Vol. 660 No. 1
1 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of the €435 million for broadband announced in his next-generation policy paper that will be spent on schools; when the roll-out of 100 Mbps connectivity will start; when all secondary schools here will have such connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/08]
I launched the consultation paper on next-generation broadband on Thursday, 3 July 2008. The consultation paper sets out a policy background and framework for the implementation of next-generation broadband. It also includes ten specific Government commitments of which one is the aim that on a phased basis, second level schools in Ireland will be equipped with100 Mbps of broadband connectivity.
It is crucial that our second level students are equipped with the resources necessary to allow them to develop the skills, knowledge and talents that are required by our knowledge society. Students must have the bandwidth that will allow them to learn and collaborate on-line simultaneously. The existing levels of bandwidth must be increased and accordingly it is my aim that, on a phased basis, second level schools in Ireland will be equipped with 100 Mbps of broadband connectivity. Local area networks will also be installed.
The cost of this measure will depend on the outcome of the procurement approach to be adopted. This and other issues relating to the roll-out of the commitment will be considered by my Department in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Science and Finance. I am satisfied that this commitment and other commitments in the paper can be accommodated within the €435 million national development plan envelope for investment in broadband. As I indicated, the programme will be rolled out on a phased basis but I am determined to see the project advanced in 2009.
Last week when the Minister launched his next-generation broadband consultation document, 12 months into office, he announced that the Government planned to invest, in capital terms, €435 million to address the digital divide. Is it the case that the Government has already spent approximately €135 million of that €435 million? I ask the Minister to clarify what is still available to spend. He said quite clearly that the Government will target capital investment of €435 million. What has been spent and what is left?
With regard to the information and communications technology in schools project, the Minister for Education and Science said that a report is to be published today on the issue. Has the Minister seen that report? Will he tell us the amount of money the Government is committing to bringing broadband and ICT capacity to schools? We all know the merits of it so he no longer needs to tell us about them. We want to see it happen and a timescale for when it will happen.
Of the overall NDP funding, €50 million will be spent by the end of this year. There is significant spending this year on metropolitan area networks and the group broadband schemes. In 2007, some money was spent on group broadband schemes This still leaves the bulk of the funding finance available.
We deliberately will not give a figure because it is a competitive tendering process. As with any other project, one cannot get best value for the State — there are times when we must get best value — by going out with an estimate as to what the contract bid might cost. I will outline the benefits and the reasoning behind this because it is important that we——
With all due respect, I asked a question to which I would like an answer. I do not want a lecture on the benefits of ICT in schools. Can I have an answer to when we will see it happen because that is what people want to know?
I have given that answer.
It is my question and I am entitled to an answer.
I am also entitled to outline the benefits as I see them, which come into the equation in terms of why we are spending this money.
It is the Minister's responsibility to answer the question.
My responsibility is to deliver broadband policy.
At Question Time, the Minister is supposed to answer questions so he should stop wasting time and give us a timescale.
I am perfectly happy that I can outline that. I will move to the next question then.
What exactly is the Minister doing?
I have answered Deputy Coveney's question.
I need some protection. I have asked a question and am entitled to an answer.
Will the Deputy take his seat? Will the Minister allow me to call questions? I have called Question No. 1 and if the Minister has concluded his answer——
To answer Deputy Coveney's question, I cannot give precise costings because it will be part of a competitive tendering process.
Deputy Coveney may ask a supplementary.
The main issue about which the Minister spoke last week was the importance of bringing digital capacity to schools and he is right about that. All I am asking is when will this happen. He is talking about a competitive tendering process. When will it start and finish and when can second level and primary schools expect to get broadband connection?
Each school has broadband connection. The intention is to continue the current broadband connectivity and, on a phased basis, where schools currently have in the order of from half a megabit to two megabits they will be replaced with 100 megabits and local area connectivity networks so that within the school each classroom can be connected.
As I said in the report and today, that will be done on a phased basis starting in 2009. I do not want to be prescriptive on the timing because we must go into a detailed competitive tendering process that must be worked out.
I will take a final brief supplementary from Deputy Coveney.
The Minister did not tell us last week that that process would start in 2009. He gave the impression that it would start immediately. At least we now have some information that it will not start for another six months.
The Deputy's question should be brief.
Will the Minister tell us with some definitive accuracy when secondary schools are likely to see the fulfilment of his promise, which is to put 100 megabits per second broadband connectivity into those schools? When is this likely to be completed under the phased process?
The word "phased" implies that I will not give a specific completion date because I must work with the industry to ensure a competitive tendering process to see which technologies will best apply. Following the completion of that, we will have the complete outcome of the actual phases.
2 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the concerns of non-governmental organisations in relation to the impact of bio-fuels production on food supplies in view of his failure to publish a bio-fuels policy; his further views on concerns of haulage interests here in relation to bio-fuels supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28812/08]
The Government's policy objectives in respect of bio-fuels are clear. The energy policy framework and the programme for Government commit to the sustainable use of bio-energy resources in transport and to work with our EU partners to ensure that bio-fuels used in transport comply with sustainability criteria in terms of bio-fuels production. This is the policy context for the proposed introduction of a bio-fuels obligation scheme which will be published for consultation shortly and which will take full account of developments at EU level and globally.
The sustainable deployment of bio-fuels is proposed by the European Commission in the climate change and renewable energy package as a contribution to delivering the proposed target of 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. The contribution of renewable electricity to transport is part of the solution also. This was very clearly confirmed by Commissioner Piebalgs, Energy Ministers and Members of the European Parliament at the informal Energy Ministers' meeting last week.
Five years after the European Union agreed the bio-fuels directive in 2003, there are growing concerns about the role of bio-fuels in rising food prices, accelerating deforestation and doubts about the climate change benefits from certain fuels. The issues and challenges are very complex and it is clear that we need a fully evidence-based approach which takes into account all factors in terms of developing a credible and sustainable European Union policy in respect of bio-fuels production and use. The rise in international food prices has been caused by a variety of complex and interrelated factors. We must make sure that the development of bio-fuels from potential food crops does not push food markets in developing countries into crisis.
The central question is not whether Europe keeps to the proposed 10% target for renewable energy in transport but how we quantify and implement comprehensive and mandatory sustainability criteria for European bio-fuels production and imports. It is only in that framework of strong controls that sustainable targets for the EU for 2020 can be delivered for renewable transport fuels. It is only in that context that a genuinely sustainable bio-fuels industry can be established. Meeting the 2020 target will require the accelerated development of advanced technologies delivering second generations bio-fuels. It will also include the development of fuels from bio-gas, the targeting of local crops for fuels in captive bus and lorry fleets and, as mentioned, the creation of new electric vehicle fleets.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
My Department is working intensively with the Commission and other member states to develop robust coherent and workable sustainability criteria. These criteria include a labelling system to ensure that any bio-fuel supply does not come from agricultural methods that involve the destruction of native woodland forest. They also require that the production method can show a clear reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 35% compared to standard fuel oils. I welcome the French Presidency's priority commitment to progress the bio-fuels sustainability issue by October. I also welcome the bio-fuels review published this week by the British Government, which is a timely and useful contribution to the European bio-fuels debate.
My Department's excise relief scheme has led to progressively greater amounts of bio-fuels coming onto the Irish market, much of which is used in the road haulage industry. I am fully aware of the difficulties faced by that sector. It is my objective to deliver certainty for the Irish bio-fuels industry and for the transport sector. The bio-fuels obligation mechanism is proposed as a means of providing that certainty set strictly in the context of sustainability and taking full account of EU and global developments. Having access to a diverse fuel supply will be of strategic benefit in the event of any future oil supply shock. It will ensure we have access to transport solutions in critical areas such as food distribution and public transport.
I thank the Minister for his very nice reply. However, it does not add any insight into what is a central issue in energy policy worldwide. The impression one gets is that the Minister has run for cover. Perhaps he will elucidate in respect of his position on the Commission directive under discussion? Is he aware that already the environmental sub-committee of the European Parliament has rejected the Commission's view because of its concerns about the impact on the poor and starving in the world?
Will the Minister explain why he has delayed the publication of his bio-fuels obligation scheme, which he has promised many times but has delayed and about which he has kept us in the dark? Has there been any change to acknowledge the fact that we have a serious problem? Will he state what percentage of bio-fuels used in this country are imported? I have asked this question a number of times without getting an answer.
The Minister talks about sustainable principles, which is lovely talk, but how, particularly with regard to the WTO requirements, does he intend to ensure that we know the origin of the imports and whether they have been produced in a sustainable way? How will he do that?
Policy in this area must be consistent. A year and a half ago, I said during a debate in the Dáil on a motion moved by the opposite side of the House that we had to be very cautious and apply scientific evidence because there were environmental and other social concerns. I wanted to hear from my ministerial colleagues and the rapporteur from the European Parliament in advance of setting out our consultation document.
I am sure they wanted to hear from the Minister. That is the point. What did he tell them?
It is right to do it that way, to take in the evidence and listen to what people are saying. My understanding of the European Parliament's position, which is one I support, is that it is still supportive of the proposed target of 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. It is very important to highlight that this involves not just bio-fuels but includes electricity. It is right to hold to that target because in its absence, the overall renewable energy target would not be met and the overall climate change package would run into difficulties.
I will take a brief supplementary from Deputy McManus.
I wish to finish the point. To answer the question——
The Minister should answer the percentage question, which is what concerns me most.
On what? Will Deputy McManus repeat the question?
It relates to the percentage of imports into Ireland.
We do not have a figure for imported fuels because we often import oil from the UK which is already mixed with a bio-fuel component. The industry does it.
The Minister cannot even tell me.
In respect of Deputy McManus's earlier question about when we intend to have the sustainability criteria, the advantage of us supporting and working with the European Commission on this is that it alone will be able to put in the labelling and tagging system so that we clearly know where bio-fuels have come from and that there are real emissions reductions which do not lead to food poverty or destruction of native habitats. I understand that those details should be agreed by October as the French Presidency seeks to have the renewables package in its overall climate change package agreed. We can fit in with that European sustainability criteria programme to ensure that the bio-fuels we develop are sustainable.
I will try to get in the last question in the five minutes remaining.
3 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timescale of the tender selection and implementation process of the national broadband scheme for white areas of the NBS map; the timescale of the tender selection and implementation process of the national broadband scheme for blue areas on the NBS map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28809/08]
While the provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector and broadband is now widely available in Ireland, there are still some parts of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. These areas are being addressed by the national broadband scheme, NBS, which will provide broadband services to areas that are currently not served and will ensure that all requests for broadband from those areas not served are met.
Initially, the mapping exercise undertaken as part of the NBS distinguished between areas where a service is currently provided, marked as red areas on the map; areas where no service is currently provided and is unlikely to be provided in the future, white areas; and areas that are not currently served but service providers had indicated that they planned to provide broadband services in those areas in the future, blue areas.
Service providers were given until 30 June 2008 to act on their stated intentions to roll out broadband in the blue areas of the map. As the end of June 2008 has now passed, any blue area where a service provider has failed to roll out services has been changed to white to reflect the fact that no service is available in the area. Any blue area where a service provider now provides a service has been changed to red to reflect the fact that the service is available in the area.
Consequently, the NBS map is now being updated and the next iteration of the map will show areas that are served, red areas and areas where no service is available, white areas. The map will reflect the red and white areas as they stood on 30 June 2008. There will be no blue areas in the next iteration of the map, which will be the final map that will issue with the invitation to tender.
The first phase of the NBS procurement process is now complete. The remaining candidates have been engaged in competitive dialogue with my Department and are developing their proposed solutions to meet my Department's requirements. The dialogue between the remaining candidates and my officials has proven to be very effective with all parties addressing and resolving potential ambiguities in the first invitation to tender documentation. This effort, which has given rise to unanticipated work in advance of the issuing of the final invitation to tender, will minimise the need for negotiations at the contract award stage of the project.
We have received some new information, which is of benefit. The Minister is now saying that we no longer have blue areas on the map. Until recently, the Minister promised that if people could not get broadband by 1 July, it would be provided to them through the national broadband scheme. The Department drew up a map of the country in which all areas in red had acceptable broadband coverage; blue areas were those where broadband was promised and white areas were those where broadband could not be provided commercially. The Minister is now saying that broadband has either been provided in blue areas by now or not and that all white areas will be provided with broadband in the national broadband scheme. That directly contradicts information I received through a freedom of information request which states that a reasonable timeframe has been promised to broadband service providers who were proposing broadband in the blue areas. Is the Minister saying that the response to my freedom of information request is incorrect?
When can we expect the national broadband scheme to be in place? The Minister has repeatedly stated that it would be in place by 1 July. We are now halfway through that month. There is an ongoing court battle. When is that likely to finish and when will we see the benefits of the scheme?
We intended to have contracts signed by July but that has been delayed for two reasons, one of which is the court challenge, which involves the Department and various parties. As stated in my earlier answer, we wanted to get the contract documents as sharp as possible in advance of signing off on the tender so that it would be easier for the company to roll it out as soon as the contract is signed. The contract will be very clear, determining what are the obligations. Part of that is working out a clear map that identifies the areas that have coverage and those that do not. Those that do not will be in the contract area where the provider must provide a service.
The Minister is saying that the decision has been made.
That decision was always an evolving process because it is an evolving provision. We set the end of June as the deadline to determine the level of service. We did not accept the situation on the basis of the map but went out to validate that the map was accurate. The end of June is the cut-off point decided for the purposes of the tender documents.
