Results 1-20 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The number of civil servants in my Department who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break and the number of civil servants in my Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, is set out in tabular form in the file attached. Staffing is an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised that the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in my Department in 2023 and 2024 is as set out in the table below. Staffing is an operational matter for those Agencies under the aegis of my Department and I have asked those bodies to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: I can confirm to the Deputy that in my term as Minister that no civil servant had their career break extended beyond five years where there was a suitable vacancy in my Department. In the case where a civil servant had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy, this was to facilitate the redeployment/transfer of this civil servant. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in, or at risk of, energy poverty through the provision of free energy upgrades. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of the Government. The scheme is funded through carbon tax receipts via the Exchequer and by the European Regional Development Fund....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households in, or at risk of, energy poverty is a top priority for the Government. In 2024, over 7,700 fully funded upgrades were provided at an average cost of almost €27,500. Under the scheme, the upgrades recommended for a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of home energy upgrade schemes on behalf of my Department. The day-to-day management of the grant schemes including the quality assurance of individual registered contractors are operational matters for the SEAI. Contractors operating under any relevant SEAI scheme must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: Budget 2025 provided a €2.6 billion package of social protection measures to support households, individuals and businesses impacted by the increases in prices from recent high levels of inflation. It also introduced the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV through which over 2.2 million households will receive two payments of €125 (inclusive of VAT) in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) provides a great fund-raising opportunity for charities, schools, clubs and local groups. While the facility to allow a consumer donate directly from a reverse vending machine (RVM) is still at trial stage, there are a number of existing options for charities and communities to benefit from the Scheme. ‘Return for Children’ is a new charity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, over 326,300 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. Over 111,500 premises are already connected to the National Broadband Plan high-speed broadband network. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides support to both domestic and non-domestic applicants in the form of grants to support solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that over 326,300 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. Over 111,500 premises are already connected to the National Broadband Plan high-speed broadband network. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: This is a private project and queries in relation to private projects should be addressed to the developer. Government policy in relation to gas storage to support energy security is set out in Energy Security Package published in November 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The Department understands that Bord na Móna Recycling is undergoing a strategic review, with disposal being one of the options under consideration. My Department continues to engage in dialogue on all governance related matters, including the aforementioned, with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is providing funding of €10 million per annum over a three-year fixed term, 2023-2025, to An Post to support a sustainable, nationwide post office network. There is an existing network of some 900 post offices in the country made up of company offices and contractor post offices. All contractor post offices are benefiting from the Government funding with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency submit to the Minister for approval, separate Codes of Practice for the operation of CCTV schemes under the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act and a further Code of Practice for the use of "mobile recording devices" (e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The question raised by the Deputy relates to operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Appointments to State Boards (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: Between 1 November 2024 and 13 January 2025, the following individuals were appointed to the State boards (including both commercial State bodies and non-commercial State bodies) under the aegis of my Department: Body Appointee Appointment Type Date of Appointment Term End Date ESB Mr Jim Meade Member 14/12/2024...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: As part of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings decision S180/20/10/2704, the Government agreed to the introduction of an obligation on the heat sector to obligate suppliers of fossil fuels used for heat to ensure a proportion of the energy they supply is renewable. Development of the Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) scheme is a key priority for my Department as the RHO will support achievement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, Ireland’s national waste policy, sets out a range of measures to tackle the environmental degradation caused by single-use plastics, including single use cups. The intention is to eliminate this waste stream with the introduction of a levy and an eventual ban on all single-use cups, building on the success of initiatives such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (22 Jan 2025)

Eamon Ryan: In November 2023, the Government approved and published the Energy Security Package, a first-of-its kind strategy that encompasses electricity, oil, and gas. As part of the Package, the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report concluded that Ireland’s future energy would be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable...