Results 6,081-6,100 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (13 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the procurement process to engage a company to build the NBP State intervention network is in its final stages. I intend to bring the process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks. I do not propose to comment further at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. 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 (BLUE/LIGHT BLUE) and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (13 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No.584 of 12 February 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Nuclear Waste (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563, 578 and 585 together. Senior officials in my Department and the Environmental Protection Agency meet twice a year to discuss matters of mutual interest with United Kingdom (UK) colleagues through the UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters. Officials from the Northern Ireland administration are also invited to attend. The matter of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The issue of planning is a matter between the developer and the relevant consenting authority. As Minister, I have no function in the matter. I understand that in the planning process leading up to An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning consent for the project, the issue of access routes was just one of the issues comprehensively examined. A key aim of the Third Energy Market...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Hazardous Substances Disposal (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Gortmore Tailings Management Facility was the largest site remediated in Silvermines at a cost of €6 million. Monitoring of the site has taken place since the remediation work to detect any potential changes. On the basis of the advice of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, the Department agreed to negotiate with the owner regarding the transfer of the site into public...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am leading on the development of an all of government plan which will set out the actions which must be taken in every government department and body. The central ambition of this plan will be to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across government to develop new initiatives across electricity, transport, heat, as well as a range of other...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provided for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the independent regulator responsible for oversight of compliance in relation to broadcasting content in the State. Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to draw up and from time to time revise Broadcasting Codes on the standards...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The current Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) was codified in 2010 and contains rules and requirements that form the minimum standards that Television Broadcasting Services and On-demand Audiovisual Media Services such as the RTÉ Player or the iTunes Store, must follow in the EU. The provisions of the current Directive are reflected in Irish law in the Broadcasting Act 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commission for Communications Regulation Remit (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together. I have no function with regard to monitoring or policing criminal activity online. This is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), established pursuant to the provisions of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (as amended), is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: According to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 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: Inland Fisheries (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government’s Eel Support Scheme fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a State commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the ESB in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007. There is no geographical distinction in the qualifying criteria for the scheme which apply nationally. The fund...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Advisers Data (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the period 2017 to date my Department has contracted 3 Special Policy Advisors and 2 Press and Media Advisors at an annual cost of €176,807 for 2017, €167,132 for 2018 and €175,357 anticipated cost for 2019. All of the appointments made by myself and my predecessor were made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Instruction to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Appointments to State Boards (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is represented at official level on the board of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the National Oil Reserves Agency and the Irish National Petroleum Corporation. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 provides guidance for officials serving on the board of non-commercial State bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (12 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 also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. Following a review by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Transmission Network (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Smart Meter Upgrade is being implemented through a phased approach. Phase one of the upgrade will commence in Q3 2019 with 250,000 smart-ready meters to be rolled out by the end of 2020. A further 1 million meters will be rolled out in phase two by the end of 2022 and the rollout of remaining meters will be concluded by end of 2024. The Smart Meter Upgrade is not funded from the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The cost of developing electricity generation plant is borne by project developers, within an open competitive market. There are no Exchequer funds allocated for this purpose. Both Lough Ree and West Offaly power plants, operated by the ESB, currently benefit from the support scheme for peat, which is funded by a Public Service Obligation levy. This levy is charged to all electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Fund (12 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 28 November 2018, I announced the seven successful projects from the first Call for Applications under the Climate Action Fund. Having completed the assessment stage, the seven projects must now undergo the project validation process. The validation process will include more detailed examination of the projects, agreement of project outputs and payment timelines. The total investment...