Results 9,101-9,120 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of schemes on behalf of my Department to support energy efficiency improvements to homes. The Better Energy Homes scheme makes a range of grants available to householders who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their home, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme offers free energy efficiency upgrades to those...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial and operational matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is a commercial State-sponsored Body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. GNI is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: ESB is a commercial State company established under the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927. The matter raised by the Deputy is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Rural Broadband Scheme (24 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: Air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, known as the CAFÉ Directive. The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are carried out for the purposes of assessment and management of air quality.  The EPA...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1481 of 17 January, 2017 in which I advised that the business referred to falls within the AMBER area, which is the target area for the State Intervention and will, therefore, be included in the State Intervention procurement process which is now underway.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: The objective of the report referred to in the Question was to inform a decision on the impact of potential noise limits on the available wind energy capacity in Ireland. The objective was not to establish the criteria for determining spatial feasibility as it was solely an acoustic exercise. The acoustic models produced in the study were based on the identification of potentially viable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 572 together. The current gross salary of the secretary general of my Department is €176,350 per annum. There are currently four assistant secretaries employed in my Department (there is currently one vacancy at this level).  Two are earning a gross annual salary of €119,572 each, one earns...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Market Regulation (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is in ongoing dialogue with operators on a variety of policy and regulatory issues. The provision of fixed line electronic communications networks connections and broadband services to users is undertaken on a commercial basis by electronic communications networks and services providers. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 to 577, inclusive, together. Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. While the matter raised by the Deputy, regarding assurances of existing jobs, is an operational one for the management team at Bord na Móna and not one in which I, as Minister, have any direct function, it is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together. The final transposition date for the recently introduced National Emissions Ceiling Directive (Directive EU 2016/2284) is 1 July 2018.  The Directive is a key element of the EU's Clean Air Package, which aims to reduce air pollution and improve air quality across Europe.  My Department is undertaking a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I understand that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dublin Waste to Energy plant, which included an air quality baseline survey, accompanied the Planning Application to An Bord Pleanala and the Waste Licence Application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the relevant legislation, matters pertaining to planning do not fall under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy (24 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department’s BenefIT Programme, which operated between 2008 and mid-2016, comprised of four consecutive schemes designed to address the basic digital literacy needs of citizens, thereby removing a key barrier to citizen engagement with the internet.  Under the BenefIT Programme, over 160,000 training places were provided to citizens in more than 600 locations nationwide, at a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (19 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: Between 2006 to 2011 the Greener Homes scheme, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offered grants for the installation of a range of heating systems which included solar thermal, heat pumps, both ground and air sourced, biomass boilers and wood gasification. The choice of heat emitters within a home i.e. radiators, under floor or other method, was up to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Social Media Monitoring (19 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am aware that the dissemination of so-called "fake news" through social media and other online platforms is currently a matter of widespread concern. While my officials regularly engage with companies which provide social media and other online services, no specific discussions have been held on the topic of so-called "fake news". An effective, proportionate and appropriate response...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Regulatory Impact Assessment Use (19 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am very aware of the concerns of the tyre industry regarding the new structures which I am introducing for tyres. I recently met with the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) and the Independent Tyre Wholesalers and Retailers Association (ITWRA). I have also met with the Association for Tyre Retails Standards (ATRS). I listened to the concerns of the ITIA and the ITWRA and I have done...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (19 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: Since its introduction in Dublin in 1990, and subsequent extension to 26 urban areas nationwide, the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) has proved very effective in reducing air pollution and significantly improving public health. Scientific understanding has evolved in the intervening...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (19 Jan 2017)

Denis Naughten: An extensive programme of engagement with all other EU Governments and the EU institutions, including the Commission’s Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way.  This engagement is being intensified in 2017. As the Deputy is aware one of the main avenues available for me to meet my European counterparts is through the EU Councils and Informal Councils, of which I have...