Results 10,521-10,540 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 236 together. Local authorities play a central role in supporting economic development and enterprise at local level. They do this in a number of ways, including through their capital and current budgets, economic planning and development and the provision of goods and services as well as community infrastructure. Business Support Units (or similar...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (7 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 — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 230, 231 and 234 together. Government for National Recovery 2011-2016 contains a range of proposals in relation to local government which provide the basis for a substantial programme for the development and reform of the local government system. These include proposals relating to the position and role of local authority managers; the powers of...

Written Answers — Local Government Audit Service: Local Government Audit Service (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with the recommendation in the report of the local government efficiency review group, the annual report of the director of audit of the local government audit service, covering local authority accounts for the year 2009, will be submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Building Inspectorate: Building Inspectorate (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The local government efficiency review group recommended that a single building inspectorate service could be established on a regional basis to streamline the approach to the inspection of property. The introduction of a single inspectorate will be considered in the context of the work now under way in my Department to strengthen the system of building control.

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department is working with local authorities in developing options for the enhancement of the arrangements and applications in place which facilitate citizens in making complaints or suggestions or in reporting problems through the various mediums, including by post, phone, text, fax, e-mail and on-line through their...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to further improve the energy efficiency of new buildings with a view to moving towards carbon neutral homes in the longer term. In tandem with this commitment, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings requires EU Member States, inter alia, to ensure that all new buildings will be nearly zero-energy by 31 December 2020 (or...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In line with the Programme for Government commitment, my Department, as part of a waste reduction strategy, wishes to examine options regarding the possible introduction of a packaging levy. I have, therefore, recently announced the commencement of a consultation process with the aim of seeking the views of industry, interested stakeholders and the public on how this levy might be operated....

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: An initiative has been in place to promote environmentally sustainable management of construction and demolition waste for a number of years and Best Practice Guidelines on the Preparation of Waste Management Plans for Construction & Demolition Projects were published in 2006. The purpose of the Guidelines is to promote an integrated approach to construction and demolition waste management...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government indicates that the Government will introduce competitive tendering for local household waste collection services. It is envisaged that service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service, including a public service obligation in respect of a waiver scheme for low income...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In addressing the legacy of the electronic voting project, my priority is to see that the equipment is disposed of as soon as possible. I have asked the Task Force that was established to oversee the cessation of the project to consider proposals for the disposal of the equipment, with a view towards immediately progressing arrangements. The Task Force met on 12 April 2011, and the necessary...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations 1997 – 2010 provide for the health, safety and welfare of persons in and around buildings and set out the legal requirements for the design and construction of new buildings, including houses, extensions and material alterations and certain changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents provide technical guidance on how to achieve...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes the two contracts to advance to construction to improve the Mullingar Regional Water Supply Scheme. One of these is the Lough Ennell abstraction. One of the fundamental considerations of any capital expenditure is that it must deliver value for money. The...

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 has funding of €427 million available to be allocated to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. The main objectives of the RDP are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. As part of the suite of measures available under the RDP to achieve these aims the Conservation and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: In October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland failed to adopt the necessary legislation to comply with Articles 4 and 8 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC, known as the Waste Directive, regarding domestic waste waters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individual waste water treatment systems. The Government recently approved the urgent drafting of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: A comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure has been approved for County Sligo and County Leitrim in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the Programme is some €49.6 million in County Sligo and €29...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: As this matter is the subject of continuing correspondence between Ireland and the European Commission it would not be appropriate to place an element of that correspondence in the public domain pending the conclusion of the process.

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Funding of €427 million is available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. Accordingly, in this context it may be possible to obtain funding for a project of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and is being levied and collected by local authorities. The charge is levied on a fixed liability date in each calendar year and payment becomes due two months after that date. There is then a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: On 31 May 2011, I announced that the Government had approved measures to be contained within the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 that is currently being prepared. In line with the Government's commitment to significantly reform political funding in Ireland, this Bill will implement commitments from the Programme for Government and recommendations made in the Moriarty...