Results 7,561-7,580 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers the Better Energy Homes scheme on my behalf. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 555 together. While this is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland has been offering a micro generation feed in tariff since February 2009. No other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they have been invited to do so by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: There are no direct grants available for retrofitting of the approximately 109,000 commercial buildings in Ireland. However, a wide range of policy and financing initiatives addressing the barriers to retrofitting works in the commercial sector have been implemented in recent years. The main policy focus is on the promotion of new business models to deliver energy efficiency projects...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Masts (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to the response to Question 426 of 30th April 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: This Government is committed to keeping our children and young people safe online. To that end, the Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group was established in December of last year to review existing policy and practice across the full range of issues that arise in this space and to make recommendations on same. The ICGA Group’s report was brought to Cabinet and published...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG) was formed in December 2013 to provide my Department with expert, independent advice in forming legislative, policy and regulatory recommendations to Government on a range of internet content governance issues for which responsibility is spread across a number of Government Departments. The Group conducted a public consultation on the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Wind Energy Strategy (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Aontaím leis an Seanadóir gur ábhar an-tábhachtach é seo agus is maith an rud é go bhfuil seans againn é a phlé inniu. My Department is currently developing a renewable electricity policy and development framework, which will be underpinned by a strategic environmental assessment and what is called an appropriate assessment. The proposed framework will...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Wind Energy Strategy (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I was responding to the specific question I was asked in respect of the framework. In terms of myself and my responsibilities and my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, and his responsibilities, of course we are in discussion. Of course we have discussed these issues, particularly in the context of the planning guidelines which are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (12 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I recently published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (). The draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (12 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6 million of the 2.3 million addresses in Ireland are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Communications (13 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) manages and administers the National Numbering Scheme which lists all numbers and codes that are available for use on public telecommunications networks. ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, has established a variety of access codes types, in accordance with international norms, including: - geographic numbering...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (13 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1087 of 4 November 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water Staff (13 Nov 2014)

Alex White: As I indicated in the reply to Question No. 249 of 6 November 2014, the employment terms and conditions for Ervia employees, other than the Chief Executive, are an operational matter for the company and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. In order to assist the Deputy further in her enquiries, my Department will ascertain if the information sought is available on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and approximately 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: One of the central themes in the Green Paper on Energy Policy was citizen empowerment. In September I launched the current phase of the consultation process on the Green Paper, which takes the form of a series of stakeholder seminars on the various priority areas. The four seminars held to date have covered the topics of infrastructure, empowering energy citizens, markets and regulation, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535, 536 and 538 together. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2013, 7.8% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Production (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The fuel used in the coal-fired generators in Moneypoint and in the peat-fired generators in the Midlands is a matter for the relevant operators and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I am advised that ESB has conducted some limited trials on biomass co-firing at Moneypoint and will continue to monitor developments in this area. Notwithstanding this, I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: EirGrid and ESB Networks are the system operators of the transmission and distribution grids respectively. There are currently 187 wind farms in operation in Ireland (154 are attached to the distribution grid and 33 to the transmission grid). Further detail on these wind farms is publicly available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites. Wind is a variable source of renewable energy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (18 Nov 2014)

Alex White: EirGrid’s Grid25 strategy is a major initiative that involves building 800km of new transmission and upgrading 2,000 km of existing lines. It comprises over 100 projects ranging from large projects such as the North South transmission line, to smaller projects such as upgrades of existing lines. Grid25 will provide capacity to facilitate regional economic development, together with...