Results 4,041-4,060 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. Under the Directives, EU Member States must...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. The North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity. A resilient and well connected energy infrastructure is vital for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. The construction of the North South Interconnector, and all related procurement activities, is an operational matter for EirGrid and ESB Networks and one in which I have no function. I am advised that due to the very long...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (3 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. The initial Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2019 was €24 million....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Details of the funding allocated to are set out in the table below. The amounts set out in the table relate to funding provided for Westmeath as a whole unless Moate is specified.The contract to deliver the National broadband Plan was signed on 19 November. This provides for approximate investment of €46m over the 25 years of the National Broadband Plan State Intervention providing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Waste Collection Companies must hold a waste collection permit in order to collect waste in line with the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended. Waste collection permits are issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office. Under the permit conditions, household waste collectors are obliged to provide a separate receptacle for each waste fraction, namely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since November 2013 there has been 13 Bills sponsored by my Department that have been enacted, they are as follows:- Bill Date/ Year Bill Enacted ACT Minerals Development Bill 2015 2017 Minerals Development Act 2017 Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018 Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (3 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Prospecting and mining licences are issued by my Department.The Exploration and Mining Division of the Department currently has a staff of 4 geologists and 6 administrative staff engaged in the processing and monitoring of these licences from prospecting through to extraction, as well as other activities related to exploration and mining. Further details are available on my Department's...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: This is a matter for RTÉ in the first instance, given that it is an independent body with its own board, overseen by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as its regulator. The House has previously expressed its belief that some of the pay is excessive. That was included in RTÉ's recent plan, which outlined a 15% cut. RTÉ is in discussions with its unions on the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Tánaiste answered part of the question on Littleton. A waste facility has been developed there and it is hoped that waste facility can continue to expand. On the broader issue of the use of the just transition fund, as the Deputy knows, this was established for the first time as a result of the introduction of the carbon pricing and we recognise that a number of counties will be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Yes. I am glad to be able to tell the Deputy that budget 2020 has doubled the financial allocation for the warmer homes scheme. It is one area where we recognise that we need to facilitate more homes. This is a scheme where the State provides a 100% grant for people who are qualified for the fuel scheme. That is approximately 22% of the population. The Deputy is right. The level of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am conscious that the Deputy and his party recently supported a motion that would have seen the deferral of the broadband plan for five years. His concern for a fast roll-out in Donegal is belied by his actions. The truth is that we will be starting in 15 counties in 2020 and all counties in 2021 will see the active roll-out of fibre broadband. National Broadband Ireland will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is asking whether the just transition commissioner will have an industrial relations role. It has been clear that he will not have an industrial relations role. We have a joint industrial relations council between Bord na Móna and its unions chaired by the WRC. Unresolved issues can be escalated in the normal way to the Workplace Relations Commission. As Mr. Kieran Mulvey...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is no doubt the availability of high-speed broadband in rural areas will have a transformative effect. As I have stated, high-speed broadband will be the most basic service in the long term and will be thought of like rural electrification. We will look back on this as being a very important decision, with people probably being puzzled as to why there was so much controversy about it....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland is always consulted in any of these initiatives. We have identified 300 broadband connection points right across the country in every county and there is a focus on more remote areas. Many are on islands that might otherwise have no access to such a connection. During 2020 we will deliver 150 Mbps capacity to those centres and some of them will be very significant; they could...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: We will deliver the 300 broadband connection points during 2020 and also in that year the laying of fibre will commence in 15 counties, with 10,000 homes or premises to be connected. In 2021 we will see the big impact, with every county involved and 115,000 homes or premises getting connected. There will be 70,000 to 100,000 premises connected each year thereafter. There will be a major...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: A four-day working week without loss of pay raises far wider issues than climate. I am happy to look at evidence of any policy initiative and its impact on climate. If there is data, I will examine it. Clearly, things such as remote working which reduce people's use of public transport is a way of doing the same. If people work one day from home, they will get much of the savings. Every...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is articulating a position which is a valid aspiration, however what I have been asked to do is ensure that our power generation shifts to renewable sources, that our buildings are more energy efficient and that our industrial processes are less carbon intensive and that we change the shape of our transport system. I must focus on those as they are the areas that will deliver a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government has appointed Mr. Kieran Mulvey as the Just Transition Commissioner on a non-statutory basis to facilitate discussions and work with stakeholders to develop, mobilise and deliver opportunities for the midlands for both the workers directly affected and the wider community. I have asked the commissioner to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including local community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: We are providing immediate funding for bog restoration on both non-Bord na Móna bogs and Bord na Móna bogs. We are working to get final approval from the EU under state aid. We have submitted a Bord na Móna proposal to get the additional repurposed PSO which will allow significant numbers to be re-employed on the bogs doing restoration to a much higher level. We have also...