Results 27,401-27,420 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air. Section 162 (7) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 states that “On the passing of this Act any order made...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department conducted a number of Cost Benefit analyses on the Eircode project in 2008, 2010 and 2015. These showed that, in addition to the project yielding a positive Net Present Value to both the State and Private Sector, that it would also bring about a wide range of other benefits including accurate location of all addresses in the State, including the 35% of addresses that are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 755 and 756 together. The Project Information Memorandum (PIM) published by my Department for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State intervention procurement process, makes it clear that there is no obligation to reimburse any Bidder, regardless of whether or not the procurement results in the award of a contract. The procurement process is ongoing and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Heat Incentive (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) is now fully open for applications. The first phase of the scheme, an installation grant for heat pumps, opened for applications in September 2018. This phase of the scheme will support ground, air and water source electric heat pump installations providing grant aid of up to 30% of the installation cost. I opened the second phase of the SSRH, an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department considered a number of alternative options available to Government to advance the availability of high speed broadband premises across the State in the event the NBP State intervention procurement process failed to deliver a solution acceptable to Government. The Contingency Plan Report 2019 was published by my Department and is available here (). The alternative options...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Compliance (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Development Plan (NDP) demonstrates the Government’s commitment to meeting Ireland’s infrastructure and investment needs over the period 2018-2027. The Plan commits to investing €21.8bn in climate and low carbon related actions, of which, approx. €3.7bn is identified for funding residential energy efficiency upgrades and retrofitting oil heated homes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referenced by the Deputy is in a Light 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 Light Blue areas are where eir is in the process of deploying high speed broadband to 300,000 premises on a commercial basis, under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: In 2017, my Department made funding of €1 million available to local authorities to deal with the clean-up of existing stockpiles of tyres across the country. This was done to support the introduction of a new compliance scheme for tyres and waste tyres from 1 October 2017. At that time, it was also indicated that the issue of waste tyres on farms would be considered. In 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The majority of public chargers in use in Ireland are part of the ESB ecars network. Currently there are no fees for using this charging network which can lead to consumers using the network in place of charging at home or using it for longer than they need. I understand that ESB ecars intends to introduce fees for the use of fast chargers later this year and standard chargers in 2020. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (11 Jun 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: Broadband Service Provision (11 Jun 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution Fines (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 767 and 768 together. The Litter Pollution Acts, 1997 to 2009, provide the statutory framework to combat littering and include provisions relating to dog fouling. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering (including dog fouling) rests with Local Authorities. It is a matter for each Local Authority to determine the most...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referenced 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 the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector continues to play a leadership role in tackling climate change through the achievement of relevant energy efficiency and carbon emissions targets. The public sector has already made a strong contribution in this regard with the most recently published statistics showing that the sector had improved its energy efficiency by 24% to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Development Plan Funding (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Development Plan (NDP) demonstrates the Government’s commitment to meeting Ireland’s infrastructure and investment needs over the period 2018-2027. The Plan commits to investing €21.8bn in climate and low carbon related actions, of which, approx. €3.7bn is identified for funding residential energy efficiency upgrades and retrofitting oil heated homes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 772 to 774, inclusive, together. I am now finalising a Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions to be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change, including how Ireland will, at the very least, meet its targets for the period to 2030. The Plan will set out how this Government intends to make Ireland climate resilient...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Trading Online Voucher Scheme is designed to support micro businesses, i.e. businesses with 10 or less employees and less than €2 million turnover per annum, to develop their trading online capability. The scheme offers a financial incentive of up to €2,500 along with training, mentoring and network support. The Scheme is funded by my Department, and administered...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: Cost estimates were developed by my Department’s specialist NBP team, which include financial and technical advisors KPMG and Analysys Mason, at specific points during the National Broadband Plan (NBP) procurement process. When the original budget model was prepared it was acknowledged that this would require further revisions as the proposed solution would be developed during dialogue...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: As I stated in reply to Question No. 171 of 22 May 2019, my Department currently has a total of 66 staff assigned to climate and related energy policy functions, across eight separate divisions. This staff complement has significant experience in developing and implementing climate and energy policy at international, EU, national, regional and local levels. In addition to its own staff, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The provision of telecommunications networks and services, which can support advanced digital technologies, including 5G, is a matter for the relevant undertakings operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. There are statutory provisions to ensure that operators of networks and services in Ireland...