Results 3,921-3,940 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: Since the 1960s, exploration activity in the Irish Offshore has yielded four commercial gas fields and no commercial oil discoveries. Exploration offshore Ireland is expensive due to its remoteness and water depths. The cost of drilling a single deep-water well in the Atlantic can be in excess of €100 million. Limited infrastructure, such as pipelines, terminals and platforms, pushes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: As the principal regulator for the petroleum exploration sector operating in the Irish offshore, my Department is in ongoing contact with exploration licence holders regarding the setting, monitoring and delivery of licence commitments along with the acquisition of seismic and other data. In addition, my Department engages with companies that are not currently involved in exploration in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: Successful exploration for oil and gas would result in significant benefits for Ireland in a number of ways. In addition to the income that would accrue to the Exchequer through the oil and gas fiscal terms and the security of supply benefits that would result from an increased indigenous supply, there would also be considerable economic benefits generated by the associated development and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Údarás na Gaeltachta Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: The sale of the company referred to by the Deputy was concluded following a comprehensive evaluation process to find a strategic investment partner which would ensure the future of the company, give maximum economic benefit to its employees, its suppliers, customers and other stakeholders, and thereby deliver the best value for the State. The Deputy will appreciate the constraints involved...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy involves a building of 1,418 square metres, comprising new offices for the local co-operative, a family resource centre and 3 enterprise units. The development is being overseen by Comharchumann Chorca Dhuibhne. My Department approved funding of €1,746,765 towards the cost of the project over a three year period. It is expected that the centre...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: Mar is eol don Teachta, tháinig deireadh le conradh farantóireachta Árann ar 31 Eanáir 2013. Cé gur lorg mo Roinn léirithe spéise ag an am don tseirbhís seo ar an gcóras eTenders, ní bhfuarthas aon tairiscint. Bhí plé ina dhiaidh sin ag mo Roinn leis an bhfarantóir a bhí ag cur na seirbhíse ar fáil d'Árainn,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, following a report undertaken by Cranfield University on behalf of my Department in 2001, airstrips were completed at Cleggan and on Inishbofin Island in 2007. Subsequently, a decision was taken on 10 July 2013 to dispose of the airstrips in view of the economic downturn, the ongoing cost of maintaining the airstrips and the position that my Department is unlikely, at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: There are currently 656 mineral prospecting active licences. Such Licences are normally granted for an initial period of six years and may be renewed for a further six years. Thereafter, licences may be renewed for one or two years, as appropriate. Once issued, all licences are active. This regime has been in operation since the 1990s. Details of all Prospecting Licences can be found in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (17 Jul 2014)

Joe McHugh: While the number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the buoyant state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in the last three years although there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. It is too early, however, to determine whether these results will lead to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: 1235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to any provisions or measures available as an alternative for persons over 60 years of age and who are not IT efficient-competent, in view of an increasing emphasis on online payments, such as school transport charges (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32978/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the stock, genetically unique to each of Ireland's more than 140 salmon rivers, is assessed annually by the Independent Standing Scientific Committee for Salmon (SSCS) which includes Scientists from IFI, the Marine Institute, BIM, ESB, the Loughs Agency and the Agri-Food and Bioscienes Insitute (AFBI) Northern Ireland. The Scientific...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: A major research programme directed at examining the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing was recently commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The key questions that this research programme, which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years, needs to answer are: - Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: There is potential for Ireland to enjoy both economic and energy security benefits from its indigenous oil and gas resources. These benefits will only be realised through effective exploration. Ireland has a policy of actively encouraging international exploration investment to locate in the Irish offshore, through an active and targeted promotion campaign, regular licensing rounds and by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: In order to assist Government bodies in making informed decisions about future licensing and management of Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) projects/operations on the island of Ireland, comprehensive knowledge of potential impacts of this process on the environment and human health is requiredIn August of this year, the EPA on behalf of the Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1743 and 1768 together. At the outset, I must emphasise that this is an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge. I should also explain that Foras na Gaeilge's accreditation system is not a translation qualification but is an assurance in regard to a translator’s standard of work. Basically, Foras na Gaeilge developed the accreditation system for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Budgets (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: I wish to refer the Deputy to previous replies to a number of Parliamentary Questions in relation to these matters. As the Deputy is aware, funding for the various Departments, including my own, are decided through the Budgetary and Estimates process annually. With regard to the capital budget for Údarás na Gaeltachta, I wish to again reiterate that, as Minister of State with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Foras na Gaeilge (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh 1763, 1781 agus 1767 le chéile. I dtosach báire, caithfidh mé a threisiú gur ceist oibríochtúil í seo d'Fhoras na Gaeilge. Ba chóir dom a mhíniú fosta nach cáilíocht san aistriúchán atá sa chóras creidiúnaithe de chuid Foras na Gaeilge seo ach dearbhú i leith...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Clár Forbartha Tuaithe (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1769 agus Uimh. 1770 le chéile. Mar is eol don Teachta, baineann na cláracha LEADER agus SICAP atá luaite aige leis an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil. É sin ráite, is féidir liom a dheimhniú go bhfuil mo Roinn i dteagmháil rialta leis an Roinn sin maidir le seachadadh na gclár sin sa...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Íocaíochtaí Deontas (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: Tá an t-eolas atá iarrtha ag an Teachta leagtha amach sna táblaí leis seo. Ní miste a lua go bhfuil líon na bhfoghlaimeoirí a bhí ar iostas i mbrúnna sa Ghaeltacht agus i dtrí cinn de choláistí cónaithe seanbhunaithe taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht curtha san áireamh. Tá líon na ndaoine fásta a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (17 Sep 2014)

Joe McHugh: Tá áthas orm a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil i gceist agam leanúint leis an gcúnamh atá ar fáil ó mo Roinnse faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge in 2015. Mar chuid den ghnáthphlé a bhíonn ar siúl ag an tráth seo gach bliain, beidh cruinniú ag mo Roinn go luath le Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na...