Róisín Shortall
Question:160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [9163/13]
View answerCarer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (160)
Written answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer decision on 18 February 2013.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Questions (161)
Tom Fleming
Question:161. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9255/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 8 February 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
National Museum
Questions (162)
Olivia Mitchell
Question:162. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which he received sanction for the post of director of the National Museum from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the date on which he conveyed that sanction to the chair of the National Museum; the date on which the post was advertised by the National Museum and the date from which the post is to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9202/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department received sanction to fill the post of Director of the National Museum of Ireland from the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform on 1st October, 2012. I conveyed this sanction to the Chairman of the Board of the National Museum by letter dated 2 October, 2012.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is a matter for the Board of the National Museum, as the employer, to progress the advertising and filling of this post. I am advised that the National Museum has been in contact with the Public Appointments Service in this regard and that the post will be advertised shortly. The National Museum is not in a position to advise a precise date of appointment at this juncture.
Digital Television Service Availability
Questions (163)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:163. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are any issues over potential interference with TV receptions for Saorview viewers here with the roll out of 4G in view of the problems that OfCom in the UK have identified for up to 2.3 million British freeview households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9164/13]
View answerWritten answers
This is an issue that will arise right across the EU as 4G services are rolled out. My Department is aware that organisations in several countries including Ofcom have conducted studies on the potential problem.
A group has been established by my Department to examine the degree to which this issue may arise in Ireland when the roll-out of 4G services commences later in 2013.
This group comprises officials from my Department, as well as representatives from ComReg, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, RTÉ and the mobile industry and its focus is on assessing the potential for any interference in regard to households that use “free to air” television and to identify any possible remedial measures that may be required.
Broadband Services Provision
Questions (164)
Pat Breen
Question:164. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 413 of 21 February 2012, if he will provide an update on the provision of broadband for a town (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9247/13]
View answerWritten answers
Considerable progress has been made in recent years in both the coverage and speeds of national broadband infrastructure, with a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms.
The combination of private investment and State interventions such as the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and the Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) means that Ireland has met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
Under the NBS a service is available to 49 electoral divisions (EDs) in County Clare. The RBS was launched in 2011 and aimed to make a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural areas not already covered by the NBS. Commercial service providers were in a position to offer services to almost all applicants who agreed to engage with them, including 30 applicants from County Clare.
In terms of the Government’s initiative to bring high speed broadband connectivity to all second-level schools, I am pleased to advise you that St Joseph’s Community College in Kilkee received connectivity last year under the national rollout of 100Mbps to secondary schools programme.
The Government, through the National Broadband Plan, which I published on 30th August last year, has recognised that the key imperative now is to ensure high speed broadband availability to all. The Plan commits to high speed broadband availability across the country 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.
Ireland is now therefore moving to a new phase of public and private sector investment in broadband in Ireland which will see significantly improved speeds delivered across the country.
During the preparation of Ireland’s 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 commercial sector is already making these investments in high speed services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The Government is committed in the Plan to investing in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market.
My Department is making preparations to commence a formal national mapping exercise to identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. This will inform the level of Government interaction that may be required and the areas that need to be targeted for a State-led investment. It will also form a critical input to an EU State Aid application in respect of any State-led intervention.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and business can participate fully in a digitally enabled society. I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to in the Plan, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including Kilkee in County Clare, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
Online Business Voucher Scheme
Questions (165)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:165. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider issuing a ministerial directive under the 2002 communications Act to inscribe in law the principle of equity for line rental for all broadband consumers and to ensure that rural broadband users are not in effect paying extra to subsidise a broadband company's operation in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9252/13]
View answerWritten answers
Line rental charges form part of the universal service obligation (USO) in the telecommunications market. The purpose of this USO is to ensure that all citizens can access basic telecommunications services at fixed locations at reasonable prices. The USO in the telecommunications market is provided for in both EU legislative acts, Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament, as amended by Directive 2009/136/EC and national legislation, the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and User’s Rights) Regulations 2011 – S.I. No.337 of 2011.
The current USO requires that at least one service provider is designated to provide telecommunications access at fixed locations, access to telephone directories, reasonable access to payphones and specific measures for people with disabilities all at reasonable access prices by regulating connection fees and line rental charges.
The national legislation authorises the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to designate one or more service providers to perform the USO. In June 2012 ComReg extended, until June 2014, a universal service obligation addressed to Eircom, which among other things, requires that line rental for basic fixed line telephone services is available to end users at a standard price across the country. There is therefore no line rental price differentiation between urban and rural areas and nor is there is any proposal to amend this obligation at this time.
Control of Dogs
Questions (166)
Michael Creed
Question:166. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending existing legislation to oblige all dog owners to microchip their dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/13]
View answerWritten answers
While I have no proposals at present to introduce compulsory microchipping of all dogs, there have been a number of recent developments that have increased microchipping usage. The regulations I introduced in early 2012 under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010 stipulate that all dogs held in such establishments be microchipped once they reach 8 weeks of age or when a dog is moved from the establishment. This initiative will result in more and more dogs being microchipped over time. In addition, many dogs that are seized by dog wardens are microchipped prior to being given to new owners.
To be properly effective, the compulsory microchipping of dogs should be supported by the development of a central registration system for all dogs. It would also be necessary to have the co-operation of the dog-owning public in updating a central registration system where the ownership of a dog changes. These large projects will be kept under review as they would involve a significant investment in terms of time and funding.
Water Services Provision
Questions (167, 168, 174)
Finian McGrath
Question:167. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Shannon water abstraction proposal contravenes the European water framework directory. [9345/13]
View answerFinian McGrath
Question:168. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the River Shannon water abstraction proposal. [9346/13]
View answer
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Question:174. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that is being made under his Department's water services investment programme 2010-2013 in relation to the project (details supplied); and if a consultant has been appointed to advance the planning of the scheme. [9190/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 168 and 174 together.
The Dublin Water Supply Scheme (Long Term Water Source) is listed as a scheme at planning stage in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Dublin City Council is the lead authority for this scheme, on behalf of all of the water services authorities in the Greater Dublin Area.
In December 2012 my Department approved a Brief for the Engagement of Consultants for the Planning and Statutory Approval Stage of the scheme. Following an appropriate procurement process, it is a matter for Dublin City Council to appoint a consultant to advance the planning of this scheme.
This scheme has been the subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and I understand that the objectives of the Strategic Environmental Assessment have taken the objectives of the Water Framework Directive into account.