Results 8,741-8,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It would be wrong to say that we do not have a high level of recovery of end-of-life vehicles. Currently the recovery level is 70% to 75%. We have targets to meet by 2006 and by 2015.

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: No costs arise at this point. The Minister has clearly indicated that the regulations will be in place to ensure no costs will apply. With regard to 2001, I understand there was no finality to an agreement between the three parties.

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand there was no finality to that.

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can check my records as I do not have the information to hand, but my understanding is that there was no finality in terms of any agreement in 2001. With regard to the SIMI, there were tentative arrangements at some stage which, obviously, were not agreed to by the other groups involved, but negotiations have continued. The dismantlers group took an action to the European Court. We have the...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (17 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am satisfied that the penalties and enforcement powers in the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 are adequate to deal with dog fouling. Primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including dog fouling, lies with local authorities.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (17 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Information on the operation of the local improvement scheme in each county council area is sought from councils each year. This includes details of the number of applications on hand and the estimated cost of those applications at the end of each year. Table 1 sets out details of the number of applications on hands and the estimated cost of those applications at the end of 2003 and the...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (11 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Air quality assessment is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and air quality management is a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. The EPA's 2002 annual report on air quality monitoring contains details of the monitoring and assessment of national air quality. It incorporates data from all air quality monitoring stations operated by the EPA...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (11 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Waterford County Council's proposals for new fire stations at Tallow and Portlaw, together with an extension to Dungarvan headquarters fire station, are under consideration in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme. Having regard to the overall availability of resources under the programme it was not possible to approve additional fire station projects in...

Written Answers — Fire Services Capital Programme: Fire Services Capital Programme (11 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. Waterford County Council's tender proposal for the purchase of a new fire appliance, which was submitted to my Department on 5 January 2005, is at present the subject of correspondence with the council. On the receipt of the outstanding information a decision will issue to the council as early as possible. A further new fire appliance has...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Three out of five.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is estimated that between 20% to 25% of first-time lettings by local authorities to households are allocated to single persons. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of letting priorities, my Department has advised local authorities of the...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (27 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of a fire service is a matter for the individual local fire authorities in accordance with section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities in the active provision of a fire service through a range of functions, including capital funding assistance towards the cost of the provision of fire stations. In the case of new fire stations, the...

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: We introduced several measures in the last budget.

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Probably next to it.

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Opposition cannot understand the benefits of the guidelines.

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister of State, Deputy Browne, would not do that.

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, confirmed last night that there is a remarkable record of achievement by this Government with regard to housing. He clearly demonstrated that housing is a priority for the Government. There is a clear and comprehensive housing strategy which is designed to increase supply. We are increasing supply. We are also increasing access to housing for lower...

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will outline the facts.

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government accepts that housing supply is the key to keeping house prices down. It is working to that end by investing in infrastructure, using land effectively through higher residential densities and streamlining the planning mechanisms. It is no surprise, therefore, that there was no acknowledgement by the Opposition during this debate of the considerable strides made in the housing...

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Measures were introduced to boost overall housing output. There were almost 77,000 completions in 2004 compared with a mere 22,000 ten years ago.