Results 28,021-28,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: 5G is the next generation of mobile communications and has the potential to deliver hugely enhanced connectivity. Ireland welcomes the benefits that the enhanced connectivity and technology will bring. It is expected that 5G will be commercialised over the next few years. Rollout in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis. As...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department supports businesses through a range of supports and grants administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). As the scope for reductions in energy or related carbon emissions from the technologies the Deputy mentions is limited, and as the focus for grant supports needs to be on technologies with the potential to deliver the most effective impact (i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Smart Meter Upgrade is a meter replacement programme which will result in the upgrade of over 2 million meters to modern, smart-ready technology. These new generation electricity meters are being rolled out across Europe and internationally and when the programme completes in Ireland in 2024 all domestic and business premises will have a new modern meter installed. The upgrade to smart...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland are commercial, liberalised and competitive and operate within national and European regulatory regimes. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 376 together. Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Stocks (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Following reports of salmon returning to Norway and Scotland with a skin disease in spring 2019, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have been proactive in relation to this issue as regards Irish rivers and waters. IFI issued an alert on 17th June 2019, informing anglers that small numbers of salmon showing signs of bleeding and skin ulceration were also being observed returning to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Regulation (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together. As outlined in reply to a number of previous Questions, planning is a matter for the planning authorities and planning requirements are set out in the various Planning Acts and regulations. As also previously outlined, the EU Habitats Directive and recent case law has reinforced the need for strict adherence to environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Ireland (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together. I understand that the project in question was delivered by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under legislation appropriate to that body and was undertaken following a request from the local angling club. In that context, the delivery of these works is a matter for the OPW and associated planning issues are also a matter for OPW in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 750 of 11 June 2019. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for delivering Ireland’s statutory drainage objectives. It is an existing priority for my Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that, in line with our statutory remit, the advice and guidance to OPW under agreement between the bodies seeks to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together. With regard to air pollution levels, including nitrogen dioxide caused by transport emissions, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 450 of 1 October. The position is unchanged. Questions in relation to the cost of public transport should be directed to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. The regulatory framework for the Irish electricity market is mainly contained in the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, as amended. This has been amended inter alia to reflect successive EU energy regulation legislative packages. In this regard, the EU Energy acquis, including the recently negotiated Clean Energy Package, continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I met the Chief Executives of ESB and Bord na Móna on 26 July 2019 following the An Bord Pleanála decision with regard to West Offaly Power Station. My officials are in ongoing contact with both companies as options are evaluated. I intend to meet with the CEOs of both companies in the coming period. A Just Transition for regions impacted by climate change is an integral part of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together. As a State intervention, the National Broadband Plan must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of the State aid rules to broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise and public consultation process in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan, published in June, sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. These actions include developing the electric vehicle charging network necessary to support the growth of EVs and set a target for the supply of infrastructure to stay sufficiently ahead of demand. Businesses, including service stations, can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes Data (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The scheme closed for applications on 19th July in line with the published Application Guidelines. The scheme is funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI. The Pilot...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have recently advised the House that I plan to conduct a review of energy security. This review will include consideration of the security of energy supply to Ireland's households and businesses as we transition to a low carbon economy, which will also address what fossil fuels are required, and how they are sourced, during that transition. There are no plans, at this time, to develop a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 391 together. The Shannon LNG project is a private commercial project and any decisions on the future development of this project are matters for the project promoter. The project has been designated a “Project of Common Interest” on the previous three lists of Projects of Common Interest (i.e. it has been a "Project of Common...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: 5G is the next generation of mobile communications and has the potential to deliver hugely enhanced connectivity. Ireland welcomes the benefits that the enhanced connectivity and technology will bring. It is expected that 5G will be commercialised over the next few years. Rollout in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis. As...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (8 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan commits to 70% of electricity 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). The RESS has been designed within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework and the scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by...