Results 1,401-1,420 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 162 together. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 to 161, inclusive, together. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. In line with the Code of Practice for the corporate governance of State bodies, the determination of the remuneration of the senior management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: In our current economic circumstances difficult decisions continue to be necessary, but the Government remains committed to supporting the community and voluntary sector. While allocations in most expenditure programmes remain constrained for 2014 , my primary concern has been to make every effort to ensure that the daily front-line services, including volunteer centres, provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (23 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: An extensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2012 to inform the development of the revised building control regulations which will come into effect on 1 March 2014. Comprehensive consultation documents were published including Strengthening the Building Control System - A Document to inform public consultation on Draft Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 which sets...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Expenditure (23 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 provided for the...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputies for their contributions to the debate. At the beginning of Second Stage, I indicated that I was prepared to listen carefully to the discussions in this House and that where Members had practical experience of what we were trying to do I would take many of their views into account. We have taken many of the issues into account. I thank Deputies Cowen, Stanley and...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: To which costs is the Deputy referring?

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: When there is change there will clearly be some costs associated with rebranding what is being done.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: No, as it is a matter for the local authorities. I hope they will do it as cheaply as possible.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The purpose of the legislation is to ensure there are no additional costs and we are already making significant savings with procurement, and I hope Tipperary county council will do the same. We will be doing everything possible to guide the councils along the way in terms of tendering and procurement in order to reduce costs.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: This is a technical amendment relating to the definition of a local economic and community plan. There are a number of other amendments consequential to this amendment, including amendment Nos. 99, 116, 117, 119 and 122. Following consultation with the public regional assemblies, municipal districts and the local community development committees in respect of the economic elements, it will...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I can assure the Deputy that the national oversight and audit commission, on which public representatives will also sit and which will operate at a regional assembly level, with public representatives present, will be able to consider best practice with all service delivery in each local authority in the region. The commission will report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment,...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Yes. There will be no new charges on an annual basis. This is based on the fact that at the end of the end of 2013 the charge will cease to exist, but the arrears that have accumulated for people who did not comply with the Act introduced in 2009 will still be enforceable. I have set out the arrangements to be complied with.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Just the local property tax.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Yes.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 93 and 100 are related and provide for the deletion of section 230 of the Local Government Act 2001 and a consequential provision arising under the deletion. Under section 230 of the principal Act, the Minister is empowered to dissolve joint burial boards and cemetery joint committees and to transfer those responsibilities, including all land, other property, rights, moneys...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is a seamless transition directly to the overarching authority and, in the case of Tipperary, it will be to Tipperary County Council. There will be no legal costs associated with this and it is a matter for the local authority as to what it wants to do with properties deemed surplus to requirements. The council will make a decision on what to do, whether it is to allow them be sold or...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Given the existing Government commitment to the cessation of the non-principal private residence charge in 2014 and the cessation of the household charge in 2013, there is a requirement to repeal and amend the relevant legislation as appropriate. Amendment No. 86 is a standard provision which defines a small number of terms used in a new Part 12 of the Bill which is in itself provided for...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The level of compliance with this charge is quite high and people have been responsible in meeting the legal obligations in regard to the second home charge, but we are going to continue the compliance with this legislation for 12 years. However, we are providing an incentive for people for six months in this year whereby they can make arrangements. We have asked local authorities to be as...