Results 9,781-9,800 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (20 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos 398 to 400, inclusive, together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial...

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

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and in order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. The Government has adopted a range of support measures designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Yield (20 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. The Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy has been in place since 2001. The PSO levy consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate the achievement of national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply. It also supports employment in the renewables industry and in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee (20 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: In accordance with Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, An Post acts on behalf of my Department as an agent for the collection of the Television Licence fee. The day to day administration of licensing and renewals is a matter for An Post. I have asked An Post to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Titles (20 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: An Order changing  the  name of my Department to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has been approved by Government; the change of title will be effective from 23 July.

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The emissions trading scheme, ETS.

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Cowen. I have no direct role in this. It is an operational matter for the company. Having said that, Deputy Cowen, like me, has received representations from transport staff, both on the rail side and on the road transport side, as has Deputy Eugene Murphy. All of us across the midlands have received them. There is a bigger issue here in relation to the overall industrial...

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Cowen for raising this important issue and I acknowledge the presence of Deputy Eugene Murphy. It is an issue close to all our hearts. As Deputies Cowen and Murphy are aware, Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the electricity market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Oil Reserves Agency Data (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The information requested in relation to NORA Levy income is set out as follows: NORA’s levy income (rounded figures): 2015€130m 2014€121m 2013€123m 2012€123m 2011€130m 2010€140m While NORA is a non-commercial body it operates in a highly commercial environment purchasing oil stocks and negotiating storage arrangements. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 to 799, inclusive, together. Ireland has a single, privately owned, refinery in Whitegate, Cork.  The owners, Phillips66, have been involved in a sales process in respect of the refinery for the last number of months. The Whitegate refinery is a fully privatised facility and its sale is a commercial matter between Phillips66 and a potential...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 250 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (19 Jul 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. The Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme supports and incentivises,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of High Speed Broadband under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Funding (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 804 and 805 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Numbers 21272/16  and 21273/16 (Proof 766 and 767) of 12 July 2016 . The position remains as set out in that reply. (see below) On 5 July the Government selected the Commercial Stimulus Model as the optimum ownership model for the network that will be part-funded by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Communities Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Communities scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme aims to support and encourage community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area. To date the scheme has supported the upgrade of more than 12,000 homes and several hundred shared...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Measures (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: ESB’s statutory responsibilities in relation to the regulation of the River Shannon are set out in the Shannon Electricity Act 1925, the Electricity Supply Act 1927 and the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1934. That legislation establishes the Shannon Scheme which consists of a power station and associated dam and headrace at Ardnacrusha, along the Parteen Weir and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Building Energy Rating Administration (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), transposed into Irish Law from 2006 onwards, obliges specific forms of information and advice on energy performance to be provided to building purchasers, tenants and users for consideration in property transactions. Under S.I. 243 of 2012, the European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2012, the Sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management Regulations (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I understand that the issue of Waste Licences is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency and consequently I have no function in the matter. Applications for planning permission, including compliance with the conditions of planning permissions are matters for the relevant planning authority and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Advisers Data (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The following political staff were appointed to and are currently paid by my Department: Name Grade Gross Salary per annum Ross Elwood Special Adviser €79,401 Suzie Coogan Special Adviser €79,401 Michael Concar Civilian Driver €34,669.70 Liam Feehily Civilian Driver €34,669.70 The appointments of all of the above staff were conducted in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (19 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates that we had reached 9.2% of the overall 16% target at the end of 2015. While good steady progress has been made, the 16% target remains challenging and...