Hogan, Philip

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 757 No. 1

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Written Answers - Planning Issues

Was asked: the reason Bord Na Móna is exempt from all legislation in relation to turf and peat extraction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Motor Taxation

Was asked: if he will introduce a monthly instalment payment option for motor taxation, thus that those who wish to tax their car for a year can do so by monthly instalments and can gain the benefit of the lowe...More Button

There are no plans to introduce a monthly instalment payment option for motor tax. The rates of duty currently applicable to half-year and quarterly discs are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual rate respe...More Button

Written Answers - Proposed Legislation

Was asked: when he proposes to introduce the legislation which will allow for a reduction in the voting age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on the electoral system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on the introduction of a list system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 511 and 512 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment that the Government will establish a Constitutional Convention with a brief to consider ...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if a vacant property in County Galway which is uninhabitable is liable for the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: if derelict properties which are exempt from the €200 charge on non-principal private residences are also exempt from the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 530 together. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, set out the legislation underpinning th...More Button

Written Answers - Water and Sewerage Schemes

Was asked: the position regarding a sewerage scheme (details supplied). More Button

A comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure has been approved for County Limerick in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the O...More Button

Written Answers - Ministerial Transport

Was asked: the cost to his Department of the senior Minister's car in the period relating to 1 June 2011 to 31 December 2011 to include mileage and car related expenses paid to the senior Minister; if he will d...More Button

In line with Government policy, I do not use a state car. My Department has employed two civilian drivers since May 2011 for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements. Details ...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is liable to pay the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner o...More Button

Written Answers - Waste Management

Was asked: if he will explain the €100 standard charge that a company (details supplied) is charging customers and yet not providing adequate service. More Button

The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, part...More Button

Written Answers - EU Directives

Was asked: when he intends to bring forward legislation to ensure the correct implementation of Directive 85/337/EC on environmental impact assessments; if he is confident that the deficiencies identified by th...More Button

In March 2011, the Court of Justice of the European Union found against Ireland in Case C-50/09 to the effect that Ireland had: (1) not fully transposed Article 3 of Council Directive 85/337/EC on the...More Button

Written Answers - Social and Affordable Housing

Was asked: if a review has been undertaken regarding housing issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if approved charities are exempt from the new household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of...More Button

Written Answers - Local Government Reform

Was asked: if he will affirm his commitment to working with local government and other community development and enterprise stakeholders to ensure that a recovering economy will result in an even distribution o...More Button

Written Answers - Proposed Legislation

Was asked: his plans to amend the Building Control Act 2007 to give recognition to so-called grandfather architects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 sets out the detailed requirements for the registration of persons who are permitted to use the title of Architect. Section 22 in particular provides for the re...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if a person is liable to pay the household charge when part of the property is subject to commercial rates and he or she is living in another part of this property. More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner o...More Button

Was asked: if Dublin City Council will seek payment from the 18,000 households who have yet to pay their bin collection charges in view of the fact that the majority of the 140,000 households in Dublin City hav...More Button

Operational and other implications of the transfer of household waste collection by services Dublin City Council to a private sector waste collector are a matter for the City Council and the waste col...More Button

Was asked: the consideration that was given and the consideration being given in relation to the household charge and property tax for persons living in communities with privately maintained infrastructure, for...More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner o...More Button

Written Answers - Ministerial Transport

Was asked: the amount of mileage clocked up on a monthly basis for which expenses were claimed for all Ministers attached to his Department since March 2011; the amount claimed in mileage expenses on a monthly ...More Button

Details of the distance travelled and related expenses paid to me and Ministers of State in my Department in the performance of our official duties since March 2011 on a monthly basis are set out in t...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if he will direct all local authorities to make arrangements to accept payment of the household charge and the non-principle private residence charge in cash, as legal tender; and if he will make a s...More Button

There is a range of options available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system www.householdcharge.ie is in place in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to enable homeown...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Staff

Was asked: if he will provide in tabular form the city and county managers who will have retired between March 2011 and the end of February 2012; the age of each city and council manager on retirement; and the ...More Button

Article 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 deals with the pension entitlements of city and county managers. My Department has examined the new pension terms for s...More Button

Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure

Was asked: if he will provide the total amount each Government Minister, Minister of State and senior civil servant has spent on entertainment expenses since being appointed in the case of the Ministers and Min...More Button

The total amount spent on entertainment for official business purposes by my office and the offices of the Ministers of State in my Department since the appointment of the new Government are set out i...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: if and under what statute or legislation was the entity household charge established in order to receive payment and collect money for the €100 household charge; and if he will make a statement on th...More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge.More Button

Was asked: if exemptions will be given in relation to the household charge to individual houses who are experiencing major structural problems with their dwellings and are currently going through the legal syst...More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner o...More Button

Written Answers - Social and Affordable Housing

Was asked: when he intends to issue a call for proposals to avail of the 2012 capital assistance scheme; the amount of funding that will be made available through this scheme; and if he will make a statement on...More Button

Written Answers - Water and Sewerage Schemes

Was asked: the position regarding a sewerage scheme for Kilconnell village, Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. There is a range of options availa...More Button

Written Answers - Proposed Legislation

Was asked: his policy on climate change legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I refer to the reply to Question No. 339 of 17 January 2012 which sets out the position in this matter.More Button

Written Answers - Environmental Policy

Was asked: his policy on combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

For the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol, Ireland is committed to limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels over the 2008-2012 period. In accordance with the National Climate Change Str...More Button

Written Answers - Waste Management

Was asked: his policy on incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on the Poolbeg incinerator, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on landfill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on the privatisation of waste management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on waste management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 to 493, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which ...More Button

Written Answers - Water Charges

Was asked: his policy on the introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB also contains c...More Button

Written Answers - Local Government Reform

Was asked: his policy on the introduction of directly elected mayors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on regional authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on local government reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 to 498, inclusive, together. I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 150 of 26 January and 144 of 9 February 2012, which set out the position in relation to loc...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Funding

Was asked: his policy on funding local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The Programme for Government acknowledges that having regard to the pressures on the national finances, the funding of local government and the associated locally delivered services should be put on a...More Button

Written Answers - Local Government Reform

Was asked: his policy on the local government efficiency review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

The recommendations contained in the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group provide important input to consideration of options for expenditure reduction, revenue raising, efficiency a...More Button

Written Answers - Electoral Reform

Was asked: his policy on the introduction of a 30% gender quota for the 2014 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Part 5 of the Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2011, published on 15 December 2011, provides that political parties will face a cut of half their State funding received under the Electoral...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: his policy on commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on setting commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details en...More Button

Written Answers - Unfinished Housing Developments

Was asked: his policy on unfinished housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Planning Issues

Was asked: his policy on planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Social and Affordable Housing

Was asked: his policy on social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on tackling social housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Was asked: his policy on using housing developments taken over by the National Assets Management Agency for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Homelessness Strategy

Was asked: his policy on tackling homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Urban Renewal Schemes

Was asked: his policy on regeneration schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Appointments to State Boards

Was asked: his policy on appointments to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

All appointments to boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Charges

Was asked: the number of persons that were notified about payment of the NPPR charge in 2011; of those persons notified, the number that paid; the number that did not pay; the number that have paid including a ...More Button

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR). The charge is s...More Button

Written Answers - County Development Plans

Was asked: if it has been confirmed to him by Dublin City Council that DCC has no money to develop lands it owns at a location (details supplied) and other locations in the North Fringe, Dublin 13; if there is ...More Button

Was asked: if he will now urgently bring forward an SDZ for the North and South Fringe of DCC and Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Written Answers - Site Resolution Plans

Was asked: if he will ensure that a site resolution plan is urgently prepared by Fingal County Council for the site east of an estate (details supplied) in the North Fringe, Dublin 13 in view of its unsightly a...More Button

Was asked: if he is considering if a site resolution plan should be prepared by Dublin City Council for Priory Hall, Dublin 13 in view of the current state of this estate; and if he will make a statement on the...More Button

Written Answers - Water Services

Was asked: if a charge for water usage will be applied to listed buildings; if discussions will take place within the property tax review group to exclude the property tax from listed buildings; and if he will ...More Button

There are no plans to exempt listed buildings from water charges. I have recently established an inter-Departmental expert Group to design an equitable property tax having regard to its terms of refer...More Button

Written Answers - Local Governance Structures

Was asked: his views on the issue of the alignment of local development companies and local authorities; his plans for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

I established a high level Steering Group in September 2011 to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to review local governance structures with a view to improving the delivery of service...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Housing

Was asked: his views on the case of people (details supplied) in County Donegal whose application for a council mortgage was rejected on the grounds that neither applicant had been in employment for the require...More Button

Written Answers - Fire Stations

Was asked: the number of Dublin Fire Brigade personnel that will be retiring at the end of February 2012; and the remaining number of staff members. More Button

Was asked: the minimum staffing levels for the Dublin Fire Brigade. More Button

Was asked: the amount of money spent on the most recent recruitment drive process for the Dublin Fire Brigade panel. More Button

Was asked: the amount of money currently being spent on overtime within the Dublin Fire Brigade. More Button

Was asked: his plans to ensure that the Dublin Fire Brigade panel is reinstated; and when vacancies arise the replacement staff are found from this panel. More Button

I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 to 526, inclusive, together. The recruitment moratorium in the Public Service, which was introduced by the Government in March 2009 as an emergency measure in resp...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Housing

Was asked: the funding he allocated for the regeneration of an estate (details supplied) in County Sligo, in 2011; the amount spent by Sligo Borough Council on the regeneration programme; and if he will make a ...More Button

Was asked: the €30 million allocated to local authorities for retrofitting local authority homes to improve insulation, the amount of this that has been allocated to Fingal County Council; the amount of this al...More Button

Was asked: the €30 million allocated to local authorities for retrofitting local authority homes to improve insulation, the amount of same that has been allocated to the county council of south Tipperary; the a...More Button

Written Answers - Unfinished Housing Developments

Was asked: further to Question No. 482 of 21 February 2012, and the response given, clearly the estate in question was omitted in error as when the council made amendments in April 2011 the estate was still und...More Button

Written Answers - Property Management Companies

Was asked: if it is legally permissible for management companies to clamp residents’ cars for non-payment of management fees; if so, the detail of the legal framework within which such action can take place; th...More Button

Written Answers - Disabled Drivers

Was asked: if he will outline the motor tax concession available to disabled drivers and the medical evidence required to secure this concession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

There is a facility in place for exemption of motor tax in respect of disabled persons. This exemption applies to a disabled driver/passenger where the applicant concerned has been admitted to the Dis...More Button

Written Answers - Planning Issues

Was asked: the planning regulations that govern the rights of retention of buildings that have been illegally erected; if a seven-year rule applies in regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matt...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Services

Was asked: if he will provide funding to Kerry County Council to allow Killarney library, which requires significant investment to be upgraded and to allow for the toilets to be made accessible for persons with...More Button

Day to day operations, including staffing levels and opening hours, in the public library service are a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under Section 78 of the L...More Button

Written Answers - Local Authority Funding

Was asked: the role of the environmental awareness teams in county and city councils; if the national and regional network of local agenda 21 officers is still in existence; if so, the role it now plays; the am...More Button

The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which has been in operation since 1997, promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level....More Button

Written Answers - Departmental Advertising

Was asked: the number and costs of advertisements placed in national newspapers for job vacancies in the civil and public service in the past 12 months; the number of new entrants recruited from the process; th...More Button

Recruitment to my Department, as with other Civil Service Departments, is conducted centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), who advertise details of recruitment opportunities, in the natio...More Button

Written Answers - Building Regulations

Was asked: the proposals he intends to introduce, by way of legislation or directive, relating to the standards, compliance and enforcement of building control regulations; and if he will make a statement on th...More Button

In July 2011 I announced a number of measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with, and oversight of, the requirements of the Building Regulat...More Button

Written Answers - Social and Affordable Housing

Was asked: the reason applicants from an EEA and-or a non-EEA country applying for social housing cannot just sign a sworn affidavit stating that they do not own property; and if he will make a statement on the...More Button

Written Answers - Appointments to State Boards

Was asked: if any State board appointees have volunteered to waive their fee or expenses; the names of such persons; the corresponding savings to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. More Button

Earlier this year my Department contacted State Agencies under its aegis requesting that Board members be offered the option to waive fees on a discretionary basis. So far my Department is not aware o...More Button

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