Written Answers Nos. 349-367
350. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that the agricultural and food sector is worth over €24 billion to Ireland's economy and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish agricultural industry and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41969/13]
View answer351. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the importance of a clean and viable water supply to Ireland's environment and economy, and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking with regard to the environment and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41970/13]
View answer352. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the value of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and in view of the well documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies, health, landscape and ecology seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish tourism industry, Ireland's image as a tourist destination and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41971/13]
View answer353. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the highly toxic nature of many of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing or fracking process which has been documented in other countries, and in view of the widely documented evidence of the migration of chemicals into local and national water supplies causing irreversible water contamination, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking for the country's health. [41972/13]
View answer356. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the widely documented and detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries on local and national water supplies, health, agriculture and environment including climate change, his views on the potentially catastrophic effects of fracking here. [41973/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 353, inclusive, and 356 together.
I would like to re-iterate, as I have done on a number of previous occasions, that any application for an exploration licence that proposed the use of hydraulic fracturing as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme would be subject to an environmental impact assessment.
To clarify, such an assessment would entail consideration of the potential impacts of the project on population (including community impacts and impacts on human health), fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, including the architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors. In other words, all of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed use of hydraulic fracturing would have to be assessed to ensure that there would be no significant environmental impact, prior to the grant of any permission for the use of this technology.
I have also made clear that such an environmental impact assessment would be informed by the findings of further research to be commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and that no decision would be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling in Ireland until there has been time to consider the outcome of this further EPA research.
354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the rural broadband scheme; the number of applicants who received broadband from a service provider prior to departmental procurement; the number provided with a service and location following departmental procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41872/13]
View answerThe Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision. This Scheme was aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural areas, not already covered by the National Broadband Scheme.
The Application Phase of the RBS closed in July 2011 and my Department received 5,000 applications. Of these, approximately 3,700 applications qualified under the terms of the Scheme. The details of these applicants were passed to participating Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who responded to my Department indicating those applicants to whom they were able to offer services.
A total of 29 companies participated in the Scheme and a total of 2011 applicants gave their consent to receive written offers of service from these ISPs. The participating ISPs wrote to these 2011 applicants in April 2012 with offers of service and 509 applicants took up a service.
As the ISPs participating in the Scheme offered services to those who agreed to engage with them without the need for subsidy, it was not necessary to procure a service provider for the Scheme. There was been no disbursement of public money for the provision of services through the Scheme.
355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when broadband will be rolled out in the Abbeyshrule area in Longford, Carrickboy and Ballymahon as localities nearby can avail of this service already; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41957/13]
View answerIreland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County Longford, can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie.
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services, as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Broadband services under the NBS are available since October 2010 from the NBS service provider, “3”, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in the designated NBS Electoral Divisions. The area of Carrickboy, referred to in the Deputy's question, is serviced under the NBS. The combination of private investment and State interventions 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.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in County Longford. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and
- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.
My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector to identify where the market is expected to deliver high speed broadband services over the coming years. The results of this mapping exercise will inform the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
357. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is grant funding available towards home insulation to assist former local authority tenants who are now mortgage holders with local councils, yet are living on very low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42071/13]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy Warmer Homes and the Better Energy Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures providing home insulation to low-income homeowners, that are vulnerable to energy poverty and who live in privately-owned dwellings. The measures delivered under the scheme are free of charge to the customer. The scheme is primarily delivered through a combination of Community Based Organisations, augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Homes are also delivered on an area based approach through a separate programme strand.
The scheme is currently open for applications for 2013. It is open to all low-income home owners living in homes constructed before 2006, including former Local Authority tenants who are now householders, subject to demonstrating that they are in receipt of one of the following:
- Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme;
- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and with children under 7 years of age; or
- Family Income Supplement
The Better Energy Homes Scheme is available to all private homes in Ireland built before 2006. Householders who are mortgage holders with local councils are also eligible for this scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to households who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are allocated towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment.
358. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding that is provided to community and voluntary groups for computer training through the BenefIT funding programme; the number of groups that benefited from same; if it will be continued in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42153/13]
View answerOver €5.5m has been allocated by my Department to the BenefIT digital engagement and skills schemes since their commencement in 2008. To date approximately 79,000 people nationally have participated in and benefited from these programmes including just over 1,000 people trained under the fourth programme which has recently got underway.
On 29 July 2013, I announced the first tranche of Grants under the new digital skills grant scheme – BenefIT 4. During August 2013, grants totalling €691,256 were paid out to seventeen grantees. The grantees mostly comprise community and voluntary sector organisations. Because of the partnership approach used, a grantee usually partners with a number of other groups or organisations to deliver the training and as result approximately 200 groups are involved in the programme. Under the BenefIT 4 programme training is currently available at over 500 locations nationwide. These locations are illustrated on the new online training finder map recently developed by my Department and available at www.eInclusion.ie A breakdown of the grants awarded to date is given in the table. The second tranche of grant funding will be paid out in December 2013 based on the performance criteria of the scheme. Training will continue under the BenefIT 4 scheme throughout 2013 and into 2014.
|
Organisation |
Tranche 1 Grant amount |
|
Age Action |
€86,100 |
|
Autism Support Louth & Meath |
€13,560 |
|
Ballyfermot IT |
€56,026 |
|
Caring For Carers |
€14,923 |
|
Carlow Community Enterprise |
€13,098 |
|
Louth & Meath ETB |
€28,125 |
|
Waterford & Wexford ETB |
€14,932 |
|
FIT |
€189,000 |
|
ICS Skills |
€79,200 |
|
ICTU |
€42,950 |
|
Institute of Industrial Engineers |
€12,750 |
|
Irish Internet Association |
€34,000 |
|
Irish Rural Link |
€49,500 |
|
Irish Wheelchair Association |
€12,870 |
|
Sligo Leader |
€15,997 |
|
South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) |
€12,385 |
|
WALK |
€15,840 |
|
TOTAL: |
€691,256 |
359. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the EirGrid grid link project as part of the national electricity grid linking Leinster and Munster; if he will detail its proposed passage through an area in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42180/13]
View answerEirGrid's Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland’s transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to come.
The Government's July 2012 Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure underlined the urgent need for new energy infrastructure and its importance to individual consumers, but acknowledged that it will be necessary to have public confidence that relevant projects and programmes adhere to the highest international standards of safety, health and environmental and visual impact, and technology choice.
The project referred to in the Question consists of a new 400kV overhead power line linking Knockraha, County Cork to Great Island, County Wexford to Dunstown, near Kilcullen, County Kildare, ensuring a reliable and high quality electricity supply for homes, farms and businesses in the south and east region for the future.
The contents of the Project Stage 1 Report published by EirGrid on 3 September, identifying a number of route corridor options for the new line, will inform a twelve week public consultation. Over 2270 people have attended twelve open days held across the project area to date, to view maps of the route corridor options, and to provide feedback on any constraints near or on the corridors.
EirGrid has also opened 5 project information centres and to date has held 120 public information events, including information stands in shopping centres, marts, and local events.
Details of the potential routing, including any potential for routing through Wicklow, are readily available on the maps referring to the Grid Link project featured on the EirGrid website.
It is important to note that no decision has been made yet on the final route for the line. There are several route corridor options and public consultation is the best way for people to influence the next phase of the project, which is the identification of the least constrained corridor within which the power line can be routed.
360. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that Eircom as the only cable communications provider in the country has no statutory power to enter private property to repair damaged equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/13]
View answerThe provision of fixed line telecommunications connections between telephone exchanges and customer premises by Eircom are typically provided on multiline cables installed along public roads, from which individual premises are connected directly at a suitable local distribution point. It is a matter for Eircom to undertake the repair of customer connections within the statutory framework set out.
361. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps his Department, along with private operators, are taking to make sure there is high speed broadband available in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/13]
View answerIreland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County Meath, can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie.
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services, as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Broadband services under the NBS are available since October 2010 from the NBS service provider, “3”, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in the designated NBS Electoral Divisions. The combination of private investment and State interventions 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.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in County Meath. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and
- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.
My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector to identify where the market is expected to deliver high speed broadband services over the coming years. The results of this mapping exercise will inform the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are on-going. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
362. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42330/13]
View answerThe Better Energy: Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as part of the Better Energy Programme. The scheme provides financial assistance to households who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are allocated towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment.
To ensure the transparent use and administration of Exchequer funding, the SEAI is committed to delivering processes and systems which are clear and efficient, and which operate in a manner that is fair to all applicants. The following 2 scheme rules explicitly state that:
(a) Grant approval must be in place before any works commence; and
(b) Once accepted, the grant remains valid for 6 months from the date of issue of Grant Offer notification.
A grant offer, once accepted, remains valid for 6 months from the date of issue of grant offer notification. It is not possible to apply for a grant after the works have been completed and, therefore, a homeowner cannot reapply for a grant if the works have already been carried out. In relation to the late submission of paperwork under the scheme, grants cannot be paid if the paperwork is not submitted on time and within 6 months from the date of grant offer, as per the terms and conditions of the scheme.
It is not possible to make exceptions to the rules of the scheme as to do so would be to alter the terms of the scheme and create a precedent for any other parties who have found themselves ineligible.
Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has recently established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
363. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will set out a clear and definitive timetable for the development of the SEA which will underpin the export energy national planning network; if he will clarify the position regarding the plans for classifying electricity export projects as strategic infrastructural developments so as to allow them to proceed directly to An Bord Pleanála, rather than to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/13]
View answerMy Department is currently developing the project plan for undertaking the development of the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework. This framework will provide an opportunity to integrate the relevant requirements set out in various EU Directives, including the requirement for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and an Appropriate Assessment (Habitats Directive), into the framework.
The SEA will take approximately 12 months and include opportunities for all stakeholders including local authorities, potential project developers and local communities to be consulted and have an input into the national policy for wind export.
A dedicated section on my Department’s website and the initial phase of public consultation on the framework will go live in the next few weeks. The website will provide up to date information about the process on an ongoing basis.
As regards classifying electricity export projects as strategic infrastructural developments, the Planning and Development Acts, 2000 to 2011, and specifically the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, which set out the rules in relation to Strategic Infrastructure. Under this legislation An Bord Pleanála must express in a written notice that the development falls under the Strategic Infrastructure Act.
In the 7th schedule of the Act, under the heading of energy infrastructure, among the types of development listed is "An installation for the harnessing of wind power for energy production (a wind farm) with more than 25 turbines or having a total output greater than 50 megawatts". Accordingly, whilst it is for An Bord Pleanála to confirm, the very significant scale of the projects being proposed for wind energy export would indicate that they would be classed by the Board as "strategic infrastructure".
364. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties with the 3 network and Internet connectivity in the the Nire Valley and Hanora's Cottage area; the measures being taken to remedy same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42361/13]
View answerUnder the terms of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract which my Department has in place with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”), the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps 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 3.6Mbps and 384 kbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 48:1. The broadband service is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007.
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.
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 Department liaises very closely with “3” to ensure that any issues relating to service performance, which are brought to its attention, are addressed as quickly as possible.
I understand from "3" that the site serving the Nire Valley/Hanora's Cottage area of Co. Waterford was adversely impacted as a result of planned maintenance work on a related site and it experienced service availability difficulties over a period in July last. The capacity of both sites has since been upgraded and “3” has advised my officials that the site serving the area is performing as expected.
365. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding mobile coverage in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42444/13]
View answerThe provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within Ireland's competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions are matters for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its functions.
Issues relating to the quality or consistency of service levels should therefore be brought to the attention of ComReg who will investigate to ensure service providers are complying with the terms and conditions of their licences.
I expect that with the continued significant capital investments being made by mobile operators, the quality of mobile services will continue to improve across the country.
366. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the total revenue raised by the household charge in 2012 and 2013. [41877/13]
View answerThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 has provide d the legislative basis for the Household Charge. The Local Government Management Agency has administered the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils.
The following table, based on data provided by the Agency, details total Household Charge revenue raised by local authority area , as of 2 October 2013.
|
County/City Council |
€m |
|
Carlow |
1.60 |
|
Cavan |
2.06 |
|
Clare |
4.09 |
|
Cork City |
3.55 |
|
Cork County |
11.95 |
|
Donegal |
5.34 |
|
Dublin City |
16.32 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
7.00 |
|
Fingal |
7.47 |
|
Galway City |
2.47 |
|
Galway County |
5.43 |
|
Kerry |
5.31 |
|
Kildare |
5.60 |
|
Kilkenny |
2.65 |
|
Laois |
2.06 |
|
Leitrim |
1.16 |
|
Limerick City |
1.72 |
|
Limerick County |
3.92 |
|
Longford |
1.10 |
|
Louth |
3.18 |
|
Mayo |
4.72 |
|
Meath |
4.84 |
|
Monaghan |
1.70 |
|
North Tipperary |
2.15 |
|
Offaly |
1.99 |
|
Roscommon |
2.14 |
|
Sligo |
2.29 |
|
South Dublin |
6.69 |
|
South Tipperary |
2.58 |
|
Waterford City |
1.34 |
|
Waterford County |
2.08 |
|
Westmeath |
2.53 |
|
Wexford |
4.51 |
|
Wicklow |
3.84 |
|
Total |
137.37* |
* Variation due to rounding.
367. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the extension of the franchise to overseas voters for elections taking place within the State. [41900/13]
View answerIn order to be able to vote at elections and referendums, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides.
Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors and who may be abroad on polling day - whole-time members of the Defence Forces; members of the Garda Síochána; Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses or civil partners; electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day.
I understand that the Convention on the Constitution recently voted in favour of recommending the extension of voting rights in Presidential elections to Irish citizens who are resident outside of the State, including Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the resolution of the Oireachtas on the calling of the Convention the Government will provide in the Oireachtas a response to the recommendation of the Convention within four months of the report of the convention being submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas and, if accepting the recommendation will indicate a timeframe it envisages for holding any related referendum. Proposals for change to electoral law will be brought forward in light of any decisions for change which might arise from this process.
