Results 18,621-18,640 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (7 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I am very much aware of the delays people are experiencing in obtaining appointments to attend at National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centres. The NDLS has now resumed services however they are unable to facilitate any walk-ins due to the social distancing requirements and in the interest of protecting the staff and customers. Therefore, all appointments must be booked in advance. This, of...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue. As most Members are aware, rail services on this line ceased in 2010 under an agreement made between the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann. A number of improvements were made to bus services at the time to ensure continued public transport connectivity. Undoubtedly, some people are fearful that the...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I had a meeting with Iarnród Éireann last week and raised the specific issue of the future of Rosslare Port because it is owned by CIE and Irish Rail. I was raising it in the context of a wider review that Iarnród Éireann is commissioning on the future of rail freight in this country. I believe there is an opportunity for the expansion of rail freight. At present, only...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Rail Services Provision (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It is true, as the Deputy says, that in looking at any project, the preference is to be able to sit down with the engineer, to have the maps laid out and to be able to engage, which is the way public consultation is increasingly being done in this city and elsewhere. It is important to allow close contact and detailed debate. Unfortunately, that is not possible in the current environment....

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Rail Services Provision (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I think that is a very good idea. I hope Irish Rail might consider it as part of its consultation process, which has to be done in very exceptional times.

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Rail Services Provision (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue. The short answer to the question is "Yes" in that every option regarding level crossings on the new DART+ line to Maynooth should be given due consideration. I will start by taking the opportunity to update the House generally on the progress of the DART+ programme. The programme for Government commits to a fundamental change...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together. Under the Single Use Plastics Directive, Ireland must achieve a collection target of 90% recycling for plastic bottles by 2029 with an interim target of 77% by 2025. A report prepared for my Department by Eunomia concluded that a deposit and return scheme (DRS) is considered to be the only feasible way to achieve the required...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The measures outlined in Ireland's new waste policy, A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy,  will help to reduce the volume of construction and demolition waste produced in the first place through a greater focus on designing out waste at the initial planning stages. Other measures will ensure that construction and demolition wastes arising are managed in a more sustainable way...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Waste (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department launched the Waste Plan for a Circular Economyon 4 September 2020. The new plan contains a specific chapter on food waste, which outlines a number of actions to tackle this problem and to reduce Ireland's food waste by 50% by 2030. Ireland currently generates an estimated one million tonnes of food waste per annum, even when agricultural activity is excluded....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Waste (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: All valid submissions received in response to the public consultation on the Waste Action Plan are now available on the Gov.ie website at the following link:.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has engaged in extensive discussions with the construction industry in relation to construction and demolition (C&D) waste at a number of fora including the Construction Waste Resource Group and the cross-sectoral Waste Advisory Group. Arising from these discussions, the planning for, and management of, C&D waste has been identified as a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Impact Assessments (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Article 27 of the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations, 2011, provides that in certain circumstances a material may be treated as a by-product and not a waste.  Article 28 of the these Regulations sets out the grounds by which a material may achieve "end of waste" status. Ireland'sWaste Action Plan for a Circular Economy contains a number of measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (6 Oct 2020)

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 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. The retrofitting of homes delivers a range of important benefits including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; the creation and retention of jobs in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2019, this Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.  There are currently circa 650 standard public charge points and over 100 fast charge stations (the majority of which are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Question refers to a premises which is located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at . The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Supply Board (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that the energy efficiency potential of smart meters starts to be deployed in 2021 and that all mechanical electricity meters are replaced by 2024. The Smart Meter Upgrade is a meter replacement programme to modern, smart-ready technology. New generation electricity meters are being rolled out across Europe and internationally and when the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation, letting people sell excess power back to the grid by June 2021. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) launched a pilot micro-generation grant scheme in July 2018 to help domestic customers who install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment on their homes.  As of end September...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems which is focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review will include a technical analysis of the security of supply challenges together with a public consultation.  I expect the formal...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the reply to Question No 153 of 22 September 2020. As indicated in the reply, SEAI have been reviewing how to ensure that the progression of works under the warmer homes scheme aligns with the recently published 'Plan for Living with Covid-19'.  My officials have been informed by the SEAI that a communication to contractors in this regard is imminent. 

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. Earlier this year, in line with public health and Government guidelines in place to stop the...