Results 21-40 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy Timmins for giving me the opportunity to address this matter. I know he has taken a particular interest in the issue over many years. A flood relief scheme for the town of Arklow is being advanced by Arklow Town Council in partnership with the Office of Public Works and my Department, which is providing the funding. The project is being overseen by a steering group which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Architectural Heritage (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Castletown Estate was originally donated to the State in 1994, by the Castletown Foundation, for a consideration of £10.00 The Office of Public Works (OPW) took over the management of Castletown House and Demesne in 2004, and prior to this the property was in the care of, and administered by, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; the Minister for Community,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Assets (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Fingal County Council has submitted an application for a Deed of Waiver in its favour for lands contained within Folio 45020F Co. Dublin (The Strand Estate, Donabate). The most recent communication was received on the 1stApril 2014 and the matter is being considered by the OPW with the advice of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. A response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Change Policy (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Deputy refers to comments I made as part of my address to the OPW Flood Risk Management Conference on 10th April 2014.  My remarks reflect national and international agreement that climate change is a fact that must be addressed. I would refer the Deputy to the most recent IPCC report on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Architectural Heritage (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 235 together. In line with the approach to heritage buildings under Government Contract procedures for works to Protected Structures, a number of investigative contracts have already been executed at the former Kilmainham Courthouse which have addressed fabric issues including works of structural consolidation internally and extensive external...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The draft Final Feasibility Report for the proposed Arklow flood defence scheme was submitted to the Office of Public Works (OPW) by Arklow Town Council (ATC) late last year. The report has been assessed by the OPW and comments in relation to some technical aspects of the proposals have been forwarded to ATC for consideration. When the report is finalised and, provided the preferred scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations Closures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: While we are open to consider a proposal for community involvement, the former Garda Station at Ardagh has been identified for disposal on the open market and a decision on the property remains under consideration by the Commissioners of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: As I indicated in the reply to the Question the Deputy refers to, the Government decided on 11thFebruary, 2014 to allocate €69.5 million for repair and remediation works to public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13thDecember 2013 to 6thJanuary 2014, of which up to €19.6 million was allocated for repairs to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Clare County Council is undertaking the Ennis South flood alleviation project covering the St. Flannan's College and Ballybeg areas in Ennis with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW). As indicated in reply to the Deputy's Question on 4thFebruary, 2014, the OPW raised certain issues in relation to aspects of the initial cost benefit analysis report for the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: An application by Clare County Council for funding under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works to alleviate flooding at Dooras, O'Callaghan's Mills is currently being assessed. The OPW will notify the Council of its decision shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Severe Weather Events Response (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no statutory responsibility for the maintenance of Reendonegan Lake, Bantry, Co. Cork and I have not received a report from OPW officials on storm damage at this location. The Government Decision of 11th February 2014 allocated total funding of up to €69.5m for repair of public infrastructure and facilities damaged by the severe weather events in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations Closures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The stated policy in relation to the closed garda stations, including Goleen, is to identify if other State Bodies, including government departments and the wider public sector have a use for the property. If no other State use is identified, the Office of Public Works (OPW) will then consider disposing of the property on the open market, if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 together. The Swan River has been culverted by Dublin City Council as part of its urban drainage responsibilities for the area, in effect incorporating the river wholly, or practically wholly, into the urban drainage system which was designed, constructed and is maintained by the local authority. Any transfer of responsibilities between the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The sluice gate mentioned by the Deputy was not installed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), does not form part of an OPW arterial drainage scheme and the OPW is not responsible for its maintenance. It remains open to Kerry County Council to apply for funding under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for proposed measures that meet the eligibility criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Inland Waterways Maintenance (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no responsibility for the maintenance of this river. It is open to the Local Authority to apply for funding under the Minor Works scheme to carry out some cleaning of the river.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has not carried out or commissioned any formal studies into flooding at Ballycar Lough. A report was prepared in 2011 for Iarnrod Eireann setting out a number of possible measures to address this problem which primarily affects the main Ennis to Limerick railway line. A copy of this report was made available to the OPW. The report identified as a preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sports Facilities Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The pitch allocated to the Garda GAA Club continues to be used by the Club. It has recently upgraded the playing surface and goalposts.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Measures (30 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Ramolin area, near Shrule, is a turlough which is subject to a natural flooding process each winter. The flood extent this year has been greater than normal and the water has taken a longer time to recede. Engineering officials from the Office of Public Works (OPW) met with a delegation from Shrule last month to consider the situation. One solution that has been suggested would be to...

Topical Issues: Regional Development (17 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: To reply to my colleague and friend, it would be a disgraceful situation were it the case but it is not the case. To present the strategic investment fund as the only avenue of capital funding is also a gross distortion. To be frank, the existing capital programme, which is set from 2012 to 2016 and totals €17.5 billion, is significantly bigger than the €6.8 billion to which I...

Topical Issues: Regional Development (17 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The investment fund is one arm of capital investment but it is not by any stretch of the imagination the only one. The key issue on which Government policy is determined in making decisions is not on the basis of political priorities. It is on the basis of what will make the economy more competitive in the long run and what are the key things we need to do, from an infrastructural...