Results 1,081-1,100 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: Decisions relating to the location and the technology platform to be used in commercial investments are a matter for the individual commercial operators to make. Details of commercial services available in each county can be found on the Communications Regulator, ComReg’s website () and on the websites of commercial operators. The area of Cloughjordan is in the AMBER area on my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (26 May 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. To date onshore wind energy has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, contributing most...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) expired in August last, in line with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. The NBS, combined with private sector investment in the broadband market over recent years, means that there is now a choice of commercial operators offering basic broadband services, over a diverse range of technology platforms throughout Ireland. With reference to the particular...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 996 to 998, inclusive, together. Eight staff members were recruited to my Department in 2014, one staff member was seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to take up a position in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels and two staff members retired. Overall staff numbers in the Department were reduced from 246 in 2013 to...

Topical Issue Debate: Radio Broadcasting (19 May 2015)

Alex White: While I am responsible as Minister for these issues in the first instance, they touch on the legislation that is in place. For that reason, a legislative amendment would be required if we were to go down the road being suggested, or at least being suggested for discussion, by the Deputy. I have to say I have some sympathy with the point he has made about radio. As a former radio producer,...

Topical Issue Debate: Radio Broadcasting (19 May 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Government policy is to encourage and support a diverse media that serves all of the people. Licence fee funding for public service broadcasting provides an independent and reliable income, which allows the two public service broadcasters - RTE and TG4 - to meet their public service objectives with a high level of editorial independence. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (19 May 2015)

Alex White: The information contained in the reply to Question No. 450 of 28 April last is the up-to-date situation in relation to the planned commercial investment in Dingle, Co. Kerry as my Department understands it. Dingle is coloured Blue on our national coverage map () and according to publicly available information on eircom's website () the company expects to have its efibre connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 to 515, inclusive, 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 partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Payments (19 May 2015)

Alex White: The sale of TV licences and the associated inspection process is an operational matter for An Post as the Minister's statutorily appointed Agent under the Broadcasting Act 2009. In general, there are instalment options available to TV licence customers in arrears. The applicability of such a process is dependent on the specific circumstances. Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to bring the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (19 May 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (19 May 2015)

Alex White: Eircodes, the national postcode system for Ireland, is currently in the implementation phase and is on target to be launched this summer. Every Irish address, residential and business, will be sent a notification by post this summer with the eircode enclosed. Legislation in order to address data protection elements of the project has been published and will be initiated in the Dail shortly....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (19 May 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos 469 of 27 April, 2015, 208 of 7 May, 2015 and 201 and 202 of 12 May, 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (19 May 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: Broadband Service Provision (19 May 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: Legal Costs (19 May 2015)

Alex White: My Department has not incurred any legal fees in appealing decisions taken by the High Court during the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 May 2015)

Alex White: The Government strongly supports the importance of high quality Broadband connectivity for long term economic and social sustainability. The National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 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: Consumer Prices Data (14 May 2015)

Alex White: The total amount of expenditure by my Department from its consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews budget in the years 2011 to 2014 is set out in the following table. - 2011 2012 2013 2014 Amount €1.364m €0.919m €1.273m €1.829m In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (14 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. Analysis underpinning the Draft Bioenergy Plan, published in October last year, indicates that an additional bioenergy focussed measure in the heat sector would represent the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals including addressing the potential shortfall in our renewable heat levels. Therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (14 May 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 new Energy Policy Paper, which will set out Ireland’s energy policy up to 2030, is being developed. To facilitate the development of the new Policy Paper, a Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was published in May 2014 opening a...