Results 14,101-14,120 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together. The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to 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 today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together. The electric vehicle purchase grant, introduced in April 2011, provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Other hybrid vehicles do not qualify for support under the scheme. From the introduction of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No. 397 of 29 November 2017. The position is unchanged. 

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Charge (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The total TV licence fee receipts to 30 November is €198m. This figure includes funding provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) of €48.8m in respect of free TV licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme and receipts from An Post for direct licence sales of €149.2m. The total receipts for 2017 will not be known...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: In Budget 2018, I secured €107m in capital funding for energy efficiency, an increase of over 40%. This capital increase is complemented by an increased current expenditure allocation that will allow the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the expansion of our highly successful energy efficiency schemes bringing the total allocation for energy efficiency schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is currently no provision in the Broadcasting legislation for a bursary scheme for journalists and, as such, the issue of a 2018 budget does not arise. As the Deputy is aware, one of the amendments that I have proposed to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 is to amend the provisions of section 154 to allow for the creation of a new funding scheme that would allow the granting of bursaries...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive (94/62/EC). This Directive is transposed by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. In accordance with these regulations any producer placing packaging on the Irish market is obliged to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 605 together. My Department's 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 exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 604 together. The policy of selection and contracting of photography services for my Department is carried out as part of competitive procurement processes in line with Office of Government Procurement guidelines. Where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs The following table sets out the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Travel (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.   The use of the government jet by Government Ministers is subject to the authorisation of An Taoiseach. Since being appointed as Minister to my Department in May, 2016, I utilised the government jet twice, as set out below. On both occasions the jet had already been requested by colleague Ministers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 388 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together. My Department's 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 exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: A Dairy Sector Pilot Project run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in collaboration with Teagasc, and funded by my Department, was conducted in 2017.  It targeted areas of high energy use and supported installation of variable speed drives on vacuum pumps and milk pumps in milking parlours which can reduce energy consumption considerably on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The increased use of renewable energy  is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In Ireland, renewable energy projects are supported under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy through a charge on all electricity customers as determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The legal basis for the PSO and its method of calculation by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1258, 1274, 1302 and 1343 together. In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland,published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1259 and 1260 together. Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Heat Incentive (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1273 together. The development of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat has involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and two public consultations. The scheme was approved by Government last month and €7 million has been allocated to the scheme this year. The Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jan 2018)

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 via a combination of commercial investment and State Intervention.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecommunications sector so that to date over 1.5m or 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Speeds (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to 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 today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1266 and 1267 together. In response to the challenges facing An Post, the Board has overseen the preparation of a comprehensive strategic plan, the objective of which is to secure the long term viability of both the post office and mails businesses and return the company to a sound financial footing.  Government is fully supportive of An Post in its...