Results 1,041-1,060 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: EU Regulation 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation) lays down rules for the timely development of energy networks in Member States. The Regulation gives priority to twelve strategic trans-European energy corridors and areas (for electricity, gas, oil or thematic areas, such as smart grids or a carbon dioxide network) and provides criteria to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: This Government remains committed to the principle of renewed and strengthened co-operation between Great Britain and Ireland, as set out in the March 2012 Statement referred to by the Deputy. On 27 March 2015 EirGrid published a new independently peer reviewed draft Strategy ‘Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow’, which allows for the achievement of an optimal balance between...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Seirbhísi trí Ghaeilge (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Tá oifigeach Gaeilge ag mo Roinn atá ar fáil le maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar aistriúchán cháipéisí go Gaeilge. Tá leaganacha Gaeilge agus Béarla ag an Roinn dá suíomh gréasáin le Ceisteanna Coitianta sa dá theanga maidir le gach rannóg de chuid na Roinne. Cuirtear na treoirlínte, na bileoga eolais agus...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1114 and 1115 together. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Television Licence revenue is distributed in accordance with Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to both RTÉ and TG4 in order to facilitate the pursuit of their public service objectives, which are also set out in the 2009 Act. An Post pays the Department all revenues collected from Television Licence sales and the Department of Social Protection currently pays an annual sum of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Expenditure (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: On the 8th October 2013, the Government approved the appointment of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System following the conclusion of the public procurement process. This company will operate Eircode, the National Postcode System, under licence for an initial ten year period extendable at the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Ireland has a single refinery at Whitegate, Cork that is owned and operated by Phillips 66. My Department is in regular contact with the company and I have met with Irish and US executives of Phillips 66 as well as with union representatives. I visited the refinery in November 2014. My Department has been engaging with Phillips 66 on the future of refining in Ireland. In early 2014, both...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1121, 1122 and 1145 together. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1123 and 1124 together. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), published in February 2014, sets out the Government’s policy in relation to the sustainable development of our offshore energy potential. It provides the mechanism through which action across Government Departments and Agencies to support the development of offshore renewable electricity generation can be fully coordinated in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: With regard to the proposed Codling Windpark project, I understand that the developer holds a foreshore lease from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Securing a grid connection for the project is ultimately a matter for the project developer and the relevant statutory bodies. All applications to EirGrid and ESB Networks seeking connection to the Irish grid are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As the Deputy notes, under the Better Energy Homes scheme, a grant of €800 was available to homeowners who wish to install a solar thermal heating system in their home. In March of this year I announced a 50% increase to the grant support available for solar thermal heating solutions; homeowners can now, therefore, receive a grant of €1,200 for solar thermal heating systems....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The issue of implementation of priority dispatch in the All-Island Electricity Market is a matter for the Single Electricity Market Committee. While it is a matter in which I have no function, it is important to note that EU Regulation 2009/28/EC requires Member States to give priority dispatch to renewable generation on the electricity grid. This includes hydro generators, unless the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: There are a number of Strategic Environmental Assessments which are either completed or at various stages of completion in relation to the energy sector. To ensure that the economic potential of offshore renewable energy is realised in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and takes into account the needs of other users of the marine environment, a Strategic Environmental Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland since 2007. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act, 2007 provides the legal framework for the establishment, operation and regulation of the SEM. The market is designed to provide for the least cost source of electricity generation to meet customer demand at any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that...