Results 4,841-4,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Local authorities do not record or register the number of households signed up or not signed up to a residential waste collection service. Such a record would not reflect the households who do not have a collection service available or who arrange the disposal of their waste at a civic amenity site and home compost. However, a report prepared by the Competition and Consumer Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested is currently being compiled. I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radiation Monitoring Systems (9 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have policy responsibility for matters pertaining to public exposure to non-ionising radiation. Irish policy in this area is informed by a substantial volume of internationally recognised scientific research and evidence. This includes the guidelines set down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (9 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 3 January 2019, the Government decided that Government Departments and public bodies will show leadership in reducing generation of single use plastics and waste. In line with that Decision, my Department has ceased purchasing single-use plastic beverage cups, cutlery and drinking straws.On 19 February 2019, my Department wrote to each of the 17 public bodies (listed below) under its aegis...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Pollution (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy but one has to be careful not to jeopardise successful schemes that are managing air quality at a time when we seek to extend those. With the law of unintended consequences, we could undermine what is successful. I agree with the Deputy that we need to find a way address this with respect to a number of towns which the Deputy rightly said does not only include...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy. Group and area-based schemes will allow us to carry out those shallow retrofits as they will offer people an easy, turnkey process by which to do so. I assure the Deputy that not only did I visit Mount Lucas as Minister for Education and Skills, but I have also visited in my new role. I fully acknowledge its potential. It is a fantastic centre. Great things are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The climate action plan sets a target of 936,000 EVs by 2030. That would represent approximately one third of all purchases in the period between now and then. To support the achievement of this target, the plan sets out a range of actions which include introducing a legislative ban on the sale of new fossil fuel cars from 2030; developing the charging network to stay sufficiently ahead of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is correct. The price of EVs is higher than that of conventional cars, but the running costs of EVs are approximately one eighth of those of conventional cars. It is a case of swings and roundabouts. It is worth pointing out that the price of batteries is decreasing rapidly and that their durability is improving. The expert opinion we have received is that, even if there were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Some 500 are to be upgraded and there will be 224 new ones.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ambitions of the electricity network are based on very substantial growth in overall demand for power. From memory, a 50% growth in power demand arising from a variety of sectors, including new EVs, is anticipated. The Deputy is correct. We should be looking to car manufacturers and service stations to make investment in this area. Thus far it has had to be leveraged by a State...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is more to come.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Pollution (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am very conscious of this issue. Deputy Browne's colleague, Deputy Dooley, raised it earlier and I went through it at that time. The Deputy probably appreciates that, while my predecessors announced that it was their intention to introduce a nationwide ban, this was challenged on the grounds that it would not be fair to treat the burning of smoky coal differently from the burning of peat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree absolutely with the Deputy. We intend that the ESB, Coillte and Bord na Móna will be major players. Those companies have set out significant ambitions and put plans in train and will play a strategic role in the move to a decarbonised economy. We announced recently the renewable heat support scheme which will allow biomass provision to replace existing heat systems. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The recently published climate action plan sets an ambitious target of 500,000 energy efficiency retrofits by 2030. Achievement of this target will be supported by a Project Ireland 2040 allocation of €3 billion as well as the range of measures identified in the plan. One such measure is the development of a new retrofitting delivery model which will group retrofitting projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge the Deputy's support for the action plan. It is a significant target at 50,000 per year whereas the current rate is 34,000 per year, approximately. As the Deputy says, rightly, retrofitting takes place currently at a lower level. These are shallower retrofittings. To be fair, the deep retrofitting scheme was a pilot and was never intended to constitute the final approach....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for this important and timely question. The National Cyber Security Centre was established under my Department following a Government decision in 2011 and has a remit across the digital and cybersecurity of Government ICT and critical national infrastructure under the Network and Information Security Directive. The centre is focused on developing capacity to protect...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The resource for the centre has been steadily increased and it has approximately 30 staff. The ongoing resourcing requirements will be reviewed in the context of the next cybersecurity strategy. The strategy has just been out for public consultation and will be finalised shortly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the climate action plan I have set a target of 70% for renewable electricity by 2030 to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. This will build on the progress made in the past ten years, in which the renewable energy sector has undergone a considerable transformation, with the share of renewable electricity generation more than doubling to 30% in 2017. However, we must...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The detail of the €13.7 billion investment has to be worked out, but it will be in the areas I mentioned, namely, the system service infrastructure, the transmission and distribution networks, the interconnectors and storage infrastructure. Those are predominantly State infrastructures to facilitate the system's capacity for more renewables. The private sector contribution will...

Seanad: Climate Action Plan: Statements (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senators for tabling this debate. I do not need to tell people in the House that it is probably one of the most important challenges that face humanity. As we reflect on a decade during which the country has achieved extraordinary things, as we reformed our Constitution, changed our outlook and brought an economy from bankruptcy back to full employment, which were fantastic...