Results 4,921-4,940 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the broad points made by the Deputy. Projects in gate 3 were selected on a first-come-first-served basis. However, I do not believe this will be the key criterion in the context of what has been built and developed. I ask the Deputy to be publicly supportive of what is the key criterion, namely, the development of the grid that will be required to take on the power produced by...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I agree. However, the study being carried out by EirGrid is strategic and is correct. EirGrid is prioritising investment and developments on the basis of how the grid can be rolled out.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy's second point, namely, that the planning decisions made in respect of this matter must be the correct ones, is valid. I understand that approximately half of the applications made in respect of the development of wind farms have been rejected. Decisions in this regard are appropriate on a range of grounds, including the proximity to housing, the effect a project could have on...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I speak for the Government, which is fully supportive of the process in which EirGrid is engaged and which is aware of the fact that critical infrastructure is going to have to be rolled out. The Deputy referred to the North-South interconnector. In that context, if areas such as Cavan-Monaghan are intent on attracting industries in the future, they will be obliged to have in place...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government will be supportive, despite the difficult decisions that must be made. Deputy McManus referred to the period relating to planning permissions running out. We accept that this is an issue and that is why the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government wrote to county managers to discover whether they could assess the projects that have been built. He also...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has done so. Equally, one does not want a local authority taking such an interpretation that makes any development of wind farms possible. Within the confines of the law and the planning system, they are to do what they can to assist development in this area because it is in the national interest.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: That is the true response.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In my initial reply to the Deputy I stated that where someone is not able to avail of a gate 3 connection it will go back into a pool to develop an alternative project. The CER and EirGrid will have to do this in a very timely manner and recognise that the targets we have set are ambitious and require action. The Irish Wind Energy Association and others recognise that every system will have...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The low price of dairy products makes this a particularly difficult time for the dairy industry, where there is huge potential application of micro-generation. However, I see that as an area with huge potential for us to develop a distributed electricity generation system.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take questions Nos. 41 and 63 together. Broadband services are provided across the country by private service providers over various platforms including DSL over telephone lines, fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre. Details of broadband availability throughout the country are available at www.broadband.gov.ie. Information contained on this website is provided by...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The speeds mandated are 1.2 MB for download and 200 kb upload. I have been informed that to date the technology is working. It provides those levels of service and above. Obviously, it varies according to distance from a mast and the level of contention at any time but we have minimum standards and they are being met. The roll-out is proceeding along the projected target timelines. It...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have that information but I will provide it to the Deputy. I will have to revert to the Department to get the precise figure.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The contractual documents for the national broadband scheme are four or five times the thickness of the pile of papers in front of me. Working out the details took time but we got them right in the end. The contractual arrangements give me the confidence that the scheme will provide the level of service we seek.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The specific example to which the Deputy referred pertains to a fixed line company. Difficulties have arisen in regard to split lines and distance to exchanges, particularly given that 40% of rural houses are once-off developments.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is more difficult to service such areas. We are delivering alternative solutions, such as wireless, WiMAX, mobile and fixed wireless, in addition to the crucial role played by fixed lines. Competition among these alternatives will deliver the best service possible.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Every square inch of the country was examined and areas in which the majority of the population were unable to access any service were targeted for the national broadband scheme. In respect of areas in which a small percentage of the population lacked access, we are working with the European Commission to establish, subject to State aid rules, a final support scheme to give every house, be...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am very familiar with Ahakista, Kilcrohane and Durrus. The Government has made a clear commitment that no house in any of those villages, or in any other village in the country, will be unable to access standard broadband services. We have put in a place a variety of mechanisms to cover the country in that regard.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 56 and 61 together. The establishment of a "one-stop-shop" is one of the commitments contained in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June this year. The key objective of the "one-stop-shop" concept is to facilitate telecoms operators in gaining access to ducting assets in State owned networks,...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 82, 88 and 90 together. Quantifying the numbers of people who can be classified as fuel poor depends on the methodology employed. The ESRI estimates that some 300,000 or 19.4% of Irish households may have experienced fuel poverty last year. This figure is based on the share of income spent on household fuels. ESRI estimates that based on subjective...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 92 and 93 together. As I advised the House earlier, the Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with EU biofuel requirements and policy developments. The introduction of the National Biofuel Obligation next year will underpin the development of the Irish biofuels market. The Obligation will also...