John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the specific proposals in the programme for Government for which he is responsible; the target dates which he has agreed in relation to the delivery of these proposals; and if he will publish an implementation schedule. [9584/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government for National Recovery Programme 2011 - 2016 outlines the Government priorities over the next five years. It includes a strong focus on the environmental, community and local government areas and sets an ambitious work programme for me and my Department. It is my intention to implement fully the specific proposals within my Department's responsibility during the next five years.

In this context, my core objectives are to maximise support for job creation given the overriding importance of job creation across all Government programmes; to progress early policy and legislative commitments in the Programme for Government; to review capital and current expenditure and deliver on relevant commitments in the Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the Government with the EU/IMF; to achieve structural and organisational change to support my Department's new configuration and expeditiously to address EU environmental compliance matters.

Arising from the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, my Department is progressing relevant commitments in the Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the Government with the EU/IMF.

The Structural Reform elements relevant to my Department are: To encourage growth in the retail sector – Study on the economic impact of eliminating the size cap on retail premises and discuss implementation of policy implications with the Commission services. (To be completed by end Q3 2011), and In advance of the introduction of water charges – Undertake independent assessment of transfer of responsibility for water services provision from local authorities to a water utility, and prepare proposals for implementation, as appropriate, with a view to start charging in 2012/2013. (To be completed by end Q4 2011).

The Structural Fiscal Reform elements relevant to my Department are: To reinforce a credible budgetary strategy – Voluntary 15 day rule on prompt payments extended to the Health Service Executive, local authorities and state agencies. (To be completed by end Q2 2011), and To facilitate better government at a local level - Effective measures in place to cap the contribution of the local government sector to general government borrowing at an acceptable level. The mechanisms in place to underpin this position will also consider how to provide data on the financial position including assets and liabilities of the sector on a timelier basis. (To be completed by end Q3-2011).

The Government's legislation programme for the summer session 2011, published on 5 April, contains in respect of my Ministerial Portfolio a range of Bills published and in preparation which will be advanced as rapidly as possible this year.

I am committed to the active delivery of all Programme for Government priorities and am working closely with colleagues across Government to that end.