Results 8,621-8,640 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Functions (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The Statement of Government Priorities 2014 to 2016 sets out clear and ambitious targets to build on the achievements of the last four years and to broaden and deepen the economic and social recovery and improve the living standards of our citizens. Energy and broadband connectivity are amongst the most strategic sectors of the Irish economy and are clearly reflected in the strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: My Department is currently concluding an internal review of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme. The purpose of the review is to carry out a retrospective analysis of the impact of the MANs Programme on the delivery of policy objectives, and to consider the future role and direction of the MANs in the context of market and Government policy developments. As part of the review...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: Directive 2014/61/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 aims to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications network infrastructure by, among other things, requiring EU member states to withdraw any statutory measures which prohibit utility network operators from sharing network assets. There are no such statutory measures in place in Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: Yesterday, I published for public consultation the Government's draft Intervention Strategy which sets out how we propose to ensure the provision of high-speed broadband to premises in the intervention area. This consultation runs until September 14th next. The draft Intervention Strategy and associated expert reports are now available on www.broadband.gov.ie. The Strategy sets out clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The use of Eircode is voluntary, not mandatory and there will be no requirement to change existing addresses in Irish or English. The Eircode is simply appended to the existing address be it in English or Irish. With the exception of the existing Dublin district codes, all Eircodes will be neutral of location in both the English and Irish language which means that the seven digit code is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: Conditions regarding levels of mobile telephony coverage to be delivered by Mobile Network Operators are attached to licences issued by ComReg. Operators tend to exceed these coverage requirements for commercial reasons. However, as mobile services are a radio based technology, services can be affected by topography, quality of handsets, the capacity of the network and proximity to mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Programme was launched in 2009 as the Home Energy Saving scheme after a pilot programme was conducted in 2008. The Home Energy Saving scheme was rebranded as the Better Energy scheme in May 2011. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy programme on behalf of my Department. The programme consists of three schemes: Homes, Warmer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: In reply to Question No. 554 of 7 July last, I confirmed that, based on my Department's current intervention map, the townland of Ballintubber in county Mayo is included in the NBP intervention area. Yesterday, I published for public consultation the Government's draft Intervention Strategy which sets out how we propose to ensure the provision of high-speed broadband to premises in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: Total capital expenditure by my Department was €396m in the period 2011 to end 2014 and is currently forecast at €93.6m for 2015. This expenditure is not broken down by county. The most significant component of my Department's capital expenditure is in respect of the Better Energy Programme, which consists of three schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 to 800, inclusive, together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The total cost of advertising to my Department was €106,381 in 2013 and €77,229 in 2014. The information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The cost incurred by my Department in printing reports was €12,778 in 2013 and €4,666 in 2014. In procuring any services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money. In relation to my Department’s Annual Reports for 2013 and 2014, both reports were published online only, therefore no printing costs were incurred. The information sought by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: All staff in my Department currently receive electronic payslips. The cost of issuing hard copy payslips in exceptional circumstances to staff in my Department for 2013 is estimated at €400 and the cost for 2014 is estimated at €250. Pension payments to retired staff members from my Department are made by the Pay Master General and therefore there is no cost to the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: As Minister I am responsible for board appointments where the power to appoint persons to State bodies is vested in me by statute. In November 2014, the Government approved new Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards with the objective of opening up the process to the largest possible pool of suitable candidates. The Guidelines establish a new and transparent process operated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The total current and capital funding allocated to my Department in 2015 is €419.15m. The following table details expenditure by my Department against profile to end June 2015: Subhead Profile to end June Expenditure to end June Variance from Profile 0 0 0 Communications A1 - Administration - Pay 2,164 1,950 -214 A2 - Administration – Non Pay 663 562 -101 A3 -...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: My Department is primarily focused on setting policy in the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources areas and does not currently operate schemes which involve high volume paper based applications by members of the general public. Where business needs and customer service requirements support it, the Department has developed a number of online systems which are mainly geared to business...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: Tynagh Energy and Aughinish Alumina were awarded 10 year contracts subsequent to a competition run by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in 2005 to provide urgently required capacity to the electricity system. The purpose of the scheme was to ensure security of supply in the framework of continuous electricity demand growth at that time. These plants will transition out of subsidy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to achieving 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. While the cost of any shortfall has yet to be established, the SEAI has estimated that it could be in the range of...