Results 26,201-26,220 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 105 together. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Addressing climate change and our targets to 2030 and beyond is one of the key policy priorities for this Government. Since my appointment as Minister I have secured Government approval to prepare an All of Government Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I will work with colleagues across Government to develop new...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland - regardless of how remote or rural - has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across Ireland; and a State intervention in those areas, mostly rural areas, where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. Since December...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 82, 91 and 98 together. The NBP aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 89 together. The National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland was published in May of last year. It set out the ambition that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emissions capable. The National Development Plan, published in February of this year, raised this ambition such that no new...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 84 and 94 together. On 28 November, I announced the seven successful projects from the first Call for Applications under the Climate Action Fund. The projects span a range of sectors including transport, district heating, public lighting and agriculture. In the transport sector, up to €15m of support is provided to Irish Rail to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am acutely conscious of the impact of the recent redundancy announcement on Bord na Móna’s employees. The challenge during this decade of transition out of peat is to continue to support those communities and jobs associated with the peat business and to identify and develop new opportunities for employment, particularly in the Midlands. Bord na Móna is considering...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Since my appointment as Minister I have secured Government approval to prepare an All of Government Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I will work with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives in electricity, transport, heat, agriculture and other relevant sectors. The new plan will have a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Section 10A of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended, sets out the procedure under which I, as Minister, may give general policy directions to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The legislation sets out details on the tasks and inter-alia restrictions, timelines and consultation requirements with the independent regulator and Oireachtas. Energy markets in Ireland operate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Closures (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: An Post is a commercial State body with its own Board. Decisions relating to the post office network are an operational matter for An Post. In the face of serious declines in the volume of mail and post office business, An Post faced growing losses and has had to undertake a major restructuring of its business in order to continue to be able to provide their valuable services. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has consistently exceeded the mandatory EU recycling target of 22.5% for plastic packaging waste. That said, new targets have been set by the EU which will oblige Member States to recycle 50% of plastic packaging waste by 2025 and 55% by 2030. This will be a challenge for Member States. At EU level, the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics has been adopted. The strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to deliver a postal delivery service and viable post office network. It is also designated as the sole universal service provider under the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 which requires it to, among other things, fulfil the universal service obligation of a 5 day per week delivery service. As Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 527 together. The single electricity market for the island of Ireland has brought many economic and social benefits, both north and south. The enduring success of the single electricity market depends critically on the degree of interconnection. Currently just 300MW of electricity supply across the existing north south interconnector is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Energy efficiency has a crucial role to play in Ireland meeting its national and international climate commitments. Efforts to improve energy efficiency also make an essential contribution to improving Ireland’s security of supply, sustainability, air quality, health, social inclusion, business competitiveness and better public services, all of which will make a real and positive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The three peat-fired electricity generating stations in Ireland, one owned by Bord na Móna and two by ESB, were awarded support for biomass combustion under the REFIT3 Scheme for up to 30% of the installed capacity up to 2030. Bord na Móna commenced co-firing with biomass in 2008, and it is expected that ESB will commence co-firing with biomass in 2020. ESB is in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department published the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) in 2014 which set out policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources. An interim review of the OREDP was published in May and is available on my Department’s website: . The Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group, which oversees the implementation of the OREDP is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, which contained 40 actions to alleviate some of the coverage deficits across the country. An Implementation Group is overseeing the implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. The Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: eir reports data to my Department in relation its ongoing rural fibre deployment in accordance with the Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017. This deployment was originally anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018. eir has indicated that its deployment schedule has been impacted by storms Emma and Ophelia, and other construction issues. The company has proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Project Ireland 2040, incorporating the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), is the first time an Irish Government has ever attempted to ensure that future growth is compact, connected, regionally balanced and sustainable. Implementing this integrated vision, and ensuring that the right capital investments are made, will create a significant shift in behaviour...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that I, along with senior officials from my Department, met with the Process Auditor Mr. Peter Smyth on 19 November 2018. The purpose of the meeting was for the Process Auditor to present his report.