Results 1,981-2,000 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Budgets (1 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The 2011, 2012 and 2013 Appropriation Accounts for all Votes are now publicly available on the website of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The relevant website addresses for my Department are listed below: 2011 : 2012 : 2013 : The Deputy will note that final outturn figures for 2014 cannot be confirmed until after the Comptroller & Auditor General has completed his audit of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (1 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I am advised by the SEAI that in August 2011 the SEAI advertised a Request for Tenders on the Government eTenders website for Provision of Services to Update the Wind Atlas for Ireland. Arising from this process, UK Met Office Consulting Services were selected to carry out the work and issued with a contract in May 2012. To support the execution of the contract, the SEAI requested Bord na...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (1 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has advised that it has a Wind Atlas for Ireland available on its website which displays wind speed maps. The wind speeds are available by location point within each county. I am advised that average wind speeds per county have no practical application in planning for wind energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together. The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Developments in the broadband market over recent years means that there is now a choice of commercial operators offering broadband services over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The design for the National Postcode System was approved by Government last April. The brand ‘Eircode’ was launched for the National Postcode System on 28 April 2014. The project is currently in implementation phase and is scheduled to roll out nationwide by the middle of 2015. Every Irish address will receive a unique Eircode. The cost to the Exchequer of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: My Department commenced the procurement process for a National Postcode System in 2011. An open and competitive procurement process was conducted in accordance with Department of Finance and EU procurement frameworks. A pre- qualification questionnaire was issued on on 17 January 2011. This invited interested parties to tender for the contract as a postcode management licence holder for a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. A whole-of-government review of the scope for providing additional public services through local post offices is currently underway under the auspices of the Cabinet Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: NewERA Projects (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: On foot of the Five Year Review of the Funding of Public Service Broadcasters under Section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, NewEra was tasked by Government with conducting an independent assessment of the scope for further efficiencies within RTÉ. NewEra’s Report has been received and I am currently considering its recommendations, prior to bringing the Report to Government....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (30 Sep 2014)

Alex White: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department is 18. Of these 18 Bodies, The Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Service Provision (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: Since market liberalisation in 1999, broadband services are delivered through private sector operators. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is primarily a matter for the service providers concerned which operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Details of...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Service Provision (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: Eircom is a private company and, as I indicated earlier, I do not have the statutory authority, as the Deputy is aware, to direct any commercial company, Eircom or otherwise, in any particular regard. However, I agree with him on the provision of quality broadband service in towns and rural areas. Services have improved immensely in recent years due to the input of several commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 274 together. The Independent Expert Panel (the Panel) was asked by the Government to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on the Grid West and Grid Link projects. That process is underway and the Panel expects to be in a position to provide an opinion to the Minister on the Grid West project in January 2015. An...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Green Paper on Energy Publication (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was published in May. The publication commenced a period of public consultation under which written contributions were sought by the end of July. 1,241 submissions were received. My Department has conducted an initial analysis of the valuable contributions made by interested parties, and the key issues raised in relation to each of the areas set...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (25 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Developments in the broadband market over recent years means that there is now a choice of commercial operators offering broadband services over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (24 Sep 2014)

Alex White: On foot of the Five Year Review of the Funding of Public Service Broadcasters under Section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, NewERA was tasked by Government with conducting an independent assessment of the scope for further efficiencies within RTÉ. NewERA’s Report has been received and I am currently considering its recommendations, prior to bringing the Report to Government....