Results 7,301-7,320 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Cutting turf on designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) is strictly limited in order to protect this internationally important type of habitat. A derogation was agreed in 1999 for turf cutting, for domestic use only, on less sensitive areas of bogs designated as SACs for a period of up to ten years — that is, until the end of 2008. The area known as Cloonkeen Eighter is part of the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The most complete and up to date statement of Galway County Council's water services infrastructural requirements is set out in the Assessment of Needs produced by the Council in response to my Department's request to all local authorities in 2006 to carry out fresh assessments of the need for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. I...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 512 and 513 of 2 October, 2007.

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenses: Ministerial Expenses (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested is set out in the following table: Minister of State Noel Ahern TD 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 € € € € € Ministerial Monthly Allowance 12,170 12,170 12,170 12,170 5,071 Travel & Subsistence 15,931 12,905 18,894 19,710 20,390 Misc. Expenses 871 Minister of State Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher TD 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 € € € € €...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 to 263, inclusive, together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1150, 1151, 1153, 1155 and 1167 of 26 September 2007, in which I comprehensively addressed this issue.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Building Control Act 1990 assigns primary responsibility for complying with the Building Regulations to the owners and builders of buildings. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities, who are empowered to carry out inspections of buildings and initiate enforcement action, where appropriate. The Building Control Act 2007...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. It is generally accepted that vehicles powered by biofuels and hybrid technology can have significantly reduced emissions compared to equivalent conventional models. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which organises the purchase of the Ministerial fleet through the Government Supplies Agency, has purchased 7 hybrid cars...

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I am delighted to be here in the Seanad and to have been given the opportunity to discuss this very important issue. I have dispensed with the ministerial speech because I am so interested in what has been said, and I want to respond to the speakers. I congratulate Senator Ivana Bacik on her initiative, as well as her Independent colleagues. I also congratulate Mr. Oisín Coughlan of...

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: It will happen. Do not worry.

Written Answers — Serviced Land Initiative: Serviced Land Initiative (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The following table sets out details of Serviced Land Initiative schemes approved by my Department since the beginning of 2002. County No. of Schemes Value â'¬ Carlow 1 714,000 Clare 2 3,066,000 Cork 17 35,660,000 Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown 1 20,000,000 Galway 3 2,230,000 Kerry 2 489,000 Kildare 6 6,099,000 Kilkenny 3 1,986,000 Louth 3 3,086,000 Mayo 8 2,054,000 Meath 3...

Written Answers — Outdoor Events: Outdoor Events (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together. My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts and the Habitats Regulations relate to the conservation of populations of certain wild animals. As foxes are not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts I do not have a licensing or regulatory responsibility in relation to fox hunting. Applications for hunting licences under the Wildlife...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 188 of 27 September, 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: There are various legislative provisions applicable to noise nuisance, as well as a number of practical arrangements to reduce the instances of unnecessary noise from alarms and to tackle persistent incidence of such noise. Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. In the case...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I assume that the Question refers to conditions attached to planning permissions requiring the payment of development contributions. Development contributions are a key mechanism in ensuring that the local community gains from new developments. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The process of route selection for major road schemes is intended to allow road proposals to be refined to avoid or mitigate any adverse effects on the environment discovered during that process. The potential scientific importance of woodland adjacent to Ballyvourney was brought to my attention during the process of route selection for a by-pass of the village which is currently being...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The scheme to extend the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply from Shrah to Westport and to upgrade the water treatment plant in Tourmakeady is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09, to start construction next year. My Department approved Mayo County Council's Contract Documents for the scheme in January 2007, subject to agreement between the Council and the...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The 'Heritage Towns' is a Fáilte Ireland tourism initiative, which in turn is under the aegis of the Department of Art, Sport and Tourism. Funding for the Heritage Towns organisation would be a matter for that Department and I understand that this organisation has received funding previously. However, my Department has a Built Heritage Capital Programme which may benefit Heritage Towns....

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (2 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...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together. Section 22 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides for the alteration of the number of members of a local authority; however this section has not been commenced to date. The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform by the end of the year, which will examine a number of...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Planning legislation does not make any particular provision for recognition of a right to light or remedy from any nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. This is an issue that should ideally be resolved at a local level by the parties involved rather than through specific primary legislation. However, while I have no specific proposals at present, the matter will...