Results 10,621-10,640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Applications for funding for projects under the dormant accounts fund have been assessed and prioritised by Pobal, and these are currently being considered by my Department in the context of the reduced level of funding available in the current year, and also in the context of the current comprehensive review of expenditure. The overall objective is to ensure that dormant accounts funds are...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 May 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 and 2003. Fire authorities fund revenue expenditures on fire services from their own resources. My...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Axes 3&4, known as the 'LEADER' axes of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007 – 2013 (RDP) provide substantial support for the diversification of the rural economy and to activities that enhance the quality of life in rural Ireland. In general, an overall ceiling of €150,000 grant aid per project applies to projects under the LEADER Axes of the RDP and the local action groups...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within designated RAPID areas nationally. It is a matter for relevant Ministers to address progress and deliver in regard to projects within their areas of responsibility in the different RAPID areas. My Department administers the RAPID Leverage Schemes,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Hollywood to Naul pipeline is not approved for funding as a contract to start under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 . A Water Services Authority may, at its own expense, carry out planning and/or construction works on contracts or schemes not included in the Programme, which the Authority feels must be progressed. In this regard, I understand that...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The current pyrite problems were first brought to the attention of my Department in mid-2007 and it acted quickly in taking appropriate action to address them. Following an intervention from my Department, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) published a new amended Standard Recommendation on the use of aggregates as infill for civil engineering and road construction work. The...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. The procurement option chosen for any scheme under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 is based on an assessment of the best value for money from a whole life perspective. Each proposal is examined on a case by case basis and local authorities are obliged by the Department to examine all potential options before deciding...

Local Authority Boundaries (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Carey for raising this matter. As the House is aware, the issue of a boundary extension for Limerick city forms one element only of what is a complex and challenging set of circumstances in the city and county and the wider mid-west region. Limerick city, in particular, has faced obvious socioeconomic challenges. The population at the heart of the urban area has been in...

Departmental Programmes (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the House on the subject of RAPID and the position regarding a number of new areas that have been brought into the programme in recent years, including Ballina, as mentioned by the Deputy. As the Deputy knows, since 1 May 2011 I have taken over responsibility for the community dimension. The RAPID programme was first launched in February 2001...

Road Network (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I reply in this debate on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I thank Deputy Healy for raising the matter on the Adjournment and for the opportunity to address the issues involved. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy and funding relating to the national roads programme. The construction,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The European Commission has confirmed that support/grant aid for adding value to agrifood products is not eligible under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP). Basic agricultural products are listed in Annex 1 to the EC Treaty and are commonly called Annex 1 products. Under the main Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005 support/grant aid for adding value to Annex 1 products is...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in individual households and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals, including the necessary procurement process for purposes of...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 76 of 17 May 2011 which outlined the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Smokeless Fuels: Smokeless Fuels (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale & Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1998 to 2004, prohibit the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous, or smoky, coal within certain designated restricted areas, in order to protect air quality in urban areas. The Regulations are enforced by the local authorities. Fuel suppliers who breach the ban are liable for prosecution. The...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 includes details of the contracts to commence in County Kildare, and nationally, over the period 2010 to 2012, as well as schemes to advance through planning in this period. A copy of the Programme is available in the Oireachtas library. The specific environmental and economic pressures that have informed priorities and project...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 142 together. Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water and sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group schemes for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Job Creation: Local Authority Job Creation (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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 arrangements) have been put in place in all county and city...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme is a multi-annual investment plan for the provision of major water and sewerage schemes. The current plan, Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, is available in the Oireachtas Library, and sets out the plans for investment in major water services projects. Previous plans are also available in the Oireachtas Library. The publication of the...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: For the purposes of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, city councils, county councils and borough councils are fire authorities. Under the legislation, each fire authority is required to prepare, and as occasion requires revise, a Fire and Emergency Operations Plan. The making of this Plan is a reserved function of the local authority. Inter alia , the Plan sets out the resources,...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (18 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: A letter issued from my Department to the County Council concerned on 6 April 2011 requesting clarification of a number of matters in the application for grant assistance submitted by the Council in respect of this recycling facility. I am awaiting a response from the Council to the issues raised before the matter can be considered further.