Results 26,221-26,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 104 together. Energy upgrades in rental properties will deliver multiple benefits for owners as well as tenants including improved living conditions and health outcomes, enhanced asset value and reduced energy bills. Notwithstanding this, rented properties in both the residential and commercial sectors can present a particular challenge in terms...

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

Richard Bruton: The Energy in Ireland 2018 report by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that solar photovoltaic (solar PV) generation accounted for 0.03% of energy contribution to gross electricity consumption in Ireland at the end of 2017. This represents a three-fold increase on solar PV generation capacity over the previous 12 months. I welcome reports of the falling costs of...

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

Richard Bruton: The National Development Plan (NDP) recognises that improving our energy efficiency is central to action on climate change. The NDP ambition is to increase energy efficient renovations in homes to circa 45,000 to a Building Energy Rating of B from 2021. Currently the Government is funding just under 25,000 home energy efficiency upgrades per annum to an average BER of C. This is a...

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

Richard Bruton: I am in the process of meeting all bodies under the remit of my Department. The meeting referenced by the Deputy will be scheduled shortly. I have made provision for the payment of €199.322m to RTÉ from TV licence fee receipts in 2019 and for an exchequer grant of €36.233m to TG4 comprising current funding of €34.233m and capital funding of €2m. These funding...

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

Richard Bruton: The National Mitigation Plan, published in July 2017, restates the Government’s commitment to move from a fossil fuel-based electricity system to a low-carbon power system. Investment in further renewable generation will be incentivised. The new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, approved by government in July 2018, will provide for a renewable electricity ambition of 55% by...

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

Richard Bruton: The national project to upgrade our public lighting is led by the Local Authorities through the County & City Management Association (CCMA). Nevertheless, my Department has taken an active role in facilitating this important project, which is a flagship initiative under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy. The CCMA has identified energy efficient public lighting as the...

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

Richard Bruton: Over 200 community groups have signed up to the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Network since it was launched in 2015 and are availing of technical support and mentoring from SEAI. The next step is to develop a 3 year Partnership Agreement between SEAI and the communities, to identify, plan, implement and review a tailored programme of sustainable energy activities for each community and...

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

Richard Bruton: The electricity generating plant at Moneypoint is a 900MW coal-fired plant and contributes in a number of ways to security of electricity supply in Ireland, including diversity of fuel and storage. The scheduling and taking off-line for maintenance works in relation to Moneypoint or other generating stations are operational matters for the plant operators in line with the management of the...

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

Richard Bruton: 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 permitted so as to ensure that electricity is securely provided...

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

Richard Bruton: 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 Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/Eircode: - The AMBER...

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

Richard Bruton: Inland Fisheries Ireland manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon. IFI is supported in its management role by scientific advice from Ireland’s independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC), comprising scientists from a range of...

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

Richard Bruton: The majority of electric vehicle charging takes place at home. In order to support this, an Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant was introduced in January of this year. This supports the cost of installing a home charger up to a maximum of €600 for buyers of both new and second-hand electric vehicles. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), who administer the scheme, inform...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499, 538 and 539 together. 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,...

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

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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. The...

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

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question no. 500 of 26 November 2018. The position is unchanged.

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

Richard Bruton: The SEAI administers a number of residential energy efficiency schemes on my Department’s behalf. These include grant schemes for insulation, heat pumps and heating controls which can cover up to 30% of the cost. The insulation grants are available to all homeowners whose properties were built before 2006. More information is available by calling SEAI on 1800 250 204 or visiting ....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. As Minister I have no function in relation to individual grant applications. The terms and conditions of the Better Energy Homes programme are in place to ensure the transparent administration of public monies. Achieving this requires that the processes and systems...

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

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management Regulations (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Each local authority has discretion to draw up its own bye-laws on waste presentation in accordance with: the Local Government Act, 2001; Section 35 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 and Section 21 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 (if necessary). The power to adopt such by-laws is a reserved function. While the power to make a bye-law and its actual content remain matters exclusively for...

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

Richard Bruton: The question of regulation of domestic solid fuel use will be addressed in the context of the Clean Air Strategy, which will provide the framework for a set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality and public health to meet current and future EU and international obligations. Comprehensive analysis of the replies received to the public...