Results 8,921-8,940 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Independent Expert Panel considering EirGrid's Grid West and Grid Link projects was appointed on foot of a Government decision in January 2014. In line with the Government decision, the Panel was asked to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on the Grid West and Grid Link projects. In May 2014 the Panel approved the Terms of Reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Biofuel Obligation Scheme (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1124 of 3 November 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Public service broadcasting is provided for in Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which sets out the principal objects of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4. These objects provide the companies' statutory mandates and reflect national policy on public service broadcasting. Principally, this includes the provision of national, free-to-air television and sound...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (10 Nov 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: Electricity Transmission Network (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Independent Expert Panel considering EirGrid's Grid West and Grid Link projects was appointed on foot of a Government decision in January 2014. In line with the Government decision, the Panel was asked to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on the Grid West and Grid Link projects. In May 2014 the Panel approved the Terms of Reference for...

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

Alex White: The Renewable Electricity Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources, including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 outlines the statutory basis for the Television Licence and the associated collection mechanisms. Section 145 of the Act designates An Post as the "issuing agent" of the Minister with regard to Television Licences and tasks them with collecting the licence fees. The Programme for Government committed to examining the role and collection of the TV licence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned, open access, underground telecommunications networks, linking the main commercial and public buildings to “co-location centres” where service providers locate their telecommunications equipment and access the network. MANs are available to licensed telecoms providers to enable them offer high-speed broadband to their retail...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: While I have no function in regard to the authorisation of wind farm developments, I can advise the Deputy that the construction of wind farms, as with any infrastructure project, is subject to national planning law and procedures and consultation as appropriate. It should be noted that the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, is fully compliant with the requirements of the Aarhus...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Various community level energy initiatives are supported by my Department through the Better Energy Areas and Communities Programme which is administered on behalf of the Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). That programme allows community and locally based organisations to apply for funding on a competitive basis to support sustainable energy upgrades to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The public consultation on the Government’s National Broadband Plan draft Intervention Strategy closed on 25 September last. A total of 38 submissions were received, representing views from a wide range of stakeholders including companies, agencies and individuals. Non confidential versions of these submissions have been published on my Department's website. Meanwhile, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The post office network plays an important role in serving the needs of domestic and business customers across Ireland. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year-on-year. In recognition of the changing commercial environment I established the Post Office Network Business...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Programmes (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together. The Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill 2015 sets out proposed statutory obligations in relation to the development of a National Low Carbon Transition and Mitigation Plan (National Mitigation Plan), incorporating sectoral mitigation measures underway and additional measures to be implemented to enable Ireland to move to a low...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2014, 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I recognise that many local and community radio stations, both rural and urban, are of great benefit to the communities they serve and provide additional value to them, most particularly in the area of local reporting. In terms of funding for community broadcasters, a proportion of the television licence fee monies are made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Globally, wave energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage, and action across a range of areas is required to support developers in bringing ocean energy devices from prototype to full scale commerciality. In Ireland, this action is being taken in the context of the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) 2014, which sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I hope to commence the formal procurement process for the NBP towards the end of this year. This process will be an open and competitive one, conducted in accordance with Department of Finance and EU procurement frameworks. Furthermore, the current State Aid Guidelines governing investments in broadband markets contain detailed compliance obligations on all public bodies considering a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 564 together. The Government's 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. On 29...