Written Answers Nos. 139-48
139. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider reducing the cost of TV licences; the reason the national broadcaster does not cover the licence fee in view of the huge amount of money they receive through advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51957/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, RTÉ is funded through both a Grant-In-Aid for a proportion of broadcasting licence fee receipts and through the commercial revenue it generates. This dual funding model, which is consistent with EU State Aid rules, has been in place since the establishment of Raidió Teilifis Éireann at the start of the 1960’s and is reflective of Ireland’s population size and the nature of its market place. Just as it would be too onerous a burden on television households to seek to fund RTÉ solely from TV Licence receipts, it would not be sustainable from a media market point of view to try to operate it on a purely commercial basis.
In regard to the actual mechanism for helping to determine the level of the licence fee, this is set out in Section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. In particular it allows for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to recommend in a report to me, as Minister, an annual licence fee modification. This recommendation is based on an annual review on the extent to which RTÉ has fulfilled its commitments in respect of its public service objects stated in its annual statement of performance commitments for that financial year and the adequacy or otherwise of public funding to enable the corporation to meet its public service objects.
The recommendation from the Authority informs any decision I, as Minister, may take in conjunction with the Government on adjusting the current level of television fee or otherwise. In addition to the statutory requirement for annual reviews of the public service broadcasters, Section 124(8) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the BAI to also carry out a long term forward looking 5-year review on the adequacy or otherwise of the funding of public service broadcasters. The first 5 year review is now being undertaken by the BAI and will assist in informing any policy decisions I may take on the future public funding of public service broadcasters.
The broadcasting sector in general, including the public broadcasting sector, has been facing a very challenging funding environment over the last few years with a large fall in commercial advertising revenues. As regards public sector broadcasters, this situation demands that they remain vigilant in relation to cost containment whilst trying as far as possible to mitigate the impact on output and programming. I acknowledge that both RTÉ and TG4 have been proactive in this regard but the efforts must be maintained and indeed intensified.
140. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Ballynacargy, County Westmeath does not come under the national broadband scheme in view of the fact that they are deprived of what is now considered to be an essential service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52013/12]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Details of broadband services available in each county can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) represents such an intervention. It aimed to bring an affordable, scalable broadband service to certain designated rural areas where the extent of broadband coverage by commercial operators, at the time the Scheme was launched in 2008, was deemed to be inadequate.
Prior to the commencement of the NBS a detailed mapping exercise was carried out to determine those areas that would be included in the Scheme and those which, by virtue of being already substantially served by existing broadband suppliers, could not be included. EU State aid and competition rules govern how States can intervene in areas in which commercial service providers already operate. Accordingly, the NBS is restricted to providing a basic service and is prohibited from providing a service in served areas where to do so would give rise to an unacceptable level of market distortion. That mapping exercise found that the general area of Ballynacargy in County Westmeath was already served by existing service providers and consequently was excluded from the Scheme.
The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. With basic broadband services now widely available across Ireland, the challenge is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services.
The National Broadband Plan, which I published recently, 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. One of the first steps in delivering on the commitments in the Plan 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, 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 Ballynacargy, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
142. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the purpose of a proposed laying of a telecommunications under water cable between Ireland and Wales in view of the fact that there is currently a commercial cable in place; the economic gain of this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52042/12]
View answerThe provision of international telecommunications infrastructure is a commercial matter for the companies involved, in a fully liberalised competitive market. Given our island status, our dependence on international trading and the increasing number of global ICT firms that have set up in Ireland, excellent and competitive international connectivity infrastructure is a very important contribution to economic activity and growth. I therefore welcome all investments in the provision of international connectivity and I look forward to the benefit of these infrastructures supporting further economic activity and jobs in our economy.
143. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding funding for the North Clondalkin Safety Forum Project, which scheme is currently funded by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51948/12]
View answerThe project concerned operated as a mainstreamed drugs project under my Department’s housing programme. Following significant reductions in the funding available to support the project in 2012 my Department, exceptionally, provided pro rata funding to support the project until end June 2012.
Following a consultation process South Dublin County Council identified interim funding to maintain the project during the second half of 2012. The funding was identified on a partnership basis between the Council and the Clondalkin Palmerstown Lucan Neilstown (CPLN) Partnership. The Council has advised that this funding represented a once-off contribution and has allowed the project additional time to explore alternative funding mechanisms and to identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the project beyond 2012, including through alternative service delivery models.
The interim funding has also allowed the project to continue while the report of my colleague the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy on the review of the structures that underpin the strategy at local, regional and national level is finalised. It is understood that this report will be made available once deliberations are completed.
144. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has plans to introduce a tax amnesty on the non principal private residence payment for those who have been unable to pay it up until now and are willing to make the payment, but cannot meet the large one off charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51952/12]
View answerThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The Charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge.
Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge and late payment fees due to it, and all Charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. In this regard, application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Guidelines have also been issued to local authorities in relation to the provisions of the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which address matters including the collection, care and management of the Charge, and the operation of exemptions. I expect local authorities to implement these guidelines appropriately. I have no plans to introduce an amnesty on the Non-Principal Private Residence charge and I urge all liable persons who have not paid the Charge to contact their local authority as a matter of urgency.
145. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that funding for homelessness is not cut in Budget 2013; the action taken by his Department to deal with homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51956/12]
View answerThe Programme for Government committed to reviewing the homeless strategy, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 and to implementing a housing led approach to homelessness. Work on the review is almost complete and I intend to issue a policy statement on homelessness shortly. That statement will take account of demands on existing housing and will assess how best to continue providing services in a manner consistent with the elimination of existing homelessness and to ensure more effective prevention strategies. I will be indicating what I expect from housing authorities and other stakeholders in accelerating progress towards realising the ambition of eliminating involuntary long-term homelessness.
However, much progress has been made in otherwise implementing the strategy including inter alia: the publication of a detailed Implementation Plan in April 2009, which set out a range of priority actions to be undertaken to deliver on the six strategic aims of the Strategy; new legislative provisions in the Housing Act 2009 that came into force on 1 February 2010, which put Homelessness Fora and Homelessness Action Plans on a statutory basis, and are now being implemented at regional and local level; the adoption in 2010 by the 34 City and County Councils of their statutory Homelessness Action Plans; annual provision of current funding to provide for sufficient bed capacity to accommodate all those in need of emergency accommodation nationwide and to deliver on the commitment to eliminate the need for persons to involuntarily sleep rough; the on-going reconfiguration of existing emergency or transitional homeless facilities to provide a substantial number of secure long-term tenancies for homeless persons; the development of a scheme, Support to Live Independently, to provide visiting supports for persons leaving homelessness which assists people to progress from homelessness to independent living in mainstream housing and forms an important element of follow up action to end long-term homelessness, by co-ordinating appropriate tenancy and other supports to meet each individuals’ needs in their local community setting; and the new homelessness on-line data and bed management system, PASS, which is operational in Dublin and is being extended nationally on a phased basis with work currently underway in other regions.
The National Implementation Plan for the Homeless Strategy also provides for the development of a more devolved allocation-based system for the provision of accommodation-related funding to housing authorities with emphasis on increased decision making at local level, in lieu of the existing individual project based arrangements, to improve overall efficiency, value for money and greater local decision making in homeless services. A Protocol has been put in place with Dublin City Council to provide delegation of responsibility in relation to the management of homelessness funding. Similar arrangements are being put in place in respect of the other statutory homelessness regions.
My Department’s current funding provision for the running costs of homeless accommodation and related services for 2012 is €50 million, which, together with 10% provided from housing authorities’ own resources, brings the total available funding to €55.55 million in 2012. It is my intention to inform housing authorities of their homeless funding following the announcement of the Estimates for 2013. I will seek to ensure that the necessary funding will be available to the maximum extent possible, having regard to the current pressures on the public finances.
146. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will investigate a complaint regarding a facility (details supplied). [51985/12]
View answerIssues concerning the enforcement of waste management legislation are a matter for the appropriate regulatory authority and should therefore be pursued with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the relevant local authority, as appropriate. The Office of Environmental Enforcement within the EPA also has a mandate to deliver enhanced environmental compliance through enforcement of Agency licences issued to waste, industrial and other activities. It exercises a supervisory role in respect of the environmental protection activities of local authorities. In this regard, the Office acts as a resource to members of the public who have exhausted all other avenues of complaint. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Agency or a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
147. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding voting rights of non-Irish citizens (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52020/12]
View answerA registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. EU citizens (denoted by ‘E’ on registers) may vote at European Parliament and local elections. An EU citizen living in Ireland and wishing to register as a European elector must meet age and residency requirements and, in addition, complete a statutory declaration in accordance with section 6 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997.
148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the Leader funding scheme, in the past administered by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta in the Kerry Gaeltachts, will be passed over to north, south and east Kerry partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52040/12]
View answerMeitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in Irish Language Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. Progress, in the context of the legal “winding up” process, is currently ongoing. Local Action Groups in contiguous geographical areas have been engaged to implement an interim system to facilitate grant payment to projects that were at an advanced stage of development. Many of these project files have now been sent to the relevant Local Action Groups, including the two Kerry Local Development Companies referred to in the question, who are contacting the promoters directly to facilitate payment where appropriate. This also involves a full review of the project files by the Local Action Group. I understand that the process is now well underway to enable Local Action Groups to process eligible claims by project promoters for the payment of grants.
In the context of the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the RDP in Irish language areas for the remainder of the programming period, a long term delivery solution has been agreed with North and East Kerry Development and South Kerry Development Partnership for the Gaeltacht areas of Kerry. These groups are already working with communities on the ground to facilitate the continued delivery of RDP funds.
