Results 8,341-8,360 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: With regard to the proposed Codling Windpark project, I understand that the developer holds a foreshore lease from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Securing a grid connection for the project is ultimately a matter for the project developer and the relevant statutory bodies. All applications to EirGrid and ESB Networks seeking connection to the Irish grid are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As the Deputy notes, under the Better Energy Homes scheme, a grant of €800 was available to homeowners who wish to install a solar thermal heating system in their home. In March of this year I announced a 50% increase to the grant support available for solar thermal heating solutions; homeowners can now, therefore, receive a grant of €1,200 for solar thermal heating systems....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The issue of implementation of priority dispatch in the All-Island Electricity Market is a matter for the Single Electricity Market Committee. While it is a matter in which I have no function, it is important to note that EU Regulation 2009/28/EC requires Member States to give priority dispatch to renewable generation on the electricity grid. This includes hydro generators, unless the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: There are a number of Strategic Environmental Assessments which are either completed or at various stages of completion in relation to the energy sector. To ensure that the economic potential of offshore renewable energy is realised in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and takes into account the needs of other users of the marine environment, a Strategic Environmental Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland since 2007. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act, 2007 provides the legal framework for the establishment, operation and regulation of the SEM. The market is designed to provide for the least cost source of electricity generation to meet customer demand at any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, together with obtaining all of the necessary consents, are the principal factors that will determine the date for first gas. Construction and testing of the infrastructure is ongoing with first gas anticipated later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: During the course of the Dáil Éireann debate on 9 July 2013 on the May 2012 Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, my predecessor indicated his intention to seek independent expert advice on the “fitness-for-purpose” of Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal terms. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (9 Jun 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. Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1147 and 1148 together. I have taken note of the Motion referred to by the Deputy in his Question. In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link (GL) and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1149 and 1150 together. The General Employees' Superannuation Scheme is a defined benefit scheme for clerical and management staff of Bord na Mona. It has been in deficit for a number of years and has failed to meet the Minimum Funding Standard laid down under the Pensions Act. Without an amendment to the Scheme, this deficit is expected to rise to an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commissions of Investigation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1151 to 1153, inclusive, together. There have been no Commissions of Investigation established by my Department during the periods in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (10 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department. Since 2009, the two schemes have supported the renovation of 261,795 homes in Ireland. In late 2014 my Department working with SEAI reviewed the supports available under the Better Energy Homes scheme in conjunction with the financial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (10 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 200 together. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. The schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (10 Jun 2015)

Alex White: A proportion of the television licence fee monies is already being made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, as provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The purpose of this Scheme, which covers both radio and television, is to encourage the inclusion of additional programming of a particular character in broadcasters...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to present the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Amendment Bill 2015 for the consideration of this House. This legislation is an important, almost final, milestone in the introduction of a national postcode system. Ireland is the only country in the European Union or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I thank Deputies for their contributions and especially for their constructive input into this debate. I appreciate the general support that has been expressed for the Bill, or at least the absence of opposition to the specific provisions contained in it. I accept that Deputies raised some general matters relating to the national postcode project. I will come to some of those in the course...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (11 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.