Written Answers Nos. 124-130
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected product from the Corrib Gas field will become available on the domestic market; the regions of the country most likely to benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4807/14]
View answer125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the domestic and industrial sector will benefit from the Corrib Gas field when product from it becomes available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4808/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, including the construction of a 5km tunnel, will be completed later this year, with first gas expected in the first half of 2015. The Corrib gas project will make a significant contribution to the island's security of supply situation. It is estimated that the project will have an operating life span of between 15 to 20 years and gas production will on average meet 42% of all island gas demand over the first 2 years of operation declining thereafter. I understand that the bulk of the gas produced from the Corrib field will be supplied to the national grid via the 149km pipeline constructed by Bord Gáis Networks and which runs from the Gas terminal in Bellanaboy Co Mayo to Ballymoneen outside of Galway.
126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which it is expected to improve, enhance, upgrade and expand the quality, speed and extent of broadband services nationwide in the foreseeable future, with particular reference to the need to ensure the availability of state of the art technology in all sectors throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4809/14]
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.
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. 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 have continued 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, following the successful multiband spectrum auction last year. Last week, I introduced legislation in the Dáil, to allow the ESB to utilise its electricity network to install a new high speed broadband communications network.
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 later this year. 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.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which it is expected to engage in consultations with community-based groups that have expressed concerns in respect of wind farms and high-voltage overhead pylons; the degree to which it is expected to engage with such groups in the short and medium terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4810/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions No 1, 3 and 11 of 30 January 2014, Question No 304 of 9 December 2013 and Question No 614 of 4 November 2013 which sets out the position in relation to public consultation and community engagement on wind energy and Grid 25.
128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the most current form of mineral exploration licenses have been applied for or activated to date; the way this compares with the position under previous licensing regimes; if any particularly noticeable issues have arisen in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4811/14]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, compiled under the relevant provisions of the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999. The latest report sets out, inter alia, details of the minerals prospecting licences granted and current during the period to 30th June 2013 compared to the previous reporting period. The next such report for the six months period ending on 31st December 2013 will be presented to the Oireachtas in the near future. This information on all current licences, including maps of prospecting licence areas, is accessible on the Department’s website www.dcenr.ie/Natural/Exploration+and+Mining+Division/. The number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the current buoyant state of mineral exploration in Ireland.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which commercially viable oil, gas or other minerals have been detected on foot of explorations carried out on an annual basis during the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4812/14]
View answerThere have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last five years. However, Ireland now has the highest number of petroleum exploration authorisations in place since exploration began in our offshore more than four decades ago. With new company entrants in 2013 including large independent oil companies such as Cairn Energy, Kosmos Energy and Woodside Energy, together with existing companies such as Eni, ExxonMobil, Petronas, RPS, and Shell, it is evident that there is significant and growing capacity in the sector. This demonstrates that exploration in the Irish offshore is moving in the right direction.
In a similar manner, while the number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the buoyant state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in the last five years although there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. However, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits or to estimate the economic benefits that might accrue.
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the post office service, including counter services, remains the focus for expansion throughout the country, with particular reference to the adaptability of the service to the increasing needs of communities in urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/14]
View answerOperational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are, of course, a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. Having invested in the computerisation of all post offices, the post office network is well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and financial services sector.
In the context of the public sector transformation agenda I will continue to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to consideration, as appropriate, of the post office network for transactional elements of the business of Government Departments and Agencies and have stressed to my Government colleagues that the network is ideally configured for over the counter transactions. Any such developments would, of course, need to be subject to public procurement requirements as appropriate. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.
