Results 9,621-9,640 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Administration (6 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) which was published in August 2012 by the then Minister Pat Rabbitte outlined Government’s commitment to deliver high speed broadband availability across the country and reflects Government and European objectives to deliver high speed services to all citizens. Specifically it committed to a State intervention in those areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (6 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department complies with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014 - Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds. This circular sets out the public financial rules to be followed in the management of grant funding and in general, requires that any unspent funding at year end is surrendered to the Exchequer. An...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Staff Retirements (5 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The administration of Pensions for my Department was taken over by PeoplePoint Shared Services with effect from 10th November 2014.  Since then, all retirement lump sums have been administered by the Payroll Shared Services Centre. Lump sums prior to that, ie are detailed in the table. Band 2013 2014 (To 10/11/2014) 0- 5,000 4 7 5,000 - 10,000 16 23 10,000 - 15,000 5 4...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: ESB Networks (ESBN) is the division of ESB responsible for building and maintaining the electricity network throughout Ireland. Over the last decade, ESBN has invested more than €6bn in refurbishing and upgrading the network. This investment ensures that Irish citizens have ongoing, secure access to electricity via a world class electricity infrastructure that supports...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (5 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Electric vehicles, including Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have a number of significant environmental benefits, not least the fact that they have lower or zero tailpipe emissions, and are more efficient in terms of their energy use, when compared with conventional motor vehicles. Since 2011, the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme has been supporting and incentivising, through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (5 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: Broadband Service Provision (5 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: Renewable Energy Incentives (5 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (4 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: Media Mergers (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: While I am aware of the proposed purchase of Celtic Media, including the Anglo Celt newspaper, by Independent News & Media (INM), this matter is currently being considered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and, until the CCPC has made its determination in this case, I have no role in relation to the proposed transaction. Should the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Records (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I can inform the Deputy that my Department holds the records relevant to this case and the matter will be dealt with directly with the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Strategy Statements (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department is currently preparing a new Statement of Strategy which will set out the key objectives, outputs and related strategies for the period 2017 to 2019. As part of this process my Department is assessing and identifying the human rights and equality issues that are relevant to its functions as an employer, policy maker and service provider. This assessment will include details of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The North-South Interconnector will provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland and will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of electricity supply and also allow greater levels of renewable energy be connected to the grid. I envisage no impact from Brexit on the North-South...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am not proposing to make any change to the current status of the Six Nations Rugby competition in terms of those events listed for free-to-air broadcasting. The current review was launched in June 2014 and involved a public consultation seeking submissions from interested parties on the current list and their views on the possible designation of the Ladies Football and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Eircode is compatible with Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, as each Eircode provides a GPS location for each postal address. This allows Eircodes to be used with GPS enabled devices to accurately give directions and locate properties. Google and Eircode are working together to fully embed the Eircode in Google products as soon as possible. TomTom are currently integrating...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have no plans to replace the current Television Licence fee with a broadcasting charge. 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 their role in this regard. I am very much aware, however, of the challenges that face the existing TV...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to staff numbers in the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is set out in the table. The numbers relate to Full Time Equivalent Staff (FTE). Year Number of FTE staff 2013 30 2014 30 2015 35 2016 (to end June) 31 In February 2014 the BAI wrote to the Department seeking approval to recruit additional staff. In March 2015 delegated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 571 together. I am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families, businesses, charitable and voluntary organisations in dealing with energy costs. However, it is important to note that the electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and that they operate within national and European regulatory regimes. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The commitments in the Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, include facilitating access to the national grid for designated renewable electricity projects. The regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in the matter. Any party that wishes to connect to the national grid must apply to the system...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department currently employs two people who are also in receipt of a public service pension, one on a part time basis. Both are contracted to provide specialist expertise to the Department. The public service pension abatement principles are applied in all cases where persons are re-employed by my Department in accordance with Department of...