Results 821-840 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: There are over 84,000 premises in County Mayo of which over 36,000 are within the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area and will receive access to high speed broadband under the State led intervention to be delivered by National Broadband Ireland. Government investment in County Mayo under the NBP will be in the order of €145 million. I am advised by National Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 57 and 71 together. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act provides, inter alia,for a maximum amount of emissions to be permitted in different sectors of the economy during a carbon budget period, referred to as ‘sectoral emissions ceilings’. All sectors of the economy will have sectoral emissions ceilings and emissions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to areas located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ComReg currently has a suite of enforcement and sanctioning powers available to it in regulating the telecommunications sector. As committed to in the Programme for Government 2020, my Department, in collaboration with ComReg, is currently developing proposals to further strengthen ComReg's enforcement regime in primary legislation and to provide for an administrative sanctioning regime for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: My Department published the General Scheme of the Circular Economy Bill 2021 on 15 June 2021. It is my intention under the Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV, but also the use of a broad range of Audio Visual Recording (AVR) equipment in order to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced, as is, I understand, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along some 699 schools. My Department as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: There are over 16,000 premises in County Cavan and over 15,000 premises in County Monaghan in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area that will receive access to high speed broadband under the State led intervention to be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan with over 272,000 premises surveyed across 26 counties and retail service providers actively selling on the NBI network with over 30,000 premises available to order and pre-order...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 to 200, inclusive, together. The Circular Economy Bill 2021, which was approved by Government for priority drafting in June this year, aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (9 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: A competition for the post of Director of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was held in 2020. The job specification for that competition was sent to the Public Appointments Service (PAS) 6 August 2020 and the position was advertised by them on 18 September 2020. No candidate was appointed from this competition. A new competition at the level of Civil Service Deputy Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2016 my Department issued a competitive Call for Proposals inviting community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to apply for a grant to deliver basic digital skills training under the new ‘Digital Skills for Citizens Grant Scheme’. In responding to the Department’s call for proposals, it was a matter for each entity to determine the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. This issue was the subject of discussion last week during a Topical Issue debate and I welcome the opportunity to debate it again. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published a notice of intention to grant two mineral prospecting licences in north Leitrim in local newspapers on 7 October 2021. Submissions on these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: We should be aware that there are 432 active prospecting licences which cover about 21% of the country's land area. It means that 432 teams are actively prospecting, in many cases for gold, in different places all over the country. Some of those sites are within the Deputy's constituency in Sligo. It is this particular instance in Leitrim that has drawn considerable attention, not just...

Rising Costs and Supply Security for Fuel and Energy: Motion [Private Members] (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes: — the increase in energy costs and their impact on households and businesses; — that the increases in wholesale and retail energy prices in Ireland and across Europe are predominantly related to international wholesale gas prices; —...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 64 together. The compliance scheme for tyres and waste tyres was introduced in 2017 and is operated by Repak ELT. Under the scheme, any tyres which have incurred the visible environmental charge (vEMC)  are collected free of charge by Repak Elt through registered waste collectors.   I understand Repak Elt has no records of tyres...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I refer to the reply to Question No. 60 of 9 September 2021. The position is unchanged.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Chair for inviting me to address this Commencement matter. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out the process for appointing members to the Climate Change Advisory Council and the qualifications and experience that members must have. The four appointments made in October followed these requirements scrupulously, and I am fully confident that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. As I have explained, the proper process was followed in making these appointments. This has ensured that an exceptional group of members has been appointed to the council to allow it to fulfil its crucial functions. That process is outlined in the climate legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this year. I believe it was the most important...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Legislation relating to Planning and Development is a matter for the Minister for Housing. Local Government and Heritage.     I assume that the Deputy is referring to Circular Letter PL 07/2021 issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 18 August 2021. The purpose of that circular was to bring to the attention of all Local Authorities...