Results 12,941-12,960 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Is Deputy Stanley speaking about older houses with solid walls or cavity walls?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: There should not at this stage be houses with cavity walls that have not been insulated. Most or all of those houses should have been insulated at this stage. If not, we need to know about them. These houses were the easiest to retrofit and that work should now be completed. A number of community organisations have operated a rolling scheme over the past number of years to deal with those...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are plenty of areas in Roscommon and east Galway as well. Under the pilot scheme, we will be spending approximately €20,000 on those homes in terms of retrofitting, insulation and the installation of a renewable source of heating. In regard to the warmer homes scheme, we are also considering the use of a renewable source of heating for houses eligible under that scheme. This...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Before I answer, I note in relation to international organisations that I have spoken to a number of members here about my disappointment at COP22 in Marrakesh at the lack of parliamentary representation from Ireland. When the next COP takes place in Bonn later this year, I would like to see representation from the committee in attendance. It would be very useful for members to have the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of programme F is to promote the protection of the natural environment, the health and well-being of citizens and the transition to a resource efficient sector of the economy in support of ecologically sustainable development, growth and job creation. The environment and waste management programme includes an allocation of €17.7 million towards staffing costs and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am lucky that I, too, can think parochially. As the Deputy is aware, the site in question was taken over by Kildare County Council and preparations are well progressed for its remediation in the coming years. Applications for the necessary permissions are expected to be lodged this year. Significant funding from the Vote has been expended on the site to date. Subject to procurement...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Appropriations-in-aid are income receipts to the Department, other than from the Exchequer. The vast majority - €222 million of a total of €338 million - represent the pass-through of television licence funds from An Post which are then paid out by the Department to RTE, TG4 and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The balance is made up of income to Inland Fisheries...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: An Post rents the GPO from the State and I, as Minister, hold it on behalf of the State. The rent is €223,000 per annum.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I honestly do not know. I will refer back to the Deputy on it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Environment Fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and comprises revenue generated from levies that were introduced in respect of plastic bags, the levy for which is currently 22 cent, and waste sent to landfill sites, the levy for which is currently €75 per tonne. The Environment Fund is spent on activities and schemes to reduce waste and to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal (12 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. Under the Regulations, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland published by the EPA in May 2016 show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 336, inclusive, together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband 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 a combination of commercial investment by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Programme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department consists of the Better Energy Homes Scheme, Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and Better Energy Communities Scheme. The Better Energy Warmer Homes (BEWH) Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 to 323, inclusive, and 325 together. Ireland has a national target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. This means that we are committed to making energy savings of 31,950 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2020. Our progress to date has seen a 12% improvement resulting from investment under the Capital Plan across the residential (which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the White Paper on Energy and the 2016 Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 334 together.   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. To-date, Ireland has sought to meet the use of renewable energy in the transport sector mainly through the increased use of sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Funding (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s Capital Investment Plan (2016 – 2021) includes an initial provision of €275m for the National Broadband Plan (NBP).  This represents an initial stimulus for the first five years of the NBP intervention, with remaining payments being spread over the full 25 years of the contract.  The amounts required by bidders will only be known...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The costs of development of the North South Interconnector are not borne by the Irish exchequer. The project will be funded in the same way as all other electricity and gas grid investments are paid for. Network costs are subject to approval by the Commission for Energy Regulation and charged by EirGrid, ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to energy supply companies. The energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Programmes (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Smart Metering Programme is a transformational, national project to upgrade both electricity and gas analogue meters to digital meters. This upgrade will bring many benefits to energy consumers in terms of greater levels of choice and innovation of products and services in the market. The Programme, which includes both electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Travel (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I did not travel abroad as part of the Government's official St. Patrick's Day engagements this year.