Results 10,741-10,760 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Emergency Services (5 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn for raising this important matter. I would like to join them at the outset to express sincere appreciation to our firefighters who have worked tirelessly to tackle the wildfires which have afflicted many parts of the country in recent days. I am glad to place on record the Government's appreciation to all those agencies, including the Defence...

Emergency Services (5 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and it will cause problems. Indeed, both wet and dry weather will equally cause problems. Strong winds over the past weekend have led to a rapid spread of these fires which have damaged forests and threatened houses. The nature of the soil and vegetation in upland areas is such that it is combustible and long-burning during periods of hot, dry weather. Also, the recent cold winter...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (5 May 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (4 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Pobal administers the Local Community Development Programme (LCDP) on behalf of my Department and I propose to respond to the question in this context. The LCDP aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. Among other things, it seeks to increase peoples' work...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) analysed the existing drainage system in the Greater Dublin area and proposed policies, strategies and projects for developing this system to meet future needs. In relation to waste water treatment capacity, the study recommended that, in addition to the expansion of the Ringsend waste water treatment plant, a future regional wastewater...

Written Answers — Recreational Facilities: Recreational Facilities (4 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: While there is no specific funding allocation available to my Department for the provision of playgrounds, the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 has funding of €425m available to be allocated to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate cultural and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (4 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department has paid for corporate membership of the Institute for International and European Affairs and for subscriptions for publications and an attendance at a conference. Details of payments made, from records readily available, are set out in the table below. Compilation of similar information for the years prior to 1997 would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. ...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under the programme in question, I understand that an Area Implementation Team (AIT), which draws up a plan based on the particular needs of the area so that available funding can be targeted at where it will do the most good in the community, has been established for the area in question. The inaugural meeting of the AIT took place on 15 April 2010. The AIT includes representatives of the...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The situation regarding the taxation of goods vehicles has not changed. In August 2010 my Department issued a circular letter to motor tax offices reminding authorised officers of existing provisions with regard to the taxation of vehicles on a goods basis. This reiterated the terms of a 2005 circular letter (Circular MT 10/2005). To be taxed as a goods vehicle, a vehicle must be constructed...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The total gross motor tax receipts for Wicklow County Council motor tax offices since 2007 are set out in the following table: Total Gross Receipts of Motor Tax Paid in Wicklow County Council Motor Tax Offices Year Amount 2007 â'¬19,923,480 2008 â'¬20,360,629 2009 â'¬19,611,844 2010 â'¬18,197,952 2011* â'¬4,719,497 * First quarter 2011

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The waste sector requires certainty on the issue of the application of levies to incineration facilities. As I indicated during the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 Second Stage debate on 14 April, I have been reviewing the provisions of the Bill relating to the Waste Facility Levy in light of the transposition of the Waste Framework Directive on 31 March 2011. I will be...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, appointed Mr. John Hennessy, SC, as an authorised person under section 224 of the Local Government Act 2001, to examine various financial matters arising in relation to the Waste to Energy facility proposed for Poolbeg. I am considering the Hennessy Report in consultation with the Attorney General,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Budgets for each programme area to be funded from the Environment Fund in 2011 have recently been finalised. Allocations for individual activities within these broad programme headings, including for Local Agenda 21 purposes, will be finalised in the coming weeks, after which applications for funding, via the local authorities, will commence.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (3 May 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. Rates are a local property tax levied on the occupiers and, in some cases, the owners of fixed commercial properties. Liability for rates...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: While arrangements for the staffing of the Constituency Offices in my Department are not yet finalised, these Offices will be staffed in accordance with the agreed reduced staffing limits decided by the Government. In addition to the appointment of a Personal Secretary, which is currently being arranged, I have also initiated arrangements for the appointment of a Personal Assistant, in line...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Apart from the Heritage Council, which transferred to my colleague, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on 1 May 2011, there were two vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department open to direct choice to me on 10 March 2011. Neither of these vacancies have since been filled. On 10 March there was one vacancy on the Board of the Housing Finance...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under section 230 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and Part 16 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, a licence is required in respect of holding an event at which the audience comprises 5,000 or more people. An applicant for a licence is required, within the period of two weeks before applying for a licence, to publish a notice of his or her intention to submit an...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (3 May 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. Under current legislation the person liable for payment of rates is the person in occupation of a rateable property at the date of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Projects: Local Authority Projects (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: In February 2009, my Department set out details of the financial requirements for local authorities relating to their overall management of capital and current accounts. These requirements flow directly from the requirement for Government finances as a whole to be managed in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact established under the Maastricht Treaty, and the associated limitation on...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: In relation to the proposal to allocate additional funding for the areas in question from the Dormant Accounts Fund, projects 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 review of expenditure that is being undertaken. Any...