Results 7,621-7,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €230 million in the county during the period of the Programme. The Clonakilty...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department engaged the services of photographers on two occasions in the last twelve months. The details of the engagements are set out in the following table: Event Cost Ireland Best Kept Towns ceremony €932 Tidy Towns National Awards ceremony €600 My Department's Press Office generally provides photographic services when required.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: In line with Government policy, I do not use a state car. My Department has employed two civilian drivers since May 2011 for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements. Details of the salaries and the travelling and subsistence expenses paid to the two drivers since their appointment are set out in the following table. Salary Travel and Subsistence Total Driver 1...

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Rural Development Programme is designed to address directly many of the challenges facing rural communities including the need to increase economic activity and stimulate job creation; improve access to basic services for rural dwellers and encourage rural tourism based on the sustainable development of natural resources. In general, the maximum rates of grant aid available under the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 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 Local...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government has indicated its intention to commence the installation of water meters in households connected to public water supplies later in 2012. It is envisaged that the metering programme will create up to 2,000 jobs per annum over a three-year period and that installation contracts will be awarded to a significant number of private contractors. Staff involved in the installation...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 485 together. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Dungloe and Glenties Sewerage Schemes, which are to advance jointly, are included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 among the list of contracts in Donegal to start in the period 2010 -2012. My Department has approved the tender documents for the work, which involves the provision of new wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and sewers in Dungloe and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 to 473, inclusive, together. I am aware of Dublin City Council's transfer of household waste collection services to a private sector partner. However, the operational and legal implications of the transfer of waste collection services are a matter for the City Council itself. Queries on the matter, including in relation to the tendering procedures...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City 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. Local authorities work individually, jointly and at sectoral level to achieve savings in the procurement area, as recommended by the Local Government...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Article 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 deals with the pension entitlements of city and county managers. My Department has examined the new pension terms for secretaries general to assess how they apply to city and county managers. The implementation of new pension terms will require legislation. The precise detail of this is currently being examined....

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department, in conjunction with the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB), has commenced a review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B (2006). An initial public consultation process, commenced in November 2011 is due to conclude shortly and a workshop for stakeholders was held in January. Both of these consultation...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Panel is due to submit its report to me shortly. In advance of receiving the report I am unable to say what recommendations it may contain. However, on receipt of the report I will give careful consideration to its content and any recommendations it may include.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the charge on non-principal private residences. The Act places the charge under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 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. The Act places the household charge under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Neither I nor my Department have had any communication with Meath County Council regarding the provision of a new graveyard in Stamullen. Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) in Gaeltacht Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. MFG received an overall RDP allocation of €17,278,809 which covered all the Gaeltacht areas under the remit of the groups. The table below details by County, the current...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: This amendment will provide for decreases as well as increases in Civil Service pay to be applied in future to the fund disbursed annually under the Electoral Acts to qualifying political parties. Part 3 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for payments to be made to qualifying political parties from the Central Fund. Given that changes are being made to section 17 of the Electoral Act 1997...