Results 2,421-2,440 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (14 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Energy Efficiency Fund (the Fund) will be established to provide finance to energy efficiency initiatives in the public and private sectors. The aim is to attract matching funding from the private sector, such that the overall amount available for investment is greater than €70 million. NewERA has been asked by Government to coordinate establishment of the Fund and ensure it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (14 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A €1 million capital allocation has been made in my Department’s 2013 budget for grants towards the purchase of new electric vehicles and the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme will continue this year as long as this funding remains available. To date in 2013, 14 grants totalling €67,600 have been allocated and there are 11 further grants awaiting payment. Since the scheme...

Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is not Question Time.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (9 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, who provide services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including Counties...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (9 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The REFIT3 scheme for biomass, which was opened in February 2012, is designed to incentivise the addition of 310 Megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity capacity from biomass technologies to the Irish electricity grid. Wind energy, hydro power and electricity from landfill gas are also supported under the REFIT1 and REFIT2 schemes. Solar power is not currently supported by way of feed-in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Expenditure (9 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department was established in June 2007. The amount of travel and subsistence claimed by each Junior Minister and Secretary General in my Department from June 2007 to date is outlined in the following Table: - Home Travel and Subsistence € EU Related Travel and Subsistence € Other Travel and Subsistence € Total € Mr Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Expenditure (9 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Currently, electricity suppliers are not required to offer a feed-in-tariff for microgenerators. At present, Electric Ireland, on a commercial basis, is the only electricity supplier to offer a feed-in-tariff to domestic microgenerators. They offer a tariff of 9 cent per kilowatt hour for electricity exported to the grid to domestic customers under specified conditions. The Commission for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (9 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is committed to introducing postcodes across the State. The implementation of a national postcode system is a complex and detailed process. Consequently the procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System is ongoing. It is expected that the matter will be put to final tender in the very near future. The final...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have explained to Deputy Hayes the reason it makes good sense to have high-speed connectivity installed in contiguous geographical areas. That is the most economical way. My Department will pay all of the capital cost under the project to the end of 2015 and will pay the recurring costs for connectivity to each school for the year of installation and for a further 12 months thereafter....

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am grateful to Deputy Tom Hayes for raising this important issue. The provision of high-speed broadband to all post-primary schools is a policy that the Government has embraced since taking office and one that I am proud to say we are well on the way to realising. I strongly believe this significant investment in our current and future generation of schoolchildren is money well spent....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (8 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I can advise the Deputy that in advance of the 2013 angling season, the River Suir Angling Federation, representing the majority of angling clubs and fishery owners on the river, made representations to instigate a ban on the use of prawn and shrimp as angling bait on the River for the 2013 season. The use of worms as bait has already been banned for a number of years. On foot of these...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure (8 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of the Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to those that are vulnerable to energy poverty and who live in privately-owned dwellings. The scheme is delivered through a combination of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 360 of the 30th April last. I have nothing further to add to that response.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is an independent Agency, is in the process of finalising Terms of Reference to engage the appropriate expertise to undertake scientific research into the potential environmental impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction. The key questions to be addressed by this research are, whether this technology can be used while fully...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As I have advised on a number of occasions, if any company were to apply for an exploration licence that proposes hydraulic fracturing their application would be subject to an environmental impact assessment including a public consultation phase. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive plays a central role in the assessment of such applications as it ensures that the public is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Properties (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not own or rent any residential or mixed residential/commercial property. In terms of buildings occupied by my Department, such properties are held in the ownership of or rented by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the Department and my Department is not a member of any property management company. The operation of any owned or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The telecommunications duct network referred to runs alongside the Bord Gáis Éireann pipeline network from Bellanaboy in County Mayo to Ballymoneen in County Galway, which also consists of a spur off the main network to Castlebar and Westport, County Mayo. Since this duct network was funded by my Department, State Aid approval is needed in order to bring the network into use. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Household Benefits (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Exemptions from the liability to pay the existing TV licence arise by virtue of eligibility for the Household Benefits Package, which automatically gives the right to a free licence. Exemptions from the liability to pay the existing TV licence arise by virtue of eligibility for the Household Benefits Package, which automatically gives the right to a free licence. That said, I would like to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety Issues (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources, I have policy responsibility for providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment to facilitate the development of high quality communications infrastructure and services. However, I do not have sole responsibility for addressing how that infrastructure is used. Responsibility of certain potentially harmful content...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Salmon Hardship Scheme (7 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As stated in my earlier replies on this issue the information requested by the Deputy is not held in my Department. As advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 279 of 11 December 2012, I have passed the Deputy’s question to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and the Loughs Agency requesting that they reply directly to the Deputy. I will again advise the bodies concerned of the...