Results 9,561-9,580 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Paris Agreement puts in place the necessary framework for all countries to take ambitious action as well as providing for a transparency system to ensure that all countries can have confidence in each other's efforts. The Agreement aims to tackle 95% of global emissions through 188 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. The total number of licences issued in 2015 was 1,433,752.  This included direct sales by An Post of 1,018,444 and 415,308 free licences issued by the Department of Social Protection to qualifying applicants under that Department's Household Benefits Scheme. An Post received 7,205 Statutory Declaration forms under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Applications (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The total number of applications received by my Department for the REFIT 3 support scheme exceeded the capacity threshold of 310 Megawatts (MWs) of renewable energy. To date, 55% (or 171 MWs) of the total applications received have been deemed compliant for support under the scheme and have received a Letter of Offer. The remainder of the REFIT 3 applications are being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 538 together. The EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable energy sources, with the latter target also being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The spreading of sewage sludge, including human biosolids, is subject to a range of regulatory controls under waste management, water protection, planning and other applicable legislation. Persons seeking to spread sewage sludge are required, inter alia, under waste management legislation to: - ensure that sludge is not used except in accordance with a nutrient management plan in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Energy and Natural Resources (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (SI No. 420 of 2016) was signed by the Taoiseach on 13 July 2016 and delegates certain functions in my Department to Minister of State Sean Kyne. A copy of the Order is available at the attached link . The principal functions delegated to Minister of State Kyne are in energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 543, inclusive, together. The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.  The waste management industry had committed to providing a full weight allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (25 Oct 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 private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: White Paper on Energy (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper sets out a vision to accelerate the development and diversification of renewable energy in Ireland. To ensure that Ireland meets its future needs for renewable electricity in a sustainable manner, compatible with the environmental and cultural heritage, landscape and amenity considerations, a draft Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020, published in 2014, estimated that approximately 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) could form part of the transport fleet in 2020. Apart from general macroeconomic considerations, technology advancement, affordability and consumer choice are the most important levers in triggering consumers to move from petrol and diesel to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Oct 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: Single Electricity Market (25 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The all-island Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive, and secure market for customers since its establishment in 2007. The governance framework that applies to the all-island electricity market remains in place and is based on national legislation adopted by the Oireachtas and the British Parliament. The Regulator-led Integrated Single Electricity Market or I-SEM...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (20 Oct 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 private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Data (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at shows the extent of the State Intervention area: - The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. High speed services that are rolled out in BLUE areas are done so on a commercial basis...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. The EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable energy sources, with the latter target also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. This is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated under the ESD and one shared only by Denmark and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Ireland is committed to a national target of improving our energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. This means we have to make energy savings of just under 32,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2020. At the end of 2015, energy savings of 17,300 GWh had been reported, bringing us over the half way point. While this national target is not legally binding, the EU Energy Efficiency Directive does...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: 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. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The White Paper on Energy Policy sets out a vision of a low carbon energy system in Ireland, where greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2050, and where alternative and renewable energy will play a dominant role in Ireland’s future energy mix. In addition, the Programme for Government sets out a range...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have signed Regulations which will allow ComReg to  proceed with an auction of the 3.6GHz spectrum band in early 2017. This auction will provide an 86% increase in spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless broadband services. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions and I will have no role in the auction itself. I...