Results 6,721-6,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: In July 2018, a new pilot scheme to support micro generation, initially targeting domestic self-consumption through a grant scheme for solar PV installation and battery storage was announced. The data gathered during the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for micro-generation in Ireland that may be appropriate, as we align with the ambition and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The WestWave project is a collaborative ocean energy project led by the ESB with the objective of accelerating the development of the ocean energy sector in Ireland. ESB is working with a number of wave energy project developers to realise this 5MW project. Since 2003, the project has received exchequer funding of almost €780,000 including funding provided since 2009 from the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) develop and maintain comprehensive national and sectoral statistics for energy production. They have compiled the figures for overall share of electricity generated (in 2017) by energy source (across all generators) which is set out in Table 1 below: Table Fuel source Electricity generated share Coal 11.9% Peat 7.1% Oil 0.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Projects (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: There has been no work undertaken by my Department directly with the company referred to in the Deputy’s question over the past ten years. In relation to the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, the information sought is an operational matter for each agency. As such, I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Matters relating to the procurement of fuel for the operation of ESB facilities are an operational matter for the Board and management of ESB and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Tyre Disposal (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: As indicated in the reply given in Question no. 544 of 23 October 2018, €700,000 was made available as a once-off measure to remove old tyres from farms.  This funding has been fully expended.  A review of this measure will be undertaken before any further decisions are made. However, I will be mindful in my review to ensure that any further collections do not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy Yield (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together. The PSO levy has been in place since 2001, and consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply.   The PSO levy is a charge on all electricity customers without exception. The legal basis for the levy and its method of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department currently provides funding to the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce for the operation of the Green Schools programme. Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Over 3,900 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland, in excess of 90% of all Irish schools, are currently participating in the programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matter raised by the Deputy is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the 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 and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.  The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 840, 842 to 844, inclusive, 847 and 849 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 846 together. The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. My Department defines high speed broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 845 and 848 together. The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the 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 and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

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 in a BLUE area, where commercial operators are currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The premises in question is indicated as having been passed by eir as part of the company’s ongoing rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am advised by my officials that my Department has no record of engagements, meetings or correspondence between any Minister of State in my Department and the individual referred to by the Deputy in the last three years.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have the power to make Regulations under section 3 of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000. This includes Regulations of the type specified by section 10(2). That section allows me to widen the scope of the Act to include laws set out at section 10(1), which were excluded at the time of enactment. In order to make Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together. The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legal Costs (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Any legal costs to date have been incurred by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. Legal costs were awarded against the Department in the High Court action. These costs form part of an appeal to the Court of Appeal, which has  yet to be determined.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question no. 249 of 18 October 2018. Expenditure on the National Broadband Plan was first incurred in 2013.The total expenditure to date since then is approximately €22.2 million. This expenditure includes the cost of corporate finance and economic advice, technical support and network design, the cost of legal advice, environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (6 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for...