Results 981-1,000 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The most recent report on Drinking Water Quality in Ireland for the year 2005 was published by the EPA in January 2007 and a copy is available in the Oireachtas Library. The report confirms that the overall quality of Ireland's drinking water remains generally high. For drinking water produced and distributed by local authorities the overall rate of compliance was 97.6%, with major...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The Water Services Bill has been passed by the Seanad and is waiting scheduling for Report and Final Stages in the Dáil. I anticipate that final stages of the Bill will be taken in the Dáil soon after the Easter recess. As an interim measure, pending the implementation of the new arrangements provided for under the Bill in relation to drinking water, I have replaced the Drinking Water...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 10 on today's order paper. The Carbon Fund Bill 2006 makes provision, inter alia, for the designation of the National Treasury Management Agency as Purchasing Agent for the State. At this stage, I would not expect, or have I received, any communication from the Agency on foot of its new function.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management Acts it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, generally acting in regional groupings, to prepare waste management plans which include the identification of necessary waste management facilities. Where such facilities are not being provided by the private sector a local authority, subject to public policy in regard to procurement, may seek to provide...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Under the Waste Management Acts, responsibility for the determination and implementation of waste management plans rests with the local authority (or local authorities) concerned and my Department has no direct involvement. Thermal treatment with energy recovery in accordance with the internationally accepted waste management hierarchy is a key element of Irish waste management policy and...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 512 together. The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 commits the Government to the introduction of a voluntary carbon offsetting scheme from the beginning of 2008. This scheme will apply to all air travel associated with Government business, including flights by Ministers and by civil servants.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Question Nos. 511 and 583 together. Measures put in place since the publication of the first National Climate Change Strategy in 2000 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8.6 million tonnes per annum during the Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period 2008-2012. A further annual reduction of almost 5 million tonnes will be achieved over the same period as a result...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Details of approved schemes in County Meath, including the value of the investment proposed in each case, are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The most complete statement of future proposals for the county are set out in the Assessment of Needs produced by Meath County Council in response to my...

Written Answers — Environmental Protection: Environmental Protection (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I assume that the Question refers to an area within the candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) 001932 known as Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex. The Croaghrimbeg bog area contains both wet heath and active blanket bog. Most of the area was proposed for designation as an SAC in March 1997; and affected landowners were notified at that time. The site was transmitted to the European...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 570 together. I am continuing to keep the overall employment position in the local government sector under regular review, having regard to the need to deliver quality front line services and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. My Department maintains appropriate contact with the...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Septic tanks installed on or after 1 June 1992 must comply with Part H of the National Building Regulations which requires septic tanks to be so sited and constructed that they do not pollute, so as to endanger public health, any water (including groundwater) which is used as a source of supply for human consumption. Guidance on septic tank drainage systems for single houses is contained in...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. These special arrangements operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford during June and July of last year....

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The most recently published information in this regard is set out in the Environmental Protection Agency's report Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland: A Report for the Years 2004 and 2005 which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Details of approved wastewater schemes in County Wexford, including the investment proposed in each case, are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 which was published in December 2005 and is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 524 together. The golf course referred to is not itself part of a designated area, but does border the Ballinskelligs Bay and Inny Estuary cSAC (SAC 000335), which was designated in May 2000. In relation to the protected Gallauns, my Department was in contact last year with the County Archaeologist for Kerry County Council on how best to protect the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The Government has committed substantially increased funding for water services infrastructure over the past decade and again in the new National Development Plan (NDP). Some €3.7 billion was invested in new and upgraded water services infrastructure under NDP 2000-2006. €4.7 billion, an increase of 27%, has been provided under NDP 2007-2013. Real improvements being achieved on foot of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The Government has committed substantially increased funding for water services infrastructure over the past decade and again in the new National Development Plan (NDP). Some €3.7 billion was invested in new and upgraded water services infrastructure under NDP 2000-2006. €4.7 billion, an increase of 27%, has been provided under NDP 2007-2013. Real improvements being achieved on foot of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: My Department published a Procurement Guidance Document for Small Water Services Schemes in November 2002 with the objective of ensuring that procurement in each case is fair and transparent and accords with national and EU procurement requirements. The document provides specific guidance on the implementation of public procurement rules in the rural water sector and I am arranging to have a...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The Government has committed substantially increased funding for water services infrastructure over the past decade and again in the new National Development Plan (NDP). Some €3.7 billion was invested in new and upgraded water services infrastructure under NDP 2000-2006. €4.7 billion, an increase of 27%, has been provided under NDP 2007-2013. Real improvements being achieved on foot of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Milltown is part of Phase 1 of Kerry County Council's proposal to refurbish a number of village sewerage schemes which is being funded under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005 –2007. I understand that the Council has appointed a contractor for the pipelines element of the Milltown scheme and that the work is expected to commence this month. The closing date for...