Results 941-960 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Legislation was enacted in December 2013 (The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013) which established Irish Water as the national water services authority from 1 January 2014. The Act provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 local authorities to Irish Water. Section 14 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that the Minister may, from time to time, designate the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The most recent meeting of the Alignment Working Group took place on 6 March 2014 and the next meeting is scheduled for 2 April, 2014. Previous consideration by the Working Group focused on an approach for the implementation of my Department’s local development programmes under Local Community Development Committees. This involved a key role for the existing partnership companies in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Staffing (11 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: Leader Programmes Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: In line with the Local Government reform process and Putting People First it is envisaged that there will be closer alignment with Local Government for the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP). However, the composition of the Local Action Group (LAG) will be in line with the Regulations which require that the LAG comprises of representatives of public and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The European Court of Auditors (ECA) report examined a number of Members States in its 2010 and 2011 reports. One of the issues highlighted by the ECA related to an imbalance with regard to decision making in the LAGs of some Member States. The ECA stated that the “potential added value of a partnership was not achieved in LAGs where the decision-making was dominated by the local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment Facilities Inspections (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 assigns responsibility to the EPA to make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was adopted and published by the EPA in February 2013. The Plan provides for a minimum of 1,000 inspections to be carried out by the water services authorities (which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in respect of legal fees paid by my Department in 2013 is set out in the following table. The table does not include legal fees associated with the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments. Payments of this nature by agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agencies/bodies concerned.   Law Firm Legal Fees...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board has not set up a panel of approved surveyors and it is not the Board’s intention to do so. In accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and under the terms of the pyrite remediation scheme, each application must be accompanied, inter alia, by a Building Condition Assessment which must be carried out by a competent person. A competent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (11 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 Government Reform (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out Government policy decisions in relation to a range of local government reform measures and the Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides the legislative basis for these measures. Specifically in relation to sub-county municipal governance, the 2014 Reform Act provides that all town councils will be dissolved...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Staff recruitment to and earnings in Irish Water are operational matters for the company and I refer to the reply to Question No. 158 of 23 January 2014 which sets out the relevant information obtained from Irish Water. My Department has asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Safety (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have not met Prime Minister Cameron to discuss Sellafield. As I have policy responsibility for nuclear safety issues, my Department monitors the UK nuclear sector on an on-going basis and convenes regular meetings with UK counterparts to discuss general policy matters and raise matters of interest or concern, where appropriate, on Sellafield or other nuclear related issues. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Following consideration of a report from me on the severe weather that affected Ireland in the period from mid-December 2013 to 6 January 2014, the Government decided on 11 February that a sum of up to €70 million will be made available for a programme of repair and remediation works. €62 m of this will be for local authorities in the areas worst affected by severe weather to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (11 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 implementation of a new Programme in January 2015. Management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Negotiations (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Technical analysis of the Commission’s proposal is on-going and will not be completed for some time. The Impact Assessment, published in tandem with the Commission Communication on a policy framework for climate and energy in the period 2020 to 2030, provides indications of where the burden would fall in terms of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the event that the proposal is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Local authority areas and boundaries are provided for in section 10 of the Local Government Act 2001, and the maps showing the boundaries are prepared by the Commissioner of Valuation. Issues concerning roads maintenance are a matter for the local authority in whose area the road is situated in the first instance and for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Funding is provided to a large number of community groups under a range of schemes administered by my Department. Compilation of the information requested would require a disproportionate amount of time and effort. However, if the Deputy wishes to request information on a more specific basis, for example in respect of groups active in the Community, environment or housing areas, I will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the local authorities to Irish Water. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mountain Access Schemes (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. I am aware that the issue of erosion, as a consequence of the growing popularity of outdoor activities including hill walking, is of increasing concern. My Department oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy (NCRS) which aims to ensure sustainable and responsible recreational use in the countryside....