Results 28,221-28,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency Reports (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the recent publication by the Environmental Protection report “Air Quality in Ireland 2018”, which sets out the current position as regards our air quality and illustrates certain challenges in this regard. The report indicates that air quality levels at monitoring sites in Ireland were below the current EU legislative limit values in 2018, although the stricter World...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 861 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 and,...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 863 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: Postal Codes (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geographical locations provided by authoritative sources. These sources are An Post, who collect information on new and existing properties, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) who provide the geographical locations for all these properties. The National...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 855 and 881 together. The Climate Action Plan sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. These actions include developing the infrastructure to stay sufficiently ahead of demand. There are currently over 650 standard public charge points and 96 fast chargers, which are mainly on national...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 856, 886 and 887 together. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The initial Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2019...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 857 to 859, inclusive, together. My Department currently has 552 devices using the Windows 7 operating system. My Department has not been informed of any additional charges with regard to extended support for the Windows 7 operating system beyond January 2020. There is no obligation on my Department to accept any additional premium payments for on-going...

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

Richard Bruton: The UN Climate Action Summit, which took place on 23 September, was convened by the UN Secretary General to build momentum towards enhanced climate ambition by Parties to the Paris Agreement. This was preceded on Saturday, 21 September, by the Youth Climate Summit.Parties to the summit were invited to make new commitments under a number of different themes, include mitigation strategy;...

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

Richard Bruton: There are currently 349 full time and 48 part time (work sharing) staff in My Department. All staff in my Department are paid above the minimum wage rate of pay.

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 864 and 865 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households that meet the defined eligibility criteria and are vulnerable to energy poverty. The Scheme has been in existence since 2002 and has provided upgrades to over 140,000 homes, leaving the occupants better able to afford to...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department provided funding of €1.2 million and €1.8 million to the Anti-Dumping Initiative in 2017 and 2018 respectively and a further allocation of €3 million has been made available this year to support over 280 projects across the country.Details of this year’s allocations and the projects funded by the Anti-Dumping Initiative in both 2017 and 2018 can be...

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

Richard Bruton: The Government's Climate Action Plan sets out the roadmap to increasing the overall share of renewable electricity generation to 70% of demand by 2030. This is a significant increase from the current level of 30%. The Climate Action Plan provides for the early and complete phase-out of the highest CO2 intensity fossil fuels in the electricity sector - coal by 2025 and peat by 2028 - leading...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 868 to 873, inclusive, 875 and 878 together. 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...

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

Richard Bruton: According to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at , the premises referred to by the Deputy is one which is indicated as having been passed by eir as part of their rural deployment of high speed broadband. Therefore, that premises should be in a position to order a high speed broadband connection from a provider offering services on the network. Where a premises in...

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

Richard Bruton: The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant scheme provides grants of up to €600 towards the cost of installing a home charger. These grants are available for buyers of both new and second-hand electric vehicles whether purchased in Ireland or imported. Purchasers of all types of electric vehicles (including battery electric vehicles and plug in hybrid electric vehicles) which currently...

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

Richard Bruton: According to my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, available at , the premises referred to by the Deputy is one which is indicated as having been passed by eir as part of their rural deployment of high speed broadband. Therefore, that premises should be in a position to order a high speed broadband connection from a provider offering services on the network. Where a premises in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts Data (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: As a matter of course, my Department complies with the procurement framework. However, on occasion, contracts are awarded without a competitive tender. These contracts are approved in accordance with Circular 40/2002 (Public Procurement Guidelines), which recognises that in certain exceptional circumstances, the award of a contract without competitive procurement is justified. My Department...

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 retrofit work they wish to undertake. Over the last year the measures available under these grants have been expanded to promote deeper measures and support the transition away from fossil fuel heating systems. Since the introduction of these grants nearly 400,000 homes across the...

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

Richard Bruton: 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 provides 50% funding for energy upgrades to an A BER rating with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (5 Nov 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...