Results 27,681-27,700 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is more to come.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Pollution (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am very conscious of this issue. Deputy Browne's colleague, Deputy Dooley, raised it earlier and I went through it at that time. The Deputy probably appreciates that, while my predecessors announced that it was their intention to introduce a nationwide ban, this was challenged on the grounds that it would not be fair to treat the burning of smoky coal differently from the burning of peat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Pollution (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy but one has to be careful not to jeopardise successful schemes that are managing air quality at a time when we seek to extend those. With the law of unintended consequences, we could undermine what is successful. I agree with the Deputy that we need to find a way address this with respect to a number of towns which the Deputy rightly said does not only include...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the publication of the Engineers Ireland review of housing and infrastructure in Ireland. This report includes recommendations on a range of issues related to the housing stock, including the development and implementation of a national renovation strategy. As noted in the Report, the recently published Climate Action Plan sets a target of retrofitting 500,000 houses to BER B2,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government established a National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. The primary objectives of the National Dialogue are to engage and empower citizens and communities to take local action, to ensure an inclusive progress of engagement and feedback, and to develop the capacity for individuals and communities to act and bring about the transformation of our society to a low carbon and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Warmer Homes Scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a panel of contractors, appointed through a competitive tendering process. There are currently 39 contractors on the panel.Works that are completed must be audited and in some cases further inspected before SEAI can request an invoice...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Exploration Licences (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007 provide that acreage rental fees in respect of petroleum authorisations are payable on the date of issue of an authorisation for a period of one year and thereafter on the annual anniversary date of the issue of that authorisation. As such acreage rental fees are paid in advance and fall due at different...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 17 June, I launched the Climate Action Plan which includes a suite of actions to decarbonise the electricity sector and boost the quantity of renewable generation in order to meet our target of 70% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030. In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Plan, my Department is developing the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I published the Government's Climate Action Plan 2019 on 17 June. The plan sets out, for the first time, how Ireland can reach its 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also put Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The step-up in ambition in each of the sectors covered by the plan will require investment across the entire economy....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government currently funds a number of schemes, administered by the SEAI, to assist homeowners in upgrading the energy efficiency of their properties. These include: - free upgrades for households in energy poverty; - fixed grants for a defined list of energy efficiency measures, covering approximately 30% of the total cost; and - 50% grants for people who want to upgrade to an A3...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 26 together. The Climate Action Plan launched last month sets out Ireland's 2030 climate ambitions which is consistent with a trajectory to meet net zero emissions by 2050. Action 30 of the Plan sets out the steps necessary and timelines for the delivery of an enabling framework for micro-generation. The objective is that a support payment for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government’s Contingency Action Plan, published on 19 December 2018, sets out comprehensive, cross-Government preparations that have been in place since even before the Brexit vote. The Government will publish an updated Action Plan later this month, outlining the work that has taken since the publication of December Action Plan, and further actions to be taken before the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I would like in the first instance to clarify that eir has made no formal proposal to Government to replace or supersede the National Broadband Plan. At its appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, eir's CEO outlined eir's view on the value for money of the NBP. eir's CEO made certain observations with regard to eir's own model for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Exploration Licences Data (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since the introduction of the Integrated Petroleum Affairs System database in 2007, twenty three applications for petroleum authorisations have been considered and declined. It has not been possible to review manual records for the period 1995 to 2006 in the timeframe available. As regards these 23 applications, no refund of application fees has been made. In general terms, it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Exploration Licences Applications (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 27 together. Applications received for a petroleum authorisation are considered against the criteria outlined in article 3 of the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007. In particular, applicants must demonstrate that the work programme proposed in their application will progress understanding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I attended the Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg on 26 June 2019 where, together with my environment ministerial colleagues, including Therese Coffey, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, we discussed the EU Long Term Strategy and EU ambition for carbon neutrality. At this meeting I confirmed Ireland’s support for increased climate ambition and the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The 'cash for cans' initiative was implemented by Galway City Council and my Department has no role in its operation. I understand that the initiative is currently under review by the Council and a report on the continuation of the scheme is due to be provided to the elected members of Galway City Council on 8 July.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 47 together. The purpose of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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. This will bring significant benefits including in areas such as e-Health, e-Education, smart farming, regional development...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Thirty per cent of electricity was produced from renewable sources in 2017 with a target of reaching 40% by 2020. While emissions from the sector were on a downward trend between 2005 and 2011, they have stayed relatively static since, as a result of rising demand for power outstripping our increased generation from renewable sources. Nevertheless in 2017 the use of renewables in electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan includes a commitment to developing the scope of a new call in Q3 2019 and launching a new call in Q4 2019. Under the first call for applications seven projects were approved. These projects will be provided with up to €77 million in support which will leverage a total investment of €300 million. The projects span a range of sectors supporting the...