Results 12,821-12,840 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Motor Taxation (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is one of the reasons we got into the current mess. We are trying to clear up the last mess Fianna Fáil made when in government and part of the process is, unfortunately, what needs to happen. Any differentiation that existed previously with reduced CO2 emissions will continue even in the event of a change.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Local authority problems in places such as Ballymun are being addressed successfully.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fingal County Council is not being criticised. The council dealt with the issue adequately as soon as it came to its notice in 2007. However, this matter never appeared on the building horizon until it occurred.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: None of the academic or training courses for professionals, inspectors of buildings and so on viewed it as an issue. The problem is being addressed. I agree with Deputy Ellis, in that the standards must be independent and stand up to scrutiny, and the job must be done and certified. A home owner will have a certification to the effect that the house is pyrite free. Notwithstanding...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect to the Deputy, her figure on the remediation of homes is wrong. The independent report, which I have with me, states that 1,100 homes which were seriously-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt Deputy Collins. The report states that 1,100 homes with serious pyrite problems are being addressed. I concur with the Deputy that all of the families involved are in an awful and extremely difficult position. They purchased homes for a fortune at the height of the market and generally before 2008 only to find significant pyrite problems with their homes. Another 850...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the thrust of the Deputy's argument. As he correctly noted, this is a serious a problem. I stress, however, that the Minister established the independent panel in June 2011 and it did not report until earlier this year. He has held a number of significant meetings with all of the stakeholders and insists that responsibility for meeting the costs of addressing the pyrite...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 59 together. HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond insurance scheme has been underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As in the case of any private company , its operations, including how it deals with the management of funds, inspections or claims, are matters for its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The report refers to new synergies between local government and development agencies. As regards sharing facilities, if there is space in a local authority office, why should a development agency not go in there, if it is free from its lease? It makes sense to reduce costs, including electricity. The key issue is that it will be recommended, where possible, and it is very practical in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The local development network is an important part of the process and pays a significant local and national contribution. The Minister will establish an implementation group shortly and the network will be part of that. This is to make better use of the money we have through new synergies and directing money to the front line. I can assure the Deputy that nobody is dictating the pace. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are no proposals to amalgamate local development companies into local authorities. The repot, Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government, recommends greater alignment between local government and local development, including the 51 local development companies that currently deliver important programmes for the Department. This follows from the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 together. The vision set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First is that local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Security of the Elderly (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 , and of limited means, who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age. Over the five years 2007 to 2011, some €14.5 million has been spent on the Seniors Alert Scheme. A table showing the annual funding breakdown follows. Year Money spent 2007 €3.71m 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland contains a commitment to introduce a property tax for 2012. 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 better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such services. It...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Plants (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: In 2008 arising from contacts at Head of Government level, a confidential technical information exchange project relating to the Sellafield Site was established, with the cooperation of UK authorities. Through this process, an assessment of the potential risks to Ireland posed by the Sellafield Site and the nearby Low-Level Waste Repository was undertaken on Ireland's behalf by a Team of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that Minister Hogan has not been involved in any such discussions. The Constitutional Convention will be considering a number of issues, including giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections at Irish embassies or otherwise. Proposals for change to electoral law will be brought forward in light of the decisions for change which may arise...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 currently has a minimum project allocation of €252 million based on the revised programme complement which came into force in January 2012, and further allowing for a maximum of 20% for administration costs . Of this allocation project funding of €171 million has been approved, which represents 67% of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the Deputy examines the report to which I refer, she will see that the public consultation process was advertised in the Irish Independent, the Wicklow People, the Wexford People, the Waterford News and Star and the Southern Star. In the advertisement interested parties were invited to read the environmental report and provide feedback and notice was given of the location and dates of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt the Deputy's colleague or anyone else.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let us get the facts right. I want people to know the full facts and be fully and properly consulted. We are referring to commercial exploration rather than commercial exploitation of the resource. I reassure everyone that if a hydrocarbon discovery were to be made, planning consent from An Bord Pleanála under the strategic infrastructure Acts would more than likely be required; a...