Results 10,381-10,400 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Household Charges: Household Charges (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland under its fiscal consolidation measures commits to the introduction of a property tax for 2012 and to an increase in the property tax for 2013. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. While there have been improvements in these regards in recent years, I am satisfied that further improvements can be made. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Forum on Philanthropy: Forum on Philanthropy (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Forum on Philanthropy was established by Government in 2006 with the core objective of developing a culture of philanthropy in Ireland. The Forum comprises representatives from a range of private philanthropic organisations, and from a number of Government Departments. In June 2010 the mandate of the Forum was renewed by Government for a further two years. The Forum was asked to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which introduced the non-principal private residence charge, places the onus on individual property owners to assess their liability for the charge in the first instance. There is no obligation on local authorities to issue demands or invoices. The charge is set at €200 per dwelling and is being levied and collected by local authorities. A late...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Jun 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 individual local authority. I recognise that these are difficult economic times...

Written Answers — Local Government Audit Service: Local Government Audit Service (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The European Communities (Statutory Audits) Regulations which were published in 2010 are to be read as one with the Companies Act, and relate specifically to the statutory audit of individual or group accounts, insofar as required by Community Law. The audit of the accounts of all local authorities is carried out by the Local Government Audit Service, under the Local Government Act, 2001....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information sought in the question is not readily available in my Department and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

Proposed Legislation (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Climate change is widely recognised as the most fundamental and far-reaching environmental challenge to humanity, both globally and nationally. Ireland has already signed up to meeting demanding legally binding targets for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol and under the climate and energy package agreed by the EU in December 2008. By 2020, this country will be required to achieve the...

Proposed Legislation (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Ellis was not a Member of the last Dáil, but I remind him that we have much ground to make up in terms of bringing people together after the unnecessary divisiveness that my predecessor created on this issue. I have asked my Department to take stock of our position on climate change. On foot of a commitment contained in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, the...

Proposed Legislation (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I would be glad to receive any positive proposal the Deputy might have to achieve our national and international objectives. I do not anticipate any EU fines if we implement our national climate change strategy successfully. We will meet our commitments under the Kyoto protocol, largely because we are in recession, although that is not a good reason to meet our targets. We are now engaged...

Local Government Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: A range of work relevant to local government reform is under way or in planning arising from the report of the local government efficiency review group and I am reviewing the next immediate steps to augment this undertaking. I will also be considering wider proposals to renew and develop the local government system in line with the Government's programme and building on relevant research and...

Local Government Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My general principle is to ensure that as much power as possible is devolved from central to local government, and obviously town councils have an important role, as they are the closest body to the citizens in urban areas. County councils also have a role and are close to citizens. However, there is some duplication. In the context of the proposals we will introduce in the autumn, we will...

Departmental Properties (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The management of the property my Department occupies is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works. My Department does not pay ground rent on any property.

Departmental Properties (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy will have to ask the OPW.

Departmental Properties (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In a reply to a question from Deputy Adams on 11 May, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, listed 50 properties on which the OPW pays ground rent, at a total cost of €5,128.94 annually. The Minister of State also indicated that no legislation was promised, but we referred to existing legislation and we have undertaken to examine the possibilities of what...

Local Government Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The report of the Limerick local government committee was published in September 2010. The core element of the committee's recommendations was that a single local authority for Limerick should be established in place of the current Limerick City and County Council. Other related recommendations included the election of a mayor of the new unitary authority after the 2014 local elections for...

Local Government Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Niall Collins would not want to believe everything he reads in the newspapers. I suffered in the past from leaks in the Department and I am not going to do so again. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector commenced in 2008. This scheme amalgamated and replaced schemes previously operating under the White Paper on Supporting Voluntary Activity. The Scheme aimed to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. In total, funding of €16...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together. 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 individual local authority....

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (16 Jun 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 and the provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. Fire authorities provide some €240 million annually to run fire services in Ireland. My Department...