Results 28,401-28,420 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The €1 billion fund for urban, the €500 million fund for climate and the €500 million fund for disruptive technologies are all intact and are being rolled out and implemented.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: He was wrong because the Government took a decision to provide additional resources to ensure that this plan would be delivered. In focusing on the national broadband plan, we are straying a little from a just transition.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am happy to stay here all night and talk about it. Like it or not, in 20 years' time, people will reflect on the questioning as to whether rural Ireland should have access to high-speed broadband as not recognising the realities. In terms of the transformative power of these technologies, it would be very short-sighted to not do it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: People have jobs to do but the same sources would have objected to rural electrification and free education in the past. There is a track record of that.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In total, there are 20 on the climate side and 60 on the energy side.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: We have indeed and we have obtained some additional capacity. There is no doubt this is a challenge. Developing a climate plan and working bilaterally with several Departments trying to get agreement throughout the public sector has put a big strain on the resources of the Department. As the Deputy rightly demands, we are working on a climate Bill, which we hope to publish soon. It is a...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: That is the target to which it is working. Every one of the targets we have set is demanding. It is because of the sense of urgency that is there. I have no report that is not on track.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The process of industrial relations, and I worked on that brief for a while, is that if there is a local arrangement such as an industrial relations committee, which there is in Bord na Móna, that is where issues are dealt with. If they are not resolved they go to the Workplace Relations Commission, which is the experienced body in industrial relations. The reality is that just...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Mr. Mulvey is in place already.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: He is seeking to attend the meetings at the end of this month. He is getting involved.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is no problem with the Workplace Relations Commission getting involved with industrial relations issues in Bord na Móna. That is what it has done. It has advisory and mediation services. Where there are unresolved issues, parties can go to the Labour Court for adjudication, where people agree. We have a well-established industrial relations process. That will be triggered by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government recognises the need to roll out high speed broadband as quickly as possible and is conscious that the full rollout of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State intervention area will take a number of years. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are locations of community importance across Ireland such as community centres, parish halls and schools. The BCPs have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 213, inclusive, together. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of State aid rules for broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of State aid rules for broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where intervention is required. Having consulted with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department recently conducted a public consultation to close the ongoing mapping exercise, seeking submissions from operators who wish to have their existing high speed broadband networks, or who have concrete plans to invest in high speed broadband networks over the next 7 years, to be included on the Department’s High Speed Broadband Map. That consultation was extended twice at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds a number of energy efficiency grant schemes that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The aim of these schemes is to improve the energy efficiency of our built environment, in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. As new homes are already required to meet specific energy performance standards and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Climate Action 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 2030. The Scheme is subject to state aid approval from the EU Commission. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. This year the total allocation for the scheme is €39.8 million. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Existing grants under the Better Energy Homes Scheme are fixed amounts that are expected to cover approximately 30% of the total cost to the homeowner of the insulation being installed. However, the cost of insulating homes can vary significantly from property to property. Key factors which determine the cost include the type of insulation required, the size of the property and whether there...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Waste management planning, including with infrastructure provision and associated costs, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). I have no function in the matter.