Results 11,541-11,560 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy has been in place since 2001. The PSO levy consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate the Government's electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply. It also supports employment in the renewables industry and in the peat industry. The PSO has supported the connection of over 2,000 MW of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Warmth and Wellbeing  pilot scheme is an initiative under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The scheme is one of a number of measures outlined in the Strategy which aims to alleviate energy poverty among our most vulnerable citizens. Its objective is to better understand how we can improve health and wellbeing  by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: It is important to note that the electricity market is commercial, liberalised, and competitive and operates within national and European regulatory regimes. I have no statutory function in the setting or review of electricity prices. Price setting by all electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for those companies.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Infrastructure (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. As detailed in the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid in the development of energy infrastructure to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The White Paper on Energy Policy includes a commitment to introduce a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) designed to encourage the development of Ireland’s abundant, diverse and indigenous renewable energy resources, including solar photovoltaics (PV) technology. The Programme for Government also commits to facilitating the development of solar energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum Management (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 (1) of the  Act states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and Section 98 provides that it shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Communities Programme (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Communities scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme aims to support and encourage community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area. To date the scheme has supported the upgrade of more than 12,000 homes and several hundred shared...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The most comprehensive address database available in the country is the postal address database, which is owned by An Post GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Eircode uses the addresses from this database in the Eircode Finder.  Eircode does not have the right to change postal address data on behalf of GeoDirectory. If a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am very conscious of the need for SMEs and micro-enterprises to develop an online trading presence. Data from the EU Commission's digital economic and social index shows that 32% of Irish SMEs are trading online, which ranks Ireland first among 28 EU Member States where the average is 16%. Research commissioned by my Department shows however that small businesses tend to be significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 266 together. Government policy is supportive of community participation in community-owned energy projects. This is reflected in the Programme for Government and the Energy White Paper. The Programme for Government commits to: - providing support for community-led projects in the initial stages of development, planning and construction;...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The closing date for all applications to the current REFIT 2 Scheme was the 31 December 2015. Under the Terms and Conditions of the REFIT 2 scheme and the REFIT clarification notice that issued in November 2015 on my Department’s website ,applicants seeking support were required to have obtained full planning permission for the project, or have provided evidence from the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Functions (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Public Service Management Act 1997 seeks to secure an appropriate devolution of authority and responsibility within Government Departments from Ministers to their officials. The Act provides a statutory framework for the assignment of specific functions for which the Secretary General is responsible to appropriate officers or appropriate grades of officers within Departments with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Broadcasting (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: Section 114 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and section 98 provides that it shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs. However, I have referred the matter to the company for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: Ensuring the participation of communities in Ireland’s future energy transition is a key commitment in the 2015 Energy White Paper and the recent Programme for Government. National energy policy sets out a framework to encourage community participation in energy policy formation, the design of enabling measures and project supports. Access to the national grid for community designated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Funding (22 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, which meet the defined eligibility criteria. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Allowances (23 Jun 2016)

Denis Naughten: There has been no re-introduction of any allowances in my Department to date. Should any allowances be re-introduced in the future, my Department will  consider the calculation of any such costs as part of its overall staffing budget.