Results 28,581-28,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, last year, my Department assessed micro generation, across a number of renewable electricity generating technologies, as part of the economic analysis to underpin the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The assessment identified technical and financial challenges, which may need to be addressed before a broader support scheme for micro generation can...

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

Richard Bruton: The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland. It is committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and pollution. The Agency undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting and certification of activities that could...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department does not employ agency staff. 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: Noise Pollution (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is undertaking a review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in conjunction with my Department. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. As part of the overall review process, a...

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

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides free 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. The Warmer Homes Scheme is delivered through a panel of contractors, appointed through a competitive tendering process. Some contractors have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The national compliance scheme to deal with tyres and waste tyres is operated by Repak ELT with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited (PRL). In accordance with the terms of the scheme’s Ministerial approval, Repak ELT are obliged to work towards minimum targets of 30% recycling by the end of 2018 and each subsequent year of the approval. In 2018 the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 to 502, inclusive, together. The electric vehicle purchase grant provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the private purchase of a new electric car. Based on supporting 5,600 privately purchased electric cars in 2020, the increased cost of doubling the purchase grant would be €28 million or €0.56 million if the grant was increased...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan is the Government’s plan to rollout high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises including almost 100,000 businesses and farms, along with 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service. Following the contract signing on 19 November, work has already begun and a deployment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: 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, who meet the defined eligibility criteria. As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications. However...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 513 together. Cork City is subject to the smoky coal ban introduced in 1995. Local Authorities are primarily responsible for the enforcement of the “smoky coal” ban within their functional areas. The powers that Local Authorities have are extensive. For example: i. local authority staff may undertake inspections of premises and vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Analysys Mason was contracted to provide technical advisory services under the contract ‘Technical Advisory Services in relation to the proposed State-Led intervention under the National Broadband Plan’. The purpose of that contract was to ensure that the Department had available to it the breadth of technical expertise required by the Department in developing the strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public service broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Sharing Arrangements (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a number of arrangements in place which provide for the sharing of data with organisations who are not Government Departments or state agencies. The details of such arrangements are set out below. Climate change and global warming There are a number of data processing agreements in place with service providers to facilitate production of research...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Freedom of Information Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests refused by my Department, where the decision was subsequently annulled by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) for the period 2016 to 2019, is set out in the following table. No. of FOI Requests Refused* No. Annulled by OIC 2016 45* 0 2017 48* ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Neither I, nor my Officials, attended the event referred to by the Deputy in his Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Agencies Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The following table sets out the information sought by the Deputy. In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards set out a requirement for prospective Chairpersons of State Bodies in relation to attendance before Oireachtas Committees. Regulatory Authorities, while not organised as boards, also have obligations to appear before Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below: Year Staff number Department Budget (millions) 2014 260 €440 2015 275 €419 2016 333* €481 2017 392 €540 2018 410 ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. 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. The Government intends to ensure an early connection to high speed broadband in specific key locations in rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Transitioning away from fossil fuels and to more renewable, sustainable energy sources is at the heart of the Climate Action Plan. The Plan includes a number of actions which will also have a significant impact on reducing emissions and improving air quality, including: - Putting 180,000 electric vehicles on our roads by 2025 and almost 1m by 2030 - Ensuring the EV charging network...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: 5G (5th Generation) deployment of network technologies is a major enabler for future digital services and a priority for the Digital Single Market strategy. 5G networks represent a technological shift and will provide new opportunities for the economy and society of Europe, enabling innovation and advancement in many key sectors. 5G networks will form part of Europe’s critical...