Results 28,201-28,220 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Article 18 of the EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste prohibits Member States from impeding the placing on the market of their territory of packaging which satisfies the provisions of this Directive. Plastic bottles fall under the definition of packaging for the purposes of this Directive. However, we are committed to leading the way in reducing single use plastics and are working...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: 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. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) has met on a monthly basis since September 2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland. The group monitors 26 service offerings across the State (comprising 19 individual companies with several of those being monitored in more than one area). To date the PMG has cost €47,810. Further information on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently in the process of preparing Ireland’s Long-Term Strategy to meet the requirements of Article 15 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. This preparation of this Strategy will be informed by Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan, as well as the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2019, which was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is an initiative specifically designed to support small and micro enterprises to trade online. Funded by my Department and administered by Enterprise Ireland through the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500, subject to matched funding, to help small businesses to develop their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Legal Cases Data (24 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: There were 4 financial settlements and 11 legal cost settlements by my Department in the five-year period to 23 October 2019. Four of these cases included confidentiality clauses. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Funding (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 827 together. The overall subsidy for the NBP State intervention over 25 years, as approved by Government, is €2.143 billion, excluding a contingency of €480 million and VAT of €354 million. Based on the National Development Plan allocation, funding for the National Broadband Plan in my Department in the 2019 budget was €75...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Fund (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 828 and 850 together. The Climate Action Fund is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 as part of Project Ireland 2040. The fund supports initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland's climate and energy targets in a cost effective manner. It also offers the potential for innovative interventions which, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 829 and 830 together. Enforcement in relation to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners from the point of view of avoiding loss of revenue to the Exchequer and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to arrests made or prosecutions taken. My Department assists local authorities in carrying out...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Supporting home owners on low incomes to retrofit their homes is a priority for Government. In Budget 2020, the Government allocated €52.8 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme to support the retrofitting of the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. This represents the biggest ever allocation for the Scheme – more than double the initial allocation for 2019....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together. The Government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) as the Preferred Bidder for the NBP in May 2019. This followed a tender process designed to ensure that every home and business throughout the country will have access to future proofed high speed broadband and will cater specifically to an estimated 1.1 million people,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) in May 2019. Since then my officials have been performing the necessary financial and contractual due diligence work needed before a contract can be awarded. The Department’s work is well progressed and, pending Government approval, I expect that the contract will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Administration (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government funded grant schemes for energy efficiency have supported upgrades to over 400,000 homes since 2000. Data in relation to the number of homes that have changed their BER following an upgrade under these schemes is not available. However, the SEAI has carried out analysis on a sample of the homes upgraded under the Better Energy Homes scheme. The findings are presented in Table 1. A...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes Data (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: A range of Government funded grants are available to householders to suit their circumstances and scale of work they wish to undertake. The measures available under these grants have been progressively expanded in recent years to promote deeper measures and support the transition away from fossil fuel heating systems.The majority of these grants are available to homeowners whose properties...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commercial Property (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The SEAI do not gather or have information on the number of commercial property green leases in Ireland. Property leases, whether green or not, are private agreements and would be considered commercially sensitive contracts. Green leases usually rely on tenant–landlord cooperation by promoting collaboration and fostering better communication between the parties. It is generally...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Fund (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s necessary transition away from carbon-intensive sources of energy, towards more sustainable, renewable energy sources, will have a significant impact on the workers in these carbon-intensive sectors, their families, and communities. Government has committed to delivering a whole of Government approach, and to working with local stakeholders, to ensuring that a just transition...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 845 together. The Shannon LNG project to which the Deputies refer has been designated as a project of common interest for the last 6 years. It was designated as a project of common interest in 2013 and again in 2015, and 2017. It has been supported by Ireland since 2013 as it would enhance Ireland’s energy security by increasing import route...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Housing Estates (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: A just transition and protecting the most vulnerable is at the heart of the Climate Action Plan and measures announced as part of Budget 2020 will support those most affected. The Government has allocated €20 million of Carbon Price revenue to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to deliver grouped upgrades as promised in the Climate Action Plan. Targeted at the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 846 to 848, inclusive, together. The Government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) in May 2019. Since then my officials have been performing the necessary financial and contractual due diligence work needed before a contract can be concluded. The Department’s work is well progressed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The costs of the required remediation works at Whitestown are not yet known and are a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. No decision has been taken about funding of the remediation works.