have been upgraded. Earlier in 2007 the Gate Lodge at Killarney House was renovated for use as an assembly and information point for walking tours, at a cost...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I understand that the preliminary report of the Rathkeale Interagency Forum is due to be completed shortly and will, in due course, be submitted to relevant Government Departments, including my Department.