Results 2,961-2,980 of 4,339 for speaker:Seán Canney

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: CLÁR programme (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for the question. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered from significant population decline, based on CSO data. The programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, the Minister, Deputy Ring, relaunched CLÁR in the second half of 2016 because he recognised the programme can make a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: CLÁR programme (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. I appreciate his interest in ensuring Cork county is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Let me give the Deputy a breakdown of the CLÁR funding for Cork in 2019. There were three measures: support for schools and community safety; play areas, including multi-use games areas; and community well-being supports...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Reports (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: The Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was published in December 2016 and included 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access.  A Taskforce Implementation Group was established in early 2017 to oversee the delivery of the actions in the report.  A Review of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce report was published on 21...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: There are currently 3.75 whole time equivalent civil servants working on telecommunications issues in the Regional Development and Innovation Unit of the Department of Rural and Community Development.  A breakdown of the staffing by grade is provided in tabular format. Regional Development and Innovation Unit – Broadband Support Grade Number of Staff ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme Eligibility (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I repeat that the scheme has been very successful and there has been a significant uptake over the years by those in fuel poverty. The Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action committed to a review of the scheme, which is being undertaken. We are looking at repeat upgrade visits as well as reviewing eligibility and approaches to compliance with the new building regulations and how best to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme Eligibility (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: The better energy homes scheme is funded by the Department and administered by the SEAI. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. In budget 2020, the funding for the warmer homes scheme was increased to €52.8 million for 2020, which represents a record level of funding for the scheme and almost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prospecting Licences (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: The Department has no applications for new prospecting licences in the Connemara electoral area. In March 2019, Gold Note Minerals requested an extension of three existing prospecting licences that it has held since 21 June 2013. My intention to renew these licences was published in The Connacht Tribuneon 26 July 2019 and was open for consultation for 30 days. These licences cover the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prospecting Licences (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: A prospecting licence is for prospecting only and does not give the licenceholder permission to mine. It is the prerogative of mining or prospecting companies to apply for the licences. We have to deal with the applications and a public consultation process is involved in that. A number of submissions were received during the consultation process. There were also a number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prospecting Licences (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: It is the policy of the Department not to issue any prospecting licences in national parks, as published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In certain exceptional circumstances, the National Parks and Wildlife Service may agree to the issuing of a prospecting licence for an area that contains part of a national park and that will enhance the knowledge and be of interest to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: All the providers have an opportunity to connect the affected houses, but they have not taken it up. This points to the necessity to put in place the broadband plan. Some 25% of the population does not have broadband. If a provider deems it commercial to connect a house if it is not in the relevant area, that is fine, but if it does not do so, the national broadband plan has to connect it....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: To clarify, there is an opportunity for Eir or any other private operator to apply to provide a service in any part of this country. If operators did so, that would be fine, but they are not. They have made applications, but they also have to provide a service that is of a high speed and of a speed that will remain high, going up to 100 Mbps for the next 35 years. Eir is in the private...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: RTÉ Revenue (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for the question. Public service broadcasting is provided for in Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act sets out the remit, obligations and principal objects of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4, and their statutory obligations. As set out in sections 114 and 118 of the Act, both public service broadcasters are statutorily required to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: RTÉ Revenue (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy. I often listen to Lyric FM on my way to Galway from Dublin, especially at nighttime, and it is a great channel. I repeat that where any change is proposed in the amount of content, the Minister must consent. The Act sets out that in such circumstances the Department must carry out a stakeholder consultation, followed by a sectorial impact analysis by the BAI. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: RTÉ Revenue (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: We all know RTÉ has stated publicly it faces significant financial challenges and must maintain an emphasis on value for money across its services and technologies. As a result, it has initiated a review of all services with a view to restructuring. It has engaged with PricewaterhouseCoopers to validate strategy and financial modelling and it has also met the BAI. I repeat that no...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am one of the people who looks down the road at what my neighbours have because I cannot get a broadband service. I presume the premises the Deputy is referring to are in proximity to Eir’s deployment of high-speed broadband but are not of part of Eir's commercial roll-out to 300,000 predominantly rural premises in the commitment agreement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Fund (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: It has always been the intention that legislation to facilitate the use of the NORA fund for climate action would be introduced. The commissioner will not be funded by the private sector. Just transition is high on the agenda when it comes to climate action. The Deputy will have heard the Minister replying to a question from Deputy Dooley on the issue of Moneypoint. In the context of just...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Fund (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for the question. The climate action fund is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 as part of Project Ireland 2040. The fund supports initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland's climate and energy targets in a cost-effective manner. It also offers the potential for innovative interventions which, in the absence of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Fund (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: NORA is currently funded by a levy at a rate of 2c per litre. This levy is charged on the sale of most petroleum products at the point of sale and paid for by consumers. It is collected by the oil companies each month and paid to NORA to fund its activities, including operating expenses incurred in the purchase of petroleum products and securing storage in Ireland and abroad. The NORA levy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Ireland (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) did not purchase any vehicles in 2018, but disposed of 16 vehicles. To date in 2019, IFI has purchased 59 vehicles, including 8 electric vehicles, details of which are as set out in the attached table. Logo costs are included in the price of the vehicle quoted in the table but IFI have disaggregated these costs separately for the benefit of the Deputy. In...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Western Development Commission Funding (16 Oct 2019)

Seán Canney: Budget 2020 has seen the overall level of funding for my Department increase from €291 million in 2019 to €308 million in 2020. This €17 million increase will facilitate the continued delivery of key programmes for rural Ireland and for communities across the country. The breakdown of  my Department's 2020 allocation, including for the Western Development...