Results 1,161-1,180 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: Certainly, if the Deputy wants to go into private session.

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 is asking about the doubling of the waste management fund under subhead C6 and where that money is being allocated to. It is the most disappointing answer. It is an accounting reallocation from three other subheads from last year, those being landfill remediation, petroleum services and waste management. They have been combined. I guess the matter Deputy Whitmore was just...

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 are in a year where from one year to the next, subheads are being combined and divided out. Thus, some of the items are not directly comparable with last year.

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 thank the Deputy.

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 suppose the waste prevention is being brought in as "circular economy" and it is part of the change of mindset on the whole division. We are not considering things as waste anymore and considering waste as a resource. We are moving away from the idea this is something we need to bury or burn towards it being something we need to reuse. I am aware my officials were already in moving in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Boylan for raising this important issue and for the timely opportunity to give an update on Government action to alleviate energy poverty. The national retrofit plan, which was published as part of Climate Action Plan 2021, sets out how the Government will deliver on our retrofit targets and includes a range of matters aimed at supporting those least able to afford to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I believe the ESRI statistics are in addition to the CSO ones but I will get confirmation for the Senator on that. She has asked interesting questions about the calculation of the PSO levy, measuring the difference between those who have steady use and those who have peak use, and whether it is fair for commercial and residential customers. I cannot give the Senator a good answer orally so...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I can hear in his voice his passion for education in Kinsale. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data, to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I take the Senator's point about the need for choice in order that it is not just about having one school, in addition to making sure that we have growth, not just for Kinsale town but the surrounding villages, and that the estimates for that growth are correct. The Senator will know that we have a big programme for sustainable transportation links to nearby communities so people do not have...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Hear, Hear.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies for their overall support for this Bill and for the comments I have heard this evening. I will start by responding to some of those comments and questions. Several Deputies mentioned the recent CCPC investigation of price-signalling in the motor insurance sector. This Bill means that in future such behaviour will be punishable by huge administrative sanctions....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: While regulation of the scrap metal industry is not a matter within the remit of my Department, the regulation of waste activities is relevant to the industry. In order to improve traceability of waste received and to counter the trade in stolen metal, an amendment to the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations was introduced in 2014 to require the following at all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 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 people's frustration when they are living close to a fibre network,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 46 together. Under the Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009, the burning of household, garden, commercial or industrial waste is not permitted. Previously, an exemption under the legislation had been provided for the burning of green waste generated by agricultural purposes. The burning of green waste is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 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 people's frustration when they are living close to a fibre network,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy very much for raising this issue. As he will know, I care very much about it. I am particularly interested to make sure the retrofitting money is targeted towards those who need it most. I want to give the Deputy an update today on Government action on the better energy warmer homes scheme. The programme for Government and climate action plan set ambitious targets to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am glad the Deputy welcomes this action. There are number of teams in operation and it is confusing but the SEAI can explain it. The local authorities are carrying out their own direct upgrades on their own tenants. They have €85 million for that this year which, as the Deputy said, is an enormous sum of money. Every local authority in Ireland has been allocated extra staff in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (10 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The target of 60,000 premises passed was not reached, Retail Service Providers are actively selling on the NBI Network with almost 34,500 homes passed and a total of 54,500 premises available for order and pre-order through local broadband service providers. Over 150,000 premises were constructed or under construction in 2021. NBI has advised that, as of 4 February 2022, over 298,000...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (10 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. I can confirm that neither I nor my officials who work on the National Broadband Plan have met and/or engaged with the company or its representatives (details supplied) in the...