Results 9,421-9,440 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (15 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998 and industrial relation matters are the responsibility of the Board and management of the Company and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any role. I am advised by Bord na Mona that the matter referred to has been passed to the Company’s internal dispute resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in cases of clear market failure. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (15 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Protecting Uplands & Rural Environments (PURE) Project was established on a pilot basis in January 2006 to combat the escalating problem of fly-tipping and small scale illegal dumping in the scenic area encompassed by the Wicklow and Dublin Uplands. PURE is a regional environmental partnership initiative which unites statutory and non-statutory interests in the Wicklow/Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Security Policy (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: In the first instance, operational responsibility for security of government IT infrastructure is a matter for the relevant Departments of State and public bodies involved in providing and managing these services. My Department has overall responsibility for Cyber Security Policy, and facilitated the adoption by Government of the State's first National Cyber Security Strategy last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future.  With this in mind,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Data (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305, 307 and 308 together. While I have no statutory function in the matter, I am aware that since February 2009 Electric Ireland has offered a feed-in tariff on a commercial basis to domestic microgenerators. I understand that Electric Ireland decided to close the scheme to new entrants from the end of 2014. More recently, Electric Ireland extended the tariff...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the 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 Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radon Control Strategy (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Radon Control Strategy Co-ordination Group was established to implement and track the key recommendations of the National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS), published in 2014. This co-ordinated, Government-led, strategy aims to reduce both overall population and individual risk, particularly for people living in areas with high radon levels. Cost has been identified as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (10 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: An Post is a commercial State company and does not receive any public funding.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: As has been outlined to the Deputy on a number of occasions, while the Minister for Communication Climate Action and the Environment has no function in this matter, I can confirm that the Gate 3 process is an administrative grid connection process managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is independent in the execution of its functions. As such, this is an operational...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect.  Mobile operators have, however, invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed 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: Electricity Transmission Network (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The regulation of the electricity network is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body and I have no function in the matter. The Gate process, including the Gate 3 process, is an administrative grid connection process managed by the CER in accordance with its regulatory functions. I am informed by the CER that a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Functions (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation, as well as the provision of key strategic areas such as energy, communications, climate action  and public broadcasting. There are 6 Commercial State Bodies, 8 Non-Commercial State Bodies and 3 Regulators, under the aegis of my Department. With regard to the commercial and non-commerical State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. The Government’s policy in relation to the sustainable development of our indigenous offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources is set out in the 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP).  The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the plan found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The EU's 2020 targets for emissions reductions, energy efficiency and renewable energy form a cornerstone of EU climate and energy policy. The EU aims to deliver  a 20% reduction in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, and 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. In relation to GHG emissions, for each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Data (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: While Public Financial Procedures provide that Government Departments can recognise contingent liabilities in their accounts in certain very limited circumstances, there is no existing requirement to maintain a list of contingent assets; my Department does not, therefore, maintain such a list. I will ask the agencies under the aegis of my Department to supply any relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Programme for Government Implementation (9 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which was published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses.  The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Development Initiatives (8 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department does not receive funding from the National Lottery.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a vision to promote the development and diversification of renewable energy in Ireland in a competitive and sustainable manner. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable and sustainable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers and businesses. The existing Renewable...