Results 26,801-26,820 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (27 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to leading the way in reducing single use plastics and is working both at a national and European level to tackle the problem. The government has: - Agreed that Government Departments and bodies will not purchase single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws - Strongly supported new EU legislation on Single Use Plastics (SUP), which will ban straws, cotton...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (27 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: European, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred options to the disposal or landfilling of waste. Statistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency show that we have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Decarbonising our electricity supply is a crucial part of reducing our overall emissions. We are stepping up our ambition on renewable energy - by 2030, I have committed to 70% of our electricity being generated from renewable sources. The renewable energy sector has undergone a considerable transformation over the last 10 years, with the share of renewable electricity generation more...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Transmission Network (27 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: In July 2018, my Department published a National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection. This sets out the official policy position on electricity interconnection and outlines the many drivers and benefits of interconnection. The East-West Interconnector connects Ireland and Great Britain and has a transfer capacity of 500MW. It has been in operation since 2012 and allows the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently preparing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives in electricity, transport, heat, and agriculture, as well as a range of other sectors. The new plan will have a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Warmth & Wellbeing scheme is a joint policy initiative between my Department and the Department of Health and is being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the scheme, which began in 2016 is to validate, in an Irish context, the strong international evidence that making homes warmer, drier and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sustainable Energy Communities Scheme (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme is administered by SEAI on behalf of my Department. This Programme provides the first step for communities in learning how to develop local partnerships to manage and conserve energy before they apply to the Better Energy Communities Scheme. It facilitates the development of regional and national networks to allow for the sharing of knowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory, issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Capita...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has huge potential for renewable energy. Currently 30% of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources. I am now committing to a 70% by 2030 as part of the all of government climate plan. Eirgrid (the Transmission System Operator) and ESB Networks (the Distribution System Operator) provide online data on size and location of windfarms connected to the national grid. While...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Under the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of a separate collection service for food waste from households in designated brown bin areas. Household & Commercial Waste Management Compliance has been a National Waste Enforcement Priority for 2018 and 2019. During...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. Fifth generation (5G) networks are expected to be commercialised over the next few years. Roll-out of 5G technology in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis. Mobile network operators function in a liberalised market in Ireland, regulated by the Commission for Communications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Communications, I meet with my international colleagues on a variety of issues and in a variety of fora, as appropriate. In that context, I met with US Chargé d‘Affaires on 25 January 2019 for a wide-ranging discussion, during which the US views on the company in question were briefly raised. At a domestic level, it should be noted that there are statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure continued growth in electric vehicles. Home charging is the most cost-effective way to charge an electric vehicle and is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. A Government grant of up to €600 is available, via the SEAI, to the purchasers of new and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: RTÉ Services (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that RTÉ shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in RTÉ's management of its day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Communications Market Regulation (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: The itinerary for my recent visit to Canada as part of the Government’s St Patrick’s Day Programme included meetings with a wide range of stakeholders on a variety of issues, however not on the issue to which the Deputy refers. In relation to the roll-out of fifth generation (5G) networks, these are expected to be commercialised over the next few years. Roll-out of 5G...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399, 400, 405 to 407, inclusive and 412 together. My Department continues to engage with a number of relevant stakeholders and agencies including the HSE and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in an effort to develop a mechanism to provide a support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure continued growth in electric vehicles. Home charging is the most cost-effective way to charge an electric vehicle and is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. A Government grant of up to €600 is available, via the SEAI, to the purchasers of new and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: The majority of the existing network of publicly accessible charge points were rolled out by the ESB through its eCars programme. This network includes over 650 standard public charge points and 78 fast chargers, mainly on national routes to facilitate longer journeys. A map showing the charge points, including their status and availability, is available on the ESB's website at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Carbon Budget (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s strategy to meet its targets under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012) included investments, between 2006 and 2007, in three multilateral funds: the Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (MCCF) managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and the Carbon Fund for Europe (CFE) and Bio-Carbon Fund (BioCF), both managed by the World Bank....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds a number of home energy efficiency schemes that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). I have allocated €85m to these schemes in 2019. As with all Exchequer funded programmes, these are managed within available resources.The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides fixed cash grants towards a range of energy efficiency measures....