Results 26,321-26,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to in the Question is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting is currently deliberating a number of options for the reform of the TV Licence Fee and its collection. It is due to report to me by the end of March. I am aware that the ruling referred to has confirmed that there are no state aid implications for the broadcasting contribution introduced by Germany in 2013 to replace...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is a range of supports for the purchase of electric vehicles. These supports include a purchase grant of up to €5,000 for new electric vehicles and Vehicle Registration Tax relief of up to €5,000 for battery electric vehicles and up to €2,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In addition, further grants of up to €7,000 are available to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. I have secured government approval to develop an All of Government Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken in every Government Department and Body in order first to ensure we: deliver our 2030 targets; prepare for deep decarbonisation by 2050; and to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. There will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.The procurement process to appoint...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a contract in place for the provision of foreign travel services, which was sourced under the Office of Government Procurement travel management services framework. Only essential travel is undertaken and the number of officers travelling on official business is kept to a minimum. In 2018, total expenditure by my Department on airline costs, amounted to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department buys a limited number of newspapers and in 2018 spent a total of €14,900. This includes on-line subscriptions which reduces the requirement for paper editions and the associated costs.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The total cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána. Illegal dumping is first and foremost a matter of individual responsibility and compliance with the law. While enforcement action in this area is a matter in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The national project to upgrade our public lighting is a flagship initiative under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy. The project objective is to support local authorities in replacing traditional lamps with the more efficient LED technologies now available – and achieve the resultant energy efficiency and climate benefits as well as maintenance cost savings. The Project is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Compliance (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is responsible for the Building Regulations. The NZEB performance for new dwellings will be typically equivalent to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A2. The draft regulations and accompanying technical guidance to implement NZEB are expected to be signed into law shortly. Accordingly the A2 performance requirement is not currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: As a matter of course, as Minister, I meet, from time to time, with the Chairs and CEOs of bodies under the aegis of my Department. I can confirm that I have formally met the individual referred to in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (22 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: 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. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ordering of business in the Dáil is entirely a matter for it; it not one for which I am accountable. On the wider issue of Deputy Smith's Bill, it is not one I support. The reality is that in any transition to a carbon neutral environment Ireland will have a high dependence on gas. Until the discovery of the Corrib gasfield, we were 90% to 95% dependent on imported gas to support...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: We had a considerable debate on this last night when all parties contributed. The Government recognises the importance of this issue. Indeed, it is a central plank in the programme for Government that we would seek to deliver high-speed broadband to every home in the country. That is an ambitious target. As a result of the initiatives we have taken, we have seen an increase in private...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Brexit Issues (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Stanley for raising this important issue. As the Deputy has outlined, there has been great co-operation between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK in the energy market. It is certainly our desire that this will continue. On the issue of the security of the supply of gas, Ireland has two main sources. One is from the Corrib facility, which is a very important supplier,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Brexit Issues (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Oil Reserves Agency. As for electricity, in October 2018, after more than six years of work by Departments, regulators, the transmission systems operators, market participants and stakeholders, the new wholesale electricity market has been established. Legislation underpinning this was amended in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The legislation is contained in sections 7 and 8...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Brexit Issues (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will get additional information for the Deputy. I am aware that work has been ongoing in increasing capacity in order to have the oil storage onshore. We have good contracts to ensure the stores are accessible wherever they are held. On the potential crash-out and the WTO rules becoming the rules, this is a market where there are very low tariffs and these are within the WTO rules....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Medical Waste Disposal (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 507 and 517 of 22 January 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Internet Safety (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has no governance or oversight function in relation to this matter. Consumer protection is a matter for the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee (23 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment examined the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media and published their report at the end of November 2017.Following consideration of the recommendations made in that report, Government approval was received in July 2018 to establish a Working Group on the Future Funding of Public...