Results 27,481-27,500 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is overseen by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), and is targeted at households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit. The WHS will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler lagging jacket, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also provided to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 511, 512 and 515 together. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market and stimulate demand to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The contract for the Kelvin project was awarded in late December 2008 and it is now being implemented by Hibernia Atlantic, the winning bidder for the contract. €12m of Irish Exchequer funding has been approved for the project, of which €9m will be refunded to the Irish Exchequer from EU funds. This is because it is a joint North-South project approved for 75% EU funding under the...

Written Answers — Energy Market: Energy Market (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The introduction of the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) in November 2007 marked an important milestone in the development of competition in the Irish electricity sector. This market has already attracted new entrants to the Irish electricity generation market. Our ambitious renewable generation targets will also attract new generators to the Irish market. However, the all island...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department operates a Merit Award Scheme for grades up to and including Assistant Principal Officer. Last year my Department's Management Committee made a decision to restrict merit payments under this scheme to Service Officers/Attendants and grades represented by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU). Awards totalling €3,910 were made in December last under that scheme. A total...

Written Answers — Commission for Energy Regulation: Commission for Energy Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 505 together. The transportation and supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is not licensed under the Energy Acts and neither my Department nor the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) have any role in the regulation of LPG transportation and supply. The regulation of the transportation of LPG by sea is a matter for the Maritime Safety Directorate...

Written Answers — Electricity Network: Electricity Network (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The building of transmission lines is an operational matter for EirGrid, as regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), along with the relevant planning authorities, and not one in which I have a function. The East-West and North-South Interconnector projects are of strategic national importance to Ireland and are key Government priorities. The Meath-Cavan and North-South...

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. The number of companies and employees based in the Hub has grown steadily and the demand for additional space for digital media companies continues to increase. There are now 870 employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 290 approximately contract employees are engaged on...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 509 together. The year on year increase in the contribution from renewable energy technologies to the electricity market is set out in the table below. The table records the combined contribution from all renewable energy technologies. The vast majority of the growth achieved in each year is attributable to wind-powered technologies, which now...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGÉ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. I welcome the fact that the CER announced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to compete in a liberalised market, provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide, customer-focused network of post offices. In the past twelve months, I and officials from my Department have met a number of times with An Post management to discuss issues of importance to An...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I and my Department are in regular contact with the energy commercial semi state bodies and also meet the Independent energy companies frequently. Discussions are held on a regular basis and are integral to the Government's energy policy objectives. This engagement has been particularly strong in the past twelve months, given the Government's policy objectives for energy and the challenges...

Natural Gas Grid. (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I would be happy to see gas being provided to Tipperary, Thurles, Callan or any of the towns mentioned. However, we must revert to the discussion we had earlier. We must keep our electricity and energy prices low and competitive. It would be easy to come to this side of the House and take on responsibility for the allocation of infrastructure such as this if one could promise it left,...

Natural Gas Grid. (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I want to bring gas to those locations to bring the cost of energy down to help people keep their jobs. However, in doing so, one must be careful that one does not cause jobs to be lost in another town because the price of its gas connection is increased. There is a complex algorithm and a complex balancing act that must be done to meeting the economic objectives of having a wider gas...

Telecommunications Services. (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: A total of 58 of the 60 phase II MANs, which provide state-of-the-art, fibre, open access networks to 64 towns across the country are now completed. Construction of the Edenderry network will be completed this year while the Kinsale network will be constructed in parallel with planned main drainage works next year. All completed phase II networks are being managed, maintained and operated on...

Telecommunications Services. (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is very simple. We want to get the right deal for the Irish people. One tries to manage the negotiations or arrangements so that one gets a proper deal.