Results 1,361-1,380 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: In December 2013 I announced an additional €4 million under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). Funding of €1 million is being targeted at the Gaeltacht areas which suffered a loss of funding when Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta went into liquidation in 2011 and €3 million to the areas which experienced a reduction of greater than 15%...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 to 526, inclusive, together. As Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE), formed and registered under the Companies Act, I and my Department will not necessarily have access to details of, or direct accountability for, expenditure and other organisational matters in relation to the company. Procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department is liaising closely with local authorities in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements for the control of building activity that will apply when the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations come into effect on 1 March 2014. I understand that relevant local authority staff have in recent weeks in particular been receiving comprehensive briefing and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (28 Jan 2014)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies.  An inter-departmental working group has been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board has recently submitted a draft pyrite remediation scheme for my approval and I hope to be in a position to respond to the Board very shortly. I understand that the Board is finalising its application and processing system and intends to be in a position to receive applications within the next month.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Acts 2013 provide that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the independent economic regulation of Irish Water.  In particular, the CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plans prepared by Irish Water, and for approving codes of practice to be prepared by Irish Water. The primary role of the Regulator will be to protect...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 554 together. The new Building Control Amendment Regulations which come into operation on 1 March 2014 will greatly strengthen the arrangements currently in place for the control of building activity by requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545, 552 and 555 together. Contracts for both a wastewater treatment plant upgrade, and network for the Bandon Sewerage Scheme, Phase 2, were included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 among the contracts to start during that period. In February 2012 I approved funding of €3.9 m for the network...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has therefore decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies.  The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. Section 5 of the Act also set s out the share structure of Irish Water, providing for one share to be allocated to Bord Gáis Éireann and for the remaining shares to be issued equally between the Minister for the Environment, Community...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements in each Council. It is a matter for City and County Managers, in the first instance,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department’s Audit Committee comprises the following five members: Mr. Eric Embleton (Chairman, former Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance, appointed: May 2004). Mr. Terry O’Niadh (former County Manager, North Tipperary County Council, appointed: October 2013). Mr. Noel O' Connell (Director of Audit, Local Government Audit Service, appointed: May 2004). Mr....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: A notice was placed on my Department's website, rather than on the publicjobs.ie website on 19 July 2011, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under my Department's aegis will be notified on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table. The engagement of firms by bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the bodies concerned. Firm Description Amount Spent Date Commissioned Garrett Fennell Pro- Bono Work Reviewing the arrangements in place for the registration of architects. Nil May 2013 Contracts Awarded None...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the table below in respect of firms, including public bodies, which provided consultancy type services to my Department since February 2011: Consultant/Public Body Amount Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence €2,921,327 RPS Group €1,821,360 Marine Institute €1,475,006 Methanogen €181,532 Tobin...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank all Senators who contributed to the debate. As stated at the outset, in this Bill we are continuing the practice of implementing, in full, the recommendations of an independent commission. I take into account people's concerns with regard to the geography and scale of the territory involved and their suggestions that we should examine the latter in the future. I have no difficulty...