Results 161-180 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality Issues (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am glad of the opportunity to reassure the House and the public on a number of points relating to water quality, particularly lead exceedences in water supplies. I want the public to be assured that Irish Water is producing lead-free water. It is also producing water at an appropriate pH level to minimise the ability of water to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector provides multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The new Scheme is intended to commence from 1 July 2014, on the basis of a competitive assessment process. I asked Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received and they have...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 347 together. I would like to see the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Billpublished and progressed through the legislative process as quickly as possible. Both the Heads of the Bill and the National Policy Position which the legislation will underpin were finalised having regard to the substantial public consultation which my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Section 7 of the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 states that all accounts where there has not been a customer transaction for 15 years or more must be designated as dormant. Section 10 of the Act states that notification shall be sent by ordinary post to the last known address of the account holder as soon as practicable after 30th of September, where the amount in the account is more than...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has recently published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website, . The further progression of all water services capital projects is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. Irish Water has confirmed to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from each customer in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 368 together. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services ( No. 2) Act provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act defines the customer as the occupier of the premises in respect of which the water services are provided. The water charges which Irish Water will collect...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 280 of 12 November 2013 which sets out the arrangements currently in place to encourage the use of rainwater harvesting and to promote water efficiency in the built environment. I have no plans to obligate homeowners to install rainwater harvesting systems in new houses. However, by referencing such systems in the building code, as has been done, my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will meet in Paris in December 2015 to agree a new global treaty on climate change that will be applicable to all Parties. The Agreement will signal a significant shift in how the world will deal with the challenge of climate change. The milestones on the way to the Paris COP have already been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The table indicates approved staff numbers assigned to the Climate Policy Section of my Department. Staff numbers were supplemented by three interns in the run-up to, and during, Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in 2013. There is currently one vacancy in the section. Year Number 2011 11 2012 14 2013 14 2014 11 * * includes 1 vacancy

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Radon Gas Levels (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: The National Radon Control Strategy(NRCS), which I published on 17 February 2014, and which is available on my Department’s website at was developed by an inter-agency group, and sets out some 48 recommendations, under six thematic areas, with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of radon-related lung cancer cases. In developing the Strategy, my Department conducted a public...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 76 of 5 June 2014 which deals comprehensively with the matter raised. As clearly indicated in that reply, I have asked my Department to give immediate consideration to the proposals for separate voluntary registers of architectural technologists, as put forward recently by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the Royal Institute of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from any premises, processes and works. The Environment Section of the relevant City or County Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard. In addition, under section 108 of the EPA Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013, I published Keeping Communities safe(KCS), which, as national policy, is intended to keep fire safety and fire services in Ireland in line with international best practice. The KCS document is the outcome of a review of fire service activities and sets out a system of national processes and standards for fire service delivery in Ireland based on a risk management approach....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Appointments to the Board of An Bord Pleanála are governed by sections 105 to 107 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2013 and articles 56 to 65 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. The appointment process provides that appointments are made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government from nominees put forward by four...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Functions (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department does not publish guidelines in relation to the Freedom of Information Regulations. Advice and guidance in that regard is issued by the Department of Expenditure and Public Reform's Freedom of Information Central Policy Unit and may be accessed on the website, . My Department has published guidelines in relation to the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Burial Grounds (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department does not provide direct funding or grant assistance for the provision of graveyards, which is a matter for local authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I intend to use my powers under the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 to issue a Water Charges Policy Direction to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in relation to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including any conditions attached to the Government funding to be provided to Irish Water. As required by the Act, a draft of the policy direction issued to the CER and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (24 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: I published the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Developmentand the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Billin April of this year. The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy over the period to 2050....