Results 27,321-27,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is important not to pretend there is a magic bullet that will change our 84% dependence on fossil fuels to something else. That will not happen. We must have a sensible transition from a dependence rate of 84% and reduce that over time. Gas will always be part of that transition.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position is that it is about maths. We are 84% dependent on fossil fuels and that will not change overnight. The ambition of Europe is to go from 16% renewables to 32% by 2030. That will still leave huge dependence on fossil fuels in Ireland and in Europe. Our choice is whether, by abandoning exploration, we switch to fracked gas from the US or to gas coming from Russia or Saudi...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, two weeks ago, the Government made a decision to appoint a preferred bidder and now contracts will have to be completed to the satisfaction of the State. We will not sign any contracts until that is done and we are satisfied that all the elements of the deal are in place. We have given an indicative timeline and predicted that the process could take up to six months to...

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

Richard Bruton: A grant of up to €600 is available to support the purchase and installation of an electric vehicle home charger, for purchasers of new and second-hand electric vehicles since 1 January 2018. All models of Battery Electric Vehicles and Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles which are (or were previously) eligible for grant support under the EV Grant Scheme are eligible for the home charger...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: Through the analysis conducted to date, National Broadband Ireland (NBI) does not anticipate that there will be many premises that will involve a high cost to connect. The Department and NBI have completed high level designs to determine the quantities of existing infrastructure that can be re-used and quantities of new infrastructure that will need to be deployed to deliver the NBP State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable referenced by the Deputy extends from the United States of America to Killala, County Mayo. This is privately owned infrastructure. The installation and operation of commercial telecommunications infrastructure in Ireland is undertaken by commercial companies operating in a liberalised market and I have no function in this area. Additionally...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has published key documentation on the National Broadband Plan including the alternatives considered in 2018 and 2019 and these are available at the following link: www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/natio nal-broadband-plan/Pages/Key-Procurement-Documents--.aspx.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 347 and 357 to 362, inclusive, together. The purpose of the National Broadband Plan is to ensure that over 1.1 million of our citizens in rural Ireland have the same opportunity to participate in the digital society as citizens living in urban areas. The availability of ubiquitous high speed broadband will bring significant benefits in areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and public bodies, in an effort to see how best to provide a financial support to persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. It should be noted however that none of the options around verification are straightforward, and we must be cognisant of data...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the first year of the National Broadband Plan roll-out, approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be deployed across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county, including Cork. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention network. Following rigorous evaluation by my Department, I recently brought a recommendation to Government to confer Preferred Bidder status on Granahan McCourt, the remaining bidder in the NBP procurement process and Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, has proven very successful since first introduced in Dublin in 1990 and subsequently extended so that it now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. I am, therefore, disappointed that a number of coal firms have indicated they would legally challenge the decision of...

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

Richard Bruton: Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to roll-out services and make specific investments in particular locations....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 354 together. Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the Local Authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to prosecutions taken or fines imposed. However Recommended Criteria for Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 355 together. My Department provides a robust litter policy and legislative framework. Under the Litter Pollution Act(s) 1997 to 2009, responsibility for management and enforcement falls under the remit of Local Authorities. It is a matter for each Local Authority to decide on the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean up actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across the country, and a State intervention in those areas where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. There are 52,673 premises in the constituency of Cork South-West. Since Q1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across the country, and a State intervention in those areas where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 366 together. In light of the recommendations in the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting, a Working Group was set up by Government decision in July 2018 to examine options for the reform of TV licence collection. I secured...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across the country, and a State intervention in those areas where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department supports a number of schemes including the Dairy Farm Grant and the Lighting Support Grant which assist businesses, including farms, to improve their energy efficiency. However, my Department does not provide grants for the installation of three phase electricity and there are no plans to introduce such a scheme. More information on the schemes, grant supports, guidance and...