Results 4,281-4,300 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure, sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. As a State we have ambitious targets for 16% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020 through meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, with 10% renewables in transport and 12% in heat. Various schemes and initiatives are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: In the 2007 Energy White Paper ‘Delivering A Sustainable Energy Future For Ireland’, a target was set of 30% co-firing of biomass at the three peat power generation stations. Under the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which are the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland, a tariff was introduced in 2012 to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the primary means through which electricity from a range of renewable sources is supported, including electricity from biomass. The REFIT schemes are supported through the Public Service Obligation levy which is a levy on all electricity customers. Various different technologies can be used to generate electricity. The choice of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Last November the Minister published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is Ireland’s independent energy regulator. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in the energy sector. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Last November the Minister published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention under the National Braodband Plan (NBP). The map allows all members of the public, be they...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The objective of the five part All-Island Grid Study, published in 2008, was to assess the technical feasibility and the relative costs and benefits associated with various scenarios for increased shares of electricity sourced from renewable energy in the all island power system. The creation of the portfolios was informed by the resource available, the technological readiness of the various...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Construction and testing of the infrastructure for the Corrib gas field development is nearing completion, with first gas anticipated in mid 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Is é is aidhm leis an bPlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda a chinntiú go bhfuil rochtain ar sheirbhís leathanbhanda ardluais d’ardchaighdeán ag gach saoránach agus ag gach gnó, is cuma cá háit a bhfuil siad lonnaithe. Bainfear an sprioc seo amach trí infheistíochtaí tráchtála mar aon le hidirghabháil faoi threoir...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The development of a Better Energy Finance (BEF) scheme arises from a Programme for Government commitment to transition from Exchequer funded grants for energy efficiency measures to a market orientated approach to delivering energy efficiency savings. To achieve this, a BEF project team was established in December 2012 under the aegis of the Department. The team consisted of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: As has been outlined on a number of occasions, no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of an unconventional gas exploration or extraction project, until there has been time to consider the outcome of a major research programme, directed at examining the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which was commissioned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: In January 2014, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation inviting Member States to follow minimum principles when applying or adapting their legislation applicable to hydrocarbons exploration or production using high volume hydraulic fracturing. At that time the Commission also issued a Communication outlining the potential new opportunities and challenges stemming from shale gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Construction and testing of the infrastructure will be completed shortly, with first gas anticipated in mid 2015. It is estimated that the project will have an operating life span of between 15 to 20 years and gas production will on average meet 42% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences Data (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290, 292 and 293 together. Details of all authorisations granted by the Department are published in the six monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, respectively. The last such reports were in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Waterways Maintenance (24 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: At the outset, I would remind the Deputy that when he previously raised this issue my reply did not confirm a start date in March 2015. Works as referred to by the Deputy are normally undertaken by the relevant Local Authority, in this case Kerry County Council. In relation to such works consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the statutory body charged with ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: While my Department has carried out a preliminary examination of these applications, further consideration has been put on hold until there has been time to consider the outcome of the major research programme commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency. As I have informed the House on a number of occasions no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fishing Industry (24 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the State Body with responsibility for the protection, conservation and management of the inland fisheries resource, was established by the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. The information requested predates the establishment of IFI, and therefore the declared catch details for eels in the period in question were reported separately to each of the then 7 Regional...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Island Communities (24 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: Funding of €300,000 for community development purposes on the non-Gaeltacht islands is to be transferred from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to my Department for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015. This is additional to the amount of €100,000 expended by that Department in the period 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2015. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Island Communities (24 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased that my Department will be in a position to deliver a revised funding approach towards community development on the non-Gaeltacht islands with effect from 1 April 2015. A sum of €300,000 will be made available by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to my Department for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015. This is additional to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Job Creation (25 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: End of year results for 2014, published by Údarás na Gaeltachta earlier this year, show the highest level of job creation in the Gaeltacht since 2008. Údarás na Gaeltachta created 737 new jobs in the Gaeltacht in 2014 and at year-end, total employment in Údarás client companies stood at 7,682. Údarás na Gaeltachta aims to create 570 new jobs in the...