Results 6,961-6,980 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Appropriations-in-aid are income receipts into my Department other than from the Exchequer. The vast majority of receipts, €222 million from a total of €238 million, relate to the transfer of the TV licence funds to RTÉ, TG4 and the BAI, along with the collection fee to An Post. The balance is made up of mining and petroleum income accounting for €8.8 million of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The environment fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and comprises revenue generated from levies that were introduced in respect of plastic bags, currently 22 cent, and waste sent to landfill sites currently at €75 per tonne. The fund supports activities and schemes to reduce waste and to promote environmental protection and awareness. In 2017, income...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commission for Communications Regulation Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department is in discussion with Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to a request by ComReg referring to ongoing and additional resourcing needs, including in relation to telecommunications market developments and EU regulatory revisions, the National Broadband Plan State Intervention and the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commission for Energy Regulation Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The name of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) was changed to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in September 2017 to fully reflect its remit to regulate water, energy and energy safety.   The current staffing levels and grading structure at the Commission for Regulation of Utilities were agreed in early 2016 following an extensive engagement between the CRU,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: 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: Broadband Service Provision (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: 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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 283 and 284 together. The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. In terms of environmental requirements, the charges applied should encourage householders to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Since my appointment as Minister I have appointed two Special Advisers, Ms Suzie Coogan and Mr. Ross Elwood. Ms Coogan was appointed as press and media advisor and was previously employed as a journalist, government advisor and communications director for an international NGO. Ms Coogan's annual salary is currently at the rate of €95,441. Mr Elwood was appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. In 2015, AECOM completed a study commissioned by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to fulfil Ireland’s requirements under Article 14 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) and SEAI’s responsibility under 23(1) of the European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 426 of 2014). As part...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Banking (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The total amount of negative interest paid by my Department in respect of deposits since the introduction of these charges in May 2017 is €3,757. This amount includes deposits held by my Department in respect of the Environment Fund. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy, environment, climate change and public broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services in specific locations. In the first instance, I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 777, 778 and 788 together. On foot of the October 2017 stakeholder workshop hosted by my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) along with further engagement with the micro generation industry, I have asked the SEAI to conduct a short study to assess the likely demand for and impact of micro generation, among the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table: Grade No of Staff Method of Recruitment Geologist 13* specialised establishment process Assistant Driller 1* specialised establishment process Principal Officer 1 mobility *There were a number of staff who went through a specialised establishment process with the Public Appointments Service(PAS) following a European Court...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Management Board of my Department, following the advice of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, decided in light of the predicted severe weather warning during Storm Emma and having regard to the safety of the staff and the public, that the Department’s offices in Dublin, Wexford and Cavan would close on Thursday and Friday, 1 and 2 March, 2018. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Use (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: A proposal to register all customers of mobile phone services was considered previously by my Department. It was concluded that such a proposal would be unlikely to solve the illegal and inappropriate use of mobile phones by persons determined to use the technology for illegal activity. There is also a risk that such measures could lead to the emergence in a black market for fraudulently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 782 to 786, inclusive, together. The Waste Management Act 1996 and the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 govern the process under which waste licences are applied for and maintained. Once granted, each waste licence defines the nature of environmentally acceptable activities that can take place at a waste facility, including...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: As outlined in my response to Question No 462 of 20 February 2018, premises in the area referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, meaning commercial operators have no plans to provide them with a high speed broadband service. As such these premises will be served via National Broadband Plan State Intervention....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (20 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 789 and 798 together. The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points for electric vehicles.  There are approximately 900 EV charge points in Ireland of which circa 70 are rapid chargers. The table, provided by ESB eCars, sets out in tabular form the number of current...