Results 4,141-4,160 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: My Department does not record the number of electric vehicles in use by state bodies. The public transport sector falls within the policy remit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

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

Richard Bruton: The European Environment Agency produces an annual report which provides an assessment of the progress of the EU and individual Member States towards their climate and energy targets. The latest report “Trends and Projections in Europe 2019” is based on official statistics on energy and greenhouse gas emissions reported by Member States up to and including 2017. The report can...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 218 together. The Climate Action Plan, which I launched in June, sets out the comprehensive suite of actions to ensure Ireland can meet the 2030 climate commitments putting us on a trajectory to be net zero by 2050. Broader Government policy, including carbon pricing, and grant supports offered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, will...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. The Climate Action Plan identifies the long-term challenge for the agriculture sector to meet the national policy objective, set out in the 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, of an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise our capacity for sustainable food production....

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

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. Today, 76% of the 2.4 million premises in Ireland can access high speed broadband. On 19 November, the Government signed the contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to provide access to high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services and make specific investments in particular...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. EirGrid have estimated that, in the 12 months ending September 2019, 35.2% of generated electricity has been from renewable sources. That figure consists of approx. 32% from wind energy, 2.5% from hydropower and 0.7% from other renewable sources. This does not include small scale and micro generation which could contribute up to 1% more...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Biofuel Obligation Scheme (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Biofuels Obligation Scheme is the primary method by which the use of biofuels is supported in Ireland. The Biofuels Obligations Scheme Annual Report for 2018, which is available at www.nora.ie, sets out that 216 million litres of sustainable biofuels were placed on the Irish road transport fuel market in that year. This included 162 million litres of biodiesel and 54 million litres of...

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

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has estimated that, in 2018, approximately 33.2% of electricity demand was met from renewable sources. The following table shows the progress on the contribution of renewable energy sources to electricity generation. Progress since 2008 to date has been that its contribution increased from 10.8% of gross electricity consumption to 33.2% in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: 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. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are locations of community importance across Ireland such as community centres, parish halls and schools. The BCPs have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 213, inclusive, together. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of State aid rules for broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of State aid rules for broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where intervention is required. Having consulted with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department recently conducted a public consultation to close the ongoing mapping exercise, seeking submissions from operators who wish to have their existing high speed broadband networks, or who have concrete plans to invest in high speed broadband networks over the next 7 years, to be included on the Department’s High Speed Broadband Map. That consultation was extended twice at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds a number of energy efficiency grant schemes that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The aim of these schemes is to improve the energy efficiency of our built environment, in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. As new homes are already required to meet specific energy performance standards and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Climate Action Plan, my Department is developing the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The RESS has been designed within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework and the scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by 2030. The Scheme is subject to state aid approval from the EU Commission. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides 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. These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. This year the total allocation for the scheme is €39.8 million. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Existing grants under the Better Energy Homes Scheme are fixed amounts that are expected to cover approximately 30% of the total cost to the homeowner of the insulation being installed. However, the cost of insulating homes can vary significantly from property to property. Key factors which determine the cost include the type of insulation required, the size of the property and whether there...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Waste management planning, including with infrastructure provision and associated costs, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Warmth & Wellbeing Pilot Scheme is a joint policy initiative between my Department and the Department of Health under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the Scheme is to validate, in an Irish context, the strong international evidence that making homes warmer, drier and more energy efficient can have a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: RTÉ and TG4 are the only broadcasters that receive public funding directly from my Department. RTÉ receives its public funding from TV Licence Fee receipts, which includes a contribution from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in respect of free TV licences. Total licence fee funding for RTE in 2019 has not yet been determined as the final amount is...