Results 7,581-7,600 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Yes. Those regulations are being drafted and I think the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, intends to present them to the committee before the end of the year. I wish to highlight, however, that local authorities are still going against Government policy and direction from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and charging...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I can tell Deputy Martin that broadband is being rolled out across the country through the commercial aspect of the national broadband plan. Currently 300 farms a week are getting fibre outside their door. We are passing two premises every minute of every working day with pure fibre. On the issue of the procurement process, it is a complicated process, as I have explained to the Deputy in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: -----or like the national broadband scheme which was obsolete the day it actually went live. We need to make sure that this not only meets the needs of the current generation but the generations to come. It is a very complex procurement process. I accept that. However, what we are doing currently is putting the mechanisms in place so that as soon as the contract is signed the roll-out can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Current financial supports for renewable electricity projects in Ireland are provided via the Renewable Electricity Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which support renewable electricity generated and exported onto the national grid. Renewable technologies supported under the REFIT schemes include onshore wind, hydro, biomass landfill gas, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power...

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: To address an issue raised by Deputies Dooley and Stanley, next year we will support the public sector and commercial fleet trials of electric vehicles and car sharing. Turning to Deputy Dooley's point, technology has moved on. For the majority of people, the daily commute is far shorter than the car's charge. Among Nordic countries, for example, Nissan is discussing using excess...

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: While we need to roll out infrastructure, we also need to upgrade existing infrastructure. This is all part of the process started by budget 2018. Range anxiety is beginning to disappear. For many people, a 200 km range is adequate to meet their daily commuting needs. Any household that has two cars should, on the purchase of a new car, convert one of them into an electric vehicle. We...

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: To correct the record, the benefit-in-kind zero rate is for a minimum of three years, not one. The Deputy is right that this needs to be a minimum, and the hope and intention is to extend that timeframe. In the budget we have maintained the grant relief, which is among the best in Europe, and we are also committing to bringing in a grant for the installation of home charges, not just for...

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: First, we have one charge point for every four cars in the country.

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: We have 900 electric vehicle charge points across the country. I compliment the initiative by the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Orla Leyden, and Roscommon County Council, which has put in place proper signage in regard to electric vehicles and parking spaces. I hope other local authorities will follow the example of Roscommon County Council. Of those 900 electric vehicle...

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: With regard to home charging points, from 1 January a new grant scheme will be brought in. If someone buys a new car or second-hand car, he or she will get a grant for a home charging point. Every new car that has been purchased to date in this country has been able to avail of a home charging point but, from now on, it will be available not just for new purchases but for the purchase of a...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: First, I understand the frustration to which the Deputy refers. There are thousands of my own constituents who are in the exact same situation, whereby they are struggling with little or no coverage. Some of them are also quite close to fibre that has been already built out or that is planned to be built out. eir has decided to look at its build out plan to see if there are commercial...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I assure the Deputy that they are not being ignored and isolated. I am very conscious of each and every one of the 542,000 premises across the country. This is not just about sustaining existing jobs. There are also huge opportunities for new businesses to be created, not just with the provision of broadband. Broadband will only facilitate that. The new An Post parcel delivery and...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have no objection either.

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Does the grouping of the questions mean that I have double the time to respond?

Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 54 together. The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out an extensive public network of charging points across Ireland with approximately 900 electric vehicle charge points. We have one of the more comprehensive charge point networks in Europe for a country of our size. The maintenance and repair of these points is an operational...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: As I stated earlier, this is a complex procurement process. It is the first time this type of procurement has been used. The advantage with this competitive process is that it will facilitate a far quicker build-out than would have been the case with the traditional procurement processes. It is a 25-year contract. It is important that we get it right, that we do not do like we did with...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are indicative proposals but what we and the public need are definitive dates in relation to it. I am confident that, by 2020, more than 90% of people and premises will have access to high-speed broadband. I cannot be any more definitive than that until we award the contract and look at the build-out in relation to it. I want to see this happen. My constituents, the people in...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I assume from the question the Deputy is referring to premises that are adjacent to, but not included in, eir's ongoing rural deployment of broadband to 300,000 premises between now and the end of 2018. This roll-out by eir is an example of the ramping up of commercial investment by industry which has been stimulated by the Government's national...

Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I recognise the important part that public service broadcasters play in our democratic society. The provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring the continued delivery of their role in this regard. I am very much aware, however, of the challenges that face the existing television licence system, including the current unacceptable levels of evasion.  While the...

Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I do not disagree with anything the Deputy said. The system needs to be reformed and the joint committee is actively considering the issue. A range of funding models are utilised in the European Union, with some member states having licence fees and others funding public service broadcasting from taxation or charging a fee linked to electricity bills. Finland, for example, has a...