Results 4,761-4,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: The Clean Air Strategy will provide an overarching policy framework within which clean air policies can be formulated and given effect in a manner consistent with national priorities, and EU and other international policy considerations. The Strategy, which I intend to publish in the coming months, will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across...

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

Richard Bruton: A representative from the Heat and Transport Policy division in my Department has regularly attended meetings of Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI). My Department engages with HMI as a policy stakeholder, providing policy context and input; however, the Department is not an author of any outputs from the group nor does it have any governance function. Earlier this year, industry...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (6 Sep 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. To date over 135,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (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: Electric Vehicles (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: A total of €200 million is provided in the National Development Plan under Project Ireland 2040 to support the uptake of electric vehicles over the period 2018-2027. My Department has allocated €29.5 million capital in 2019 to fund electric vehicle purchase grants of up to €5,000; home charger grants of up to €600; and a new support for on-street chargers of up...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Oil Reserves Agency (6 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The projected receipts from the NORA levy over the next five years are on average €141 million per annum. Average NORA expenses over this period are projected to be €76 million per annum, leaving an amount in excess of operating costs of c.€325 million from 2019 to 2023. Under the National Development Plan, the Government has decided that the Climate Action Fund will have...

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

Richard Bruton: An application was made to my Department by Gold Note Minerals Ltd on behalf of BTU Metals Corporation for the renewal of three Prospecting Licences in respect of Prospecting Licence Areas (PLAs) 1431, 2295 and 3145, which cover a number of townlands in County Galway. This application was published in the Connacht Tribune on 25thJuly, 2019 and was open for consultation for a period of 30...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I assure Deputy Troy that the EPA has independent powers and, in the context of a full licence review of this nature, it is required to conduct a full environmental impact assessment, EIA. That is required. It is also required to have public consultation. The EPA, therefore, is meeting the obligations of its governing legislation. It is not for me to interfere in how it conducts that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I understand the concern expressed locally. It is an appalling shock for workers to receive notice that they have been put on protective notice as a result of decisions made. As the Deputies know, last month the ESB shut down the Lough Ree power generating station to carry out planned maintenance. The generating station was due to return to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is moving from our brief to greener fields in agriculture but the climate action plan has set out many of the issues he has raised with regard to how we will develop renewables. Bord na Móna has been leading the field not only with regard to renewables but in recycling and new sectors. It is a very powerful agency and is using its resources to develop new opportunities in a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Barry for raising this as it does give me the opportunity to clarify some of the points. The Deputy is absolutely right that it would be illegal for me to instruct An Post to do anything. That has been provided by this Oireachtas. We consciously decided that the operation of commercial State bodies should not be dictated by political decisions by the Minister. That is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Tánaiste has outlined the position as of today. I will deal with this during the Topical Issue debate this afternoon.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 763 together. The NBP State intervention is a gap funded model.  While National Broadband Ireland (NBI) will be a commercial operator, its primary function will be to deliver the obligations set out in the NBP Contract.  NBI cannot use the State aided network or subsidy in breach of State aid law. In addition to this function, NBI is also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cyber Security Protocols (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is located within my Department, and is the primary cyber security authority in the State. The Centre has a number of roles, and is responsible for acting as a conduit for information to constituents, including operators of Critical National Infrastructure, Government Departments and Agencies. The Centre also provides expert advice and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cyber Security Protocols (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department applies the relevant cyber security protocols in its network, applications, data, operations, disaster recovery, business continuity and staff awareness through our Shared Service agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The National Cyber Security Centre is part of my Department and has responsibility for the implementation of the Network and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure. This includes introducing a capital support that will be provided to local authorities for the development of up to 200 on-street chargers per annum.   My Department is currently working with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to develop this scheme which is expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The full name of the Lead Bidder as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire is Granahan McCourt Dublin (Ireland) Limited. In addition to the Lead Bidder, the Granahan McCourt bid includes a number of other Bidder Members. Bidder Member is defined in the Project Information Memorandum and includes: - the Bidder - members of the Consortium and shareholders (if different); and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741 and 742 together. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department.  The scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty.  Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme applications are assessed as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Brexit Issues (11 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department has engaged with industry specifically on the issue of mobile roaming between Ireland and the UK, and in particular on the island of Ireland, in the context of Brexit. The three main mobile operators in Ireland, Vodafone, Three and Eir, which represent over 88% of mobile subscriptions in Ireland, have indicated to the Department that there will be no changes to the current...