Results 26,561-26,580 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies and Senators for the opportunity to explain this issue. We are seeking a reserved power under the legislation, but we hope that we will not have to use it.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across Government that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (20 Feb 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 . 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 a bidder for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Guidelines (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: All developments, including windfarms, are subject to the rigours of the planning system. Revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines are currently being progressed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. These will be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and public consultation by that Department, which will ensure that environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Irish Language (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on 21 December 2010. To support the 20-year Irish Language Strategy, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has published a 5-year Action Plan (2018-2022). As part of this Action Plan, DCHG engages directly with broadcasters.My Department has adhered to its commitments under objectives 1 and 9 in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through 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 than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Guidelines (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: All developments, including windfarms, are subject to the rigours of the planning system. Revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines are currently being progressed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. These will be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and public consultation by that Department, which will ensure that environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Irish Language (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on 21 December 2010. To support the 20-year Irish Language Strategy, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has published a 5-year Action Plan (2018-2022). As part of this Action Plan, DCHG engages directly with broadcasters.My Department has adhered to its commitments under objectives 1 and 9 in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through 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 than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Premises in the housing estate referenced by the Deputy fall into both the AMBER and LIGHT BLUE areas of my Department's High Speed Broadband Map, available 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 LIGHT BLUE areas are where eir is in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 164 together. In April 2017 my Department published an updated version of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map. This is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE 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 BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the cable in question was laid by the ESB for the purpose of transmitting data on wind farm electricity generation and not for the purpose of providing broadband services to members of the public. According to my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, all premises in the townland of Knocknaboul are in the AMBER area and will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Hazardous Substances Disposal (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. The primary responsibility for the management of any waste, including costs for removal or disposal, lies with the holder of the waste, i.e. the natural or legal person in possession of the waste, or the producer of the waste. The Waste Management Act imposes a general duty of care on holders of waste, under which a person may not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (21 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 18 February, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I jointly announced 2019 funding for Energy Efficient Dairy Farm Equipment. Up to €500,000 is available for high efficiency milk pumps, saving the average farmer €1,440 in energy bills and 1.6 tonnes in reduced carbon emissions annually. The Energy Efficient Dairy Farm Equipment Scheme is administered...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that I had a meeting recently with the CEO and chairman of An Post. They are implementing a very successful restructuring plan. They are looking for opportunities wherever they can be obtained to drive more business through all the various elements of their business. They are equally aware that they must win that business and are determined to do so wherever they find...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Gas Networks Ireland (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network are matters for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). Gas connections to any new area is evaluated in accordance with the criteria in GNI’s Connections Policy, as approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the statutorily independent energy regulator, which conducts consultations on its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Projects (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government is firmly committed to the facilitation of community participation in the energy sector, particularly in the realm of electricity generation. It is an important lever in ensuring that citizens and communities across the state can participate and benefit from the energy transition to decarbonise our economy and society. Following detailed economic analysis and an extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) refers to two pollutants: nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). As outlined in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) report "Ireland’s Transboundary Gas Emissions 1990 - 2016", published in March of last year, Ireland exceeded the NOx limits set out in Directive 2001/81/EC for all years from 2010 to 2016. The Directive allows, however, an adjustment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure the continued growth in the uptake of electric vehicles. There are currently 668 standard public charge points as a part of the ESB eCars network and a limited number provided by local authorities and retail outlets. There are also 77 fast chargers, mainly on national routes, on the eCars network. A map showing the charge...