Results 7,061-7,080 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Tourist Accommodation: Tourist Accommodation (23 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 were amended in 2002 to set the licence fee for a fingerpost type directional sign to indicate tourist accommodation, which does not exceed one metre in length, at €50. It is not currently planned to increase this fee. My Department has been in contact with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in the context of the ongoing implementation of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (23 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 184 of 13 October 2004. The position is unchanged.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The purpose of the motion is to allow an amendment to enable the tribunal to complete its work by 2007. This is significantly earlier than would be the case if the amendment were not made. Under the existing terms of reference for the tribunal, it is mandated to investigate any allegation of corruption associated with the planning process. The fourth interim report issued by the tribunal on...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: I thank Members for their contributions. Senator Bannon made the point that the Government should have involved the Opposition in the discussions with Judge Mahon. This matter arose in the other House as well. It is simply not possible to do that because the two Houses of the Oireachtas passed legislation in 1998 that prohibits such an approach.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Senator should check the Act.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Act makes it clear——

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Senator should listen for once, and he will hear the truth. The Act makes it clear that the appropriate person with whom to interface or make contact is the Attorney General. That is the way the legislation was drawn. For the record, on the day I received the final draft of these agreements and put them to Government, I contacted the Opposition parties and the Attorney General and spent...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: I am being frank with the Senator. I met four people. He can check with his party leader. There were other contacts which I will not discuss here. The Senator also suggests that when the tribunal ends there will be nothing to replace it. That is not true. On the point raised by Senator Maurice Hayes, the existing power to establish a tribunal will continue to be on the Statute Book and it is...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: If another issue were to be discovered, that would be one approach. The second approach, which Senator Bannon seems to have overlooked but which was mentioned by Senator O'Rourke, relates to the legislation introduced last year by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to establish commissions of investigation. This legislation draws on our experience of tribunals and allows for a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: Annual planning statistics are published by my Department which provide information on the number of planning applications granted each year etc. by local authority area. However, the statistics do not contain the detailed information sought in the question.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: Details of the decision informing local authorities of the devolution of the rural water programme, including group sewerage scheme grants, are set out in circular L6/97 which is being sent to the Deputy and is being made available to the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Mayo Landslide: Mayo Landslide (16 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: Mayo County Council has submitted the final report of the Pollathomas implementation working group, together with the relevant reports prepared by their consultants, to my Department. The report estimates the cost of outstanding work at €1.685 million. In 2003 and 2004, my Department allocated two grants, totalling €2,030,500, to Mayo County Council for immediate remedial works and for...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Killaloonty element of the Tuam main drainage, stage 2, has been approved for construction under the serviced land initiative in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006. I approved Galway County Council's contract drawings for the scheme last week and it is now a matter for the council to arrange for commencement of the works. Details of the area proposed to be...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Adare and Patrickswell sewerage scheme is being advanced as a grouped project and is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 to commence construction in 2005. My Department has approved Limerick County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare detailed design and contract documents for both elements of the scheme. The council's fee...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: My Department has an internal audit unit which, is responsible for giving assurance to the accounting officer on the existence, adequacy and effectiveness of the Department's internal control and risk management systems. In discharging this responsibility the Unit carries out a programme of systems-based audits in all areas of the Department. In compliance with EU regulations this unit also...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: Improvements to both the water and wastewater facilities in Killeagh are included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-6 under the serviced land initiative. Cork County Council's preliminary report and application for increased funding of €0.6 million in respect of the water element of the scheme are under examination in my Department and will be dealt with as quickly...

Written Answers — Dublin Docklands Development Authority: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The executive board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority comprises individuals with business, management, public sector, financial, architectural and engineering backgrounds, and entities with which they are associated may have legitimate business interests in the docklands area. The authority has adopted a formal code of conduct for its board and employees, which requires disclosure...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: A full report of the Environment Council meeting of 28 June 2004 is available on the council website (http://europa.eu.int/pol/env/index_en.htm). The overriding objective of the Irish Presidency of the Environment Council was to continue to promote the EU's progressive approach to environmental protection and sustainable development. We pursued this objective in a number of ways including, in...

Written Answers — Housing Levies: Housing Levies (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Act 2002 came into force on 24 December 2002; accordingly, 2003 is the first year for which figures in relation to section 4 of that Act are available. Based on information supplied to my Department by local authorities, the total amount collected by local authorities under section 4 of the Act was €236,316 in 2003 and €392,090 in the first six months of 2004....

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Nov 2004)

Dick Roche: My Department has received no proposals from Kildare County Council in relation to a sewerage scheme at Kilberry, Athy, County Kildare. Neither were such proposals included in the list of schemes submitted by Kildare County Council in November 2003 in response to my Department's request to all local authorities to undertake fresh assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and...