Results 18,461-18,480 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waterways Issues (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Annacotty Weir on the lower Mulkear River has been identified as a “significant barrier” to the free movement of several fish species. The weir has been designated as “high priority” for fish passage improvement and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) ) is managing the project as a pilot within the barriers programme under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fisheries Protection (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: This is an operational matter for the ESB and I have asked the ESB to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.I am advised that the 2021 ESB Fisheries Annual Report is currently being progressed. These reports are made available to the public on the ESB website. There is no  legislative requirement on the ESB to undertake this work.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As with other solid fuels used for domestic heating, the burning of wood is a source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which is associated with some 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland each year. I am committed to addressing this critical public health and environmental challenge through enhanced regulation of all solid fuels. I have, therefore, announced that under new regulations governing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (the CRU) has statutory responsibility to ensure security of electricity supply. This includes the duty to monitor security of electricity supply and to take such measures as it considers necessary to protect security of supply. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is assisted in its statutory role by EirGrid. EirGrid published its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The exploration for and development of petroleum (which includes natural gas) is regulated by the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960. I introduced amendments to that Act through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to give legislative effect to the Programme for Government commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 465,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out the need for new gas-fired generation in order to support the growth of renewable electricity and ensure security of supply. This generation will, in the main, be incentivised via the capacity market. The capacity market is an integral part of the all-island Single Electricity Market which is overseen by the Single Electricity Market Committee. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together. A commitment to establish a Deposit Return Scheme was part of the Programme for Government and the timeline for its establishment was set out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020. The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic beverage bottles and aluminium cans will assist in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Investigations (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Local Authorities are, and will continue to be, responsible for the enforcement of solid fuel regulations and Local Authorities are responsible for allocating the appropriate finances and resources to ensure they can fulfill all their air quality enforcement obligations. Discussions with the Local Authority sector have commenced with the intention of establishing dedicated resources...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 150 and 151 together. Inspections of households in designated Low Smoke Zones where it is suspected that bituminous coal is being used are procedural matters for the relevant Local Authority, and my Department has no direct function in this regard. My Department does not compile data regarding the resources allocated by individual Local Authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Turf Cutting (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I take it that the Question refers to industrial scale peat extraction on sites over 50 hectares, carried out by commercial operators. I have no role in providing any supports for such extraction.   Industrial scale peat extraction is subject to a dual consent process requiring planning permission and, for sites over 50 hectares, an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The administration and management of applications under Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. My Department has no function with regard to individual grant applications. SEAI has established a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sustainable Energy Communities (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department.  The Programme supports the low carbon energy transition by developing skills and capacity, at a community level, in determining how to use less energy, adopting lower carbon options for transport and heating, shifting energy use to off-peak...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Revenues received from individual companies are not published. However, the Revised Estimates Volume 2022 notes that revenue earned by the State from mining and minerals prospecting in 2018, 2019 and 2020 was €6.3million, €5.8 million and €6.1 million respectively.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the solar PV grant scheme to help homeowners install rooftop solar PV equipment. A post-works BER (Building Energy Rating) C standard is a minimum requirement for support under the scheme. However, this scheme will transition to the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) as part of the phased introduction of that scheme in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Enforcement action against breaches of the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 is a matter for Local Authorities and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to prosecutions taken or fines imposed. Local Authorities report information to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually regarding enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities classifies what are to be considered environmentally sustainable economic activities for investment and reporting purposes. The European Commission circulated a draft Delegated Regulation on EU Taxonomy last month. As set out in a letter that I co-signed with Ministers from a number of other Member States in March of last year, it is considered...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: 138  and  139 together. The capacity market is an integral part of the all-island Single Electricity Market which is overseen by the Single Electricity Market Committee. The Single Electricity Market Committee consists of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, their Northern Ireland counterparts and an independent member. The termination of the capacity contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Social Media (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is committed to providing the highest standard of communications, stakeholder engagement, and open and transparent dialogue in order to inform policy making and enhance our services for citizens. Our communications approach is designed to enhance our reputation and build trust through collaboration and engagement. Social media is a critical tool in achieving these objectives,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (19 Jan 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Department is responsible for a diverse range of functions covering the communications, climate action, environment, energy and natural resources sectors and the procurement of specialist services is necessary to support the delivery of policies and programmes in these areas. In 2021 expenditure by my Department on such services amounted to just over €14.3m as set...