Results 10,161-10,180 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters in relation to the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I do have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. With basic broadband services now widely available across Ireland, the challenge is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. The National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works by the developer is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Pending such completion, it is not possible to state a date for when gas from the Corrib gas field will become available. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, which began last year, including the construction of a 5km...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Taoiseach was not at the Labour Party meeting.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I was wondering who took down our posters.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Capital Expenditure (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Capital spending is below profile for the period in question due to a combination of timing issues and lower demand than anticipated in relation to certain schemes. My Department has made a number of adjustments over the year to ensure productive spend in certain areas through the transfer of funds from areas where demand has been less than envisaged. Nonetheless savings for the full year...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides financial assistance 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 systems...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that catchment wide electro-fishing is undertaken in juvenile salmon habitat close to shallow spawning redds and that this technique can only be undertaken in shallow spawning and nursery areas. No sampling sites are located in the lower reaches of the Barrow main channel as this habitat is not suitable for spawning and salmon fry will not be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by Inland Fishers Ireland (IFI) that the River Barrow has been identified as a priority river for a fish counter. In this regard IFI has recently secured funding from the Salmon Conservation Fund to undertake preliminary feasibility and planning work to identify the most appropriate site and identifying the necessary works that would be required to install a counter. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has a challenging 2020 renewable energy target to meet and the bulk of the target is expected to be met in the electricity sector, given the challenges in transport and heating. Gate 3 and the implementation of Grid 25 (including the North South Interconnector, Grid West and Grid Link) are essential elements in ensuring that we can deliver on our target. Any delays in building out...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise that my Department’s officials have been engaged in ongoing contact with “3”, the National Broadband Scheme (“NBS”) service provider since it was made aware of recent service performance problems being experienced by some NBS customers in Co. Kerry. I understand that these NBS customers in the Ballyferriter area experienced intermittent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Human Resources Division of my Department has been in contact with this person in an effort to locate a record of his service in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. This information is required in order to establish if he has superannuation entitlements on reaching age 65 in 2 years’ time. Unfortunately, with the limited information supplied by him, it has not been possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Geological Survey of Ireland is a project partner in Tellus Border, a geo-environmental mapping project of six counties in the border region of Ireland. This cross-border initiative between the Geological Surveys of Ireland and Northern Ireland will produce detailed geo-environmental data of the border region and join these with data in Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Renewable Energy Action Plan was a requirement under Directive 2009/28/EC and was compiled on the basis of a European Commission template. It sets out at a national level how our legally binding 2020 target under the Directive will be achieved across the transport, heat and electricity sectors. As it is a national plan, it does not go into any specifics at county level. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (4 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Since market liberalisation in 1999, broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators. The State only becomes involved in the provision of services in instances of clear market failure. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and the more recent Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) are examples of such interventions. Prior to the launch of the NBS my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (5 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Following the completion of the initial pilot phase of this project, a total of 78 post primary schools were provided with 100Mbps broadband. I announced in February 2012 the full rollout of 100Mbps to all second level schools in Ireland, to be completed over a 3 year period. 202 post primary schools were selected this year for the first phase of the national rollout. Of these, 195 schools...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (5 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise that my Department’s officials have been engaged in ongoing contact with “3”, the National Broadband Scheme (“NBS”) service provider since it was made aware of recent service performance problems being experienced by some NBS customers in County Kerry. I understand that these NBS customers in the Ballydavid area experienced intermittent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (5 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Since market liberalisation in 1999, broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators. The State only becomes involved in the provision of services in instances of clear market failure. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and the more recent Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) are examples of such interventions. Prior to the launch of the NBS my Department...

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Yes, indeed, this is a difficult budget. I do not recall anyone on the Government benches at any stage saying other than it would be a difficult budget. The challenge confronting the Government was taking €3.5 billion out of the economy, an action with which Fianna Fáil agrees. It ought to agree with it because it negotiated it when it handed over...