Results 1,141-1,160 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: If any of the committee members want to go into more detail, with the officials, they are welcome to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The maximum possible cost to the taxpayer, for the completion of the NBP high speed broadband network under a contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI), is capped at €2.7 billion over 25 years. This figure includes €480 million for contingency costs, which are only allowed under specific circumstances.The Contract requires NBI to deliver to specific key delivery milestones...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Feb 2022)

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 679 schools. The NBP roll out is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (8 Feb 2022)

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 on my Department's website 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 peoples frustration when they are living close to a fibre network, owned...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth:  The area mentioned in the question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: In July 2021 the Government agreed to implement a number of capacity building measures for the National Cyber Security Centre, which is located within my Department. This decision was taken in response to a capacity review of the NCSC commissioned at the beginning of 2021. Amongst other recommendations, the NCSC Capacity Review recommended that the NCSC be provided with a...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: My understanding is that €11 million is Irish funding and €21 million for expenditure associated with the EU just transition fund. That is a split of €21 million from the EU and €2 million from us. Some €2 million of Irish funding and €21 million of EU funding makes up the €23 million. Is that Deputy O'Rourke's information?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: This matter was raised by Deputy Whitmore in the Dáil last year. Other Deputies have raised issues that companies were having with the EPA in obtaining determinations of licences. I was keen to ensure that this was not due to a lack of resources and that the EPA was properly resourced so I made inquiries to ensure the agency had what it needed. I understand progress has been made....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy's first question was on the number of homes being upgraded. This is one of those meetings where another meeting is taking place at the same time at which the numbers will be changed. I think it will be a dramatic change. I will not guess what the Cabinet will approve today but I understand it is possible the increase in those numbers will be significant and dramatic. The...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: We would like people to have the chance to carry out a series of steps and not be prevented from doing step 2 because they have done step 1 already. I think that will form part of the national retrofit plan today. That will depend on the decision taken by the Government today. The right thing to do is to say to people that although they did an upgrade, they are still eligible to do the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Again, I am looking to see what comes out of the Cabinet meeting today. The SECs have been very successful and they have brought people together. I have witnessed them at first hand and have seen where people in an estate, on a street or in a village can all come together and carry out an action jointly. I would like to see them being better funded in the future but we will see what comes...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will have to get the Deputy an answer on the LEAF funding as I understand it has not been finalised. We will come back to the Deputy directly with a note.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: That is for a maximum payment of up to €215 million. It is in the legislation we were working on in the Dáil last week. The funding for it is to come 50% from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, so long as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform agrees to that, and 50% from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. It is to be done...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The legislation is emergency legislation. The idea is that the bills are credited in February and March so it would be as soon as possible.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Is the Chairman asking me that, as soon as we have decided which of the other programmes are to be depleted to fund it, we are to come back and tell the committee?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: What was the first question?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The timeframe for this is the middle of this year. The target interest rate is 3.5%. It fits into the loan category of the available green loans, and there are green loans from the post office at 4.5%. If people have a mortgage, which many do, they can refinance and probably get it at a lower rate than the 3.5%, perhaps at between 2% and 3%. It is to fit into that category of loan. The...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: It is not that I am holding back the information but it has not been decided and I am not in the Cabinet.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am being told not yet and that there is an existing legal action that is proceeding which is delaying going ahead with the funding for that remediation. Kerdiffstown is the major one at €14 million and there is another €12.25 million for other sites. It is apparently due to a legal case that Whitestown has been held up.