Results 361-380 of 18,010 for speaker:Eamon Ryan in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Local government has a key role to play in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures to meet Ireland’s national climate targets. Local authorities have been given an expanded mandate to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions through the statutory requirement to prepare Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LA CAPs). The LA CAPs represent a new opportunity to further embed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Re-turn, the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) operator, has introduced an end-to-end IT system to support the DRS and provide real-time data on how the scheme is operating. Data being collected by Re-turn from reverse vending machines includes information on rejections and this is being closely monitored to understand the reasons why containers are being rejected and to ensure any issues are being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Codes of Practice were formally approved on the 14th December 2023 by my colleague Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications. The relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act allowing for the use of CCTV under the Waste Management Act and Litter Pollution Act and the use of other Mobile Recording...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Producing or attempting to produce counterfeit barcodes or labels is against the law and will be treated as attempted fraud, with any evidence passed to the relevant authorities for further investigation. Re-turn, the DRS operator, works alongside producers and retailers to ensure the integrity and smooth operation of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme. In the specific case of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Defective Building Materials (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Homeowners eligible for works under the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme may apply for energy upgrade grants administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Homeowners’ whose applications are in line with the existing SEAI Scheme criteria and guidelines can access SEAI grants in line with the usual application processes that apply. Further information in that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Strategies (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland’s strategic approach to the Circular Economy is currently set out in the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023. The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 provides a statutory basis for future iterations of the Strategy, and also requires that such iterations include sectoral targets aimed at promoting circularity in relation to the following...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022), which took effect from 31 October 2022, introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting fuels can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and digital connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028; all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and digital connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The National Smart Metering Programme will roll out and install 2.1 million meters by 2025 and in the process make available new products and services to energy consumers. It is co-ordinated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with ESB Networks (ESBN) delivering the electricity meter rollout on the ground. The meter replacement programme is taking place on a phased basis and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 149 together. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Regulations impose obligations on the beverage industry to establish and operate a DRS. These businesses are critical to the operation and success of the scheme and have shown great commitment and leadership in coming together to ensure DRS is a success. Supports from Re-Turn, the DRS operator, are in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030. Following the process set out in the Act, the agriculture sector has been set the target of a 10% reduction in emissions by 2025 and a 25% reduction by 2030. Responsibility for meeting this sectoral target sits with the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The District Heating Steering Group Report, approved by Government in July 2023, sets out an achievable pathway for expansion of district heating. The Report notes that district heating should develop nationally under central direction, with advice and centrally provided support assisting in ensuring standardisation and acceleration of projects. Through its work on developing the Steering...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 545,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has, in the Climate Action Plan, committed to the acceleration of the decarbonisation of heating by, among other actions, publishing a Heat Policy Statement and developing of a Roadmap to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Heating System. The Heat Policy Statement will guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors, including residential, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 123 and 128 together. In relation to grid access, for safety reasons, all microgeneration systems must be registered with ESB Networks, using the NC6 notification process. This process also includes recording the size of the microgeneration system. To maintain balance and prevent strain on the low voltage distribution grid, ESBN has set limits based on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 119 together. The North-South Interconnector is an essential infrastructure project that will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland — leading to a more secure, affordable and sustainable supply of electricity across the island. It will facilitate the connection of 900 MW of renewable generation, enough to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to a just transition in order to ensure that nobody is left behind as we work to transition to a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. In relation to the Midlands region, the Government continues to support workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the ending of peat harvesting by Bord na...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will primarily operate on a return-to-retail model, where consumers bring empty containers back to a retailer to recoup their deposit. The DRS scheme also allows for other, non-retail operators to provide take-back facilities. Developing these facilities will commence following the go-live phase of the scheme. My Department has engaged with the local...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2023 (and 2024) seeks to transform Ireland into an international leader in the development and generation of high-quality renewable energy. The Plan includes a series of measures to support our renewables programme, including the accelerated delivery of onshore wind, solar, and offshore wind generation, through a competitive framework, where appropriate, to reach 80%...