Written Answers Nos. 154-162
154. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans he has for the type of broadband for the Tullyallen area, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/13]
View answerThe 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. Specifically, the Plan commits to:
- 70 Mbps to 100 Mbps available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015,
- At least 40 Mbps, 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 30 Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country.
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. In devising any State intervention to deliver high speed services to areas of the country where such services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market, my Department will be adopting a technology neutral approach, as required under EU law. This means specifying our requirements rather than specifying a particular technology. 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 making high speed broadband available nationwide, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and business including those in Tullyallen, County Louth, can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
155. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there appears to be no representation for commercial fishermen on the board of the IFI; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a perception amongst commercial fishermen that the board is weighted towards anglers; his views on the process of appointments to the board; if he will provide an update on any plans to redress this perceived imbalance by appointing a specific representative for Commercial Fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26028/13]
View answerThe principal functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are set out at Section 7 (1) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (No 10 of 2010), which are the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. The Act, in defining the membership of IFI, provides that the persons to be appointed shall have experience or capacity in one or more areas defined in the Act; and that they shall be appointed with a view to representing the public interest. The current Board membership was appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources appoints members as follows:
- 3, including the Chairperson, on his own nomination.
- 1 nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
- 1 nominated by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs.
- 3 nominated of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
The Joint Committee, through the Public Appointments Service, sought expressions of interest for the three positions from individuals who had recognised expertise or a track record in one or more of the areas set out in the Act. The Act the also provides that one Board member is appointed following election by the staff of IFI and that the Chief Executive Officer shall be an ex-officio member of the Board.
While the board is appointed to act in the public interest, the Deputy will be aware that the National Inland Fisheries Forum has been established in accordance with Section 7 (4) of the Act, which makes specific provision for stakeholder input to policy formulation. The Forum includes a broad spectrum of stakeholders with knowledge or expertise in a number of key sectors including commercial fisheries. The 60 members of the Forum were appointed following an open selection process conducted by the Public Appointments Service. The Forum is designed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to management and development policies and is a valuable channel of communication between the stakeholders and management in this regard.
156. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to connect a town (details supplied) in County Galway to the natural gas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26036/13]
View answerThe Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory, independent body, charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the gas network. The CER, in 2006, approved a network connections policy which enabled reassessment of the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any town to be connected to the gas network, certain economic criteria need to be satisfied as a prerequisite. The policy allows for the appraisal of a town either on its own or as part of a regional group of towns.
The policy framework provides that, over a certain period, the costs of connecting a town, or group of towns, to the network are recouped through the actual economic consumption of gas and the associated tariffs. Uneconomic projects would increase costs for all energy consumers.
Under the CER’s policy framework, Bord Gáis Networks, and latterly Gaslink, carried out a comprehensive review of towns not connected to the national gas network. Gaslink published its New Towns Analysis Phase 1 report in 2006. The study included a review of the feasibility of connecting towns to the natural gas network in Galway/Mayo and the CER made the decision to allow Gaslink to extend the network to eleven of these towns, including Athenry. Prior to the roll out of each town, a detailed analysis of the loads within the town and the revenues associated with them is carried out. There is also a requirement to secure a certain level of customers prior to the development commencing. The gas network has been extended to seven of these towns and work is progressing on the development of the network to Tuam. Work is also ongoing to secure economic loads in the three remaining towns prior to commencement of construction. The three remaining towns are Athenry, Knock and Ballyhaunis.
157. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that the gas field off the County Mayo coast is worth €13 million, Barryroe Oil Field is worth €85 billion and Dalkey Oil Field is worth €60 billion; and if he will clarify the amount of revenue in tax under the 25% profit tax regime and estimates that these gas/oil fields would bring in. [26039/13]
View answerWhilst there has been some welcome upturn in the level of interest in exploration off our coast in recent years, the reality is that the only commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons made in the Irish offshore to date are the three producing gas fields in the Kinsale area and the Corrib gas field. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date. Despite the low level of commercial discoveries to date, working petroleum systems are known to exist in many of Ireland’s offshore basins, as demonstrated by a number of non-commercial discoveries as well as other oil and gas indicators such as hydrocarbon shows in wells.
Nevertheless, the oil and gas potential of the Irish offshore is largely unproven and is likely to remain so until there is a significant and sustained increase in the number of exploration wells being drilled from the current levels of 1 to 2 wells per year. Potential oil and gas bearing areas in Irish waters which are currently the subject of exploration activities are by their very nature, prospective, and as such not amenable to estimations of market value or potential tax contribution.
The market value and profitability of the Corrib gas field are dependent upon a combination of factors including, the volume of recoverable gas, the cost of developing and operating the infrastructure, the price of gas over the life of the field, together with the timing and profile of production. It will be appreciated that a number of these parameters are subject to significant variation resulting in a range of potential valuations. Profits from the Corrib gas field will be taxed at 25% when the field goes into production.
158. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on broadband speeds that may be observed when 48 people or more are on line at once via a service that is part of the national broadband scheme, where there is a download of minimum of 3.6mb with a contention of 48:1; if he will address this matter generally with the management of the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26043/13]
View answerThe broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) was designed as a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with “3”, the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3 Mbps and 1.4Mbps, respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 18:1. The NBS satellite service, which is utilised in a small number of cases for technical reasons associated with the location of the premises, offers minimum download and upload speeds of 3.6 Mbps and 384 kbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 48:1.
The specifications included in the question refer to the NBS satellite service. In July 2012, “3” upgraded the NBS satellite service whereby the minimum download speed increased from 1 Mbps to 3.6 Mbps and two satellites are utilised to enhance customer experience, at no additional cost to the subscriber. The contracted contention ratio is the maximum allowed level but would not be the standard experience for a NBS customer since all telecommunication systems are designed on the assumption that not all users avail of the services at the same time.
As regards service quality, my Department has well-established monitoring arrangements in place to ensure that the NBS delivers the minimum specified service or better to all users. The NBS contract guarantees service levels and imposes a service credit regime on “3”, with significant financial consequences in the event that minimum specification service levels are not met. The NBS contract also provides that where NBS customers do not receive the minimum guaranteed service, as set out in the terms and conditions of their contract, they are entitled to service rebates.
Sample customer experience reports relating to NBS satellite service are reviewed within the comprehensive monitoring process referred to above. These reports show that customers are achieving speeds in excess of the contractual minimum and that the average peak speed is 1.56 Mbps over the last six months.
My officials operate a dedicated NBS mailbox, which NBS customers can contact by email at nationalbroadbandscheme@dcenr.gov.ie, with any comments or complaints they may have about their NBS service. My officials have received no complaints regarding the upgraded NBS satellite service where contention was an issue.
159. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the basis on which he has granted prospecting licences to a company (details supplied) in a wide range of townlands across County Donegal; and the reassurance he can provide to those local communities who will have a range of concerns including environmental, regarding the issuing of this licence. [26047/13]
View answerNo prospecting licences have yet been granted in this instance. A statutory notice of my intention to grant licences over a number of townlands in the Inishowen area was published on 30 April 2013, with a period of 21 days in which objections could be submitted. Five (5) objections were received by close of business on 21 May 2013. A further five (5) objections were received after the closing date. These will be considered before a decision on the licence is taken. The Deputy may be assured that in carrying out all survey activities within the licensed area, it is a strict condition that the licensee must conduct operations so as to avoid damage to the environment and the amenities of the area, to avoid or minimise disturbance of persons resident there and comply with all relevant statutory planning and environmental requirements.
160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Minister or Minister of State that represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26209/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the policies of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy are dealt with under one Council formation – Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE). In my role as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I sit on the Energy Council and the Telecommunications Council. I chaired an Energy Council meeting on 22 February 2013, which Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd also attended. An Energy Informal Ministerial meeting was held in Dublin on 23 and 24 April 2013 which I chaired and the Minister of State also attended.
There has been no meeting this year to date of the Telecommunications Council. However that Council will meet on 6th June and will be followed by a further Energy Ministers’ Council on 7 June. I also chaired the Pre-Council meeting of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport meeting of Audio Visual Ministers on 17 May in Brussels. In addition to chairing the Councils mentioned above and the Pre EYCS Council meeting, I would mention that since January I addressed some 15 meetings and conferences connected with the telecommunications and energy sectors as part of my role as Chair of these Councils. As well as attending energy related events the Minister of State also attended five meetings across different sectors including on youth and the environment.
161. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of parliamentary replies issued by him to this Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information requested; the date of the question in each case; the date on which the information was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26224/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that any parliamentary replies I issued to him to date in 2013 have been answered in full and there was no undertaking made to provide any further information.
162. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in County Tipperary is not an exempted estate for the purposes of the local property tax despite the fact that it was exempt from the household charge; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no improvement works have been undertaken on this estate since the introduction of the household charge; his views on whether this is fair and equitable on the residents in this estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25992/13]
View answerAn exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012. The Survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency.
The categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011 and which provided the basis for the waiver from the household charge. That earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included. For purposes of preparing the final list of developments to which the exemption from the local property tax would apply local authorities were asked by my Department to confirm or update the then existing list as appropriate. Oakdale Park, Templemore, Co. Tipperary was not identified by the local authority as falling into this category.
