Results 3,981-4,000 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The SEAI, funded by the government, supports LED lighting upgrades as an important energy saving measure for businesses through the Communities grant and the EXEED Scheme. The SME LED Lighting Upgrade Scheme was a pilot scheme that ran from 2017-2019. The results from the pilot are now being evaluated and a multiple measure grant scheme aimed at the SME market, which may also support LED...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy Review (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. The review of the security and sustainability of energy in Ireland is on-going in my Department. As part of this review I have already sought the input from the State energy organisations on the challenges involved. The technical analysis for the review will be conducted by independent consultants to be commissioned following a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Communications (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: How we use and dispose of our resources is crucial – in fact it accounts for 60% of our emissions. We must be more conscious of the impact we are having by the daily choices we make. Sustainable alternatives exist to disposable cups and the purpose is to shift behaviour towards the use of these alternatives. A targeted consultation is underway on the proposals, with key stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No 435 of 12 November 2019 and previous response to Question No 530 of 15 October 2019. As Kildare County Council has extended the tender period until 14 February 2020, the position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 to 502, inclusive, together. The electric vehicle purchase grant provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the private purchase of a new electric car. Based on supporting 5,600 privately purchased electric cars in 2020, the increased cost of doubling the purchase grant would be €28 million or €0.56 million if the grant was increased...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan is the Government’s plan to rollout high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises including almost 100,000 businesses and farms, along with 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service. Following the contract signing on 19 November, work has already begun and a deployment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, who meet the defined eligibility criteria. As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications. However...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 513 together. Cork City is subject to the smoky coal ban introduced in 1995. Local Authorities are primarily responsible for the enforcement of the “smoky coal” ban within their functional areas. The powers that Local Authorities have are extensive. For example: i. local authority staff may undertake inspections of premises and vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Analysys Mason was contracted to provide technical advisory services under the contract ‘Technical Advisory Services in relation to the proposed State-Led intervention under the National Broadband Plan’. The purpose of that contract was to ensure that the Department had available to it the breadth of technical expertise required by the Department in developing the strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public service broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Sharing Arrangements (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a number of arrangements in place which provide for the sharing of data with organisations who are not Government Departments or state agencies. The details of such arrangements are set out below. Climate change and global warming There are a number of data processing agreements in place with service providers to facilitate production of research...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Freedom of Information Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests refused by my Department, where the decision was subsequently annulled by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) for the period 2016 to 2019, is set out in the following table. No. of FOI Requests Refused* No. Annulled by OIC 2016 45* 0 2017 48* ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Neither I, nor my Officials, attended the event referred to by the Deputy in his Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Agencies Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The following table sets out the information sought by the Deputy. In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards set out a requirement for prospective Chairpersons of State Bodies in relation to attendance before Oireachtas Committees. Regulatory Authorities, while not organised as boards, also have obligations to appear before Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below: Year Staff number Department Budget (millions) 2014 260 €440 2015 275 €419 2016 333* €481 2017 392 €540 2018 410 ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. The Government recognises the need to roll out high speed broadband as quickly as possible and is conscious that the full rollout of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State intervention area will take a number of years. The Government intends to ensure an early connection to high speed broadband in specific key locations in rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government’s plan to rollout high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises including almost 100,000 businesses and farms, along with 695 schools where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service. The Deputy's Question relates to a premises which is located in the AMBER area on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, last year, my Department assessed micro generation, across a number of renewable electricity generating technologies, as part of the economic analysis to underpin the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The assessment identified technical and financial challenges, which may need to be addressed before a broader support scheme for micro generation can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency Remit (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland. It is committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and pollution. The Agency undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting and certification of activities that could...