Results 6,361-6,380 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has consistently exceeded the mandatory EU recycling target of 22.5% for plastic packaging waste. That said, new targets have been set by the EU which will oblige Member States to recycle 50% of plastic packaging waste by 2025 and 55% by 2030. This will be a challenge for Member States. At EU level, the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics has been adopted. The strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to deliver a postal delivery service and viable post office network. It is also designated as the sole universal service provider under the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 which requires it to, among other things, fulfil the universal service obligation of a 5 day per week delivery service. As Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 527 together. The single electricity market for the island of Ireland has brought many economic and social benefits, both north and south. The enduring success of the single electricity market depends critically on the degree of interconnection. Currently just 300MW of electricity supply across the existing north south interconnector is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Energy efficiency has a crucial role to play in Ireland meeting its national and international climate commitments. Efforts to improve energy efficiency also make an essential contribution to improving Ireland’s security of supply, sustainability, air quality, health, social inclusion, business competitiveness and better public services, all of which will make a real and positive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The three peat-fired electricity generating stations in Ireland, one owned by Bord na Móna and two by ESB, were awarded support for biomass combustion under the REFIT3 Scheme for up to 30% of the installed capacity up to 2030. Bord na Móna commenced co-firing with biomass in 2008, and it is expected that ESB will commence co-firing with biomass in 2020. ESB is in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department published the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) in 2014 which set out policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources. An interim review of the OREDP was published in May and is available on my Department’s website: . The Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group, which oversees the implementation of the OREDP is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, which contained 40 actions to alleviate some of the coverage deficits across the country. An Implementation Group is overseeing the implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. The Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: eir reports data to my Department in relation its ongoing rural fibre deployment in accordance with the Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017. This deployment was originally anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018. eir has indicated that its deployment schedule has been impacted by storms Emma and Ophelia, and other construction issues. The company has proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Project Ireland 2040, incorporating the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), is the first time an Irish Government has ever attempted to ensure that future growth is compact, connected, regionally balanced and sustainable. Implementing this integrated vision, and ensuring that the right capital investments are made, will create a significant shift in behaviour...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that I, along with senior officials from my Department, met with the Process Auditor Mr. Peter Smyth on 19 November 2018. The purpose of the meeting was for the Process Auditor to present his report.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 104 together. Energy upgrades in rental properties will deliver multiple benefits for owners as well as tenants including improved living conditions and health outcomes, enhanced asset value and reduced energy bills. Notwithstanding this, rented properties in both the residential and commercial sectors can present a particular challenge in terms...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Energy in Ireland 2018 report by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that solar photovoltaic (solar PV) generation accounted for 0.03% of energy contribution to gross electricity consumption in Ireland at the end of 2017. This represents a three-fold increase on solar PV generation capacity over the previous 12 months. I welcome reports of the falling costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Development Plan (NDP) recognises that improving our energy efficiency is central to action on climate change. The NDP ambition is to increase energy efficient renovations in homes to circa 45,000 to a Building Energy Rating of B from 2021. Currently the Government is funding just under 25,000 home energy efficiency upgrades per annum to an average BER of C. This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am in the process of meeting all bodies under the remit of my Department. The meeting referenced by the Deputy will be scheduled shortly. I have made provision for the payment of €199.322m to RTÉ from TV licence fee receipts in 2019 and for an exchequer grant of €36.233m to TG4 comprising current funding of €34.233m and capital funding of €2m. These funding...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: 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 new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, approved by government in July 2018, will provide for a renewable electricity ambition of 55% by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The national project to upgrade our public lighting is led by the Local Authorities through the County & City Management Association (CCMA). Nevertheless, my Department has taken an active role in facilitating this important project, which is a flagship initiative under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy. The CCMA has identified energy efficient public lighting as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: Over 200 community groups have signed up to the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Network since it was launched in 2015 and are availing of technical support and mentoring from SEAI. The next step is to develop a 3 year Partnership Agreement between SEAI and the communities, to identify, plan, implement and review a tailored programme of sustainable energy activities for each community and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The electricity generating plant at Moneypoint is a 900MW coal-fired plant and contributes in a number of ways to security of electricity supply in Ireland, including diversity of fuel and storage. The scheduling and taking off-line for maintenance works in relation to Moneypoint or other generating stations are operational matters for the plant operators in line with the management of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: The single electricity market for the island of Ireland has brought many economic and social benefits, both north and south. The enduring success of the single electricity market depends critically on the degree of interconnection. Currently just 300MW of electricity supply across the existing north south interconnector is permitted so as to ensure that electricity is securely provided...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (18 Dec 2018)

Richard Bruton: In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This 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 searchable by address/Eircode: - The AMBER...