Results 28,221-28,240 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. It is estimated that 85-90% of households in Ireland currently reside in a broadband enabled area....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Low Income Housing Programme administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) was established to address one of the root causes of fuel poverty, which is the legacy of older housing with poor energy efficiency standards. The Programme's primary focus is its Warmer Homes Scheme which provides attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The rollout of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. The Smart Meter programme is a central component of our strategy to significantly enhance management of demand for electricity and to achieve greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. The...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 963 and 965 together. I launched the policy paper for Next Generation Broadband Networks for public consultation on Thursday, 3 July 2008. The Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme was published on Friday, 4 July 2008. Future investment decisions including any investment in MANs will be guided by: the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department undertook a Value for Money and Policy Review of the Sustainable Energy Priority of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The review was published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2006. The Review was set in the context of the difficulties faced by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) at that time...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 967 together. Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter, in the first instance, for the management and board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. In addition, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The pilot Home Energy Saving Scheme, which I launched in April this year, is being managed locally in Counties Limerick and Clare by the Limerick Clare Energy Agency. The Agency sought expressions of interest by 30 May last from suppliers and installers of insulation products, double glazing, heating system controls, hot water system controls (timers, thermostats — programmers) and hot...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps. The scheme is kept under regular review and earlier this week I announced Phase III of the scheme, which introduces a new eligibility criterion that only second hand houses, at least one year old,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There are 344 staff, amounting to 310 full time equivalent posts, currently employed in my Department, all of whom have been allocated adequate office accommodation.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The day to day administrative costs for State Agencies are a matter for those agencies and I have no function in that regard. State Agencies publish annual reports and accounts, which detail their activities and expenditures and these are available from the agencies in question or more generally in the public domain.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department does not have any employees who currently work for the national minimum wage.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested by the Deputy. 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 Bodies: Departmental Bodies (3 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As I have previously advised the House, in response to a call from the Fisheries Boards' Chairpersons late last year for a somewhat different approach to restructuring of the boards, I requested that they develop an agreed proposal for my consideration. This was presented to me in early May. Having considered the most appropriate way of progressing in terms of streamlining the sector, it is...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Electrical vehicles, including hybrid-electric, plug in hybrid, or battery electric, offer an increasingly realistic solution in terms of reducing both Greenhouse Gas Emissions from transport, and dependence on imported fossil fuels. There has been very significant global investment in research and development in this field over decades and the technology is now maturing to a point where...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's Decentralisation Programme involves the relocation of my Department's headquarters to Cavan and the relocation of three bodies under its aegis, namely Sustainable Energy Ireland to Dundalk, Ordnance Survey Ireland to Dungarvan and the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon. A breakdown of the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: ...

Written Answers — Efficiency Reviews: Efficiency Reviews (3 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In Budget 2008, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced the requirement for all Government Departments to examine all administrative spending under their aegis with a view to producing efficiency savings. The review in my Department covered all spending areas including the non-commercial State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, with no area being regarded as exempt from...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Course Type Staff Numbers Academic Year 2004/2005 Masters 15 PhD 1 Doctorate 1 Academic Year 2005/2006 Masters 5 PhD 1 Doctorate 1 Academic Year 2006/2007 Masters 3 PhD 1 Doctorate 1 Academic Year 2007/2008 Masters 3 PhD 0 Doctorate 2 Where courses ran for more than one academic year, staff...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves and heat pumps. Greener Homes Phase II which was opened in October 2007 is designed to consolidate the market, underpinning it with quality standards and training and providing for a long-term future that is not grant...

Written Answers — Sustainable Energy Ireland: Sustainable Energy Ireland (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has been advised by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) that an application was received under the ReHeat programme for the property referred to by the Deputy. However, it emerged in processing the application that the work was already completed and the system had been installed. It is a stated condition of the ReHeat grant scheme, as set out in the Application Guide and accepted...

Written Answers — Compliance Costs: Compliance Costs (1 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In March last the Government decided that the administrative burden of regulations and business should be cut by 25%. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is charged with coordinating and monitoring progress by each Department. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently finalising the approach and methodology to implement the Government...