Results 25,841-25,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 812, 824, 856 and 863 together. In considering whether to extend the existing agreements or retender for a new concessionaire at the end of the term of the Concession Agreements, a detailed review of the MAN’s was undertaken in 2016.  Subsequently, an external review by Norcontel proposed that the preferred option, based on the analysis, was to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Addressing climate change, whether through decarbonisation of our economy, or preparing to adapt to the impacts of climate change, is one of the most significant challenges facing this country. The publication on 8 October of the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the impacts of global warming of 1.5⁰C confirms the absolute urgency of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 814 and 815 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector.  In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 816 and 821 together. The premises referred to by the Deputies are in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Biofuel Obligation Scheme Implementation (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Biofuels Obligation Scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency, is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland. The scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of road transport fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of annual fuel sales.  It is a certificate based scheme with two certificates awarded per litre of sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: In reply to Question No. 248 of 18 October 2018, I provided a schedule of meetings between my Department and enet dating from October 2016 which included meetings relating to the NBP and the Metropolitan Area Networks. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has a broad remit and is responsible for communications, broadcasting, postal services, energy,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Consultations (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 819 and 820 together. My Department has carried out a number of public and industry/stakeholder consultations in the last 10 years from 2009 to date this year in line with statutory and other requirements. Details of the consultations are outlined in tabular form below: Name of Consultation Year (2009 to 2018 to date) Location of submission...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: In July 2018, a new pilot scheme to support micro generation, initially targeting domestic self-consumption through a grant scheme for solar PV installation and battery storage was announced. The data gathered during the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for micro-generation in Ireland that may be appropriate, as we align with the ambition and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The WestWave project is a collaborative ocean energy project led by the ESB with the objective of accelerating the development of the ocean energy sector in Ireland. ESB is working with a number of wave energy project developers to realise this 5MW project. Since 2003, the project has received exchequer funding of almost €780,000 including funding provided since 2009 from the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) develop and maintain comprehensive national and sectoral statistics for energy production. They have compiled the figures for overall share of electricity generated (in 2017) by energy source (across all generators) which is set out in Table 1 below: Table Fuel source Electricity generated share Coal 11.9% Peat 7.1% Oil 0.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Projects (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: There has been no work undertaken by my Department directly with the company referred to in the Deputy’s question over the past ten years. In relation to the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, the information sought is an operational matter for each agency. As such, I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Matters relating to the procurement of fuel for the operation of ESB facilities are an operational matter for the Board and management of ESB and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Tyre Disposal (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: As indicated in the reply given in Question no. 544 of 23 October 2018, €700,000 was made available as a once-off measure to remove old tyres from farms.  This funding has been fully expended.  A review of this measure will be undertaken before any further decisions are made. However, I will be mindful in my review to ensure that any further collections do not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy Yield (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together. The PSO levy has been in place since 2001, and consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply.   The PSO levy is a charge on all electricity customers without exception. The legal basis for the levy and its method of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department currently provides funding to the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce for the operation of the Green Schools programme. Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Over 3,900 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland, in excess of 90% of all Irish schools, are currently participating in the programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matter raised by the Deputy is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie . The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.  The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 840, 842 to 844, inclusive, 847 and 849 together. In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 846 together. The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. My Department defines high speed broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 845 and 848 together. The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The...