Results 7,381-7,400 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (24 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce the December 2016 report available on my Department’s website, which contains 40 actions to alleviate some of the deficits. The Implementation Group I co-chair with Minister Kyne is overseeing implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. This includes ComReg, who attend as both an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commission for Communications Regulation Staff (24 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The funding of the Communications Regulator is an operational matter and not one in which I as Minister have any function. Funding is provided through fees and levies on the communications and postal sectors made by the Communications Regulator under section 30 of the Communications Regulation Act, 2002.   The appropriate level of staffing of the Communications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (24 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. Its main aim is to demonstrate the positive effects that making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and wellbeing of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Gas Networks Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: As I have stated in reply to previous Questions on this issue, I have no statutory function, as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in relation to either the routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network. These are matters for Gas Networks Ireland, a commercial State-sponsored body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The independent study to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North South interconnector began on 22 August 2017. The results of this study are expected in Q1 of this year. The study will address the central point of the motions that were passed in both Houses in February and March of 2017. Certain impacts such as environmental and health concerns will not be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Projects (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: A new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is in preparation, which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies, including Solar...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: In response to the challenges facing An Post, the Board has overseen the preparation of a comprehensive strategic plan, the objective of which is to secure the long term viability of both the post office and mails businesses and return the company to a sound financial footing. Government is fully supportive of An Post in its endeavours. Reflecting its commitment to sustaining a nationwide...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government has put in place a range of policy and legislative measures to encourage consumers and commercial sectors to prevent waste and to prepare resources for re-use, recycling and other recovery. Statistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency show that we have come a long way in a relatively short period of time in terms of improving our recycling and recovery rates and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The legislative framework for the import and export of waste in the European Union is set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. This Regulation implements in EU law the provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal as well as the OECD Decision Concerning the Control of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The primary objective of the Government ‘s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is  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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department has no contracts with the company in question. The information requested regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: 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, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (23 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Bodies (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together. I had no role in, or correspondence with Commissioner Gabriel regarding the establishment of the High Level Expert Group on Fake News or the appointment of any individual to the group. The European Commission announced that it was seeking applications for individuals to be appointed to this Group on 12 November 2017. This call...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Planning Framework (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The national policy objective to transition by 2050 to a competitive, low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy requires engagement from all levels of Government as well as wider society. The draft National Planning Framework, which is being prepared by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, sets out a number of National Policy Objectives...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am working on several initiatives to deal with a range of single use wastes, including coffee cups. The Deputy will be aware I recently announced that I am considering introducing a levy on disposable coffee cups in an attempt to effect environmental behavioural change and incentivise individuals to use their own cups on the go. While the policy in this regard is at a very early stage in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 482 together. My Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (23 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I established the Price Monitoring Group to track monthly pricing development in the Waste Collection Market as flat fees are phased out in line with the Government's decision in June 2017. The Group has so far considered four months of pricing data trends. Statements were released by the Group in November and December and are available on my Department's website. The group comprises...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...