Results 12,261-12,280 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Services Provision (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Dublin City Council is aware that there is only a 1% difference between supply and demand. Therefore, if anything significant occurs the supply could be in crisis. Normally, a city has a 15% surplus because of other outages or problems that might arise. I refute utterly that Dublin City Council is dragging its heals. If Deputy Stanley has questions then he ought to ask Dublin City Council...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Services Provision (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Dublin water supply scheme long-term water source is listed as a scheme at planning stage in my Department’s water services investment programme 2010 to 2013. Dublin City Council is the lead authority for this scheme, on behalf of all of the water services authorities in the greater Dublin area. Studies carried out for the city council and a strategic environmental assessment...

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish share time with Deputies Penrose and Bannon.

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to apologise for the unavoidable absence of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, who is attending a Cabinet meeting. As we draw this discussion on the post office network to a conclusion, I acknowledge and appreciate the opportunity to discuss this important topic. It is clearly evident from the various speakers how much the post office network matters to the daily lives of ordinary...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Recreation Policy (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Comhairle na Tuaithe, which is chaired by my Department, has agreed a priority list of activities in line with the objectives of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy, to be undertaken in the short to medium term and to be kept under review. The renewal of Walks Scheme contracts in respect of 14 trails involving almost 900 participants will be finalised by the end of this year. A Pilot...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Administration (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014 the nister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which aims to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age. The budget allocation for 2013 for the Seniors Alert Scheme is €2.35m. The Scheme provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have allocated €6.385m for Dormant Accounts Measures in 2013, which includes €2.835m to cover once off costs such as health and safety training, personal protective clothing, necessary equipment and materials, that will be incurred by local authorities providing placements in the Department of Social Protection’s (DSP’s) Local Authority Employment Initiative,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland in July 2012. The publication of the policy confirmed the retention of side by side competition in the household waste collection market and also brought much needed policy certainty to the waste sector, particularly in terms of facilitating planning and investment decisions. The policy further sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the stretch of the River Barrow between Borris and St. Mullins is approximately 15kms in length. Over a stretch of river this long it is likely there will be multiple owners including private owners. IFI does not have ready access to details of fishing rights held by the private owners on the stretch of river in question. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: A fundamental underpinning of the water reform programme is to ensure that the skills and experience built up over many years in local authorities are put to best use for the long-term benefit of the customer and t hat there is no negative impact on service to customers during the transition. It is intended, therefore, that the legislation to transfer statutory responsibility for water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Irish Water’s operational and capital costs in 2015 will be funded through revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, an exchequer subvention and funding from the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It has been decided, following the previous review of the Memorandum of Understanding by the European Commission, the IMF and the ECB, that water charges will commence with effect from...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As the Minister indicated to this House just yesterday, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013 does not create any new right of repossession on the part of lenders. It restores a right which was specifically intended to continue to exist under reforming legislation...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for her views and assure her that I will convey them to the Minister. I repeat that for a lender to seek a court order to repossess the home of a mortgagor who has defaulted in repayments that should be a last resort where all other avenues to resolve the arrears situation have been exhausted. That is the context of the reply, namely, that it will be done as a last...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the translators as well.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá mé ag tógaint an díospóireacht seo thar cheann an Aire Sláinte agus glacaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh as ucht an rúin seo a chur faoi bhráid am tSeanaid. Mar is eol duit, an buiséad 2013 tá sé an-thábhachtach go mbeadh an méid airgid agus is féidir a bheith againn chun na cúrsaí,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Bhuel, mar a dúirt mé tá an-sásta do thuairimí a nochtadh don Aire Sláinte agus tuigim na pointí atá déanta agat agus tá sé ráite san ráiteas ansin níl dabht ná go ndéanfaidh sé maitheas do dhaoine áitrithe ach go háirithe, ach caithfear níos mó eolais a chur faoi bhráid na n-othar...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Byrne for bringing this matter before the House. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis níos luaithe san oíche. Tá Gaeilge an-mhaith aige. Chuir sé pointe an-mhaith romhainn. I acknowledge the points raised by Senator Byrne and welcome the opportunity to clarify issues regarding the recent report of the 2013 Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I take Senator Byrne's point. I remember when St. Finian's Park was a new estate in Drogheda, the residents voted out in Donore for quite a number of years. There are such anomalies so I will bring the Senator's comments to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Particularly for the Senator's good self.