Results 401-420 of 5,767 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and has been allocated Exchequer funding of €57 million in 2014, of which the Warmer Homes strand will receive €20 million. While the majority of funding under the better Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme will be disbursed through the installation of the standard package of measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the commercial service providers operating in the Irish market. Where there is evidence of poor broadband service this should be raised firstly with the service provider. Failing resolution of the issue, the matter should be referred to ComReg for investigation to ensure operators are fully complying with their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In May 2012 the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture published its Report on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The Report contains a number of recommendations in respect of the fiscal and regulatory framework applying to oil and gas exploration in Ireland. At my request the Report was debated in Seanad Éireann on 27 June 2012 and in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No.1 and to Questions Nos. 11, 17, 31 and 35 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together. On 23 December 2013 my Department commenced a tender process in accordance with EU procurement requirements for the "Provision of Expert Advice on Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production Fiscal Terms". There was a good response to the tender and in February 2014 Wood Mackenzie was chosen as the successful tender. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Following the award of a contract to Capita Business Services Ltd, work has started on the development of the postcode system. The indicative timeline for introduction of postcodes is April 2015. In the interim period, work will proceed on the design of the postcode and on the preparatory work on public sector databases as well as preparations for the dissemination of postcodes to the general...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Action Plan for Jobs (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Action Plan for Jobs incorporates a wide range of measures to support growth in areas under my remit. Critical among these, are initiatives in relation to the digital economy and improvements to energy efficiency. The National Digital Strategy was published in 2013 and contains a series of actions aimed at stimulating digital engagement. A key initiative in the Action Plan for Jobs,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: At the end of 2013 the total amount of renewable generation capacity connected to the grid was around 2,300 MW. It is estimated that around 4,000 MW of renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its commitment of 40% of electricity demand being met by electricity generated from renewable resources by 2020. This is necessary to meet our overall target of 16% of our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters are an issue for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. I will request An Post to issue a direct reply to the Deputy regarding the future of the Post Office on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There was no expenditure on legal fees by my Department in 2013. The information the Deputy has sought regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I will consider releasing the material in question directly to the Deputy, subject to consultation with the European Commission and any other third parties named in the correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I had appointed an Independent Panel of Experts, chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide the terms of reference for, and to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on, comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 5 on today's order paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I have a statutory function. Information provided by the company indicates that the number of post offices closed on an annual basis over the last ten years is as follows: - 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No.1 and to Questions Nos. 11, 17, 31 and 35 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999. It has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. A report on the “State of Broadband” published by the International...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 327 together. Through its membership of the International Energy Agency, Ireland has regular contact with all of the leading countries who are actively promoting electric vehicles and we receive regular updates on technological progress and policies to promote electric vehicles (EVs). Technology advances will continue in the sector, with the biggest...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 124 and 125 on 30 January 2014 in which I indicated that first gas from the Corrib gas field cannot be expected sooner than the first half of 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 18 on today's Order Paper. EirGrid has set out its vision for development of the national transmission system through the Grid25 Strategy which was published in October 2008. In accordance with its statutory and licence responsibilities as the Transmission System Operator (TSO) the company has prepared a Transmission Development Plan (TDP) for the period...