Results 12,001-12,020 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (19 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: As set out in the reply to parliamentary question number 540 of 11 October 2016, the waste management industry had committed to providing a full weight allowance for the disposal of non-infancy incontinence wear to patients supplied with such products by the HSE if a pay by weight per kilogramme charging system was introduced for household waste collection on 1 July 2016. As the waste...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (19 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business 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 Broadband Intervention strategy for Ireland available at This sets out a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (20 Oct 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 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 where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Data (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at shows the extent of the State Intervention area: - The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. High speed services that are rolled out in BLUE areas are done so on a commercial basis...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. The EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand 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 energy sources, with the latter target also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. This is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated under the ESD and one shared only by Denmark and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Ireland is committed to a national target of improving our energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. This means we have to make energy savings of just under 32,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2020. At the end of 2015, energy savings of 17,300 GWh had been reported, bringing us over the half way point. While this national target is not legally binding, the EU Energy Efficiency Directive does...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The White Paper on Energy Policy sets out a vision of a low carbon energy system in Ireland, where greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2050, and where alternative and renewable energy will play a dominant role in Ireland’s future energy mix. In addition, the Programme for Government sets out a range...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have signed Regulations which will allow ComReg to  proceed with an auction of the 3.6GHz spectrum band in early 2017. This auction will provide an 86% increase in spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless broadband services. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions and I will have no role in the auction itself. I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The issue of fossil fuel divestment in Ireland's upcoming review of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the ISIF, was recently discussed by my colleague, Minister Noonan T.D. in response to Parliamentary Questions from Deputies Pringle and Daly. As Minister Noonan outlined, the ISIF is committed to reviewing its investment strategy after 18...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The following statement was issued by EirGrid in relation to the status of Grid West in June 2016 and is available on their website: "Since late 2015, all project activity was paused while awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála regarding planning approval for the development of the Oweninny wind farm near Bellacorick, Co. Mayo. Recently, An Bord Pleanála granted planning...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Expenditure (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The following table provides a breakdown of the 2016 capital and current allocations for the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department: - 2016 - State Body/Agency Current (000) Capital (000) Digital Hub Development Agency 1,588 350 RTÉ 185,724 - TG4 32,540 2,320 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 7,351 - Inland Fisheries Ireland 23,430 886 Loughs Agency 2,270 468...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department has recently received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the recruitment of an additional 19 staff. The additional resources were approved to support the Department's management of the National Broadband Plan and the delivery of priorities in the climate action area. The total cost of these resources is estimated at €1.4m per...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I believe the question and the statements from ESB that were reported in the media this week are referring to the National Smart Metering Programme and the availability of time of use tariffs as part of this programme. The National Smart Metering Programme, which includes both electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The EU’s Third...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Data (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Since January 2015 to the present date, my Department has not used any external public relation firms for the purposes of disseminating government policy. My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have overall responsibility for the postal sector including governance of An Post to ensure the company is fully compliant with the  Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters and the role of developing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Paris Agreement puts in place the necessary framework for all countries to take ambitious action as well as providing for a transparency system to ensure that all countries can have confidence in each other's efforts. The Agreement aims to tackle 95% of global emissions through 188 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. The total number of licences issued in 2015 was 1,433,752.  This included direct sales by An Post of 1,018,444 and 415,308 free licences issued by the Department of Social Protection to qualifying applicants under that Department's Household Benefits Scheme. An Post received 7,205 Statutory Declaration forms under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Applications (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The total number of applications received by my Department for the REFIT 3 support scheme exceeded the capacity threshold of 310 Megawatts (MWs) of renewable energy. To date, 55% (or 171 MWs) of the total applications received have been deemed compliant for support under the scheme and have received a Letter of Offer. The remainder of the REFIT 3 applications are being...