Results 7,061-7,080 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities have reduced staff numbers by 8,431 (22%) whole time equivalents while State agencies under the aegis of my Department have reduced staff numbers by 168 (18%) since 2008. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium...

Written Answers — Local Development Companies: Local Development Companies (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Development Companies referred to in the Question are independent companies with their own board of management and memorandum and articles of association. My Department has no role in the internal operations of Local Development Companies and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company as the employer, to...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Galway. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €130 million in the county during the period of the Programme. Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: In 2010, my Department received and approved an application from Dublin City Council, under the Remedial Works Programme, for the funding of pyrite-related remedial works at Clancarthy Court Senior Citizens Complex. Funding under this Programme may be made available to local authorities to fund major refurbishment works to dwellings with serious structural defects, for older units, and also...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household...

Written Answers — Leader Programmes: Leader Programmes (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Under the rules of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) the donation of buildings, formal leases, equipment, materialsor services free of charge or at a nominal cost as part of a project may be used as private matching funds for community-based projects; this includes any such donations from Local Authorities. In the context of land/property all lease agreements must stipulate the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 164 of 23 February 2012. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Environmental Regulations: Environmental Regulations (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Dry cleaners are regulated by the Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Organic Solvents Regulations 2002, and are required to demonstrate compliance with the Regulations and hold a certificate of compliance from their local authority to this effect. The certificate of compliance must be renewed annually. In order to obtain a certificate of compliance, a dry cleaning operator must...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 146, inclusive, together. I have established an Inter-Departmental Group on Property Tax to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The overarching objective of the water reform programme is to put in place structures and funding arrangements that will ensure we have a world class water and wastewater infrastructure that meets all environmental and public health standards, can attract foreign direct investment and support job creation and maintenance in key sectors such as pharma-chem, IT and food and drink. It is...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), for which my Department has responsibility, continues to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities. In general, the rates of grant aid available under the measures of the RDP are 50% for private promoters and 75% for Community promoters with some higher rates available for specific activities such...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. To be taxed as a goods vehicle, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for that purpose and used solely in the course of trade or business. If a vehicle is being used in a private capacity, it must be taxed at the private rate of motor tax. The appropriate form to use in the case of a change of particulars of a vehicle is Form...

Written Answers — Local Government Charges: Local Government Charges (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. I understand that local authority staff have carried out all functions required in relation to the administration of the Household Charge and no...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Technology: Telecommunications Technology (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The issue of the potential health effects of mobile phone masts was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This Report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, is available for download on my Department's website (www.environ.ie). The Expert Group reported that the majority scientific opinion was that no adverse short or...

Written Answers — Rural Development Programme: Rural Development Programme (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I can confirm that the notification process to obtain the necessary state aid clearance to provide grant aid in excess of €200,000 under the Basic Services and Village Renewal measures of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 is underway and is at an advanced stage. A final response is expected from DG Competition in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy may be aware that a working group was set up between officials of my Department, the IRHA and some members of the Oireachtas. This working group is discussing a number of issues of concern to the haulage industry. I am sure the Deputy will understand that I cannot pre-empt the outcome of those discussions which are ongoing. I should point out that a fuel rebate system, as...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 780 and 796 together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 402, 416, 381 and 382 of 27 March 2012 which set out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Local Government Charges: Local Government Charges (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a range of options available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system www.householdcharge.ie is in place in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit/debit card. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order, credit/debit card by completing the relevant payment details on the...

Written Answers — Local Government Charges: Local Government Charges (18 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/IMF and ECB commits Ireland to introducing water charges for households. The objective of the water metering programme is to install water meters in households connected to the public mains and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. The metering programme will commence prior to the end of 2012. I expect that the...