Results 4,721-4,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1490 and 1550 together. A Prospecting Licence application was made to my Department by MOAG Copper Gold Resources on 27 November, 2018. The application requests consent to prospect in a number of townlands in County Galway. This application was published in the Connacht Tribune on 6 June 2019 and was open for public consultation for a period of 30 days. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The NBP process has, by its nature, involved a significant level of interaction with each of the bidders that participated in that process since Competitive Dialogue commenced in July 2016. This has included over 800 hours of meetings with all bidders since that date. This procurement process is ongoing, with continued meetings with the Preferred Bidder to ensure all necessary financial and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referenced by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at . The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP.This intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: As I advised the Deputy in reply to Question No. 2280 on 23 July last, the NBP process has, by its nature, involved a significant level of interaction with each of the bidders that participated in that process, including more than 300 meetings to date between the NBP Procurement Team and representatives of the Preferred Bidder since Competitive Dialogue, which forms part of the procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department keeps appraised of new technology advances on an ongoing basis through regular industry engagement, expert advice and international industry conferences. The recent emergence of Low Earth Orbit satellites as a technology is being monitored by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, my Department developed the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) to identify high risk or problem areas, develop appropriate enforcement responses and carry out clean-up operations in partnership with local authorities and community organisations. My Department has provided funding of €1.2 million and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department uses the Lotus Notes application primarily to interact with the Lotus Notes application services provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The continued use of this application over the next 5 years is dependent on the continuing availability of these services. It is not expected that the cost of licence renewal will increase to any significant extent in the next 5 years above...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (6 Sep 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. To be eligible to receive works under the scheme, an applicant’s property must...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Legislation (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air. Under Section 173 (2) of the 2009 Act, I am obliged to review the list of designated events every three years....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for international trade agreements, including the manner in which the compensation provisions of the Canada EU Trade Agreement might apply to particular situations, is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the case of all applications for Prospecting Licences or renewals of Prospecting Licences, my Department screens (i.e. assesses) the proposed prospecting activities submitted in relation to the areas specified and makes a determination as to whether the activities may have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment. Screening of any potential impact on Natura 2000...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Biofuel Obligation Scheme (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1501 and 1515 together. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency, is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland. The scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of liquid road transport fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of annual fuel sales. My Department carried...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1502, 1503, 1508, 1520 and 1539 together. The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The scheme was intended to run for 3 years and closed for applications on 19thJuly in line with the published Application Guidelines. The scheme is funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Waiting Times (6 Sep 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. These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The initial Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2019 was €24m. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee Collection (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: My officials have been in contact with An Post who act as issuing agent for licence fee collection. An Post confirmed that Inspectors do not have braille ID, and advised that this issue has not been raised with any of their Inspectors. It is worth noting also that some persons who are legally blind may qualify for free licences under the household benefits scheme administered by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Consultancy Contracts Data (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: In preparation for GDPR, my Department arranged training for all staff in the form of an e-Learning programme, which covers the general elements of GDPR, as well as information on Departmental data protection policies and procedures. This training continues to be available for new staff or existing staff who wish to refresh their knowledge of GDPR. Targeted training courses have also been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1513, 1529 and 1531 together. The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The scheme was intended to run for 3 years and closed for applications on 19 July in line with the published Application Guidelines. The scheme is funded by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Environmental Protection Agency undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting or certification of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health. In this context, the Agency is the competent authority for granting and enforcing industrial and waste licences and undertakes an annual programme of audits and inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Customer Charters (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: There were fifteen customer complaints received by my Department in 2017. There were thirteen customer complaints received in 2018. To date in 2019 the Department has received twenty-one complaints.No issues or problems in registering complaints have been brought to my Department's attention.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: In July 2016 the Government selected the gap funded model as the optimum ownership model for the NBP State intervention. The Government considered two ownership models, having narrowed the options from five models. The NBP State intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention network. In May of this year...