Results 861-880 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has not applied for or drawn down any contingency subsidy in respect of encroachment by another operator in the Intervention Area.The Department has engaged extensively with industry since 2013 through multiple public consultations to determine as accurately as possible where commercial operators have existing high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. My Department has now prioritised primary schools with no high speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard. An acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan will see...

Climate Action Plan 2021: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the climate action plan. We should take these opportunities to the maximum whenever we can. The recently published report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, as part of its sixth assessment, sets out the most up-to-date physical science basis for our understanding of climate change. The report confirms, among other things, that we...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 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 connection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: As set out in the recently published Climate Action Plan, the public sector has been set ambitious 2030 targets of 50% energy efficiency improvement (increased from 33% by 2020) and 51% emissions reduction. To support the achievement of these targets, my Department provides a range of supports via the SEAI which includes:  - the SEAI Energy Academy which provides online training...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan contract provides that the contingency funding element of the NBP subsidy can only be drawn down in 14 specific circumstances, where National Broadband Ireland (NBI) can demonstrate that additional, unanticipated costs have been proven to have occurred relevant to these specific circumstances. It would not be in the public interest for the Department to disclose...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. The Question refers to 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway. Given...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am here to answer on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte. The Government decided to close the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance administrative grant schemes in 2013. That was on foot of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The work we all do in speaking to constituents and members of the public who suffer as a result of their situation or policies is vitally important. I accept that one can understand an issue better after speaking to a 34-year-old man with motor neurone disease who lives in Bandon than from just reading a report. I closely work with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I will convey...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I am answering questions on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is appearing before a committee. She sends her apologies. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the issue of additional beds in Galway university hospitals, GUH, raised by Senator Kyne. While additional beds are an important part of the solution to emergency department overcrowding and waiting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The safety net arrangements are being used to utilise capacity within the private hospitals in Galway and a number of other beds are in train for next year. The health service capacity review was clear on the need for major investment in additional capacity in acute and community hospitals combined with a widescale reform of the manner and location of where health services were provided....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this important issue and for the opportunity to give an update on Government action to lower the average waiting times for applicants to the better energy warmer homes scheme. The programme for Government and the climate action plan have set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a building energy rating of B2, cost optimal or carbon equivalent and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I will take the Senator's proposal with regard to reducing VAT rates to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. The Senator will know that there are two parts to the major retrofit scheme, the better energy warmer homes scheme, which is free, and a further scheme for people who are owner-occupiers and outside of that. To help people to afford it, there are two parts to that, one of which is a grants...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I thank the Senator for raising this issue about DEIS schools. Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of this Government to tackle educational disadvantage at school level. Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. Her question is about timelines. She asked when the model is going to be ready and when additional schools are going to be added. I would need to ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her response to that and I can come back to the Senator through my office if she contacts my office directly. I have no problem with that. As she has seen, there has been a huge increase...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (24 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 litter and illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (24 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to 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 connection to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 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 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 699 schools. I am advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: We are exploring the background to this case for our own purposes.  The issue involves 2 poles in private land (wayleave permission granted) deemed by NBI not to require S.254 licences, i.e. it is exempt development.  Exploring the validity of that view with external experts.