Clare Daly
Question:394. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2471/14]
View answerConsultancy Contracts Expenditure
Questions (394)
Written answers
I am informed that no payments have been made to the consultancy firms in question since my Department was established on 2 June 2011.
Severe Weather Events Response
Questions (395)
Dara Calleary
Question:395. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will put a compensation scheme in place for islanders who have lost boats in the recent unprecedented weather storms; if he will accept that for some these boats are their only mode of transport; his response to the recent storm damage on islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2536/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, an interim report in relation to the damage caused by the bad weather was recently presented to the Government. I can inform the Deputy that I also wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and to the Minister of State at the OPW in order to draw their attention to the damage that was done to island infrastructure. There are currently no plans in my Department to put in place a scheme for islanders who may have lost boats in the recent bad weather.
Irish Language
Questions (396)
Brendan Griffin
Question:396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2552/14]
View answerWritten answers
The project referred to by the Deputy involves a building of 1,418 square metres comprising new offices for the local co-operative, a family resource centre and 3 enterprise units. The aim of the project is to build a centre that will provide additional services in high quality facilities for the benefit of both the local Irish speaking community and Irish language course participants and which will also increase the employment opportunities in the Gaeltacht. Accordingly, the main objectives of the project are:
- To strengthen the Irish language as the household language in the area in line with the objectives of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language by providing childcare facilities and family resource services and to create a language haven for Irish language speakers; and
- To sustain and develop language-based employment in the area by providing modern offices, enterprise and training space.
I am pleased that my Department was in a position to provide funding of €1,746,765 towards the cost of the project over a three-year period. During the construction phase, it is envisaged that the development will create employment in the area as well as having direct and indirect economic impacts. Based on analysis by the Construction Federation of Ireland on the impact of capital projects, it is expected that this project will create up to 40 jobs in the construction industry during the building phase and 80 jobs in other sectors in the local economy.
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the local co-operative pays, on average, salaries to 220 people in a full year, or 47 full-time equivalents. It is envisaged that the new facilities being developed will enable the continuation of this employment. In addition, the project will create new opportunities to build upon existing language-based employment in the local Gaeltacht area in the enterprise, cultural tourism, training, education and childcare services sectors. It is estimated that these new facilities will provide an opportunity to create up to 20 new full-time job equivalents in the long-term.
Harbours and Piers Funding
Questions (397)
Brendan Griffin
Question:397. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider rolling out a funding programme to improve piers in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/14]
View answerWritten answers
In view of the limited budget available and in the context of the priorities outlined in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, there are currently no plans to roll out a funding programme to improve piers in the Gaeltacht.
Irish Language
Questions (398)
Brendan Griffin
Question:398. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports available to predominantly English speaking non-Gaeltacht area communities who want to make a drive in their locality to become a predominantly Irish speaking community; the number of persons or the percentage of the geographical area that would have to speak Irish as the primary household language to be considered a Gaeltacht area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2555/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, many communities outside of the Gaeltacht are actively engaged in promoting the Irish language. Section 11 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides for the designation of such language communities as Irish Language Networks, i.e. areas that have achieved a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language. The Act provides Foras na Gaeilge with a statutory role in assisting organisations with the preparation and implementation of language plans in Irish Language Networks. My Department recently published Language Planning Guidelines which detail the process for obtaining recognition as an Irish Language Network. These guidelines can be accessed on my Department’s website at: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/20-YearStrategyfortheIrishLanguage2010-2030/LanguagePlanningProcess/.
In line with its statutory remit, Foras na Gaeilge provides a range of supports for the promotion of the Irish language in the community on an all-island basis. These supports include:
- An Scéim Phobal Gaeilge under which officers are employed by local communities to implement language development plans in their areas;
- A funding scheme for the establishment of language networks within communities;
- Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh which assists local groups outside of the Gaeltacht to organise youth summer camps through Irish;
- Scéim na nImeachtaí Óige which enables communities to organise youth clubs/activities outside of school hours;
- Scéim na bhFéilte which facilitates the organisation of Irish language events as part of festivals;
- Scéim na gComplachtaí Drámaíochta which assists Irish language drama groups; and
- An Scéim Tacaíochta Gnó which assists SMEs in using Irish within the commercial business sector.
In addition, Foras na Gaeilge recently announced the selection of six lead organisations to operate in the following key areas of Irish language promotion and development on an all-island basis:
(i) Irish-medium/immersion education and Irish-medium pre-school education;
(ii) Awareness raising, language protection and representation;
(iii) Education in the English-language sector and for adults, and opportunities for school pupils to use the language;
(iv) Opportunities which support the use of Irish and the establishment of networks;
(v) Community and economic development; and,
(vi) Development of opportunities for the use of Irish and of networks for young people.
The organisations selected are Gaelscoileanna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Cumann na bhFiann.
Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme
Questions (399)
Derek Nolan
Question:399. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to extend the boundaries in and around the Lough Lurgeen-Glenameady Turlough raised bog special area of conservation, County Galway, in order for the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme to apply to the said bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have no plans to extend the boundary of this Special Area of Conservation. Proposals for the future restoration and management of this site, and how the needs of turf cutters there are to be addressed, are set out in the Draft National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Management Plan which is available on my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Publications.
Question No. 400 answered with Question No. 388.
Question No. 401 answered with Question No. 387.
Departmental Reports
Questions (402)
Barry Cowen
Question:402. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2357/14]
View answerWritten answers
Details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form. The bulk of the studies referred to are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned. Payments from Ministerial allowances are not a charge on my Department's Vote and are not a matter for my Department.
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost € |
Publication Status |
|
Dr Michael Johnson |
Silvermines Vegetation Study |
5,848 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
|
Camp Dresser McKee CDM |
Sampling of Gortmore and Silvermines Vegetation |
13,890 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
|
Purvin & Gertz |
Strategic Case for Oil Refining requirements |
193,997 |
Published |
|
PA Consulting Group |
National Digital Research Centre |
29,040 |
This report was not published as it contains commercially sensitive information. |
|
OHH Energy Ltd |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
41,120 |
Published |
|
Elimark |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
38,786 |
Published |
|
2B Energy |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
32,284 |
Published |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Economic/Socio-Economic Analysis of options for rollout of next generation broadband |
28,167 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
SLR Consulting |
Core Library Holdings Review |
39,688 |
Published |
|
Jenny Deakin |
Preparation for the Graigue Group Water Scheme Report |
1,750 |
Published |
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost € |
Publication Status |
|
Analysys Mason |
Analysis of options for potential State intervention in the rollout of next generation broadband |
30,522 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
CDM Smith Ireland Limited |
Environmental Monitoring at former mining areas of Silvermines, Co. Tipperary and Avoca, Co. Wicklow |
170,014 |
Ongoing |
|
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Assessment of Economic Contribution of Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland |
53,690 |
Published |
|
Thornton’s Chartered Surveyors |
Provision of land valuation and negotiation services (Silvermines) |
3,690 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost € |
Publication Status |
|
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector Phase 1 |
€10,000 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector Phase 2 |
€10,000 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
Pricewaterhouse Coopers Ltd |
Scheduled review of INFOMAR Project |
€59,505 |
Published |
|
AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Ltd |
Expert Services to Monitor Mining Activities and Compliance with terms of State Mining Leases/Licences. |
33,498 |
Ongoing. This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive |
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost € |
Publication Status |
|
Indecon (Ireland) |
Provision of a Macro-Economic Research Exercise under the National Digital Strategy to Determine the Value of Internet/Digital to the Irish Economy |
€72,474 |
Published |
|
Environ UK Ltd |
Corrib gasfield project – monitoring compliance with the Conditions of the Department’s Letter of Consent dated 25 February 2011 |
€557,779 |
Ongoing |
|
Norcontel (Ireland) Ltd |
Market analysis of backhaul infrastructure in Mayo and Galway |
€10,500 |
Published |
|
Indecon (Ireland) |
Economic Analysis of the Advertising Market in Ireland |
€71,438 |
Ongoing |
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (403, 404)
Tony McLoughlin
Question:403. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband service in the Kinlough area of north Leitrim; if he will, through his Department and the local authority, provide any solution regarding this lack of vital modern communications infrastructure for this community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2377/14]
View answerTony McLoughlin
Question:404. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband service in the Strandhill, Kilmakeon and Knocknarea areas of County Sligo; if he will, through his Department and the local authority, provide any solution regarding this lack of vital modern communications infrastructure for this community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2378/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.
Ireland’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 the Irish market can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
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 Counties Leitrim and Sligo. 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 and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Kinlough in County Leitrim and in Strandhill in County Sligo before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputy.
The Plan recognises the importance of efficient and cost effective approval systems to facilitate the rollout of telecommunciations infrastructure. Since its publication, changes to the planning and permitting regimes have taken place or are underway. These changes include new guidelines to Local Authorities from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to mast infrastructure, the development of a software platform to accept single electronic applications to Local Authorities for road openings and for installation of street furniture, as well as guidance from the National Roads Authority in relation to hosting telecommunications infrastructure along all major routes.
In tandem with commercial developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. 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 over the coming years, the results of which will inform the 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, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration
Questions (405)
Sandra McLellan
Question:405. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual salary for the chairperson of EirGrid; his views on whether this is an acceptable amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2403/14]
View answerWritten answers
It is important that the boards of Irish Commercial Semi State Companies are led by persons with the requisite knowledge, skills, expertise, competence and leadership ability required to ensure such companies perform optimally. The position of Chairperson of EirGrid does not carry an entitlement to a salary. However, the Chairperson is offered an annual fee. Currently the fee offered to the Chairperson of EirGrid is €21,600.
Consultancy Contracts Expenditure
Questions (406)
Clare Daly
Question:406. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2473/14]
View answerWritten answers
Payments made by my Department to Oracle since March 2011 are set out in the following table. There have been no payments made to Accenture in that period.
|
Year |
Amount Paid |
|
2011 |
€ 72,634 |
|
2012 |
€ 76,049 |
|
2013 |
€213,777 |
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (407, 409)
Bernard Durkan
Question:407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the ongoing steps that are being taken to improve the quality of broadband service throughout County Kildare with particular reference to the areas of Timahoe and Coill Dubh with the objective of achieving the highest possible quality and speed in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2490/14]
View answer
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Question:409. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve the broadband service in Cloghan, County Offaly and the surrounding area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2689/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 together.
Ireland’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 the Irish market can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
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 Counties Kildare and Offaly. 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 and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In the fixed line segment of the market, eircom has announced plans to pass 1.4m premises with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Coill Dubh in County Kildare before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputy.
These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators.
In tandem with these developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. 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 over the coming years, the results of which will inform the 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, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (408)
Jack Wall
Question:408. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views regarding a submission (details supplied); if there are grants or funding available as suggested to address the issue as outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2503/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's correspondent has been misinformed. The company referred to in the Question is not in receipt of State grants or funding in relation to the rollout of broadband services. Ireland’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 the Irish market 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. Decisions by private operators relating to investments to upgrade broadband services are a commercial matter and not one in which I have a statutory function.
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 Kildare. 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 and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In the fixed line segment of the market, eircom has announced plans to pass 1.4m premises with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Kilcullen in County Kildare before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputy.
These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators.
In tandem with these developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. 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 over the coming years, the results of which will inform the 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, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
Question No. 409 answered with Question No. 407.
Biofuel Obligation Scheme Implementation
Questions (410)
Seán Fleming
Question:410. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the Government should grant carbon credits to a company (details supplied) to ship palm oil derivatives from around the world to supply the market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. The Directive also requires that all biofuels used to meet the 10% target must comply with certain sustainability criteria. That is, they must not be made from feedstocks sourced from certain categories of land, and must achieve certain greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 by the Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 as the primary means through which Ireland would meet the transport target. The scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA), is certificate based and, since January 2013, an obligated road transport fuel supplier, at the end of each obligation period (calendar year), must hold six biofuel obligation certificates for every 94 litres of petroleum based fuel it has placed on the market. Certificates are only issued for biofuels that have been demonstrated to have complied with the sustainability criteria of the Directive.
The Renewable Energy Directive requires that the contribution made by biofuels produced from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material, and ligno-cellulosic material be considered to be twice that made by other biofuels. Section 44G of the Act gives effect to this provision and requires NORA to issue two certificates for each litre of sustainable biofuel that the agency has determined has been made from such materials. I understand that in the last week NORA determined that biofuels from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) would be eligible for double certificates. POME is a harmful waste product generated from palm oil production and requires effective treatment before it can be safely discharged into watercourses and biofuel can be a by-product of this treatment. NORA has previously determined that biofuels produced from used cooking oil and biofuels produced from category 1 tallow qualify for double certificates. Details of its determinations are available on its website www.nora.ie.
The legislation requires NORA to consult with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government before finalising determinations. I also understand that it received submissions from An Taisce and the Laois Environmental Action Forum on the matter.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (411)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:411. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will expedite the provision of broadband services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2802/14]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’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 the Irish market can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
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 Kildare. 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 and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In the fixed line segment of the market, eircom has announced plans to pass 1.4m premises with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Kilcullen in County Kildare before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputy.
These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators.
In tandem with these developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. 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 over the coming years, the results of which will inform the 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, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
Broadcasting Sector Regulation
Questions (412, 413)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:412. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider liaising with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with a view to revising the newly drafted sound and vision scheme so that it provides improved support and opportunities to community media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2814/14]
View answerJerry Buttimer
Question:413. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to the proposed public service broadcasting charge, if he will consider apportioning some of the income from the charge to support community broadcasting that operates on a not-for-profit basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2815/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 446 of 15 January 2014. The position is unchanged.