Results 4,001-4,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department does not employ agency staff. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Noise Pollution (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is undertaking a review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in conjunction with my Department. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. As part of the overall review process, a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Data (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The Warmer Homes Scheme is delivered through a panel of contractors, appointed through a competitive tendering process. Some contractors have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The national compliance scheme to deal with tyres and waste tyres is operated by Repak ELT with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited (PRL). In accordance with the terms of the scheme’s Ministerial approval, Repak ELT are obliged to work towards minimum targets of 30% recycling by the end of 2018 and each subsequent year of the approval. In 2018 the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (4 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 NBP...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Consultation Process (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Public consultations held by this Department in 2018 and 2019 are outlined in tabular format contained in the link below: Online consultations are advertised and published on the Department website

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191, 193 and 195 together. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland. It is vital that we ensure that people of rural Ireland have the same opportunities as people in our towns and cities. The fundamental building blocks of the project, which is designed to bring fibre to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: There are four spaces reserved for staff in my Department's head office in Adelaide Road in Dublin and none of which have dedicated electric vehicle charging points. There are two electric vehicle charging points in the car park which are available for use by all members of staff.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (4 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 NBP...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Process (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is currently one Bill in my Department which is awaiting committee stage. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019 (No. 64 of 2019) which was published on 31 July 2019 is currently before Dáil Éireann and awaiting a date for Committee Stage.The Broadcasting Amendment Bill 2019 provides for: - the part funding of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) through TV licence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The contracting of photography services for my Department is carried out as part of competitive procurement processes in line with Office of Government Procurement guidelines. Where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs.I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 601 and 604 of 14 December 2017 which covers photography costs for my Department for the period 2011 to 2017 and to Question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Freedom of Information Data (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The number of requests received under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (the Act) are set out in the table below. Freedom of Information requests can only be refused as provided for under the various sections of the Act. Requests received by my Department are generally refused or part-granted for the reasons listed below:- Record relates to security and defence of the State - Record...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (4 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government currently funds a number of schemes, administered by the SEAI, to assist homeowners in upgrading the energy efficiency of their properties, including switching to new heating systems. These include free upgrades for low income households and fixed grants for those who can invest some of their own money. The grants promote a fabric first approach – advising people to...

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I wish to share my time with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, the Minister of State, Deputy English, and Deputy Heydon. Like Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, I welcome this debate. It reveals just how threadbare the policies of the Opposition are and, indeed, how in complete contradiction they are of one another. This mix of an Opposition that...

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: We have a problem with housing, but have Deputies forgotten what created the crisis in housing? For a while under a previous regime, 90,000 houses were being built. They were being built because of the toxic relationship that had developed between banking, housing and property.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, had to rebuild a model that was workable on the ashes of the previous approach. That is the reality that has had to be taken on.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Deputies want to cite-----

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----figures selectively, but the truth is that, under the Minister, we have seen for the past four years the number of houses built increasing by 25% per annum. That was 25% in 2016, 25% in 2017, 25% in 2018 and 25% in 2019. That is a housing policy that is delivering.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Anyone who takes a moment to consider the question of what is needed in this country-----

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----will see that it is more housing supply. I heard my good friend from the Royal County, Deputy Cassells, saying that his party was the author of local authority housing. The truth is that, at that stage, 10% at most of housing was social housing. Under the Minister, 40% of housing built this year will be social housing, as it was last year.