Results 7,881-7,900 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Priority Questions: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Am I right?

Priority Questions: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Does the Ceann Comhairle want me to take the broadband question?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong, viable company in a position to provide a high-quality, nationwide postal service and that it maintains a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. However, the An Post group lost €13.7 million in 2016, with the core mails business losing more than €30 million. The An Post network has just over...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Senator Swanick has hit the nail on the head. The perception is that An Post should be a service for older people, particularly in isolated, rural areas. I disagree with that, however. I think An Post can be a service for the whole community in both urban and rural Ireland. We need to turn the post offices into places people visit regularly, particularly younger people, not just at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The review is ongoing. I expect to receive proposals from the board of An Post quite soon. Once I have them to hand, I will brief the Cabinet and we will engage directly with the company. I have already asked NewERA to engage with the company. It has done a complete financial assessment, which is of huge benefit to me in making the final decisions.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Schemes (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Higgins for raising this important issue. Deputies meet this issue on a day-to-day basis and are aware of the very stark choices that people have to make. In the vast majority of cases, it is women who are involved. I apologise that the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Doherty, cannot be here and I will relay the content of the Senator's...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Schemes (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: As constituency Deputies, we all meet the practical issues and challenges in this regard on an ongoing basis. Across both Houses, there is a determination to see if we can take lone parents out of the poverty trap and assist them, where feasible and practical, to get back to part-time or, preferably, full-time employment as their circumstances determine.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Rural Broadband Scheme (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos 30, 33, 48 and 65 together. Recognising the frustration experienced across Ireland where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force. I established the Mobile Phone and Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Digital Strategy (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department's Trading Online Voucher Scheme is specifically designed to support small and micro enterprises to trade online. Through training and mentoring, coupled with financial support of up to €2,500, subject to matched funding, the scheme is helping small businesses to grow and diversify their markets.   This is a demand-led scheme, funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: As I have already indicated to the House, last week my Department received "Detailed Solutions" from two bidders as part of the ongoing procurement process to select a company, or companies, who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network for those areas that will not be served by commercial operators acting alone. This was a significant milestone in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan 2014 () sets out the Government’s plan for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources.  The Strategic Environmental Assessment carried out for the OREDP found that it would be environmentally sustainable for 4,500 MW of offshore wind and 1,500MW of wave and tidal devices to be developed in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have given a detailed outline on the current status of the procurement process in my responses to the priority questions on today's order paper.  The Deputy will be aware that this procurement process will select a bidder, or bidders, who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network to remote and rural areas not served by commercial operators....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am aware of the research referred to in the Question and my officials will review it the context of all submissions made through the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) public consultation process. The new RESS is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Tyre Disposal (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Over 20,000 farms have been affected by illegal dumping. The level of illegal dumping of various waste types is a major environmental problem that needs to be met head on. I have made €1.3 million available to support a major anti-dumping initiative by local authorities and communities. In addition, I have allocated €1 million to local authorities to remove stockpiles of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: As I indicated in my responses to questions higher up on today's order paper, last week the procurement process being managed by my Department reached a key milestone with the receipt of "Detailed Submissions".  Two submissions were received from Eircom Limited and the Granahan McCourt, enet, SSE, John Laing Group plc consortium.  As the House is no doubt aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: In April, eir signed a agreement with me committing it to follow through on its commercial plans to provide new high speed broadband infrastructure to 300,000 premises in rural areas.  eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period.  A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department's website . Quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions  Nos. 44, 59 and 75 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the service providers concerned which operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Mitigation Plan (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 50 and 63 together. The publication of Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan in July 2017 is an important initial step to enable the transition to a low carbon economy and society. The Plan identifies over 70 mitigation measures and 106 related actions to address the immediate challenge to 2020 and to prepare for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Projects (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos 47, 61 and 79 together. My Department is currently 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Rural Broadband Scheme (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland including those on our offshore islands. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State...