Results 25,921-25,940 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is currently finalising its review of security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems. The Review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. The Government’s policy objectives are to ensure energy is affordable, sustainable and secure, as well as in line with Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Legislation permitting local authorities to utilise CCTV in their litter and waste enforcement efforts has already been enacted under the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. However in order to address data protection concerns, the Act sets out a number of conditions to be complied with prior to the introduction and use of CCTV by local authorities. In particular, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme payment used the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure that all domestic electricity accounts, including those with pre-pay meters, could receive direct support. This method was used to ensure that payment could be automatic, without the need for application, means testing or approval. While credits were applied to each domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On 31 May 2023, a Joint Declaration of Intent was signed between Germany and Ireland in respect to the development of renewable hydrogen. The Declaration of Intent emphasises the willingness of both States to initiate their cooperation on research and development in the field of production, storage, transport, and use of green hydrogen including its derivatives. The key points of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Energy Poverty remains a central Government priority given the high energy costs faced by people across the country, and the need to tackle energy poverty as part of the just transition. Budget 2023 introduced €2.5 billion of measures to support people with the high cost of living, including €1.2 billion through the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme. This scheme saw...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government’s Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is targeting 380MW of new renewable generation capacity to contribute to an overall revised target for solar PV of up to 8GW by 2030, under the Climate Action Plan 23. The scheme design was supported by detailed economic and policy analysis, as well as public consultation, prior to its approval in December 2021. Grants are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: At present there are no regional lead authorities in place in relation to air quality enforcement. My Department has worked with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to develop the business case for an enhanced enforcement structure to support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise, and advice to underpin consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On 9 March 2023 An Post wrote to my 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 my Department on 9 March seeking approval to make increases to pensions in payment and deferred pensions of a 5% increase from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Local authorities are responsible for municipal waste collection and waste management planning within their functional areas. The obligations on local authorities in relation to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that each local authority shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Single Use Plastics Directive (Directive EU 2019/904), adopted in 2019, aims to reduce the volume and impact of single-use plastics on the environment by targeting the ten most commonly-found single-use plastic items found on European beaches which, alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all marine litter in the EU, and which therefore affect our seas and marine life. The Directive was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Local Authorities are statutorily responsible for the preparation of waste management plans. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices are currently preparing a new National Waste Management Plan (NWMP), informed by, inter alia, the National Planning Framework. The Plan will set out the required actions at local and regional levels to deliver on the Waste Action Plan for a Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As we transition to a Circular Economy and work towards meeting our climate targets, protecting and restoring our environment through sustainable resource use will play a key role. My Department is working in a number of areas to achieve this. In 2022, my Department published the ‘Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining – Critical Raw Materials for the Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. In January this year, I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. The strategy sets out the government’s ambition...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Roads, Active Travel and Public Transport infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA has statutory responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together. The Deputy will be aware that funding for walking and cycling infrastructure has increased significantly in recent years in line with the Government's prioritisation of active travel as a transport mode. To this end, it is important for local authorities, in liaison with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to plan their...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including resourcing. My Department announced funding in January 2021 for up...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authorities (15 Jun 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 allocation of funding at project level and oversight of the delivery of these projects in each local authority area. Noting the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Motor Fuels (20 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Hydrogen provides us with an incredible opportunity in Ireland. It provides the potential for long term storage of energy, the opportunity of dispatchable wind and solar power, the potential of chemical feedstocks, the potential of an export market and the opportunity to decarbonise some parts of high temperature processing. Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in...