Results 4,961-4,980 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Smart Metering: Smart Metering (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Smart Metering Programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government. The Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand deliver smart networks and to deliver greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. Smart Metering is...

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

Eamon Ryan: Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme has delivered optical fibre based networks to twenty-seven towns and cities throughout the country. All twenty-seven are operational and open for business and thirty-six service providers are currently offering services on twenty four of the Phase I MANs. Three of the Phase I MANs are not currently used by service providers. These...

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

Eamon Ryan: The "All Island Grid Study" published early last year, examined the ability of the electricity systems on an All-Island basis to absorb power from renewable energy powered projects. Without being prescriptive, the study's findings showed that penetration of up to 42% renewable electricity is technically feasible without any major increase in pumped storage. There are however, a number of...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retro-fitting measures including attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. Persons on low incomes are not excluded from the Home Energy Savings Scheme. It is,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The possibility of merging the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and ComReg is one of a range of proposals made by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in relation to my Department. These proposals are being considered in the context of the 2010 Estimates and Budget preparations. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage on any of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The decentralisation programme as originally announced in December 2003, included the proposal to relocate the Headquarters of my Department to Cavan. As announced by the Minister for Finance in his statement of 14 October 2008, the Government has deferred decisions on the timing of the implementation of elements of the decentralisation programme including that of my Department, pending a...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The following table sets out the relevant figures for the Greener Homes Scheme (GHS) from its inception in 2006 to the present date, and also sets out the figures for the Home Energy Savings Scheme (HESS) for 2008 and 2009. The 2008 figures for HESS are for the pilot 'Insulation Scheme', which was used to establish some of the principles and processes required to deliver the larger HESS...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have no statutory function in regard to issues relating to the siting of telecommunication masts; these are matters for the relevant local authorities under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to request a commercial company to meet with any group regarding such matters.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's core policy goal for the postal sector is to ensure that Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services. An Post has a statutory obligation to provide a universal postal service, including the provision of a delivery to the home or premises of every natural or legal person not less than five days per week. This is set...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 273 and 274 together. Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland including the provision of broadband services and the underlying telecommunications infrastructure is set out in "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 278 together. Ireland's high energy costs, by comparison with much of Europe, are primarily due to significant dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly gas, as well a requirement for very significant investment in energy infrastructure, following two decades of under-investment in the networks. The under-investment in networks and power...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to significant development of renewable fuels in the heating sector with consequent benefits in terms of emissions and environmental improvement. The carbon and calorific characteristics of traditional fuels are such that renewable alternatives are the way forward. The Government has set a target for Renewable Heating of 12% by 2020. There are a number of schemes...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am not aware of any research in Ireland on the use of bio-fuel for home heating purposes. Liquid bio-fuels are being developed in the Irish Market as contributor to renewable transport fuel targets. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of the national bio-energy resource, which will in particular, be crucial to meeting the considerable challenge of delivering on the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The annual dividends payable by State companies are the only contribution (other than general taxation receipts), which the Exchequer receives directly from ESB and BGÉ. The dividends payable by the State companies are a function of the after-tax profits of each company. The amount of dividends paid in respects of the previous year's profits by ESB and BGÉ for each of the past three years...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish bio-fuels market in line with overall EU bio-fuel requirements and policy developments. To date, the production of bio-fuel in Ireland has been incentivised under the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes, which have resulted in 18 projects being awarded excise...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The following table shows the staff numbers in each grade at 31st December, 2007 and 2008 i.e. for each year since the setting up of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in June 2007. Also included in this table is the average annual wage for each of these grades as at those dates. The salary levels shown reflect the prevailing levels for each grade as agreed...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (1 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have been informed by Sustainable Energy Ireland that they have no record of an application for the Warmer Homes Scheme being made by the individual in question. If the Deputy can forward a contact number I will arrange for the relevant community-based organisation to make contact with the individual and assess their suitability for the scheme.

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (1 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Neither my Department nor Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), has entered into a commercial arrangement with any company to provide electric vehicles to the Government. The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020. An Inter-Departmental/Inter-Agency Taskforce on electric vehicles is chaired by my Department and comprises the Departments of...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (1 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC, requires mobile telephone service providers to alert customers by means of a message service of the charges for making or receiving voice calls each time a customer travels to another Member State with...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Heating in my Department's buildings in Adelaide Road, Tom Johnston House, Beggars Bush and Leeson Lane is provided by Natural Gas and the costs in the period referred to is as follows: Beggars Bush €26,572.87 (shared building) Adelaide Road €24,535.57 Leeson Lane €38,054.33 (shared building) Total €89,162.77 These figures are net of refunds received from other Departments for...