Wednesday, 13 Mar 2013

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Questions (123, 127)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which any new sites, buildings or regions have come under and-or European protection regulations or directives in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13363/13]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate the number and location of any new special areas of conservation or other conservative measures adopted over the past two years; the number, if any, pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13368/13]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 127 together.

The table sets out is a list of sites which have been afforded protection under European law through notification of an intention to designate the site as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), further to obligations under the Habitats Directive; notification of an intention to designate the site as a Special Protection Area (SPA), further to obligations under the Birds Directive, or designation of the site as an SPA further to obligations under the Birds Directive.

All SACs and SPAs for which an intention to designate has been notified will be formally designated through Statutory Instrument.

I am advised that no buildings have come under European Directives or Regulations relating to heritage conservation and protection in the last three years.

TABLE

List of SAC and SPA Notification of Intention to Designate 2010 to date

Notification of Intention to Designate 2010 to date

Code	Site	County	Date of Notification
004033	BANNOW BAY SPA	WEXFORD	17 March 2010
004035	CUMMEEN STRAND SPA	SLIGO	17 March 2010
004044	LOUGH ENNELL SPA	WESTMEATH	17 March 2010
004065	LOUGH SHEELIN SPA	CAVAN,MEATH WESTMEATH	17 March 2010
004090	SHESKINMORE LOUGH SPA	DONEGAL	17 March 2010
004032	DUNGARVAN HARBOUR SPA	WATERFORD	26 May 2010
004219	COURTMACSHERRY BAY SPA	CORK	26 May 2010
004027	TRAMORE BACK STRAND SPA	WATERFORD	26 May 2010
004129	BALLYSADARE BAY SPA	SLIGO	26 May 2010
004043	LOUGH DERRAVARAGH SPA	WESTMEATH	26 May 2010
004092	TACUMSHIN LAKE SPA	WEXFORD	26 May 2010
004228	LOUGH CONN / LOUGH CULLIN SPA	MAYO	5 July 2010
004051	LOUGH CARRA SPA	MAYO	5 July 2010
004062	LOUGH MASK SPA	MAYO /GAL	5 July 2010
004145	DURNESH LOUGH SPA	DONEGAL	5 July 2010
004221	ILLAUNNANOON SPA	GALWAY	5 July 2010
004086	RIVER LITTLE BROSNA CALLOWS SPA	OFFALY/ TIPP	5 July 2010
004028	BLACKWATER ESTUARY SPA	CORK/WATERF	4 August 2010
004050	LOUGH ARROW SPA	SLIGO/	4 August 2010
004139	LOUGH CROAN TURLOUGH SPA	ROSCOMMON	4 August 2010
004029	CASTLEMAINE HARBOUR SPA	KERRY	4 August 2010
004084	LOUGH GARA SPA	ROSC/SLIGO	4 August 2010
004143	CAHORE MARSHES SPA	WEXFORD	4 August 2010
004140	FOUR ROADS TURLOUGH SPA	ROSCOMMON	4 August 2010
004034	TRAWBREAGA BAY SPA	DONEGAL	4 August 2010
004110	LOUGH NILLAN BOG SPA	DONEGAL	4 August 2010
004031	INNER GALWAY BAY SPA	GALWAY/CLARE	22 September 2010
004089	RAHASANE TURLOUGH SPA	GALWAY	22 September 2010
004144	HIGH IS, INISHARK, DAVILAUN SPA	GALWAY	22 September 2010
004220	COROFIN WETLANDS SPA	CLARE	22 September 2010
004036	KILLALA BAY/MOY ESTUARY SPA	MAYO/SLIGO	22 September 2010
004075	LOUGH SWILLY SPA	DONEGAL	22 September 2010
004097	RIVER SUCK CALLOWS SPA	GALWAY/ROSC	22 September 2010
004026	DUNDALK BAY SPA	LOUTH	22 September 2010
004091	STABANNAN- BRAGANSTOWN SPA	LOUTH	22 September 2010
004019	THE RAVENSPA	WEXFORD	22 September 2010
004040	WICKLOW MOUNTAINS SPA	WICKLOW/ DUBLIN	15 December 2010
004094	BLACKWATER CALLOWS SPA	CORK / WATERFORD	15 December 2010
004039	DERRYVEAGH AND GLENDOWAN MOUNTAINS SPA	DONEGAL	15 December 2010
004049	LOUGH OUGHTER COMPLEX SPA	CAVAN	15 December 2010
004087	LOUGH FOYLE SPA	DONEGAL	15 December 2010
004233	RIVER NORE SPA	LAOIS/ KILKENNY	8-June- 2011
004232	RIVER BOYNE AND BLACKWATER SPA	CAVAN, LOUTH, MEATH, WESTMEATH	8-June- 2011
004077	RIVER SHANNON AND RIVER FERGUS ESTUARIES SPA	CLARE/ KERRY/ LIMERICK	8-June- 2011
004181	CONNEMARA BOG COMPLEX SPA	GALWAY	22-June-2011
004037	BLACKSOD BAY / BROADHAVEN SPA	MAYO	22-June-2011
004231	INISHBOFIN, OMEY, TURBOT IS. SPA	GALWAY	6-July-2011
004149	FALCARRAGH TO MEENLARAGH SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004073	TORY ISLAND SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004083	INISHBOFIN,INISHDOOEY,INISHBEG SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004146	MALIN HEAD SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004230	WEST DONEGAL ISLANDS SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004148	FANAD HEAD SPA	DONEGAL	6-July-2011
004227	MULLET PENINSULA SPA	MAYO	6-July-2011
004064	LOUGH REE SPA	LONGFORD / WESTMEATH/ ROSCOMMON	27-July -2011
004058	LOUGH DERG (SHANNON) SPA	CLARE/TIPP/GALWAY	27-July -2011
004234	BALLINTEMPLE AND BALLYGILGAN SPA	SLIGO	27-July -2011
004013	DRUMCLIFF BAY SPA	SLIGO	27-July -2011
004014	ROCKABILL SPA	DUBLIN	17-Aug-2011
004125	MAGHAREE ISLANDS SPA	KERRY	17-Aug-2011
004153	PART OF DINGLE PENINSULA SPA (CASTLEGREGORY)	KERRY	17-Aug-2011
004188	TRALEE BAY COMPLEX SPA	KERRY	17-Aug-2011
004159	SLYNE HEAD TO ARDMORE POINT ISLANDS SPA	GALWAY	26- Oct- 2011
004042	LOUGH CORRIB SPA	GALWAY/MAYO	26- Oct- 2011
004078	CARLINGFORD LOUGH SPA	LOUTH	23-Nov-2011
002953	THE BLACKWATER BANK SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012
002998	THE WEST CONNACHT COAST SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012
002999	HEMPTON’S TURBOT BANK SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012
003000	ROCKABILL TO DALKEY ISLAND SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012
003001	PORCUPINE BANK CANYON SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012
003002	SOUTH EAST ROCKALL BANK SAC	MARINE	5- Dec- 2012

SPAs formally designated by Statutory Instrument 2010 to date

Site Code	Name	Date of Signature	S.I. Number
004022	BALLYCOTTON BAY	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 59/2010
004041	BALLYALLIA LOUGH	19-Feb-2010	S.I.58/2010
004060	LOUGH FERN	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 70/2010
004063	POULAPHOUCA RESERVOIR	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 73/2010
004066	THE BULL AND THE COW ROCKS	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 76/2010
004134	LOUGH REA	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 72/2010
004045	GLEN LOUGH	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 65/2010
004114	ILLAUNONEARAUN	19-Feb-2010	S.I.67/2010
004118	KEERAGH ISLANDS	19-Feb-2010	S.I.68/2010
004132	ILLANCRONE AND INISHKEERAGH	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 66/2010
004047	LOUGH OWEL	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 71/2010
004135	ARDBOLINE ISLAND AND HORSE ISLAND	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 57/2010
004170	CRUAGH ISLAND	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 62/2010
004175	DEENISH ISLAND AND SCARIFF ISLAND	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 63/2010
004187	SLIGO/LEITRIM UPLANDS	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 75/2010
004212	CROSS LOUGH (KILLADOON)	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 61/2010
004009	LADY'S ISLAND LAKE	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 69/2010
004081	CLONAKILTY BAY	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 60/2010
004111	DUVILLAUN ISLANDS	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 64/2010
004007	SKELLIGS	19-Feb-2010	S.I. 74/2010
004003	PUFFIN ISLAND	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 111/2010
004021	OLD HEAD OF KINSALE	12-Mar-2010	S.I.110/2010
004082	GREERS ISLE	12-Mar-2010	S.I.105/2010
004061	LOUGH KINALE AND DERRAGH LOUGH	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 108/2010
004100	INISHTRAHULL	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 107/2010
004115	INISHDUFF	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 106/2010
004120	RATHLIN O'BIRNE ISLAND	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 112/2010
004121	ROANINISH	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 113/ 2010
004124	SOVEREIGN ISLANDS	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 114/2010
004182	MID CLARE COAST	12-Mar-2010	S.I. 109/2010
004024	SOUTH DUBLIN BAY AND RIVER TOLKA ESTUARY	11-May-2010	S.I. 212/2010
004006	NORTH BULL ISLAND	11-May-2010	S.I. 211 /2010
004030	CORK HARBOUR	26 May 2010	S.I. 237 / 2010
004107	COOLE-GARRYLAND	26 May 2010	S.I. 236 /2010
004056	LOUGH CUTRA	26 May 2010	S.I. 243 / 2010
004069	LAMBAY ISLAND	26 May 2010	S.I. 242 /2010
004117	IRELAND’S EYE	26 May 2010	S.I. 240 / 2010
004122	SKERRIES ISLANDS	26 May 2010	S.I. 245 /2010
004172	DALKEY ISLANDS	26 May 2010	S.I. 238 / 2010
004057	LOUGH DERG (DONEGAL)	26 May 2010	S.I. 244 / 2010
004116	INISHKEEL	26 May 2010	S.I. 239 /2010
004154	IVERAGH PENINSULA	26 May 2010	S.I. 241 / 2010
004192	HELVICK HEAD TO BALLYQUIN	4 June 2010	S.I. 277/ 2010
004002	SALTEE ISLANDS	4 June 2010	S.I. 274 / 2010
004005	CLIFFS OF MOHER	4 June 2010	S.I. 269 / 2010
004046	LOUGH IRON	4 June 2010	S.I. 270 / 2010
004136	CLARE ISLAND	4 June 2010	S.I. 273 /2010
004015	ROGERSTOWN ESTUARY	4 June 2010	S.I. 271 /2010
004016	BALDOYLE BAY	4 June 2010	S.I. 275 /2010
004008	BLASKET ISLANDS	4 June 2010	S.I. 272 / 2010
004190	GALLEY HEAD TO DUNEEN POINT	4 June 2010	S.I. 276 / 2010
004191	SEVEN HEADS	4 June 2010	S.I. 268 / 2010
004150	WEST DONEGAL COAST	30 July 2010	S.I. 389 / 2010
004090	SHESKINMORE LOUGH	30 July 2010	S.I. 388 /2010
004156	SHEEP’S HEAD TO TOE HEAD	30 July 2010	S.I. 387 /2010
004095	KILCOLMAN BOG	30 July 2010	S.I. 386 /2010
004189	KERRY HEAD	30 July 2010	S.I. 385 / 2010
004137	DOVEGROVE CALLOWS	30 July 2010	S.I. 384 / 2010
004020	BALLYTEIGUE BURROW	30 July 2010	S.I. 383 / 2010
004048	LOUGH GARA	16 June 2011	S.I. 288/2011
004050	LOUGH ARROW	16 June 2011	S.I. 289/2011
004065	LOUGH SHEELIN	16 June 2011	S.I. 290/2011
004139	LOUGH CROAN TURLOUGH	16 June 2011	S.I. 292/2011
004143	CAHORE MARSHES	16 June 2011	S.I. 293/2011
004221	ILLAUNNANOON	16 June 2011	S.I. 297/2011
004145	DURNESH LOUGH	16 June 2011	S.I. 294/2011
004027	TRAMORE BACK STRAND	16 June 2011	S.I. 286/2011
004043	LOUGH DERRAVARAGH	16 June 2011	S.I. 287/2011
004129	BALLYSADARE BAY	16 June 2011	S.I. 291/2011
004186	THE MURROUGH	16 June 2011	S.I. 298/2011
004025	MALAHIDE ESTUARY	16 June 2011	S.I. 285/2011
004151	DONEGAL BAY	16 June 2011	S.I. 295/2011
004051	LOUGH CARRA SPA	30 June 2011	S.I,340/2011
004087	LOUGH FOYLE SPA	30 June 2011	S.I.341/2011
004035	CUMMEEN STRAND SPA	12 July 2011	S.I.376/2011
004036	KILLALA BAY / MOY ESTUARY	11 October 2011	S.I.522/2011
004068	INISHMURRAY	14 October 2011	S.I.534/2011
004019	THE RAVEN	14 October 2011	S.I. 533/2011
004091	STABANNAN-BRAGANSTOWN	26 October2011	S.I.546/2011
004193	MID-WATERFORD COAST	28 October2011	S.I. 558 /2011
004165	SLIEVE FEILIM TO SILVERMINES MTS	15- Nov-2011	S.I. 587/2011
004004	INISHKEA ISLANDS SPA	15- Nov-2011	S.I.588/2011
004140	FOUR ROADS TURLOUGH	15- Nov-2011	S.I. 589/2011
004228	LOUGH CONN AND LOUGH CULLIN	15- Nov-2011	S.I. 590/2011
004119	LOOP HEAD SPA	15- Nov-2011	S.I. 591/2011
004033	BANNOW BAY	15- Nov-2011	S.I. 592/2011
004167	SLIEVE BEAGH	29- Nov-2011	S.I. 617/2011
004044	LOUGH ENNELL	29- Nov-2011	S.I.618/2011
004080	BOYNE ESTUARY	5-Dec-2011	S.I. 626/2011
004162	MULLAGANISH TO MUSHERAMORE MTS	5- Dec -2011	S.I. 627/2011
004110	LOUGH NILLAN BOG SPA	7- Dec-2011	S.I. 633/2011
004086	RIVER LITTLE BROSNA CALLOWS (100)	15- Dec-2011	S.I. 652/2011
004013	DRUMCLIFF BAY	9-Feb-2012	S.I. 40/2012
004096	MIDDLE SHANNON CALLOWS	9-Feb-2012	S.I. 41/2012
004168	SLIEVE AUGHTY MTS	21-Mar-2012	S.I.83/2012
04062	LOUGH MASK	21-Mar-2012	S.I.84/2012
04014	ROCKABILL	21-Mar-2012	S.I. 94/2012
004220	COROFIN WETLANDS	28-Mar-2012	S.I. 117 /2012
004158	RIVER NANNY ESTUARY AND SHORE	26- Apr-2012	S.I.140/2012
004125	MAGHAREE ISLANDS	26-Apr-2012	S.I.139/2012
004076	WEXFORD HARBOUR & SLOBS	16-May-2012	S.I. 194/2012
004094	BLACKWATER CALLOWS	16-May-2012	S.I. 191/2012
004144	HIGH ISLAND, INISHARK AND DAVILAUN	16-May-2012	S.I.192/2012
004233	RIVER NORE	16-May-2012	S.I.193/2012
800004160	SLIEVE BLOOM MTS	29- May-2012	S.I.184/2012
004092	TACUMSHIN LAKE SPA	29- May-2012	S.I.178/2012
004159	SLYNE HEAD TO ARDMORE POINT ISLANDS	29- May-2012	S.I. 177/2012
004113	HOWTH HEAD COAST	29- May-2012	S.I. 185/2012
004029	CASTLEMAINE HARBOUR	3-Jul-2012	S.I. 244/2012
004034	TRAWBREAGA BAY	4-Jul-2012	S.I. 261/2012
004026	DUNDALK BAY	3-Aug-2012	S.I. 310/2012
004089	RAHASANE TURLOUGH	4-Aug-2012	S.I. 311/2012
004097	RIVER SUCK CALLOWS	2-Oct-2012	S.I. 397/2012
004075	LOUGH SWILLY	22-Oct-2012	S.I. 592/2012
004042	LOUGH CORRIB	22-Oct-2012	S.I. 455/2012
004064	LOUGH REE	13-Nov-2012	S.I. 456/2012
004028	BLACKWATER ESTUARY	13-Nov-2012	S.I. 590/2012
004078	CARLINGFORD LOUGH	22-Nov-2012	S.I. 464/2012
004232	RIVER BOYNE & RIVER BLACKWATER	21-Nov-2012	S.I. 462/2012
004234	BALLINTEMPLE & BALLYGILGAN	21-Nov-2012	S.I. 463/2012
004153	DINGLE PENINSULA	23-Nov-2012	S.I. 480/2012
004161	STACK`S TO MULLAGHAREIRK MOUNTAINS, WEST LIMERICK HILLS AND MOUNT EAGLE	23-Nov-2012	S.I. 591/2012
004049	LOUGH OUGHTER COMPLEX	20-Dec-2012	S.I. 585/2012
004040	WICKLOW MOUNTAINS	20-Dec-2012	S.I 586 of 2012
004155	BEARA PENINSULA	20-Dec-2012	S.I 587 of 2012
004227	MULLET PENINSULA	25-Feb-2013	S.I TBC
004146	MALIN HEAD	25-Feb-2013	S.I TBC

Heritage Sites

Questions (124)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to any further heritage site deemed to be in danger over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 150, 153, 154, 155, 158 and 159 on 28 November 2012.

Arts Funding

Questions (125, 126)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he hopes to support local and or national arts groups with particular reference to promising funding for production groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13366/13]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has had discussions with local arts groups with a view to incentivisation of job creation activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13367/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.

Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government. As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office.

Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation from my Department of some €60.7 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding.

The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts and culture sectors, within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "work with stakeholders in the Arts community to develop new proposals aimed at building private support of the Arts in Ireland exploring philanthropic, sponsorship or endowment fund opportunities". To further this objective, in May 2012 I announced the introduction of a new philanthropic initiative on a pilot basis for arts and culture organisations. The initiative - the Philanthropic Leverage Initiative - was designed to encourage philanthropic sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sources. The initiative, established with funding of €230,000 for 2012, has provided an incentive to arts organisations to proactively seek new funding relationships with sponsors which deliver private sector financial support, thereby increasing overall funding available to the arts. The initiative was available across projects of varying scale, geography and art forms to not-for-profit organisations for arts programming projects. The organisations approved for funding under the initiative were required to procure matching philanthropic funds and complete their drawdown from my Department in 2012. Matched funding could come from public funds or from any public sector organisation. At the outset, it was anticipated that a multiple of 3.5 on the pilot initiative funds of €230,000 would result in philanthropic funding of some €800,000 being raised for the arts. The scheme proved very successful with a multiplier of 4.26 eventually being leveraged in philanthropic donations. I recently launched a similar initiative for 2013 and full details are available on my Department's website.

The Philanthropic Leverage Initiative was run in parallel with a second initiative - the Arts Council's RAISE: Building Fundraising Capacity pilot initiative. That initiative will provide one-to-one professional support to eight selected organisations for two years through planning and implementing a tailored fundraising programme. This will help those art organisations build and resource their capacity to attract philanthropic giving. In developing this complementary programme, the Arts Council has identified that it is vital for art groups to develop, agree and implement an effective fundraising strategy and to properly resource that fundraising function.

My Department has also provided support to the Business to Arts organisation for a number of years and, in each of the last three years, this has been allocated to delivery of the New Stream Programme, which builds fundraising skills in the cultural sector in Ireland. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch investment in this project is €400k over three years. In 2010, my Department also awarded a €20,000 grant to Business to Arts for ‘Fund it’ in 2010 under the Cultural Technology Grants Scheme. Business to Arts initially matched this figure with private funding and since then has attracted additional foundation funds to this project.

The State appreciates and values the contribution the arts sector makes to the internationally renowned artistic reputation of this country. As Minister with responsibility for the arts, I believe that, within the current economic constraints, investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard to the employment intensity and potential of the sector. The arts are a significant contributor and employer in their own right and they are also important building blocks for those economic policies the Government has identified as crucial for our economic recovery.

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 123.

Broadband Services Provision

Questions (128)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide high quality broadband in rural areas and in towns of a population of fewer than 1,500 people; when he expects the roll-out of such services, the upload speeds and download speeds proposed, the proposed investment by the State in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

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 Government, through the National Broadband Plan, which I published on 30 August last year, has recognised that the key imperative now is to ensure high speed broadband availability to all. 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.

Specifically, the Plan commits to 70Mbps to 100Mbps 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, and a minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country.

The Plan anticipates minimum target upload speeds of 25% to 30% of the headline download speeds.

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.

In an important milestone towards delivery of the commitments in the Plan, the Government recently launched a tender for experts to assist in the design, planning and procurement of the State-led investment. Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations including stakeholder engagement will be on-going throughout 2013 with a view to the launch of a procurement process in 2014.

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 above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including rural areas and towns with populations of less than 1500 people, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.

Social Media

Questions (129)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to tackle the issue of abuse of social media outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13396/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

As the Deputy will be aware, Social Media have not to date been subject to a formal regulatory regime akin to that used to ‘regulate’ traditional radio and television broadcast media, either in Ireland or in other jurisdictions. There are a range of reasons for this, not least the rapidly evolving nature of the technologies involved, the sensitivities around regulating media and the multi-jurisdictional nature of the Internet.

There has been a very considerable amount of discussion on these matters in the recent past at EU and Council of Europe level, in which my Department has been involved. Indeed this matter is also the subject of a fundamental debate at EU and national level at present, a fact reflected by the recent decision of the Joint Oireachtas Committee to examine the issue. Ireland is committed through the Internet Governance Principles contained in the Declaration of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to the principle of “Multi-stakeholder governance”. In this regard, the development of international Internet related public policies and Internet governance arrangements must allow for full and equal participation of all stakeholders from all countries. My officials have been and will continue to be engaged in the discussions on these issues.

As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I have policy responsibility for providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment to facilitate the development of high quality communications infrastructure and services. However, I should highlight that I do not have sole responsibility for addressing as to how that infrastructure is used. Responsibility, in the context of abuse over the Internet in particular, also sits with the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the executive agency of his Department, the Office for Internet Safety.

It is clear that there are no simple answers to the challenges posed by the development and abuse of social media, not least because of the international basis of the services and because any possible policy responses fall across a range of Government Departments. In recognition of this complexity my Department maintains open and regular contact with all Departments and State Agencies with responsibilities in this area.

I am convinced that it is possible to ensure that people can gain the full benefit offered by social media, in their public and private lives, while being protected against harassment or bullying of any kind, if we remain open to appropriate and sensitive intervention. Any such intervention must tread a very fine line between the protection of individuals and ensuring that free speech, and free and open debate, are preserved. This is difficult balance to strike, but we must continue to amend our regulatory regime in light of new technologies. My Department is presently evaluating how one such amendment might be introduced, to deal with a gap in telecommunications legislation.

Experience in other jurisdictions has been that this balance is not easy to strike, and I fully intend to give any measures my full consideration before implementing them.

Broadband Services Provision

Questions (130, 131)

Frank Feighan

Question:

130. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is a metropolitan area network, MAN, of fibre optic in Boyle, County Roscommon; and, if not, if there is a proposal to roll one out. [13422/13]

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Frank Feighan

Question:

131. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is a metropolitan area network in Boyle, County Roscommon; is it possible to connect it to this national ESB fibre network which would give Boyle a high speed network that would place it favourably as a location for e-commerce; and if not, is there some way that the Boyle community could take steps to improve the situation. [13424/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.

There is no Metropolitan Area Network (MANS) in Boyle nor are there plans for a new Metropolitan Area Network in this area. The Government however recognises the need to ensure that high speed broadband is available in all parts of Ireland, including towns such as Boyle, to underpin economic growth, enable eCommerce and greater connectivity for citizens generally. To this end The National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, aims to ensure that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses.

The plan commits to 70Mbps to 100Mbps 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, and a minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in 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 also 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.

I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including Boyle and other rural areas in County Roscommon, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.