Results 7,741-7,760 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (22 Jan 2015)

Alex White: In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel was established to oversee preparation by EirGrid of the comprehensive, route specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. In due course, the Panel will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (22 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive reply to the topical issue debate on this matter in the House on 15 January. I am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families and businesses from high electricity prices. However, it is important to note that the electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and that they operate within national and European...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Masts (22 Jan 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Expenditure (22 Jan 2015)

Alex White: REFIT stands for 'Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff' and is the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland. The first REFIT scheme ('REFIT 1') was announced in 2006 and state aid approval was obtained in September 2007. The REFIT 2 scheme provides support for onshore wind, small hydro and landfill gas generation projects and was opened in March 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (22 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Various energy efficiency grant support schemes are open to non-homeowners. The Better Energy Areas programme was launched in 2012 and supported the delivery of energy efficiency measures to people in, or at risk of, energy poverty. The scheme targeted homes in specific geographic areas. The Better Energy Communities programme has allowed community and local organisations to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Dividend (22 Jan 2015)

Alex White: As part of the State Assets Disposal programme, the ESB committed to delivering special dividends to the Government targeted at up to €400m by the end of 2014. The remainder of the 2014 special dividend, amounting to €213.7 million, will be paid over the coming weeks comprising funds from the sale of assets and from ESB's current borrowing arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: 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. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Charges (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 6 of 11 December 2014, in which I set out the position in relation to consideration of the Public Service Broadcasting Charge, and that a number of administrative and operational amendments are also under consideration. This position has not changed.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for generation constructed for security of supply purposes, including peat generation, and for the development of renewable electricity. It is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by these producers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Under the Government’s National Digital Strategy, my Department, through its BenefIT Programme, supports community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in the provision of basic digital literacy training for citizens. It does not, however, directly fund the purchase of computers as requested in the correspondence from the Committee referred to in the Question. The latest call...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Public Appointments Service (PAS), in conjunction with NewERA, managed the recent selection process for the filling of vacancies on the Board of Ervia in accordance with the "Guidelines on appointments to State Boards" published by the Government in November 2014. Four vacancies were advertised on the stateboards website on 20 November 2014 and candidates were required to submit their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: One of the key concerns arising from public consultation processes on EirGrid’s Grid25 Strategy has been the extent to which undergrounding options have been explored, so as to allow ready comparison with overhead line solutions for individual projects. In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Energy efficiency is a key element of energy policy. Improving the efficiency with which we use our energy reduces costs and helps to make our energy system more environmentally sustainable. In addition, it is widely recognised that improving the thermal efficiency of our homes brings real benefits for health and well being. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) delivers a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Draft Bioenergy Plan was published in October and will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. Analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy-focussed measure in the heat sector would represent the most cost effective means of meeting a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...