Results 1,021-1,040 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

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

Dick Roche: The information requested is not readily available and its compilation would involve an inordinate amount of staff time and cost. My Department continues to keep staffing levels in the local government sector under review within the framework of overall government policy on public sector staff numbers.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Act 2000 sets the framework within which planning authorities must take in charge estates. Section 180 of the Act distinguishes between estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the planning permission and estates which have not been so completed. In the case of the former there is no set time limit for...

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

Dick Roche: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 which I published earlier this week sets out the progress towards meeting Ireland's Kyoto Protocol commitments and the preparations being made in anticipation of more demanding greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements in the period post-2012. The Strategy shows that the range of existing and additional measures which have already been...

Written Answers — National Climate Strategy: National Climate Strategy (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, which I published earlier this week, includes limited provision for the purchase of Kyoto Units by the State so as to assist compliance with the Kyoto Protocol in the period 2008-2012. The Strategy also sets out an explicit National Policy Framework for this purpose; this will inter alia guide the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA),...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 6 and 8 of today's date. Currently, the principal activities at Sellafield include the storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, the storage of plutonium and uranium, the fabrication of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and decommissioning operations. Reprocessing at THORP remains suspended following the leak at the plant, which was detected in April 2005.

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

Dick Roche: Considerable progress has been made by the relevant statutory agencies in dealing with illegal waste activity. In particular, since the establishment of the Office of Environmental Enforcement in 2003, enforcement has been better structured through the establishment of a national Enforcement Network. The OEE and the Enforcement Network has greatly raised awareness and brought about better...

Written Answers — National Parks: National Parks (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 567 and 577 together. I understand that a local community group in the midlands has developed a proposal to establish what it calls a 'National Wetlands Wilderness Park' in the cutaway area of the Bord Na Móna-owned Mount Dillon group of bogs. With an estimated 80,000 hectares of cutaway Bord na Móna bog to become available by 2050, I very much welcome any...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Restoration works, representing an investment of some €2m, have been carried out to date at Maynooth Castle. This scheme consisted of a programme of conservation and adaptation works to the ground floor, the provision of access to the first floor and the provision of an exhibition and reception point. This has facilitated visitor access and provided a guide service. The site is now open...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1909 of 31 January 2007. I am continuing to keep this matter under review, while consolidating progress on quality customer service measures, with the aim of ensuring good accessible local government service delivery for all towns.

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

Dick Roche: As required under the Disability Act 2005, my Department's sectoral plan was approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2006. The plan, covering my Department, its partner bodies and local authorities, provides for a range of positive measures which will promote and pro-actively encourage equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in the economic, social and...

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

Dick Roche: I am satisfied that the record level of funding that is available to local authorities in 2007 through grants from central government and income from local sources enables them to provide an acceptable level of services to their customers while meeting all reasonable demands, including requirements for health and safety. Assessments of the funding needs of local authorities for future years...

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

Dick Roche: A levy of €15 per tonne on the landfill of waste was introduced on 1 June 2002 under legislation approved by the Oireachtas. The levy is designed to encourage the diversion of waste away from landfill and generate revenues that can be applied in support of waste minimisation and recycling initiatives. Similar landfill levies are being applied in other countries, and in particular by a...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The remaining provisions of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, came into force on the 31st of January 2007, providing for the introduction of a single consent process for certain strategic infrastructural projects of national importance. The Act also provided for a range of supporting measures, including the restructuring of An Bord Pleanála to allow for the...

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

Dick Roche: Following from the 2002 ECJ judgement in case C-316/00 that Ireland had failed to comply with certain micro-biological parameters of Council Directive 80/778/EEC relating to water intended for human consumption, my Department agreed on a number of measures with the European Commission in order to comply with the requirements of the judgment. A national strategy consisting of a range of...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 277 of 4 April 2007.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (as amended by as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC) is based on the principle of producer responsibility, which is intended to require producers to contribute to the waste management costs at end-of-life of products which they have placed on the market. Under the Directive, Ireland was required to achieve a 25% recovery rate of packaging...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (5 Apr 2007)

Dick Roche: The WEEE scheme came into effect in August 2005 and has been a remarkable success. In the first 12 months of operation, 27,700 tonnes of household WEEE was collected. This represents approximately 2.3 million electrical and electronic products or 6.7kg per inhabitant, surpassing the EU target of 4kg per person set for the end of 2008. This contrasts to the 5,510 tonnes of this waste type...

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

Dick Roche: The Committee for Performance Awards in the Local Government Sector was established to deal with the assessment of performance awards for senior managers in local authorities. The Committee's reports for 2003, 2004 and 2005, which are available in the Oireachtas Library, include details of the distribution of awards as a percentage of pay, the range of monetary value of awards and the number...

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

Dick Roche: Rapid growth and consolidation of the waste industry in recent years has enabled the private sector to expand its services in the domestic waste collection market. It is generally acknowledged that the involvement of the private sector in providing key waste infrastructure and services has benefited the environment and increased efficiency in the waste sector as a whole by providing a range...

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

Dick Roche: In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. The Minister has no function in relation to the setting of...