Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Fostaíocht sa Ghaeltacht

Peadar Tóibín

113. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sé míniú ar an meath a tháinig ar fhostaíocht i gcliantchuideachtaí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta i 2012; cad iad na pleananna atá ann chun fostaíocht a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht; cén infheistíocht a dhéanfar chun poist a chruthú i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4919/13]

Road Improvement Schemes

Dara Calleary

114. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when it is expected that the scéim na mbóithre áise will be re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/13]

Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda

Peadar Tóibín

115. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha cad iad na pleananna atá aige chun forbairt a dheánamh ar an ngréasán idirlín leathanbhanda sa Ghaeltacht; an leagfaidh sé amach an dul chun cinn atá déanta ar fhorbairt an ghréasáin sin go dtí seo; an dóigh leis go bhfuil tionchar ag an easpa idirlín leathanbhanda ar chruthú post; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4920/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Michael Colreavy

116. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to redress the regional differences in broadband access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4878/13]

Legislative Programme

Michael Moynihan

117. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to regulate the social media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/13]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Billy Kelleher

118. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4855/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

John Deasy

119. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of Ireland's newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the UK for the export of wind generated electricity, the number of wind farm developments that have been granted planning permission, by county, over the past five years; the number of proposed wind farm developments that have been refused planning permission, by county, over the past five years; the number of local authority permissions or refusals for proposed wind farm developments, by county, that have been either overturned or upheld on appeal to An Bord Pleanála in the past five years. [5013/13]

Broadband Services Provision

John Deasy

120. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to encourage greater take up of broadband in view of the estimated 426,096 households here that have no internet connection, according to the 2011 census. [5014/13]

Renewable Energy Incentives

John Deasy

121. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to help develop the wave energy sector in view of the fact that Ireland's ocean generated power potential is estimated to be enough to supply as much as three quarters of our energy requirements; the benefit that accrued from the €22 million set aside in 2009 for ocean energy development; and if he intends to offer State incentives to encourage private investment in this sector. [5015/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Bernard Durkan

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which applications for wind farm generation electricity have been approved to date; the number of any such application still outstanding for whatever reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5018/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Bernard Durkan

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of exploration licences issued in each of the last five years to date; the numbers that have returned or position or commercially viable results; the likelihood for such in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Bernard Durkan

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the currently identified main sources of alternative electricity generation; the extent to which each source is likely to develop in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Bernard Durkan

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline progress and development in respect of the various forms of alternatively generated electricity which now contribute to the national grid; the extent to which each has become a contributor and is likely to so do in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5021/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Bernard Durkan

126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which positive or commercially viable explorations have identified oil, gas or other minerals or ores on or offshore in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which further development is expected in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5022/13]

Post Office Network

Bernard Durkan

127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he continues to receive updated reports from the Regulator and or An Post in regard to the future role of the postal services and Post Office network with particular reference to the need to ensure the continuation of such services in both rural and urban areas and the utilisation of new technology in course thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5023/13]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if in line with other European countries, Ireland’s telecommunication services including broadband and mobile telephony are updated and upgraded in terms of quality and extent throughout the country with particular reference to the need of the industrial and domestic sectors now and in the future in view of the existence of competition in the context of national recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5024/13]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the most effective method of extending and upgrading broadband facilities with maximum benefit to the consumer and best value for money and the utilisation of wire, wireless, fibre optics or other systems including satellite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5025/13]

Broadband Services Speeds

Bernard Durkan

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current rating of quality speed and standard of broadband here when compared with other EU jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5026/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has identified the existence of particular black spots throughout the country in relation to the availability of broadband services; when he expects such issues to be addressed in full with particular reference to meeting the needs of the business, domestic and commercial sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5027/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Issues

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which the use and production of biodiesel, bioethanol or other energy continues to develop in accordance with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5028/13]