Results 1-20 of 65 for 5 million speaker:Ossian Smyth

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: ...last summer estimated that 14,088 children were enrolled in early learning and childcare in Galway. This represents an 8% increase from 13,047 in the previous year. The data also indicated that 50% of services had waiting lists and 50% had at least one vacant place. This year's annual early years sector profile will commence in May and will provide an updated picture of the capacity in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Recycling Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: As regards the number of cans and bottles that have been brought back, it is 1.8 million plastic bottles and 2 million cans. That is double what it was a few days ago, which shows the rate of increase. The Deputy asked how it works for people who are already putting bottles and cans into the recycle bin in their kitchen and the objective of the whole plan. The problem is that although...

Capital Supply Service and Purpose Report Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...Waterford Walls project, the beautiful streets and the medieval buildings that we can only dream of having in Dublin city. It is fantastic. My Department has had the pleasure of contributing €5 million to the quantum research endeavours under way in the South East Technological University, SETU. I do not know if the Deputy is aware that Waterford is at the forefront of quantum...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023: Second Stage (8 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...two electricity costs emergency benefit schemes, in 2022 and 2023. The electricity costs emergency benefit scheme III will see three payments of €137.61, excluding VAT, made to approximately 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts between December and April. Following a review of the previous schemes, this scheme will introduce a low-electricity-usage threshold to ensure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: The Circular Economy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...whether it could be involved in a centre of excellence. I have dealt with SETU in a very positive way. Its representatives came to me with a proposal for funding for quantum computing. It got €5 million from Europe and we matched that with another €5 million. SETU is now a centre of excellence for quantum computing and networking in Ireland. I was very impressed by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. He referred to a sum of €150 million being transferred. The total amount of money transferred over three years was just over €5 million. I am not sure where the figure of €150 million is coming from. I wonder if he is looking at a different table. We are talking about-----

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...late. Although Deputy Bruton pointed out that €1.6 billion in energy credits were paid out over the last 18 months, that is in fact only a fraction of what was paid out. I calculate that approximately €5 billion was paid out to consumers over the last two years in electricity and energy supports. How will the money that is raised from this windfall levy be spent? It is...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies for these amendments. This Bill provides for a surcharge to be applied to overdue payments. The surcharges currently provided in this Bill are a 5% surcharge on returns not delivered between three and six months of the specified date, and a 10% surcharge on returns delivered within six months of the specified date. These surcharge percentages and timeframes are...

Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I do not want to misquote the Senator, but what we do in Ireland is important for the planet.It is not that I think this but that I know it. There are only 5 million of us in Ireland, but we have a much higher usage per capitathan the average use in the world. If every community of 5 million people globally took this attitude, if every city in China of 5 million people said "we are just 5...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. The community climate action programme will see more than €60 million from the climate action fund invested in supporting communities to run direct climate action projects and initiatives under strand 1 as well as capacity building under strand 2 of the programme. The 18 projects selected for funding under strand 2 of the programme are currently moving to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (23 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...approximately two thirds of Ireland's carbon stock. The peatland rehabilitation measures set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 provide for the rehabilitation of 33,000 ha of Bord na Móna peatlands by 2025 and will contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions for the land use sector. The commitment by the company to formally cease harvesting peat has...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (21 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ..., were considered by the Select Committee on Transport and Communications on 8 February 2023. The total provision for the Department this year is €1.066 billion, comprising just under €194.2 million in current expenditure and €871.8 million in capital expenditure. This represents a 59% increase over last year's allocation when funding for the electricity credit and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (21 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...final works phase. It is the largest project of its kind in the State and it will transform from being an illegal landfill into a recreational park. The total works contract awarded was €19.6 million, and, of that, €7 million is for 2023. There are sites around the country. So far, €6.4 million has been allocated in 2023 for closed landfills. That covers 120...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (21 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: There is an allocation of €550,000 for the remediation of legacy mines, which are listed as Avoca silver mines and others. A feasibility study for the management and remediation of the Avoca mines site was completed in 2008. It costed two options for the long-term remediation of the mine, with capital costs of €58.5 million and €46 million, respectively. Both have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Waterways Issues (14 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...economic and social development in these areas. The rural regeneration and development fund is pivotal in delivering on the objectives of Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, which sets out an ambitious blueprint for realising the enormous potential in our rural towns, villages and communities. To date, funding has been allocated to projects in the areas of town and...

Seanad: Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...the sector effectively and will bring its powers further in line with comparable regulators in the State and in Europe. ComReg will be empowered to find non-compliance, impose sanctions up to €5 million or 10% of annual turnover, require operators to pay refunds and compensation, and withdraw authorisation and rights of use for spectrum and numbering resources. These penalties...

Seanad: Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...going then. In respect of the amendments relating to high-risk vendors, these amendments will set out how a risk assessment will be conducted, aligned with the principles of the EU toolbox for 5G security. Recognising the functions exercised by certain Departments and agencies in respect of national security, the risk assessment will be conducted in consultation with relevant...

Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (25 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...2022 which are outside the existing subject matter of the Bill. This is required so that I can introduce Government amendments to the Bill on Report Stage. Deputies may recall that on Second Stage, on 5 October, I noted the possibility that the Government would bring forward a short amendment to the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983 to provide for payments to be made to or via An...

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...and the current energy crisis are having a significant impact on people's day-to-day lives. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has caused a humanitarian catastrophe and displaced millions of Ukrainian citizens. Even before the invasion began, Russia had been reducing its gas supplies to Europe. The invasion has triggered a decision by the European Union to phase out its...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...this debate by setting the broader context for the action to be taken on foot of this legislation, which will establish an electricity costs emergency benefit scheme II under which a total of €550 will be paid to each of 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts in three payments between November of this year and April of next year at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of...