Results 4,281-4,300 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: European Globalisation Fund (13 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland's European Globalisation Adjustment Fund Managing Authority is within the Department of Education and Skills. All applications for support from the Fund must be submitted by this Managing Authority. Neither my Department nor Bord na Móna can apply directly to the Globalisation Fund. My Department has secured support for the Midlands Region from other EU sources. Following...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Power Plant Closures (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will not be able to answer everything, but I will answer to the best of my ability. I recognise that one of the issues is the pressure on the rates base of local authorities. That issue was discussed yesterday and it is something at which we are going to have to look. On retrofitting, we have committed hard cash to it. There is a sum of €20 million available and we will be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Power Plant Closures (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I appreciate how intensely people feel about this matter. It was for this reason I spent time yesterday meeting unions, workers and public representatives and some community representatives. There is no doubt that this is a really difficult time. The anger and frustration was very evident. The Government is determined to deliver a just transition. For me, a just transition is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The House will be aware that it was the intention of the Government to have a phased withdrawal from peat. This involved a proposal to co-fire peat with biomass. Unfortunately, An Bord Pleanála rejected that planning application. The ESB carefully evaluated whether it would be possible to secure a successful counter-application to overcome the refusal but, as the Deputy is aware, it...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: RTÉ Financial Restructuring (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senators for raising this issue. We all acknowledge that this is a difficult time for traditional media, whether national or local. RTÉ has not been immune from the impact of people migrating their viewing and listening habits to different platforms. Senators also agree that broadcasting is a vital part of our public service, locally and nationally. It is important to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: RTÉ Financial Restructuring (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I reiterate that this is ultimately a decision for the executive and the board. They must decide on the best site and rationalise their decision. They will doubtless listen to the unions and others who will make the case the Senators are making. The decision must be made in the context of a time of radical change in the broadcasting environment. That puts huge obligations on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 449 together. 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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No 530 of 15 October 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to Questions No. 233 and 234 answered together on 10 October 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: As Minister, I have no role in setting price levels. Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 441 to 443, inclusive, together. I understand the Deputy is referring to a report prepared by the Internal Audit Unit of my Department entitled ‘Final EU 2020 Climate Targets Monitoring and Reporting Audit.’ The report set out a number of recommendations concerning the reporting of progress against targets within my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 17 June 2019, the Government published the Climate Action Plan 2019, which commits, inter alia, to bringing forward a new Climate Action (Amendment) Bill to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The objective of the Bill is to significantly strengthen the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge, and ensure delivery of successive Climate Action...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) in May 2019. Since then my officials have been performing the necessary financial and contractual due diligence work needed before a contract can be concluded. The Department’s work is well progressed and, pending Government approval, I expect to sign the contract...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (12 Nov 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 processing of applications under the Warmer Homes Scheme is an operational...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department currently occupies office space in 2 locations outside Dublin. The current number of vacant desk spaces available in each location is set out in the following table; Office Location Vacant Desk Spaces Cavan 12 Wexford 3

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The telecoms market in Ireland is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The development and rollout of telecoms infrastructure is primarily a matter for private operators, operating on a commercial basis. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland, regardless of how remote or rural,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The contingency fund within the NBP subsidy can only be drawn down in 14 specific circumstances, both during the deployment period and after the deployment is completed. This contingency fund can only be sought by NBI where additional, unanticipated costs have been proven to have occured for these specific circumstances. The contingency fund is capped at €480m (excluding VAT) with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is an initiative specifically designed to support small businesses to trade online. Funded by my Department and administered by Enterprise Ireland through the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500, subject to matched funding, to help small businesses develop their online trading...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has been engaged to undertake research on the Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme. The Warmth & Wellbeing 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...