Results 961-980 of 5,759 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 9 July 2013. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Official Languages Act 2003 Compliance (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Process (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In terms of Acts enacted by my Department since commencement of this Government in March 2011, only one section of an Act has not yet been commenced. This particular section is Section 17(2)(f) of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012, which deals with the appointment of gas emergency officers. Such officers will have powers to take appropriate measures in order to protect persons...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: At any given time my Department is engaged in transposing a number of EU Directives. There are currently no cases where fines have been sought or are being paid resulting from non-compliance with EU Directives nor are there any cases which have been referred to the European Court of Justice for in this regard. There is one infringement case in my Department concerning transposition of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's National Broadband Plan, which I published last Autumn, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in County Kerry. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile telecommunications networks within Ireland's competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), has established a website, , which provides information to the public on the broadband services marketed by competing service providers on a county by county basis. ComReg does not publish averages of the available broadband speeds on a county or regional basis. The Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a working paper last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In the context of the conclusion on 9 July 2013 of the Dáil debate on the findings of the Report of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, I stated that I intended seeking independent expert advice on the “fitness-for-purpose” of Ireland's fiscal terms for oil and gas exploration,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos 434 to 449, inclusive, together. The objective of the national mapping exercise under the National Broadband Plan is to identify and map current and planned broadband services, both Basic and Next Generation Access (NGA). The process for participating in the mapping exercise has been published on my Department's website () and notified to all undertakings...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Wind farm development in Ireland is subject to the Planning Acts, including the requirements for public consultation. In order to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets, while at the same time ensuring that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my own...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (1 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory independent body charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. In 2006, the CER approved a new network connections policy which enabled assessment of the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any town to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial support to homeowners towards the installation of energy efficiency measures, whereas Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers energy efficiency measures to low-income...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme provides a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is primarily delivered through Community Based Organisations (CBO) and a panel of private sector contractors. Homes are also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information which the Deputy requested is outlined in tabular format for the years 2011 to date in 2013. Company Name and Business Address Amount Spent on Public Relations Purpose of Consultancy Morrow Communications Ltd Hanwood House Pavillion Office Park Kinnegar Drive Holywood BT18 1JQ Co Down €72,050 (excl VAT) Provision of services in relation to outreach in rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. These powers are granted to the CER under the Electricity Regulation Act of 1999 and subsequent Irish and European legislation. The CER has regulated the tariffs of the incumbent electricity supplier since 2000. With strong...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. These regulatory powers are granted to the CER under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002 and subsequent Irish and European legislation. Ireland’s gas market, both wholesale and retail, is characterised by increasing competition,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Marketing Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a day to day operational matter for the ESB and not one in which I have a role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (26 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department was established in June 2007. Information requested by the Deputy in respect of the period since then is outlined in the following table. Year Special Advisors to Minister Programme Managers Press Officers Political Staff Communication Staff 2011 2 0 1 4 0 2013 2 0 1 4 0 Political staff details refer to one Personal Assistant and one Personal Secretary each appointed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (25 Sep 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy programme. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to eligible households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is primarily delivered through Community Based Organisations augmented by a panel of private contractors. Homes are also...