Results 9,521-9,540 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF includes a commitment to introduce water charges for households. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Programme for Government envisages that charges will apply to usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to...

Written Answers — Pyrite Contamination: Pyrite Contamination (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have recently established an independent panel with the remit of seeking to facilitate a resolution of pyrite contamination in private housing. The panel has commenced its work and is meeting with various groups and individuals who can assist it in completing its task. They have been asked to complete their work as quickly as possible and to report to me early in the New Year.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR). The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. The Act places the onus on an owner of a residential property which is situated in the State to assess his or her liability for the charge...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Dublin City Council's intentions in relation to its household waste collection services are a matter for the City Council itself. As regards policy concerning household waste collection generally, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, whereby service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 134 together. I have no plans to amend the Building Control Act 2007 along the lines suggested and there is no question of non-registered persons being allowed to use the title of architect. Section 22 of the Act makes specific provision for a category of practically trained persons who had already been providing architectural services in Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department delivers the Local and Community Development Programme. While it does not directly provide grants to produce community newsletters, it funds actions aimed at tackling poverty and social exclusion - among other things, it supports actions which facilitate increased access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources for...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Issues: Health and Safety Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The issue of potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report published by Government in March 2007 entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. This report is available for download on my Department's website (www.environ.ie/en/publications ). The Expert Group examined a wide range of issues in relation to the potential health effects of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland commits the Government to the introduction of a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. Following an application by Dublin City Council, the High Court ordered that the unsafe development at Priory Hall be evacuated on 20 October 2011 and that the developer carry out an agreed schedule of necessary remedial works to be reviewed by the Court on a weekly basis. In response to a report from Dublin City Council stating that the...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (10 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The following tables set out the information requested: No. of private vehicles taxed on the basis of CO2 emissions at 30 September 2011 CO2 emissions category (grams per km) No. of vehicles A (under 120) 82,235 B (121 – 140) 152,669 C (141 – 155) 57,730 D (156 – 170) 24,221 E (171 – 190) 9,672 F (191 – 255) 3,890 G (over 255) 645 Total 331,062 No. of private vehicles...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Dún Laoghaire Sewerage Scheme, Phase 1 (Carysfort-Maretimo Stream) is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 among the list of contracts in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown to start in the period 2010-2012. In January 2011 my Department approved funding to allow Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to award the contract for the work. While the administration...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Ballyhale Waste Water Treatment Plant Upgrade is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 as a contract to start within the lifetime of the Programme, as part of the Kilkenny Grouped Villages Sewerage Scheme. Kilkenny County Council wrote to my Department in October 2011 with revised proposals for some remedial works at Ballyhale Waste Water...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 257, 258, 268, 269, 292, 294, 295 and 302 of 2 November 2011 which sets out the position in relation to climate legislation. The Climate Policy Review was issued on 3 November 2011 and is available on my Department's website www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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. This system of market structuring is known as franchise bidding. A Regulatory Impact Assessment is currently...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There are 36 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations. My Department...

Written Answers — Local Electoral Areas: Local Electoral Areas (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Unlike for Dáil constituencies, there are no constitutional or statutory requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area boundary reviews. The most recent reviews of local electoral areas were carried out in 1998 and 2008. The June 2009 local elections took place on the basis of the local electoral areas enacted following the 2008 review. The next local elections are due...

Written Answers — Voting Age: Voting Age (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government sets out a comprehensive range of constitutional reform measures including the review by a Constitutional Convention of reducing the voting age to 17. I will bring forward proposals for change to electoral law in light of the decisions for change which may arise from these processes.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: An inter-agency approach is underway to assist those affected by the severe flooding which occurred in Dublin and the surrounding region on 24 October 2011. Community Welfare Officers, working in co-operation with the local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, have been contacting households and individuals identified as being particularly vulnerable, and emergency clinics have been...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. The Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011, which provides for the establishment of a system of registration and inspection of septic tanks and other on-site systems, was published on 3 November 2011. Details of how the new system will operate are included in the Bill and the accompanying explanatory memorandum. The Regulatory Impact...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, and in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, my Department has begun to examine the scope for greater alignment over a range of Local Government and Local/Community Development functions and programmes. While it is too early at this stage to determine the outcome of this process, my aim is to ensure the long-term...