Results 4,121-4,140 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Social housing upgrades are primarily a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. A budget of €25 million has been allocated to that Department for the social housing energy efficiency retrofit programme in both 2019 and 2020. Although Local Authorities have in recent years received some limited funding through the Better Energy Communities and Warmth and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Five alternative Ownership options were considered in the July 2015 public consultation on the Intervention Strategy for the National Broadband Plan. In December 2015 two possible ownership options were recommended to government, one of which was the gap funded model (where public funds are made available to make private investment commercially viable). An inter-departmental group was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a capital allocation in 2020 for the National Broadband Plan of €119 million. The multi-annual expenditure ceilings for Capital Expenditure for my Department are published in the Budget 2020 Expenditure Report. The total capital expenditure ceiling for my Department for 2021 is €517m and for 2022 is €611m. The detailed allocations required for the NBP...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The availability of high speed broadband services can have a transformative effect on communities. High speed broadband will allow citizens and businesses in rural communities to enjoy broadband speeds comparable to communities in urban areas. This will enable rural communities to avail of the opportunities presented by the digital economy including in healthcare, education, farming, rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Carbon Credits (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 56 and 206 together. Under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC (ESD), which put in place binding annual emissions targets for each year between 2013 and 2020 for sectors outside the EU Emissions Trading System, Ireland must achieve a reduction of 20% relative to 2005 levels of emissions. These targets cover emissions from sectors such as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has been examining this issue in detail and has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and the HSE, in an effort to see how best to provide a financial support to persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. However, there are complex issues at play in this area, which are understandable given...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting, that TV Licence collection be put out to public tender for a period of 5 years and then replaced with a device independent broadcasting charge. I will be bringing an amendment at Committee Stage of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill to provide for the tendering for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Islands (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development is the first cross-Government policy developed for the islands in 23 years and will set a roadmap for the long-term sustainability and development of our offshore communities. Our coastal islands are an integral part of our cultural heritage. Island communities need to continue to be sustainable and to realise their potential. The voices...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 19 November, the Government signed the contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to provide access to high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in 537,537 premises, including 44,000 businesses and over 54,500 farms and 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service. National Broadband Ireland will set up a wholesale open...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am not aware of any legal challenge that has been made to the National Broadband Plan. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of the State aid rules on broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have not met with any social media companies in the period referred to by the Deputy. On 4 March 2019 I launched a consultation in relation to the proposed Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. This legislation will set a clear expectation for online platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the users of their service. A regulator, an Online Safety Commissioner, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: RTÉ Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is in ongoing contact with senior management in RTÉ regarding their financial position and their proposals for reform, a number of which will require my consent as Minister and will be submitted to me in due course for consideration. The detail of these matters is being considered by my officials, in Conjunction with NEWERA officials and officials from DPER. I have met with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Corrib Gas Field (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The consents granted in respect of the Corrib gas field and the terms and details of these consents are published on my Departments website. The Corrib gas field is also under permit from other bodies, including the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Environmental Protection Agency. Third party access to upstream gas pipelines is covered in the Gas Act 1976, as amended, which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Smart meters are the next generation of electricity and gas meters and will replace older mechanical meters. The installation of smart meters is a key enabler for the energy transition to a decarbonised system. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the competent authority for delivery of the Smart Meter Upgrade. ESB Networks are responsible for rolling out smart...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The government is determined to reduce the excessive use of plastics. As a first step, the purchase of single use plastics has been banned throughout the public service. We are determined to increase recycling of plastics from 37% now to 55% in the coming years and, along with other EU member states, to phase out non-recyclable plastics entirely. A Deposit and Return Scheme is one...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department, along with a number of other government departments, has an annual presence at the National Ploughing Championships. The Department’s attendance at the Ploughing Championships is an important means to engage with the public as it enables citizens to meet representatives from the Department and our various agencies on issues such as rural connectivity, soil and geological...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The support scheme for use of biomass in electricity generation, the Renewable Electricity Feed-In Tariff (REFIT 3), runs until 2030, with support payments made through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy. The Bord na Móna-owned plant at Edenderry was allocated support for fuelling the plants with up to 30% biomass. As Bord na Móna currently co-fires the Edenderry plant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy Review (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The major review into Ireland's energy security and sustainability, which I have initiated, will: - Consider the optimal actions that need to be taken, in reaching 70% renewable electricity, to ensure Ireland's electricity system is backed up in a secure, safe and sustainable way. - Assess the role of gas during the transition, as the lowest CO2 emitting fossil fuel, and consider how and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 205, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 1 on today's order which dealt comprehensively with these matters. In addition to the €220m in equity and working capital which NBI has committed to invest in the project, NBI bears the risk of having to provide additional equity injections over the life of the project, should...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government policy in relation to the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance. The Government Statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy, 2018 recognises that a plan-led approach is needed to develop a range of measures to promote regional...