Results 8,621-8,640 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 334 together.   The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. To-date, Ireland has sought to meet the use of renewable energy in the transport sector mainly through the increased use of sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Funding (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s Capital Investment Plan (2016 – 2021) includes an initial provision of €275m for the National Broadband Plan (NBP).  This represents an initial stimulus for the first five years of the NBP intervention, with remaining payments being spread over the full 25 years of the contract.  The amounts required by bidders will only be known...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The costs of development of the North South Interconnector are not borne by the Irish exchequer. The project will be funded in the same way as all other electricity and gas grid investments are paid for. Network costs are subject to approval by the Commission for Energy Regulation and charged by EirGrid, ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to energy supply companies. The energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Programmes (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Smart Metering Programme is a transformational, national project to upgrade both electricity and gas analogue meters to digital meters. This upgrade will bring many benefits to energy consumers in terms of greater levels of choice and innovation of products and services in the market. The Programme, which includes both electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Travel (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I did not travel abroad as part of the Government's official St. Patrick's Day engagements this year. 

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (13 Apr 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. 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 intervention in those areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 342 together. In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, I requested officials in my Department to prepare a proposal for an updated independent study that will bring further clarity to the relative cost and technical merits of overhead and underground solutions for the North South Interconnector. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Grid Connection Fees (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its Electricity (RES-E) targets out to 2030. The new scheme design requires detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting several renewable technologies, at various scales. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have no plans to replace the current Television Licence fee with a broadcasting charge.  In addition I do not intend to raise the cost of the current licence fee of €160.   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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the White Paper on Energy and the 2016 Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Production (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland. The SEM is regulated by the SEM Committee and administration of the SEM is managed by the Single Electricity Market Operator. Data for 2014 and 2015 in relation to the cost of electricity production per megawatt hour (MWh) for the various technologies is available at Table 3.7 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The table shows the number of premises covered and to be covered by the National Broadband Plan.  The NBP is made up of commercial investment and a State Intervention.The information contained in the table is derived from the data provided by commercial operators to my Department in the course of the National Broadband Plan mapping exercise.  This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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). I am, however, critically aware of the frustration currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology (13 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s Capital Investment Plan (2016 – 2021) includes an initial provision of €275m for the National Broadband Plan (NBP).  This represents an initial stimulus for the first five years of the NBP intervention, with remaining payments being spread over the full 25 years of the contract.  The amounts required by bidders will only be known after...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal (12 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. Under the Regulations, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland published by the EPA in May 2016 show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 336, inclusive, together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. 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...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Chairman. Before I commence, I will introduce the officials accompanying me. I am accompanied by Mr. Matt Collins, assistant secretary - Natural Resources and Waste Policy, Mr. Martin Finucane, principal officer and our chief finance officer, Mr. Denis Maher, principal officer, Ms Rebecca Minch, principal officer, and Mr. Jim Whelan, assistant principal. The focus of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (11 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am responsible for pretty much everything else.