Written Answers, Nos. 111-116
111. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the number of direct new jobs being created by the better energy homes scheme since it was introduced last year. [40742/12]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme which includes the Better Energy Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. In 2011 there was a total spend of over €91m on the Better Energy Programme of which €56.7m was allocated to Better Energy Homes. This supported the retention of up to 5,700 jobs for 2011 as a whole.
The Government has again committed significant funding of €76 million to the Better Energy Programme for 2012 of which €33m has been allocated to Better Energy Homes. It is important to emphasise that the Better Energy Programme will continue to underpin economic activity throughout this year and is expected to support the retention of approximately 4,000 jobs in the retrofitting sector.
112. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent publication of the new National Broadband Plan, the plans in place to bring high speed broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; the process that residents in this area should follow to secure such a service; if his attention has been drawn to the current service levels in this area; the number of applications from this area that were received for the rural broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40743/12]
View answer113. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent publication of the new National Broadband Plan, the plans in place to bring high speed broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; the process that residents in this area should follow to secure such a service; if his attention has been drawn to the current service levels in this area; the number of applications from this area that were received for the rural broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40744/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
The specific areas referred to in the Deputy’s question are covered by the on-going National Broadband Scheme (NBS) provided by 3 Ireland. Under the terms of the NBS contract, 3 is obliged to provide contractually-agreed services to any fixed residence or fixed business wishing to avail of broadband services.
The current minimum speeds available to NBS customers will be increased next month free of charge to 2.3mbps download and 1.4mbps upload.
As a result of these areas being part of the NBS, residents were not eligible for inclusion in the current Rural Broadband Scheme.
The Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses well in advance of the EU's target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
The Plan commits to high speed broadband availability across the country – specifically:
70Mbps – 100Mbps will be available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015;
At least 40Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% (and potentially as much as 35%) of the population during the lifetime of the
Government; and A minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country, also during the lifetime of the Government.
During the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. The areas to be provided with those services will be determined by the commercial market operators.
One of the first steps in delivering on the 30Mbps and 40Mbps commitments will be the completion of a formal national mapping exercise to determine the exact position in relation to commercial service providers' existing and planned broadband services throughout the country. Preparatory work has commenced within my Department to expedite this mapping exercise.
The mapping exercise will identify the areas of the country where there is market failure in the provision of high speed broadband services. It will also identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. Until that process is complete, (it is expected to take a number of months) the precise areas of the country which will require State intervention will not be known.
I would reiterate however, that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including areas such as Fontstown and Ballyshannon County Kildare will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
114. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown of the percentage of the population in County Kerry that will no longer be able to receive any television coverage whatsoever after the 24 October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40768/12]
View answerRTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ.
The SAORVIEW network is largely completed. The remaining thirteen sites, including Dingle in Kerry will be brought into service over the next few weeks. These sites will be coming on air from 1st October and will provide increased coverage in the relevant areas. RTÉ will operate a local campaign to inform people. According to RTÉ Networks Limited (RTÉNL) six of the fifty five SAORVIEW transmission sites are located in County Kerry (Mullaghanish – Cork/Kerry border, Kilkeaveragh, Maamclasagh, Dingle, Knockmoyle, Cnoc An Oir). Additionally, parts of County Kerry are covered by transmission sites in other counties (Castletownbere, Bantry – Cork, Maghera – Clare).
That said, it is simply impossible to cover 100% of the population by means of terrestrial television transmission system.
With the addition of the SAORSAT platform however, for the first time in the history of television in Ireland, virtually every home in Ireland has free-to-air access to the Irish Public Service Broadcast television services and any other television channels that choose to join the SAORSAT platform.
With specific reference to Kerry I have been informed by RTÉNL that SAORVIEW has delivered a significant improvement in terrestrial coverage in both geographical and population coverage terms as follows:
Population
RTÉ One Analogue 90% population / SAORVIEW 95% / + 5%
RTÉ Two Analogue 90% population / SAORVIEW 95% / + 5%
TV3 Analogue 44% population / SAORVIEW 95% / + 51%
TG4 Analogue 75% population / SAORVIEW 95% / + 20%
Geographical
RTÉ One Analogue 75% area / SAORVIEW 87% / + 12%
RTÉ Two Analogue 75% area / SAORVIEW 87% / + 12%
TV3 Analogue 40% area / SAORVIEW 87% / + 47%
TG4 Analogue 64% area / SAORVIEW 87% / + 23%
115. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the statutory powers that have been delegated to Ministers of State in his Department; and the date on which the statutory powers were delegated. [40776/12]
View answerThe Minister of State at my Department, Mr Fergus O’Dowd T.D., has been delegated with certain of my statutory functions in relation to energy and natural resources matters. The functions in question relate to the Natural Resources area and include Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Inland Fisheries and the Geological Survey of Ireland.
These statutory powers were delegated to Minister of State O’Dowd in accordance with S.I. No. 631 of 2011, Energy and Natural Resources (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011, on 6 December 2011. In line with the statutory position, I retain all powers and duties relating to the Department, including those referred to above, being responsible to the Dáil and as a member of the Government for the exercise and performance of all such powers and duties.
116. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No 988 on 18 September 2012, if he will confirm that Radio Telefís Éireann did in fact incur a cost of €49.701m in 2011 for pension liabilities as set out in the RTÉ Group Statement of Comprehensive Income, which contributed to a total recognised expense for 2011 of €68.799m; if he will explain the detail of this cost of €49.701m [40897/12]
View answerRTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs including in relation to pension matters. These are purely matters for RTÉ management. I can confirm the Deputy’s interpretation of the statement on pension liabilities as set out in the RTÉ Annual Report and Group Financial Statements referred to in the Deputy’s question. The breakdown of this amount is a matter, in the first instance, for RTÉ and I will ask the company to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue subject, of course, to any requirements regarding commercial confidentiality that may apply.
