Results 9,701-9,720 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: A number of local authorities, through conditions attached to Waste Collection Permits, require waste collectors to provide a 3-bin service, including the brown bin for organic material, to a set percentage of the households served. In 2009, the number of local authority areas where household brown bin waste was collected at kerbside increased to 22 from 16 in 2008. I am anxious to see an...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. Responsibility for performance of local authority functions is shared between the elected members, as public representatives, and the manager. However, the majority of the major decisions are reserved as the exclusive prerogative of the elected members who also enjoy various powers which enable them generally to oversee and direct the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The overall objectives for investment in water services are to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme. The Water Services Investment...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department provides funding towards group water schemes by way of annual block grant allocations to local authorities under the Department's Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group scheme proposals for funding and advancement under the programme, within...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The primary objective of water conservation is to reduce water loss and leakage in the distribution networks to an economic level and to address high levels of unaccounted for water. Since the national water conservation programme was rolled out in 2003, over €187 million has been specifically invested in water conservation by my Department. In addition, local authorities fund active...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (20 Oct 2011)

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

Local Authority Funding (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each local authority. The annual rate on valuation applied to the valuation of each...

Local Authority Funding (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree totally with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Niall Collins on the small business sector. Those in the sector are under pressure from a variety of areas and the cost base of surviving in business is a legitimate concern for them. However, given that 29% of local authority income is from the commercial rate base one can understand how important a source of income it is for local...

Local Authority Housing (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: With the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle, the Minister of State will leave the Chamber when the reply concludes.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Waterford Local Government Committee is a statutory committee established under the Local Government Act 1991 to carry out a review of local government arrangements in Waterford and submit a report containing recommendations on whether the county council and city council of Waterford should be unified. The appointment of members to the committee was undertaken in accordance with, inter...

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I cannot appoint local representatives to this group because it would be illegal to do so. I am sure the Deputy does not advocate that I should do something illegal.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will not meet any representative of any local authority until such time as the group reports. It was set up to ascertain the position regarding possible synergy and efficiencies in the Waterford local government system. That will mean reduced charges and reduced waste of resources which occurs because of current duplication. The group is looking at all these issues and its terms of...

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy should wait for the outcome of these deliberations.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy may say they were Government appointees. They are, but they are very independent-minded people who are able to make up their own minds, based on the terms of reference laid down for them. I have full confidence that these people will produce a report by the end of February. Let us then discuss the contents of that report. We will give them that chance.

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: In October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Irish legislation does not adequately provide for domestic waste water from septic tanks to be recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes which could harm the environment. Accordingly, the ECJ found that our legislation is, therefore, not compliant with the waste directive. I expect to bring...

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I certainly have heard nothing of that kind said in the Department. If the Deputy is advocating that proposal, fair enough.

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: No, I have not heard anything about it. It is certainly not my intention to do that. Water charges by metering will be introduced in due course, as a separate charge from the household charge, as the Deputy knows. We always stated that would be the case. The registration charge is a nominal amount. Some septic tanks date back pre-1963. We must ensure we catch everybody in the sense of...

Building Regulations (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Following an application by Dublin City Council, a High Court Order was granted on 14 October 2011 for the evacuation of the development at Priory Hall on the grounds that it is unsafe. My Department understands that, following a further hearing on 17 October 2011, a stay has been put on the evacuation order until 20 October 2011, and that the developer has committed to carrying out a...

Seanad: Priory Hall Development (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: After that grá mo chroí, I can reply to the House. The events of last week have been extremely distressing and, of course, stressful for the residents of Priory Hall. Through no fault of their own, they have had to struggle with the consequences of building defects in their apartment complex. As the Senator is aware, Dublin City Council was granted a High Court Order on 14 October 2011 for...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senators for their co-operation on this legislation, for their contributions and for the speedy passing of this essential Bill.