Results 2,061-2,080 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: All post-primary schools will have a 100Mbps broadband connection installed by the end of 2014, through a project jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills (DES). In March last, I announced that all post-primary schools in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath will be provided with a 100Mbps broadband connection in 2013 under the phased national programme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The issues raised by the Deputy are two of the eleven recommendations made by the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture in its report of May 2012 on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. As the Deputy will be aware the debate on the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee concluded last week. In the context of the outcome of the debate I propose...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form below. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Three onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right, to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned. I can confirm that two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 732 together. The information which the Deputy requested is set out in tabular form below. The Deputy will be aware that the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides that serving public sector employees are not eligible to receive remuneration in relation to their membership of boards of State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department is compiling the information she has requested and I will write to her with the information sought as a matter of urgency. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in non-commercial Semi State Companies, including reductions arising from the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, have been brought to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 710 together. The table below outlines details of fees paid for professional services as defined by the deduction of witholding tax by my Department between 1st June 2012 and 31st May 2013. My Department administers a very diverse, complex and extremely technical brief. It has a total complement of around 250 full time equivalent staff of whom a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume that the Deputy is seeking information on courses of third level study, funded by my Department and pursued by staff outside of working hours. Each year my Department invites staff to make an application for funding within the terms of the Refund of Fees Programme (Post-Entry Education) under Department of Finance Circular 23/07. Applications are prioritised with reference to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together. The Revised Estimates Volume 2013 provides for an allocation of €135,000 to training and development for the staff of my Department and an allocation of €582,000 for travel and subsistence. The table below applies the percentages to the estimated allocations. Such figures are a mathematical exercise and can provide no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined below Post Salaries post Haddington Road Agreement Salaries if capped at 1st point of Principal Officer (standard) scale at appointment Annual Saving Special Advisers (2) €176,130 €163,352 €12,778 Post implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement the salaries of my two Special Advisers have been revised with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in both the coverage and speeds of national broadband infrastructure, with a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including Counties Cork and Louth, can be found...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Programme for Government Implementation (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In March this year the second Annual Report setting out progress being made on the commitments in the Programme for Government, was published. I have outlined in tabular format below the commitments in the Programme for Government which relate to my Department along with the current status on each. The timeline for delivery of the commitments is over the lifetime of the Government. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information he has sought regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I have notified the agencies under the aegis of the Department, of the question, and have requested them to respond directly to the Deputy with their replies.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that on eight occasions in total in 2011 and 2012 my Department sought legal services outside the Office of the Attorney General. The table below outlines details of the costs incurred. There has been no expenditure on legal services by my Department to date in 2013. My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. Its remit includes oversight of very...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Enterprise Support Schemes (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Digital Strategy commits to supporting 2,000 small businesses to trade online. A pilot in Dublin later this year end will target 50 companies with a view to a full scale national rollout in 2014. In developing the voucher scheme, my Department is working closely with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and a number of key industry partners. Further details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The ongoing development of the All Island Energy Market is a major priority for my Department and for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). For some time now the administrations in Northern Ireland and Ireland have cooperated actively on energy policy. There is top level political commitment in both jurisdictions to the development of competition in the energy sectors in the interests...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Considerable progress has been made in recent years in both the coverage and speeds of national broadband infrastructure, with a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County Tipperary, can be found on ComReg's website at . The Government has also undertaken...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The head office of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is in Dublin. The statistics office of the SEAI is in Cork city. I am advised by the SEAI that there is no SEAI official based in west Cork. Any individual with a proposal for the development of new energy technologies, such as a new type of energy turbine, can contact SEAI directly (Address: Wilton Park House, Wilton...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency, a body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department does not engage in such monitoring activities.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for peat generation, for certain conventional generation constructed for security of supply purposes, and for the development of renewable electricity. The levy is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by...