Results 881-900 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The regulations deal with new builds -----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Anything under 40 sq. m is exempt. That would be a significant extension. I am concerned about the possibility of customers being exploited by professionals under these regulations. I will monitor the situation over the coming weeks and if I detect that the professional bodies are exploiting customers to the extent that the Deputy alleged - he only mentioned one quotation - I am prepared...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services.  The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: We have no difficulty with publishing the documentation that will be approved by Government in advance of any election. I know that the local elections are Deputy Cowen's primary concern, rather than the level of water charges. However, I would urge everyone to be patient. A lot of consultation is going on at the moment with regard to this matter. When I say "shortly", I mean that in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I must get Government approval first.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen knows that it was his party in government which decided to introduce water charges as part of the memorandum of understanding with the troika. The timescale agreed between the troika and the previous Government for the metering programme and the establishment of a new company was very short. We have simply got on with the work. I can assure the Deputy that we will have the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that self-build and building by direct labour arrangements continue to be possible under the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into operation on 1 March 2014. The Building Control Act 1990 places a statutory obligation on owners, designers and builders to design and construct buildings in compliance with the requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Safety (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: On 31 January 2014, elevated levels of radioactivity were detected at one of the many radiation monitors at the Sellafield site. Following the detection, as a precautionary measure, a decision was taken by the Sellafield site management to have only essential workers report for work, while a thorough investigation was completed. Levels of radioactivity subsequently detected were well below...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) will be delivered using a Community led Local Development approach through the design and implementation of the Local Development Strategies. I can assure the Deputy that the process of selection of Local Development Strategies will include the requirement fully to assess and address the development needs of both Gaeltacht...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (12 Mar 2014)

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, the provision of premises and the making of other such provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Solidarity Fund (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 28 and 31 together. My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had discussions with the European Commission on possible EU funding under the Solidarity and Regional Support schemes. The purpose of the EU Solidarity Fund is to allow Member States to request financial aid in the event of major natural disasters. There is a damage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The report of The Working Group on Citizen Engagement proposes a mechanism to enable the community and voluntary, and environmental, sectors to take an active formal role in the policy making and oversight activities of a local authority. The working group’s report was published on 28 February 2014 and is available on my Department’s website . The framework for public...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Most emergency situations are responded to and managed at local level by the relevant Principal Response Agencies - An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive Area and the relevant local authority. Local authorities are designated as the ‘lead agency’ for coordination purposes at local level. Where a situation merits, national level support can be brought to bear...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board commenced accepting applications from eligible homeowners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme on 26 February 2014. The Board is committed to moving as quickly as possible to the works phase of the remediation process and I understand that it is their intention that this phase will commence in the second half of the year. The initial phase of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 25 and 40 together. My attention has not been drawn to any issue with regard to delays in taking in charge due to the water metering programme. As stated in Circular Letter PL 21/13 issued by my Department to planning authorities on 30 December 2013 in the light of the transfer of certain statutory water services functions from local authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: A key objective of the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government is to develop a system of local government that will act as the primary vehicle for governance and public service at local level. To achieve this, the Action Programme, together with the Local Government Reform Act 2014, has sought to address the significant weaknesses in the current local government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention, of its kind, in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years. It is being implemented by the Local Development Companies (LDCs) on a transitional basis for 2014 pending the roll-out of a new Programme in January 2015. Management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Fund accounts are audited on an annual basis by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Full details of all income to the Local Government Fund are available from the audited accounts of the Fund, published on my Department’s website, . The most recent audited accounts of the Fund are for the year 2012. The estimated income to the Local Government Fund in 2013 and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish Water has informed my Department that it has engaged with SIPTU on a monthly basis since the commencement of the meter installation programme in August 2013. In the metering contracts, Irish Water has set out standards for employment terms and conditions for workers on the metering project. These provide for rates of pay and conditions of employment, including pension, which are in...