Results 25,601-25,620 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In 2009, the Government approved the taking of a special dividend from ESB and the then Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), was tasked with implementing this decision through the mechanism of the network tariffs. It is important to note that the CRU was established as an independent statutory regulator by the Electricity Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. Any use of ChatGPT or other AI tools in my Department is governed by existing GDPR, Cloud Computing and Acceptable Usage policies which prohibit entering any commercial, sensitive or non-public information into such services. The OGCIO and NCSC have a role in relation to this topic but at present there is no advice from either body to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On 9 March 2023 An Post wrote to the Department seeking consent to the second phase of their current pay agreement which provides for a 2% increase in pay from 1st January 2023. In addition to this, on foot of a recent Labour Court decision, An Post also wrote to the Department on 9 March seeking approval to make increases to pensions in payment and deferred pensions of a 5% increase from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Solar PV grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and is open to houses built prior to 2021. The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes, the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Question refers to a business located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 12th May 2023, over 136,300...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department's office in Booterstown has an insect hotel. As part of the preparations for the relocation of my Department's HQ next year , staff in my Department have established a number of subgroups to look at different aspects of the move. One such group deals with biodiversity which is developing a work programme which includes the establishment of a biodiversity team in the office....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On 5th of April 2023 the Government approved an amendment to Finance Bill 2023. As part of this amendment the Government has agreed to apply a zero percent VAT rate within category 10c which is for the ‘Supply and installation of solar panels on and adjacent to public and other buildings used for activities in the public interest, housing and private dwellings. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland support schemes are under regular review to ensure their effectiveness. The Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) programme was relaunched in March 2023 to provide projects with increased support to a maximum of €3 million and an improved application process. The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) relaunched in March 2023 will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Last February, the Government approved a package of improved supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades thereby achieving lower energy bills and lower emissions. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number of schemes in place to support homeowners to upgrade their properties including the fully funded Better Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I have no role in relation to an operator of an animal-drawn vehicle for commercial purposes being required to have public liability insurance in place. If the Deputy is referring to the regulation of horse-drawn carriages for hire or reward, the development of legislation of this nature, which involves the repeal of legislation which pre-dates the foundation of the State, is complex and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under public service...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including TFI Local Link services and the rollout...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection of specific projects in each local authority area and the allocation of the relevant funding. Noting the role of the NTA in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: While my Department does not have a dedicated policy in place to install artificial structures to provide shelter and habitat space for wild species, as part of our recent upgrade of our courtyard we have installed biodiversity, bug and bird boxes to enhance the working environment for our staff and to support broader biodiversity objectives. I have referred your question to the agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government approved the updated Preliminary Business Case in respect of the DART+ South West project in March 2023. The project will extend DART services from Dublin city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge train station, as part of the wider expansion of the DART network in the coming years. This project also includes the construction of the new Heuston West station at Islandbridge. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. In relation to proposed Active Travel infrastructure works...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the Local Area Hackney Scheme, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry. Accordingly, I have referred your questions to the NTA...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue of the acceptance of payments in cash for catering services on board intercity services is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's...