Results 11,441-11,460 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department does not currently have any staff who are presently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency.  The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The National Residential Retrofit Plan is one important measure contained in the 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP21) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment. Other measures announced as part of CAP21 include strengthening the building regulations, supporting the roll-out of district heating, the development of low carbon construction materials and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP21) sets out a range of emissions reductions for each sector that together will contribute towards achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021. The range of emissions reductions for the built environment published in CAP21 is 44% - 56%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. Under the scheme 50% grant funding was available for homes that carried out retrofit to an A rating and replaced fossil fuel heating systems with heat pumps and renewables, with 95% support available for people at risk of energy poverty. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty.  It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).  Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme.  In 2021, the average cost of the energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The most recent balance of the Environment Fund, reflecting the position at 28 February 2022, is €6.17m.Final accounts for 2021 have been prepared for submission to the Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with Section 74(6) of the Waste Management Act (amended) 1996. The previous year’s annual accounts for the Environment Fund are published at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Per- and poly-fluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals used for their water repellent and heat resistant characteristics and can be found in many everyday products, such as outdoor clothing, non-stick coatings on cookware, fire-fighting foam as well as food packaging. Approximately 4,700 PFAS have been identified to date. PFAS are a significant concern in the EU and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 (MAP Act) and the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) (Ireland's first marine spatial plan) provide for long-term forward planning for Ireland's maritime area and will enhance the effective management of marine activities and more sustainable use of our marine resources. The MAP Act 2021 also provides for the establishment of a new agency to regulate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The recently launched National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme introduces a new, highly customer centric, way to undertake home upgrades. SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops will provide an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance. The Scheme offers...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Flexible Work Practices (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My  Department, following engagement with staff, began new working arrangements to facilitate the transition to blended Working on Monday the 21st of March.Under the transition to blended working, staff are encouraged to work remotely for 2 days each week, from the Department's offices for 2 days each week and may work a third day either from home or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pension Provisions (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Further to my last update on this case, the relevant information has been sent to the National Shared Services Office who process such claims.  My Department has sought an update on this case and will revert to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan makes clear that we need to reduce fossil fuelled passenger vehicle kilometres by up to 10% to fully achieve a 51% emissions reduction for the transport sector by 2030. While all options are on the table as we strive to achieve carbon neutrality, we must ensure that if policies like this are pursued that they are evidence based and that viable alternatives exist for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2021 set a target of 945,000 EVs by 2030. The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years, to facilitate the expansion of EVs in the Irish car fleet. A draft national charging infrastructure strategy has been published for public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure, including the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line. This is the third year of the current five-year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I wish to inform the Deputy that one member of my Department's staff is presently on suspension from work on full pay for a period in excess of 12 months. I have asked the aegis bodies to provide the relevant information for their respective organisations, but if you do not hear from them within 10 days you should contact my office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy is aware, the transport sector accounts for approximately 20% of Ireland’s national greenhouse gas emissions, with car use responsible for over half of these emissions. In recognition of this, the Climate Action Plan contains commitments to significantly increase electrification within the national fleet, including an ambitious target of 945,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Consultations (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: A collaborative approach has been taken by my Department in developing the forthcoming Sustainable Mobility Policy, through public consultation and extensive stakeholder and cross-government engagement. A roundtable forum was held in 2018 which allowed for an initial exchange of views between stakeholders on a variety of issues relevant to the sustainable mobility sector, including...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together. As the Deputy is aware, a whole of Government approach is being adopted regarding the Ukrainian crisis. In line with this approach, in my own Department, we have established a high-level group to monitor and respond as appropriate to the crisis and consider the role that the transport sector could play. In this context, it was...