Results 2,341-2,360 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Warmer Homes provides a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) was designed as a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with “3”, the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3 Mbps...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has been issued with an additional Reasoned Opinion from the European Commission in regard to certain electricity related aspects of the EU "Third Energy Package". This Package is designed to facilitate completion of the internal market in electricity. Transposition of the Third Package is a complex process and the European Commission issued a Reasoned Opinion in June 2012 in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Properties (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters in relation to premises are a day to day operational matter for the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) subject to Public Financial Procedures. However, I am informed by IFI that the site has been sold, following it being advertised in a public tender process, to Mobhi Co Limited in March 2013 for €530,000. IFI is not aware of any condition attached to the sale of this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme was developed to address the 2004 policy objectives of removing barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI), increasing regional telecoms competition and reducing the cost of telecoms. The MANs Programme, which was eligible for co-funding of 40-50% under the European Regional Development Fund, has cost in the region of €174million to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (28 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme was introduced under Section 46 of the Finance Act 2008 as an incentive to encourage companies to procure highly energy efficient equipment and in turn assist Ireland in meeting its EU targets for the reduction of carbon emissions. The scheme, which is overseen by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The requirement to have a TV licence and pay the accompanying fee is dependent on possession of a television set, as defined by Section 140 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. In estimating the number of liable people to hold a television licence, my Department must take into account a range of factors including the overall number of occupied households and liable businesses, the levels of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. The Government, through the National Broadband Plan, which I published on 30th August last year, has recognised that the key imperative now is to ensure high speed broadband availability to all. Specifically, the Plan commits to: - 70Mbps to 100Mbps available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Issues (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 121, inclusive, together. The winning consultants, referred to by the Deputy, have been awarded the contract by my Department to provide specific advisory services relating to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan on foot of a competitive tendering process. Within this process, the necessary qualification criteria, including documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charges (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As I have outlined to the Deputy in a previous response, my Department has conducted a Value for Money Policy Review on the proposed introduction of a Public Service Broadcasting Charge. This Report was submitted to me recently and I am giving due consideration to the Report and its recommendations. The replacement of the existing funding system based on the collection of television...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Exports (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On 24 January 2013, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey.Detailed work is now underway to consider how Ireland's renewable energy resources, both onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This will determine whether it is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Mount Lucas wind farm is being developed by Bord na Móna. The matter to which the Deputy refers is a day to day operational matter for the company and not one in which I have a function. I have been advised however, that as part of the planning permission granted by Offaly County Council for the Mount Lucas wind farm project there is a development contribution fee in the order of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Mast Issues (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to the potential health effects of non-ionising radiation and electro-magnetic fields are a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. It is a condition of various Wireless Telegraphy Licences issued by the telecommunications regulator, ComReg, that mobile and telecommunications licensees must ensure that non-ionising radiation (NIR)...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (23 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department seeks to reduce its legal bill to a minimum by ensuring that legal issues are managed an efficient and cost effective manner. To this end, my Department maintains a small in-house legal team and consults with the Chief States Solicitors Office and the Offices of the Attorney General on legal matters and only engages external legal services when absolutely necessary. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (22 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As I have stated on previous occasions in the House, the proposal by Shannon LNG to construct a LNG terminal near Ballylongford is welcomed by the Government. Such a facility, together with the bringing onshore of Corrib Gas, would provide important security of gas supply for Ireland. The Deputy will be aware of Shannon LNG’s application to the Courts for Judicial Review of the CER...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Statistics (22 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The number of television licences issued in any particular year is a combination of direct sales by An Post and ‘free licences’ issued by the Department of Social Protection. The number of TV licences issued on behalf of Social Welfare recipients varies according to the number of people eligible for the Household Benefits Package, and this can change from month to month. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sale of State Assets (22 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The sale of Bord Gáis Éireann’s energy business is part of the Government’s State assets disposal programme and is being pursued as a commitment under the EU/IMF Programme and as provided for in the Programme for Government. The sale process was formally launched by Bord Gáis Éireann on 3 May last and it is expected that the sale will be concluded by the end...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Disability Act Employment Targets (22 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is currently meeting the statutory 3% target. At the end of 2012, 266 persons were employed in the Department of which 12 members of staff disclosed a disability representing 4.5% of the total number of staff surveyed. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those organisations and my Department does not have the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Broadcasting Issues (22 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am not aware of any efforts to silence and censor online radio stations based in this State. If the Deputy is aware of any such intimidation, details should be brought to the attention of the Gardaí at the earliest opportunity.