Results 7,201-7,220 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments is empowered by relevant Oireachtas resolutions to carry out such preliminary investigations in private, as it thinks fit. My Department has cooperated with all requests by the Tribunal to make files available. However, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of material provided in this way to the Tribunal, on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1108 of 26 September 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Oct 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 — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 313, 316 and 317 together. Local authorities were asked by my Department in 2006 to carry out detailed assessments of the needs for capital water services infrastructure in their areas and to prioritise their assessments, taking account, inter alia, of: national and EU environmental and public health requirements and standards, including the EU Urban...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I am aware of the current staffing needs identified by Fingal County Council in relation to the opening of the new library in Malahide, and use of enhanced facilities at Garristown library, and am more generally reviewing the overall employment levels in the local government sector having regard to the need to deliver front line services and achieve value for money within the parameters of...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Question Nos. 125, 150, 301, 312 and 322 together. The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage...

Written Answers — Electoral Boundaries: Electoral Boundaries (10 Oct 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 — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 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 — Urban Renewal: Urban Renewal (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Local authorities are statutorily empowered to acquire, either by agreement or compulsorily, land, including brown field and derelict sites, for the purposes of developing or securing or facilitating the development of such land. These powers include the power to acquire sites for the establishment of strategic development zones. Under both the 1999 Urban Renewal Scheme, which encompassed...

Written Answers — Wildlife Legislation: Wildlife Legislation (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Section 36 of the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000 provides for the regulation of commercial shoot operators. This section, which is permissive in scope, has not yet been commenced because of the increasing demands of other high priority nature conservation requirements, in particular those associated with the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 146 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 — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Development plans provide the over-arching strategic framework for sustainable development within their areas, with a view to ensuring that all development is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms. As such, the development plan must offer clear guidance on sustainable development policies and objectives, both national and local, which address the full range of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 141 together. Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter lies with local authorities, who are required to take all practicable measures for the prevention, control and disposal of litter in their functional areas. The appointment of litter wardens is a matter for individual...

Written Answers — Local Authority Area Boundaries: Local Authority Area Boundaries (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I understand that my predecessor was invited to meet with a delegation in early 2007. I have recently received an invitation to meet with a delegation of Midleton Town Council, to which I will reply shortly. I also intend to respond to Midleton Town Council's application for a boundary extension as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Community Facilities: Community Facilities (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Development plans provide the blueprint for the sustainable development of an area, including the co-ordinated provision of infrastructure and services. Requirements for public open space and recreation space provision in connection with development proposals, particularly residential development, should be clearly set out in the development plan. Planning authorities must respond to the...

Written Answers — World Heritage Status: World Heritage Status (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: In order to nominate a site for World Heritage Status, it must be on the tentative list of sites submitted to UNESCO. The current tentative list was compiled in 1992 by an internal Departmental committee, following a public consultation process, and formally submitted to UNECSO in accordance with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Georgian Dublin was not included in the tentative list at...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 156 together. The principal recommendation in the Ninth Progress Report of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution (APOCC), on Private Property, was for the implementation of the central proposal of the 1973 majority "Kenny Report", a "designated area scheme" under which local authorities would be empowered to compulsorily acquire land...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1102 of 26 September last. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (10 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Litter Pollution Acts, 1997 to 2003, prohibit the leaving or throwing litter in a public place or in any place that is visible from a public place. This includes the creation of litter in the carrying on of a business, trade or activity or in the loading, transporting or handling of items. The legislation also places an onus on owners and occupiers of property to keep their properties...