Results 10,361-10,380 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department gathers quarterly statistics regarding the number of whole time equivalent staff in local authorities. While data is gathered on the number of Professional and Technical staff it is not practical to require a breakdown of the numbers by job title. This information is retained by each Local Authority.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 132 and 135 together. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The group referred to in the question received funding in February 2010. Groups are requested to account for such funding within six months, and, as part of the relevant accounting procedure, each of the beneficiaries signs a beneficiary form which is countersigned by a group representative. These forms were not completed in this case. A member of the group contacted my Department to explain...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The recently published review of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended that legislation governing the EPA, including the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and waste licensing regulations, be consolidated. Each of the recommendations of the report of the EPA Review Group, which is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie, will be considered by my...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: One of the key roles of my Department's Community remit is to support the development of sustainable communities, through the delivery of a range of measures which tackle poverty and social exclusion. In this regard, Minister of State Penrose and I have met with a number of Local Development Companies and other social inclusion practitioners, in the community and voluntary sector, in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My role in relation to the North South Ministerial Council (Environment Sector) established under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement is co-ordinated by a unit within the Environment Division of my Department. The unit is headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to international environment matters and sustainable development. The main work of the unit...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter. I apologise that the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure is unable to be present. It is not for any legal reason. The first progress report of the implementation body under the public service agreement or Croke Park agreement was published on 15 June. The conclusion of the body was that the parties have made solid and...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand the Senator's concerns but pension costs have been reduced by €100 million and that is commensurate with savings in future years. The achievement of that objective is clear from the figures presented.

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter. I acknowledge the courage and commitment of all personnel engaged in the fire and emergency services in County Donegal and throughout the country. The professionalism and dedication of the retained service in Donegal received particular attention in early May during the spate of gorse and wildfires which caused substantial damage in Ard...

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I do not wish the Senator to misinterpret what I have said. I have been very clear.

Seanad: Fire Stations (22 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Senator might choose for it not to be clear, but to be absolutely clear, there are proposals in the Department from Donegal County Council to build new fire stations in the three locations mentioned by Senator Ó Domhnaill, namely, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Gleann Cholm Cille. I have no money to build any of them at the moment, thanks to the fact that we have ceded our economic...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Ireland, as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, makes annual contributions towards the core budgets of both the Convention and the Protocol. In addition, Ireland makes an annual contribution to the cost of the International Transaction Log, which verifies transactions by National Registries in order to ensure consistency with the rules...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 250, inclusive, and 259 together. The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector commenced in 2008. In total, €16 million was allocated to 64 organisations over the three year period 2008-2010. The three-year funding contracts concluded at end 2010. The total available in 2011 is €4m. A comprehensive review of...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 241, inclusive, and 270 together. The extent of the radon problem in Ireland has been assessed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) over a number of years. Between 1992 and 1999, the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to assess the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. The Community Workers Cooperative (CWC) is a company limited by guarantee. It is governed by its own Board of Directors, and my Department does not have details of all Governmental or Non-governmental funding received by the CWC over the years. The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs operated a Funding Scheme to...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In 2010 the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs provided just in excess of €5m on the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. This funding was a contribution towards the core costs of organisations. The table below details the 2010 payees. National Organisation Total paid in 2010 Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Westmeath. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the programme in County Westmeath is some €158 m. Rathowen sewerage scheme...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department provides capital funding towards the provision and refurbishment of new and existing public libraries. In this regard, in 2008 my Department requested Library Authorities to provide details of priorities for library development within their area. In its response, Longford County Council ranked Ballymahon branch library as its main priority, followed by projects at Granard and...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from any premises, processes and works. The Environment Section of the relevant City or County Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard. In addition, under section 108 of the Environmental...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Acts, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including matters in respect of infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned, and under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the...