Results 28,761-28,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: Under the Climate Action Plan, the Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 to provide funding to local authorities for the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of EVs, who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Capita...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their dailylives, including remote working and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis. I and my officials are also very focussed on the need to ensure that telecommunications customers are sympathetically treated at this very challenging time. In that regard, officials from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: The procurement of fuels for ESB power stations is an operational matter for ESB and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function. However, I do wish to address the concerns raised. I can confirm that ESB has not received coal from the Cerrejón mine since 2018. The government in the Climate Action Plan has committed to the complete phase out of coal and peat...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Print Media (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I have no statutory function in relation to newspapers other than in respect of media mergers.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 947 and 948 together. I recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis. I and my officials are also very focussed on the need to ensure that telecommunications customers are sympathetically...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Programmes (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: The Digital Skills for Citizens Scheme provides digital skills training for people who have never used the internet with a view to removing a key barrier to digital adoption. Since 2017 over 57,000 people have participated in training under the Scheme. All organisations delivering digital skills training under the Scheme have been pre-funded to train a specific number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to help homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Since 2000, approximately 400,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier to heat and light. Approximately €120 million has been allocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy, environment, climate change and public 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...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. These are truly extraordinary circumstances. I know he is used to it at this stage but even though I think I am jointly the longest serving Deputy in the House at the moment, I am certainly not used to these circumstances. However, I am glad to have the opportunity to account for my stewardship as a caretaker Minister. I want first to thank my officials and...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: The just transition fund has just been opened for applications. Interested groups can register under an arrangement that is already in place with the councils. We will publish the final criteria in about three weeks and we will have the selection thereafter. The contract has already been awarded for the first tranche of bog restoration. Bord na Móna won that contract and it is...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I do not have the number of jobs affected by the closure of the two plants. Roughly 180 workers who are directly involved in the plants' operations will not be retained. Unfortunately there have been other requirements on Bord na Móna as a result of Covid-19. There has been a decline in electricity demand, which has resulted in less use of the higher-cost solid fuel elements Bord na...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy can either ask the questions and let me answer them or he can provide both the question and the answer himself.

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I will deal with the Deputy's first question. The National Parks and Wildlife Service's bog restoration programme will create 40 jobs. Bord na Móna has won that tender. The advanced rehabilitation of Bord na Móna's bogs will create more than 200 jobs. The company intends to start that work before the end of the year. The retrofitting of homes in the midlands will provide 400...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I outlined 650 job opportunities we are seeking to create in the midlands, which will be important as the transition occurs. Bord na Móna has topped up the temporary wage subsidy, so people are retaining their full basic wage. I understand that seasonal workers are eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment. They are not part of the full-time staff. On the other issues the...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: The position on the national broadband plan is as I outlined. I am now seeking to accelerate it so that people in the sixth and seventh year could be brought forward. My officials are in discussions with the company to see if we can accelerate the roll-out from the end of the second half of next year. Regarding this year, 80 of the broadband contact connection points will be rolled out...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the work of Kieran Mulvey. He did an exceptional job. He is a man of great experience who comes from the midlands and he worked with everyone. It shows the value of appointing an independent commissioner to pull those strands together. His work is very valuable. We are honouring all those pledges, including providing €36 million this year to...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his kind comments, which are not common in this House. I see huge potential in this area. As the Deputy probably knows, we have pencilled in offshore wind for 3.5 GW in the period up to 2030 and hope that we will exceed that. That is our ambition and we are consulting on what sort of a grid network would be appropriate to try and do that in a quick way. Should it...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for those questions. I agree absolutely that the climate challenge is the greatest challenge humanity faces. It will preoccupy this House for the next ten years and for the 20 years thereafter. We are seeking to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide over the next ten years and to eliminate them entirely over the following 20. That will mean a dramatic change in the way...

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements (27 May 2020)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Whitmore for her questions. She is absolutely right in commending An Post. That organisation has been imaginative in recognising a very good commercial opportunity for itself while also helping companies to migrate their business to a more successful platform. An Post has been remarkably successful when one considers that, a couple of years ago, it was facing into very dark...