Results 6,021-6,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Irish Language (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on 21 December 2010. To support the 20-year Irish Language Strategy, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has published a 5-year Action Plan (2018-2022). As part of this Action Plan, DCHG engages directly with broadcasters.My Department has adhered to its commitments under objectives 1 and 9 in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am not going to draw conclusions about the proposals. The figure that Eir and the Department have in common is 335, so there are 35,000 additional premises served by Eir. At the same time, there is a considerable number of premises which the Department has identified, in addition to the 84,000 that were taken out before, where although there was an indication that commercial service would...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Dooley for raising this matter. It is of considerable importance. The backdrop to the national broadband plan is exactly as the Deputy described. The purpose of the national broadband plan was to promote commercial investment to the maximum extent possible. Indeed there has been €2.75 billion worth of investment in upgrading telecommunications networks since the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 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 . 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 Deputy makes reference to the premises'...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 526 together. In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, the Government took the decision in June 2017 to phase out flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection. It is worth...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501, 512 and 513 together. The recent announcements of further commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure by telecommunications companies is to be welcomed. Continued commercial investment in tandem with the proposed State led NBP intervention remains vital to ensuring that all premises in Ireland have access to a reliable and future...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: As I set out in my reply to Question No 233 on 24 January, the ESB, the owner and operator of the plant, has been asked for a report on the issues and options that arise in decommissioning the coal-fired plant at Moneypoint. As part of this study, the ESB will consider the best option in energy and climate policy terms. I expect to receive this report shortly. Following its consideration,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 509 together. I announced in January that government departments, public bodies, and schools will lead the way in the response to cutting down on single use plastics, with a number of measures, including no longer purchasing single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws for use within their offices. Since 4th January 2019, no government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505, 507 and 508 together. The Paris Agreement was adopted by Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. The Agreement is designed to meet its objectives through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by all parties to the Agreement. Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement via the NDC...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Renewable gas includes biogas, which can be combusted to generate heat or electricity, and biomethane, which is produced from biogas and can be injected into the gas grid and used for the same applications as natural gas. In addition to contributing to decarbonisation in the energy sector, the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion also has the potential to reduce emissions in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Mitigation Plan (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together. The National Mitigation Plan, published in July 2017, restates the Government’s commitment to move from a fossil fuel-based electricity system to a low-carbon power system. Investment in further renewable generation will be incentivised. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, approved by Government in July 2018, will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department will reprofile €4 million, representing less than 1.5% of its overall capital allocation for 2019, to support the additional costs arising this year on the National Children’s Hospital project. In this regard, my Department will manage the timing of payments relating to a small number of projects, while ensuring that contractual commitments are met and service...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 518, inclusive, together. Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF), published in January 2018, sets out the context to ensure local authorities, regions and key sectors can assess the main risks and vulnerabilities of climate change, implement climate resilience actions and ensure climate adaptation considerations are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The specific 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 .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 a bidder...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: According to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at , the premises referred to by the Deputy is one which is indicated as having been passed by eir as part of their rural deployment of high speed broadband. Therefore, that premises should be in a position to order a high speed broadband connection from a provider offering services on the network. Where a premises in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The report referred to by the Deputy provides a list of recommendations to help County Councils set targets and deliverables and shape the National Broadband Plan to the needs of their communities. The report makes 20 recommendations for the five County Council areas within the cross-Border partnership (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo). The subject matter of the report and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The specific 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 . 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 a bidder for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Internet Safety (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Shortly after my appointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Enviornment, I attended a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on 25 October 2018 to discuss the Digital Safety Commissioner Bill 2017. At that meeting, I said that I believed that the era of self-regulation in this area was over. However, I also stressed that if the Oireachtas is to pass legislation...