Results 7,541-7,560 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: For the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol, Ireland is committed to limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels over the 2008-2012 period. In accordance with the National Climate Change Strategy, that target will be met on foot of domestic mitigation action supplemented by the purchase of carbon allowances or credits under the flexible mechanisms provided for in the Protocol....

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 to 493, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. I am prioritising this commitment, as I am anxious to provide early regulatory certainty, in the form of both policy and...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation and the introduction of domestic water charges. To meet these commitments, the Government intends initiating a universal water...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 to 498, inclusive, together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 150 of 26 January and 144 of 9 February 2012, which set out the position in relation to local government reform and the aspects of reform raised in the questions.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government acknowledges that having regard to the pressures on the national finances, the funding of local government and the associated locally delivered services should be put on a sound financial footing, with better alignment between the cost of providing services and the demand for those services. It is clear that local authorities require sufficient funding to ensure...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The recommendations contained in the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group provide important input to consideration of options for expenditure reduction, revenue raising, efficiency and other policy developments. I established an independently chaired Implementation Group, in April 2011, to drive forward relevant recommendations of the Report, with a focus on key...

Written Answers — Electoral Reform: Electoral Reform (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Part 5 of the Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2011, published on 15 December 2011, provides that political parties will face a cut of half their State funding received under the Electoral Act 1997 if they do not have at least 30% women and 30% men candidates at the next general election. Seven years from the general election where this provision first applies, the Bill makes...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: All appointments to boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards. A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR). The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. The Act places the onus on an owner of a residential property which is situated in the State to assess his or her liability...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are no plans to exempt listed buildings from water charges. I have recently established an inter-Departmental expert Group to design an equitable property tax having regard to its terms of reference. This Group has been asked to report to me by end April, 2012. I will then bring proposals to Government for decisions on the structure and modalities of the property tax.

Written Answers — Local Governance Structures: Local Governance Structures (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I established a high level Steering Group in September 2011 to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to review local governance structures with a view to improving the delivery of services to the citizen. The Group was tasked with examining the scope for enhancing the alignment of local government and local development functions and programmes and advising me on options for a...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 to 526, inclusive, together. The recruitment moratorium in the Public Service, which was introduced by the Government in March 2009 as an emergency measure in response to the financial crisis facing the State, remains in place. Under the terms of the moratorium, no public service post, however arising, may be filled. When vacancies arise, public bodies...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a facility in place for exemption of motor tax in respect of disabled persons. This exemption applies to a disabled driver/passenger where the applicant concerned has been admitted to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme. The scheme is operated by the Revenue Commissioners and, as such, the terms of the scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Day to day operations, including staffing levels and opening hours, in the public library service are a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001. My Department provides funding towards the capital costs of approved new libraries, the refurbishment of existing libraries, and mobile libraries and delivery vans. In...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which has been in operation since 1997, promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. The scheme attracts significant interest throughout the country; a total of 515 projects were funded by the scheme in 2011. Funds provided by my Department are matched by the relevant local...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Recruitment to my Department, as with other Civil Service Departments, is conducted centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), who advertise details of recruitment opportunities, in the national newspapers and via their website www.publicjobs.ie as required from time to time. My Department did not, either directly or via PAS, advertise any vacancies in national newspapers in the...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: In July 2011 I announced a number of measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with, and oversight of, the requirements of the Building Regulations. In broad terms the measures will involve:- (a) the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Earlier this year my Department contacted State Agencies under its aegis requesting that Board members be offered the option to waive fees on a discretionary basis. So far my Department is not aware of any board member that has exercised this option.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (23 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, set out the legislation underpinning the household charge and the charge on non-principal private residences respectively. Under the legislation, owners of residential property are liable to the household charge, including those persons with a liability to pay the charge on...