Results 28,481-28,500 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (28 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in matters relating to the ownership of public transport operators. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the ownership of the Luas is an operational matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (28 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to catering on the Tralee to Dublin service is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Funding (29 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Department of Transport does not have any unallocated EU funding. All EU funding provided to the Department has been allocated for a specific purpose. This includes the following agreed funding: National Resilience and Recovery Programme (NRRP) Funding (€71.92m) which is allocated to the Cork Commuter Rail project; Shared Island funding (€7m) and EU Just Transition Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 67 of 24 January 2024. The Just Transition Taskforce has now concluded its work and I expect shortly to formally receive the final report of the Taskforce. It is my intention to move quickly to have the Taskforce's report and recommendations considered by Government with a view to establishing a Just...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Aviation Industry (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Online Levy Application (OLA) system is an application administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC) which permits oil companies to submit their monthly data for all petroleum products and renewable transport fuels, as specified under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Mineral exploration activities in Ireland take place within a framework of Irish and EU legislation, including those implemented to ensure that the environment, including water quality, is protected. All exploration activities must be undertaken in such a manner as to avoid damage to the environment and amenities of the Licensed Area and to avoid or minimize disturbance of residents. All...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: ComReg manages radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Multi-Band Spectrum Award 2 (MBSA2) was a significant spectrum award process run by the regulator which, in early 2023, led to the award of long term (20 years) spectrum rights across four bands suitable for providing wireless and mobile broadband services and increasing network capacity. Significant coverage obligations apply...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As part of Budget 2024, Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, which over 2.2 million households will benefit from, totalling €450 per household. The scheme is to be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As part of the Department’s Review of the Security of Energy Supply of Ireland’s Electricity and Gas Systems, Cambridge Economic Policy Associates (CEPA) completed a technical analysis which included a detailed assessment of a short list of mitigation options for gas security of supply, including strategic gas storage and strategic floating storage and regasification unit...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In May 2021, the Government approved the ‘Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas’ which states “pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with”. The statement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Codes of Practice were formally approved on the 14th December 2023 by my colleague Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications. The relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act allowing for the use of CCTV under the Waste Management Act and Litter Pollution Act and the use of other Mobile Recording...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Heritage Sites (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners as well as public and commercial entities to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). It is open to owners and non-corporate landlords of pre-1940 homes to apply for any of SEAIs grant supported schemes. However, the retrofit...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Government approved and published the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report last November which concludes that Ireland’s future energy will be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable energy potential, flexibility and being integrated into Europe’s energy systems. With regard to gas, the report...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has not paid any ground rents since 2016 to date. 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 the information requested in respect of their organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the solid fuel regulations, identifying unauthorised fuels placed on the market and taking measures to counteract any illegal trade. They are also responsible for the allocation of appropriate resources to ensure that they can fulfil their air quality enforcement obligations. It is at the discretion of each Local Authority to decide its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 131 together. I propose to taking Question No’s 10504, and 10514 together. Clean air is essential for our quality of life. While recent decades have seen significant improvements in air quality in Ireland, air pollution continues to cause damage to both our health and environment. The European Environment Agency report Air Quality in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. My Department does not compile or maintain statistics in relation to the levels of enforcement actions by Local Authorities under the Solid Fuels Regulations. Local Authorities report this information as part of their enforcement activities under environmental legislation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on an annual basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, in February 2022, Government launched a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, the Government has put in place a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In June 2023, I launched a public consultation to help inform Ireland’s environmental response to disposable vaping devices. Disposable vaping devices present several challenges to our current waste collection and recycling system, and they can and should be recycled in a responsible manner. The use of valuable materials in disposable devices is not consistent with circular economy...