Results 13,761-13,780 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The closing date for the consultation process is next month and it will be finalised by the end of the year. It will be done in tandem with the renewable electricity support scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: It will be a condition of the renewable electricity support scheme. Any project developer looking for funding under the new renewable electricity scheme has to comply with the new community engagement and community dividend conditions. The renewable electricity support scheme is out for public consultation at the moment and the closing date is also next month. Communities are very much to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I cannot answer Deputy Stanley's second question off the top of my head but I will get my officials to furnish him with an answer. My understanding is that the contract for the strategic environmental assessment has gone to tender but I am not absolutely sure of that. The guidelines cannot be retrospectively applied to existing wind farms. However, because we are considering noise rather...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of Programme F is to promote the protection of our natural environment, the health and well-being of our citizens and the transition to a resource-efficient circular economy in support of ecologically sustainable development, growth and jobs. The environment and waste management programme includes an allocation of €31.5 million towards staff costs, non-pay current as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I will answer the Chairman's question first. There is a certain lead-in time required for projects of this nature. Budgeting and procurement usually take place in the first half of the year. As site work can only take place in favourable weather conditions, it is expected that the main part of the expenditure from this allocation will happen in the second half of the year. The household...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: We have looked into the deposit return scheme and the costs involved are phenomenal. I am on the record as saying if I had that money there are other ways that I would spend it. However, let us see what comes out of this. Deputy Stanley is asking - this is one of the issue we have to look at - how do we broaden the environmental fund and what areas do we go into in regard to it. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Appropriations-in-aid are income receipts into my Department other than from the Exchequer. The vast majority of receipts - €222 million of the total of €238 million - are a pass-through of the television licence funds to RTÉ, TG4 and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland along with a collection fee to An Post. The balance is made up of mining and petroleum income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 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 - currently 22 cent - and waste sent to landfill sites - currently €75 a tonne. A sharp decline in landfill levy is projected from 2018 onwards, reflecting the commencement of the Dublin waste-to-energy Poolbeg...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I acknowledge and echo the sentiments that have been expressed by my two colleagues. The one thing which one could always say about Mr. Liam Cosgrave was that he had integrity. He was the epitome of integrity. He served as Taoiseach during a very difficult time in our history and he did an exemplary job at that time in very difficult circumstances.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are no proposals currently to alter the structure of the household waste market.  A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy In Ireland (2012) commits to retaining the current market structure while strengthening the regulatory regime applied to household waste collection.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator established under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.  The name change was provided for in the Energy Act 2016 to reflect the expanded powers and functions of the Regulator. The matter raised is an operational matter for CRU and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Closures (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post.  Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, including the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post. An Post is carrying out a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have no role or statutory function in the matter raised by the Deputy. The provision of mobile telecommunications services is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum.  The award of such licences, including the application of qualifying terms and conditions such as quality of service and coverage...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements 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 sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Eligibility (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Homes Programme, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, provides fixed grants for a range of energy efficiency measures including roof insulation, wall insulation, heating controls, boiler upgrades, solar heating systems and the cost of Building Energy Rating assessments. Since the programme's launch in 2009, it has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Functions (10 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is one Minister of State attached to my Department. I have delegated powers to Minister of State, Seán Kyne T.D. under Statutory  Instrument No.34 of 2017, Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017. The order was approved by Government on 11 July 2017. The designated functions in question relate to: - the...