Results 25,181-25,200 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In accordance with Section 32 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) shall present its Annual Report and Accounts to me and I shall cause copies of the accounts to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. ComReg's annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2009 is currently being examined by my officials and...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised that, in relation to land owned by Coillte in Co. Mayo, some 2,875.32 hectares are designated Special Areas of Conservation [SACs] and some 389.39 hectares as Special Protection Areas [SPAs]. Both of these designations (SACs and SPAs) are collectively known as Natura 2000 sites. They overlap in some instances so they cannot be summed to give a total. On relation to the land owned...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Under the terms of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract, 3 Ireland is obliged to have provided coverage in all 1,028 electoral Divisions (EDs) included in the NBS, by October next. The original date for this was September but, following a request by 3, under the Force Majeure provisions of the NBS contract, I have granted a 4 week extension to the contract due to the time lost in the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Currently, there is no EU-wide universal service obligation for broadband, apart from a guarantee of "functional broadband connectivity" which equates to a dial-up service. The EU Commission has recently embarked on a public consultation process aimed at looking at whether this should be extended to include universal access to broadband. In Ireland we aim to achieve full access to broadband...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department was established in 2007 and no payments have been made by my Department to any organisations involved in social partnership from 2007 to date. Any such payments by the bodies under the aegis of my Department are day to day operational matters for them and as my Department does not hold the relevant details, I will request that the agencies involved reply directly to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) as part of its submission on 25 June 2010 on the draft National Renewable Energy Action Plan provided the Department with some current information on capital expenditure for wind farm projects. They advised that on review of a sample of 21 projects (from 8 megawatt (MW) to 90MW) that received financial close in the last 2 years or will close later...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 to 559, inclusive, together. The European Commission's "Draft Guidelines on Wind Energy Development and EU Nature Conservation" looks at how wind energy targets can be met in ways that minimise adverse impacts on nature and biodiversity. Under the auspices of the Department of Environment 'Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Wind Energy Development'...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The independent Transmission System Operator, EirGrid plc, publishes and periodically updates information on its website relating to applications which are made to EirGrid as the Transmission System Operator, or ESB Networks Ltd as the Distribution System Operator, in respect of grid connections to the transmission system or the distribution system respectively. The information published by...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Retrofit Programme announced on Budget Day in 2010 has the objective of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions in homes and business while also creating jobs and developing a sustainable market for energy services. I will shortly bring to Government proposals for the Programme in light of the detailed design and specification of the new programme currently being...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources establishes the basis for the achievement of the EU's 20% renewable energy target by 2020. Under the terms of the Directive, each Member State is set an individually binding renewable energy target, which will contribute to the achievement of the overall EU goal. The Directive requires each Member State to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid applied for planning consent for the 400kV Meath-Tyrone Interconnection Development Project in December 2009, under the Planning and Development Act 2000 as inserted by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. An Bord Pleanála convened an oral hearing on the matter on Monday 10th May 2010. On Thursday 24th June, it was drawn to EirGrid's and the Inspector's...

Written Answers — Public Service Obligations: Public Service Obligations (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Public Service Obligations (or PSOs) are imposed to achieve national energy policy objectives which would not otherwise be delivered by competitive energy markets. In line with EU and national legislation, PSOs have been imposed to support power generation from peat as an indigenous fuel supply for security of supply purposes, to support renewable generation capacity to reduce emissions and...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available, it has not been possible to conclude an examination of the relevant records. Officials within my Department are continuing their examination of the position and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Retrofit Programme announced on Budget Day in 2010 has the objective of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions in homes and businesses, whilst creating jobs and developing a sustainable market for energy improvement measures and services. The detailed design and specification of the new programme is currently being developed by my Department and the Sustainable Energy...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) sets out 90 actions that Government is either already taking or will take in the period to 2020 to achieve the national energy efficiency targets of 20% across the economy and 33% in the public sector. The savings identified in the Action Plan represent approximately €1.6 billion in avoided energy costs for the economy in 2020. There is a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The scheduling of meetings of the Cabinet Committee for Climate Change and Energy Security is a matter for the Department of the Taoiseach. No meetings have taken place so far in 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) has been delivered to 1,510 homes in Co. Kildare since the Scheme began. Funding is not allocated on a county by county basis. The WHS is delivered to homes that apply for the scheme in any county nationwide subject to eligibility criteria being met and funding being available. The WHS remains fully open in 2010 and it is envisaged that the new National Retrofit...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 582 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS), managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty and is primarily delivered by community based organisations (CBOs) of which 25 have, to date, been approved to provide this service. The primary eligibility criteria...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has statutory responsibility for the management of spectrum in accordance with national spectrum policy objectives. A primary objective of ComReg is to ensure the efficient use of this unique natural resource. The submission from my Department to the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes stated that while it...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Act 2009 assigned responsibility to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to develop and administer schemes under the Broadcasting Fund, which are designed to support the production and transmission of high quality programming based on Irish culture and heritage. Details of the scheme are available from the BAI at www.bai.ie. Section 156 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009...