Results 781-800 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has, for many years now, worked towards assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country. Between 1992 and 1999 the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to identify the scale of the radon problem...
- Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I have recently given final approval, with amendments, to River Basin Management Plans developed jointly by the local authorities in each River Basin District. In accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive these plans set out environmental objectives to be achieved and measures to be implemented to protect and improve our waters. The plans, which have been developed...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: Drainage works are generally the responsibility of the Office of Public Works in the context of measures to alleviate flooding, and the lead role in the preparation and funding of any regional drainage plan would accordingly fall to the OPW. Where my Department provides funding for local authority sewerage schemes in urban areas, these schemes may, on occasion, provide limited measures to...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: Provision is made in my Department's Vote for 2010 for capital expenditure by local authorities and others of some â¬1.509 billion this year, including â¬880 million in respect of housing and â¬508 million for water services. Work is proceeding on the planning, construction and financing of investment projects across these programmes so as to secure maximum benefit from the resources...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 210 of the 27 May 2010 which outlined the position in this matter.
- Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together. The monitoring, assessment and management of ambient air quality in Ireland is carried out according to the requirements of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive. This Directive was transposed into Irish law through the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations 1999. Under...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I propose to take Question Nos. 537 and 538 together. As Minister, my role is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for...
- Written Answers — Illegal Dumping: Illegal Dumping (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE). I am satisfied that appropriate powers and resources are available to these enforcement authorities. The 2005 report of the OEE, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identified the unauthorised collection and fly-tipping of...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: The Government has considered the position in relation to the former Irish Steel/Ispat site at Haulbowline, noting the outcome of the site investigations, the requirement for various works and further monitoring recommended by the environmental consultants, and the development issues, particularly technical constraints, site boundary issues, zoning issues and regulatory requirements. The...
- Written Answers — Heritage Sector: Heritage Sector (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: While there is no comprehensive data available on employment in the heritage sector, I am satisfied that the sector is making an important contribution to the Irish economy. For example, Fáilte Ireland's Survey of Travellers 2008 estimates that up to â¬2.3 billion was generated for the Irish economy from overseas tourists who engaged in cultural and heritage pursuits. Fáilte Ireland's...
- Written Answers — Non-Principal Private Residences: Non-Principal Private Residences (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: As of 6 July 2010, a total of â¬111,990,940 had been raised from the charge on non-principal private residences, â¬46,929,340 of which was in respect of 2010. The charge is being levied and collected by local authorities. Income from the charge is retained by the individual local authorities that collect it and is used to support the provision of local services.
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 17 on today's Order Paper.
- Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: The Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme operated by my Department has generated substantial interest since it was launched in 1999. In excess of 2,000 applications and/or expressions of interest have been received over the intervening years. All offers to purchase by my Department are subject to contract. Delays have occurred as a result of the need for surveys, examination of title and the large...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: Scientific reviews have already been carried out on designated raised bog sites. A number of reports commissioned by my Department clearly conclude that ongoing cutting on these sites, as well as the associated drainage, is causing significant loss of the European priority habitat, active raised bog. Under the EU Habitats Directive, Ireland is legally obliged to ensure the long-term...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: The general scheme of the legislation to provide for the Mayor was published on my Department's website in February 2010, as an opportunity for further consultation before its finalisation, and to facilitate early implementation of the Bill's provisions, once enacted. The Bill, to provide for the mayoral electoral process as well as the powers of the Mayor and Regional Authority, is a large...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: Retirement lump sums for civil servants are calculated on the basis of 3/80ths of salary per year of service, subject to a maximum of 11â2 times the salary on which superannuation benefits are based. Under the terms of the Public Service Agreement (PSA), pay reductions which took effect in January 2010 are currently disregarded for the purposes of calculating superannuation benefits....
- Waste Management (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: My Department assumed responsibility for a range of foreshore functions in the middle of January 2010. The foreshore application for the Poolbeg waste to energy project is one of 700 applications which now fall to be dealt with by my Department. The relevant file for the Poolbeg project was forwarded to my Department on 25 January 2010. The foreshore licence element of the Poolbeg project...
- Waste Management (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: It is not compatible with Government policy. I cannot give the Deputy the average time, as only two applications have come in and been completed in my Department. This is unprecedented in that it is the first ever case we dealt with under which the terms of both sections 226 and 227 of the Planning Acts were used to disapply certain provisions of the Foreshore Acts and that is why the then...
- Waste Management (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: I assure the Deputy that this will be dealt with in a fair and transparent manner. I simply do not believe the Deputy's statement that Fine Gael is opposed to-----
- Waste Management (8 Jul 2010)
John Gormley: -----incineration. Its councillors in Dublin City Council are making the opposite statements, as are its councillors in Dublin North.