Results 8,381-8,400 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 437 together. 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...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Since 1990, my Department has, in funding the provision of secondary waste water treatment plants under the Water Services Investment Programme, also provided funding for anaerobic digestion facilities for sewage sludge treatment at such plants. There are some 15 anaerobic digestion plants in Ireland treating sewage sludge at municipal wastewater treatment plants. Anaerobic digestion is one...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have no plans for a public awareness campaign regarding the discharge of chemicals or any other substances into public sewers. Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 provides that an occupier of a premises (or if unoccupied, the owner) shall not permit waste water to be discharged from the premises to a sewer in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, a risk to human health or the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 460 together. The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, particularly the conditions attached to each waste collector's collection permit issued by the relevant local authority under the Waste...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 451 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation designed to inform the policy...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The forms for the purposes of the household charge are available to download in Irish from www.householdcharge.ie.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Primary responsibility in monitoring the implementation of the plastic bag levy in shops and supermarkets rests with the local authorities. This involves local authorities undertaking a range of actions to ensure compliance by retailers with their obligations in respect of the plastic bag levy, including - · carrying out spot checks at retailers; · ensuring that the levy is passed on in...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a range of options available to pay the household charge. An online system is in place in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit card/debit card or by direct debit. In addition, homeowners can make payments by cheque, postal order, etc. through the post to the LGMA. A bureau is in place in the LGMA to administer...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The preparation and submission to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann of the Final Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) are matters solely for the Tribunal itself. I understand that the Final Report is at an advanced stage of preparation. Once complete, it is then the sole responsibility of the Clerk to arrange for the laying of the...

Written Answers — Sewerage Treatment Systems: Sewerage Treatment Systems (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together. The Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 sets out the duties for owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems including septic tanks. The Bill requires an owner of such a system to ensure that it does not constitute, or is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment and, in particular, that it does not create a...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Acts, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including matters in respect of the provision of waste infrastructure, are the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned, in this case Cork County Council. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, I am precluded from exercising...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am adopting a progressive approach to the reform and development of local government in accordance with the Programme for Government. Decisions have already been taken to merge the authorities in Limerick and Tipperary and implementation work is proceeding. I have also established a Local Government Committee to consider whether Waterford City and County Councils should be unified. The...

Written Answers — Local Government Audit Service: Local Government Audit Service (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The list of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, as it appeared in Appendix IIA of the Government Statement on Public Service Reform, 17 November 2011, is repeated below. Body Action 16 Local Government Management Service Board Merge Local Government Management Service Board & Local Government Computer Services Board into Local Government Management Agency 17 Local Government...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 470 together. As part of a rigorous appraisal of the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I announced, in October, 2011, further measures in relation to the rationalisation programme with the overall number of agencies being reduced from 21 to 12. The agency rationalisation/efficiency agenda is being kept under review insofar as all...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: As part of a rigorous appraisal of the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I announced, in October, 2011, further measures in relation to the rationalisation programme with the overall number of agencies being reduced from 21 to 12. Overall, savings in the order of €1.9 million have been achieved to date in the agency rationalisation process and I anticipate that this should...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The table contains the information requested in relation to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department and Pobal which is a limited company. Agency / Board Total Number of Board Members Remuneration of Chair 2011 Remuneration of Board Members 2011 An Bord Pleanála 10 PPC Rate €206,616 and the Non PPC Rate €196,285 Ordinary Board Members - €127,588 and the Non PPC Rate...

Local Authority Charges (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. To give him some background on it, the reason we are introducing this household charge is the requirement in the EU-IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, which commits us to a property tax in 2012. It was not possible to do the more progressive fairer system on this occasion and therefore we had to bring in a modest charge initially in...

Local Authority Charges (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion. We will advertise proactively regarding the payment of the household charge in a few weeks time. A leaflet will be put through every door to remind people of their obligation to pay the charge as well as setting out where and how they can pay it.

Building Regulations (24 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I can understand the deep frustration of the residents, which the Deputies have articulated, but we should not lose sight of the fact that Mr. McFeely is responsible for this as well as the professional people, as Deputy Wallace said, who signed off on this development. That is no comfort to the residents this evening as we speak in this House in terms of the difficulties they have...