Results 5,981-6,000 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: There are currently 413 employees working in my Department. Of that number 207 work in the areas identified by the Deputy. The following table outlines the breakdown of staff numbers by area and by full time equivalent (FTE). This staff complement has significant experience in dealing with regulation issues and developing and implementing policy at international, EU, national, regional and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. Under the Directives, EU Member States must...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy observes, recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy to address this problem and mitigate against the health and environmental risks posed by air pollution. The Strategy, which I intend to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public service broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the economic significance and community interest in these areas my Department incurs some expenditure on advertising and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: There was no attendance by staff in my Department at the summit referred to by the Deputy. In relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department this is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The last available projections of greenhouse gas emissions, published by the EPA in May 2018, indicate that Ireland will exceed its cumulative annual greenhouse gas emissions ceilings for the 2021 to 2030 period under the EU Effort Sharing Regulation, by between 47 and 52 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, assuming full utilisation of the ETS to non-ETS transfer and Land Use, Land-Use Change...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (26 Feb 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: Broadband Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to 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 www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The procurement process to appoint...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the LIGHT BLUE area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The LIGHT BLUE areas are where eir is in the process of deploying high speed broadband to 300,000 premises on a commercial basis. According to my Department’s Map, eir have yet to pass the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: In April 2017 my Department published an updated version of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map. This is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have no legal function in relation to the particular issue identified by the Deputy. The responsibility for planning legislation rests principally with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the home energy efficiency grant schemes that are funded by my Department. SEAI recently sponsored two separate events which were hosted by Irish Rural Link, to promote home energy efficiency and availability of grants, one in Tuam and one in Loughrea. I am advised that a contractor active in the area of home energy efficiency...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: A Template for a Bye-law on Waste Presentationhas been prepared by the three Regional Waste Management Offices and circulated to local authorities with a view to standardising such Bye-laws across the State. A number of local authorities have already introduced such Bye-laws with the remaining Local Authorities expected to do so by mid-2019. The Bye-laws govern a range of issues, including...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department, through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides a range of supports for SMEs to improve their energy efficiency. Grant programmes include: - The Smart Lighting Scheme - as lighting is a significant cost for many SMEs, this scheme provides up to 30% of the upgrade costs helping businesses to upgrade to more efficient lighting, and permanently reduce their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: In December 2018, Kildare County Council, the contracting authority, invited tenders for expressions of interest in the remediation of Kerdiffstown landfill. The closing date for submissions was extended until 14 February 2019 on foot of requests for more time made on the eTenders procurement website. I have been advised by Kildare County Council that 43 individual companies looked at the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The government is committed to leading the way on tackling plastic waste and increasing the level of plastic recycling. We have consistently exceeded the current EU plastic recycling target of 22.5%, with the most up to date figures showing that we recycled 35.7% of plastics in 2016. We will increase this (our plastic recycling rate) to 55% by 2030. The public sector are leading the way in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Businesses, including service stations, in both rural and urban areas can avail of Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This scheme enables businesses invest in energy efficient equipment including electric charging infrastructure and write down the cost of such equipment in the year of purchase rather than over 8...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Funding (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy in relation EU funds received into, or channelled through, my Department in 2017, is set out in the following Table. EU Funds - 2017 Programme Supported €92,000 European Marine Data & Observation Network at Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) (European Maritime and Fisheries and Fund) €5,350 EU Raw Materials/Minerals Projects at GSI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Public sector Energy Efficiency Strategy mandates the public sector to improve its energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. Progress is monitored and publicly reported annually for each organisation. Lighting upgrades are an effective way to achieve improved energy efficiency. SEAI operate several schemes with funding from my Department which support energy efficiency, including LED lighting...