Results 3,241-3,260 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Mayo for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 0 1 3 1 6 2 3 0 POs...

Written Answers — Energy Regulation: Energy Regulation (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Responsibility for the regulation of gas tariffs lies with the Energy Regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER's legal remit regarding tariffs is set out in Section 23 (2) (b) (vii) of the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act, 2002. As the CER is legally independent in the performance of its functions, I have no function in the setting of gas tariffs. I am, however, advised...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: One of the key objectives of the grant scheme is to stimulate the market for domestic renewable technologies and to encourage people to purchase and install renewable technologies, who might not otherwise have done so, because of associated capital costs. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any grants scheme, there has to be some reference date and start point and in the case of the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Petroleum resources within the national jurisdiction belong to the State. Exploration for and extraction of these resources are regulated under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, and the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development 1992. There are two mechanisms for issuing exploration licences. The first applies to frontier areas which are...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues relating to non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony. The Department's involvement in matters concerning the health effects of non-ionising radiation (transmissions), which includes radio frequency emissions from mobile phone base stations is guided by advice from national and international health authorities...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for the management of the radio spectrum in Ireland and as such, is required to investigate any interference with services, particularly where critical safety issues are concerned. Spectrum management is designed to ensure that all licensed services can operate without interference. The law in relation...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The €27m Greener Homes Scheme provides grant aid for renewable heat technologies including wood biomass, solar panels and heat pumps. A further wood biomass programme, valued at €22 million, has been launched for the commercial heating sector. The development of support strategies for oil seed as a renewable energy source have focussed to date on renewable transport fuels. The biofuels...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 870 and 871 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. The question of enabling telephone exchanges for broadband is an...

Written Answers — Census of Population: Census of Population (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I can advise that my Department has, from time to time, used relevant statistics and data compiled by the Central Statistics Office as appropriate to our policy goals and operational needs across the Communications, Energy, Fisheries and Earth Screening Sectors. As the Deputy will appreciate, relevant statistics and data sets are a useful resource and I am pleased that the relevant data...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A total of 361 applications have been received from the Kildare and Carlow region, for grant aid under the €27m Greener Homes domestic grants scheme, which I launched on 27th March. A further two applications from this region have been made for funding under Sustainable Energy Ireland's commercial Bioheat and Combined Heat and Power programmes. Assessments are ongoing in relation to the...

Written Answers — Electricity Service: Electricity Service (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The issue of ESB meter inspections is a day-to-day operational matter for the ESB and not one in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 875 and 885 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. The upgrading of telephone exchanges for the provision of broadband...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of the automation of post offices is, in the first instance, an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. I have received no report on this matter. However, on making enquiries with An Post, I understand that the period for which the pilot project is being conducted is from 1st October 2005 to 30th September 2006. I...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Renewables Directive (2001/77/EC) obliges Ireland to develop and implement a programme capable of increasing the amount of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total consumption by 2010. The target of 13.2% approximates to 1450 megawatts (MW) of installed generating capacity to be operational to the electricity network by 2010. Currently there are over 860MW of...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Interdepartmental Committee on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields is at an advanced stage in its consideration of the policy issues regarding any potential health effects. An Expert Group of independent national and international scientific and medical experts, commissioned by the Interdepartmental Committee, is currently finalising its report and will shortly submit it to the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We have more than doubled the capacity of renewable energy powered electricity generating plants connected to the electricity network in the last two years. The 2010 target of 13.2% of total consumption from electricity generated from renewable energy sources will be met and exceeded. I have recently announced an ambitious programme to almost treble the contribution by renewable energy...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market under the regulation of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. My Department administers a Group Broadband Scheme which offers small towns and rural communities of less than 1,500 people the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Earlier this year, I launched a new ocean energy strategy, which aims to put Ireland at the forefront of ocean energy development and position us to capitalise on this resource. The strategy was developed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Marine Institute. As the first stage in implementing this strategy, we have recently upgraded the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre in UCC...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department does not currently have on record a request for funding from the Association of Irish Energy Agencies. I am very supportive of the work of the Energy Agencies North and South to promote renewable energy and the rational use of energy. The Association is a network set up with the support of the EU Commission. I look forward to the Association's contribution to the consultation...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Figures obtained from the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) indicate that, as of 25th September 2006, there are 4,505 mobile telecommunications sites in Ireland. This figure includes both the traditional stand-alone masts and the sites that are located on buildings or other support structures. The location of these mobile telecommunications sites is madepublicly available on...