Written Answers Nos. 588-604
590. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has considered the negative effects the new changes to by-laws dealing with access, fees and permits for the waterways in this State will have; the reason these changes are being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13556/14]
View answer591. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the locations where boats will be able to moor have been identified; if he will outline them; the annual mooring charge for each of the mooring locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13557/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together.
Our waterways make a vital contribution to tourism, attracting visitors from around Ireland and from abroad. There are over 14,000 registered boat owners on the seven waterways managed by Waterways Ireland. As the Deputy is aware, Waterways Ireland has prepared draft bye-laws in respect of the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow Navigation. These proposed bye-laws were the subject of a statutory public consultation process earlier this year.
The proposed bye-laws are intended to support the investment already made by Waterways Ireland in new infrastructure and facilities along the canals. They will enhance Waterways Ireland’s ability to manage, care for and maintain the canals and to help to develop them as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users including those that use the canals for residential purposes, and will help create and develop the canals into a waterways system that is modern and fit for purpose.
There have been no changes to the bye-laws for over 24 years. There are areas of canal use which have developed in that time in an unregulated manner such as the use of the canals by people living permanently on their boats. Under the existing bye-laws there is no provision of this type of use. A further problem is the permanent mooring of privately owned boats in key village and harbour locations which is deterring touring boat traffic as there is no access to be able to moor and visit, spend money, eat in local restaurants, etc in such locations.
Active control of how boats use the canals is vital if they are to flourish for boating use and there has been exaggeration of for example the change to the charging regime. New bye-laws are necessary to ensure the proper management and control of these nationally important recreational assets.
The draft bye-laws propose that the cost of the annual extended canals mooring permit would range from €160 to €1,600 in most cases, depending on the size of boat, location and services provided. In the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, the proposed cost of the extended mooring permit is €2,500 per annum.
The proposed bye-laws also provide for the management of house boats, defined as a boat on the canals which is being used as the sole or principal residence of the owner or an occupant with the owner's permission. The proposed fee for the houseboat mooring permit, where these are provided, will range from €1,250 to €3,500 per annum, again depending on the locations and services provided.
I am advised that Waterways Ireland received over 2,000 submissions in the course of the bye-law consultation process. Waterways Ireland is now giving full and careful consideration to all of these submissions, following which it will prepare a report setting out its proposed approach, including any revisions it may wish to make to its original proposals. The report will be submitted to my Department and will then be referred to me, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. As I indicated previously, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making the final decision.
I am informed by Waterways Ireland that over 50 extended mooring locations have been identified, mapped and published on the Waterways Ireland website. Following the making of new bye-laws, Waterways Ireland's valuation staff will develop the proposed annual mooring charges for each of the mooring locations already identified and for any other locations that may be identified in the meantime.
592. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of civil servants engaged in constituency work on his behalf; and the salaries, accommodation costs and expenses involved or associated with these duties. [13678/14]
View answerThe staffing of both my Private and Constituency Offices is consistent with the provisions of the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices approved by Government. Two civil servants (1.4 whole time equivalent) at clerical officer grade are engaged in my constituency office. The combined annual rate of pay for these officers, both of whom are paid at standard civil service rates, currently amounts to €49,079. Overtime and expenses, where they arise, are payable at standard civil service rates. I can confirm that no such costs occurred in respect of these officers in 2013 or to date in 2014.
As both officers are located in my Department's headquarters, no additional accommodation costs arise in respect of their assignment to constituency work. As I have previously advised the House, I have also appointed a personal secretary and a personal assistant, based in my constituency office in Listowel, in line with the above mentioned guidelines.
593. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are funding opportunities and bursaries available for Irish dancing schools that will represent their country in the Irish dancing world championships in London next month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13933/14]
View answerMy Department does not provide grants to specific performing art practitioners or schools as described by the Deputy. In the case of the arts, funding decisions, including bursaries, are a matter for the Arts Council. In general terms, responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, and I have no role to play in relation to its funding decisions.
594. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding proposed canal by-laws; if inland waterways will remain open and accessible all year round; if he will ensure that any proposed by-laws do not negatively impact on the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14047/14]
View answerThe public consultation undertaken by Waterways Ireland on the proposed bye-laws governing Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow system concluded on 3rd February last. I understand that there were over 2,000 submissions made in the course of the public consultation process, all of which were submitted directly to Waterways Ireland as the body responsible for conducting the consultation process. Waterways Ireland is now giving full and careful consideration to all of these submissions, following which it will prepare a report setting out its proposed approach, including any revisions it may wish to make to its original proposals. The report will be submitted to my Department and will then be referred to me, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. As I indicated previously, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making the final decision.
The canals are normally open for navigation from April to October. As the Deputy will be aware, the economic downturn has led to a decline in resources available in recent years. Waterways Ireland, in common with other public bodies, has not been immune from the impact of this decline. In this context, I am informed that Waterways Ireland is actively considering targeting its limited resources and manned services to the times of greatest use and benefit across all its navigations.
The proposed bye-laws are intended to support the investment already made by Waterways Ireland in new infrastructure and facilities along the Grand and Royal Canals and the Barrow system. There will be a new free one month Visitor Permit which seeks to actively encourage boats to visit and tour on the canals. The proposed bye-laws also seek to address the issue of boats on the canals remaining permanently moored in key locations such as villages, which are then inaccessible to boats visiting the canals and cruising along them.
Overall, the proposed bye-laws will enable Waterways Ireland to develop the canals as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users and will help create and develop them into a waterways system that is modern and fit for purpose.
595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update in tabular form of the commitments in the programme for Government that relate to his Department; and the progress that has been made in the implementation of each commitment. [14108/14]
View answerMy Department is continuing to implement the commitments made in the Programme for Government. In that regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the recently published Programme for Government Annual Report which sets out key areas of progress over the last 12 months. I also wish to draw his attention to recent Dáil statements where I set out progress to date across the various commitments which fall within my area of responsibility and also key priorities for 2014. For example, progress in the arts area includes the development of a series of commemorative projects for the Decade of Centenaries programme focussing in particular on the 2013-2016 period. €6m in total will be allocated in 2014 to a number of Departments including my own to fund a number of these commemorative projects. In addition, a new Cultural and Heritage Centre is being established in partnership with Bank of Ireland at Parliament Buildings in College Green. A programme of exhibitions and events to be held here will be developed as part of the Decade of Centenaries.
Progress has also been made in the encouragement of a culture of philantrophy in the Arts sector through the introduction of targeted initiatives in my Department.
In the heritage area, the Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) was published in January 2014 setting out significant reconfiguration of Ireland's NHA raised bog network to meet conservation targets. Turf cutting will continue on 45 NHAs while cutting on a further 36 NHAs will be phased out over three years and 25 new, mainly State owned, sites will be proposed for designation to replace the habitats lost through de-designation of the more heavily cut sites.
In the Irish language area, a progress report on the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language was published in July 2013. Údarás na Gaeltachta continues to drive economic development in the Gaeltacht. Its client companies created 616 new full-time jobs in 2013 with a further 560 expected as a result of projects already approved. Údarás client companies employ over 7,650 people, both full-time and part-time, and contribute over €400 million in the form of direct expenditure in the Irish economy. Good progress was also made on the commitment to review current investment and funding programmes that benefit Irish language organisations. Foras na Gaeilge announced new funding arrangements last year to support the development of the Irish language in both jurisdictions. Six lead organisations were selected to specialise in six major areas of activity.
I am satisfied that significant progress has been made so far across the range of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to my areas of responsibility and I look forward to building on that progress over the remaining two years of the Government's mandate.
596. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a bog (details supplied) in County Westmeath which has been the subject of review under the new peatlands strategy plan and if persons will be enabled to continue turf cutting under the de-designation proposals as part of the said land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14220/14]
View answerThe recently published Review of Ireland’s Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which is available to download from my Department’s website, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 raised bog NHAs, including the bog referred to by the Deputy. The Review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured NHA network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain NHAs by 2017, the designation of further NHAs and the partial or complete de-designation of certain NHAs.
The bog to which the Deputy refers is one of the NHAs that has been signaled for complete de-designation and this will be done in due course. As a result of the review, the existing arrangements for domestic turf cutters on this bog will continue pending de-designation. My Department has written to all property holders who could be identified on the bog to inform them of the results of the Review. In addition, notices outlining the outcome of the Review have also been placed in local papers.
It should also be noted, however, that separate legislative requirements also continue apply to large-scale turf-extraction, including, where relevant, requirements for planning permission and EPA licensing.
597. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the salaries, including pensions and any other bonus-related additions, including company cars, of chief executive officers of commercial State bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14475/14]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that there are no commercial State bodies under the remit of my Department.
598. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide more information on the national scheme relating to the distribution of 1,000 vouchers as per action 78 of the Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13164/14]
View answerThe trading online voucher scheme is a key deliverable under the National Digital Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs. It is intended to catalyse action among small business owners to invest in the online trading aspect of their business. The scheme will provide individual qualifying businesses with a voucher of up to €2,500 to be used with the company’s own matching funding for the implementation of a trading online component to their business. The scheme is targeted at those small and micro enterprises (with less than ten employees and whose annual turnover is less than €2m), who do not have an online presence or at those who are seeking to improve their online offering by adding, or improving, a trading online dimension. €5 million has been provided for the voucher scheme in 2014 in my Department's Vote. Planning is currently underway for the national rollout of the scheme which follows the completion of a pilot phase in the Dublin area. Under the pilot, 50 businesses were awarded vouchers in a competitive process which was oversubscribed. The successful companies were selected based on their project plan which included expected growth in jobs and exports. The pilot attracted businesses across a whole spectrum of activity including retail, wholesale, product and service providers.
My Department is working closely with the County and City Enterprise Board network (soon to be Local Enterprise Offices) and Enterprise Ireland on the national scheme. Preparations are being scaled up and it is planned that vouchers will be made available initially in Dublin city and county, Cork city and county, Waterford city and county, Kerry and Louth and will then move to national rollout during the summer.
When launched, the voucher scheme will be advertised nationally and on the National Digital Strategy web page of my Department's website. It is envisaged that up to 2,000 small businesses will benefit from this initiative from mid-2014. The eligibility criteria that operated in the case of the pilot are available on the Dublin City Enterprise Board web page at www.dceb.ie/Financial-Assistance/Online-Trading-Voucher and it is likely that very similar criteria will apply in relation to the national scheme.
I have also made arrangements for companies who feel that they may be eligible, and would like to be informed when the scheme is being rolled out, to contact my Department at Benefit@dcenr.gov.ie with their name and contact details and my officials will notify them when the national scheme is open for applications.
599. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the specific supports to be provided to businesses to help them reduce costs through energy and resource efficiency, as outlined in action 96 of the Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13167/14]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) continues to support the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) and the Energy Agreements Programme in line with Action 96 in the Action Plan for Jobs and as part of the implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). Now in operation for over 18 years, the LIEN engages over 160 of the largest energy users in on-going relationships, including site visits, through workshops and seminars, special working groups, networking clusters, and annual energy performance reporting. LIEN members share information on energy-saving technologies and techniques to maximise savings and maintain competitiveness. Energy spend across the LIEN is approximately €870 million and now represents 17% of National Total Primary Energy Requirement (TPER). LIEN members recorded savings of 580GWh in 2012 which equates to a €40 million saving. The Energy Agreements Programme comprises approximately half of the LIEN membership and supports large industry to implement an energy-management system through the new ISO 50001 standard. Consistent annual savings across the Network averages between 2% and 3% per annum. Cumulative savings of in excess of 28% have been achieved to date.
The SEAI’s focus continues to be on promoting energy efficiency and associated cost reduction programmes through the small business support centre. During 2013, close to 300 organisations availed of the Advice Mentoring and Assessments (AMA) and/or EnergyMap training with a further 300 engaging in networking events, seminars, master classes and awards, collectively resulting in energy savings to SMEs of €2.6 million. Annual savings of over 10% are being generated by the participating businesses year on year.
Following the commitment in the Programme for Government and NEEAP, my Department has developed the National Energy Services Framework to help develop the energy-efficiency market in the non-domestic sector throughout Ireland. The Framework provides an integrated resource to both businesses and public bodies to help them become more energy efficient. The key to the success of the Framework will be the ability to identify and build a pool of investment grade projects. The first tranche of exemplar energy efficiency projects was launched in June 2013. Collectively, the exemplar projects will see investments of up to €55 million in energy saving measures, resulting in annual energy cost savings of €7 million. A total of €480,000 in technical assistance has so far been committed across the initial 21 exemplar projects. The Framework will be complemented by the Energy Efficiency Fund, which will provide commercially priced finance to energy efficiency projects.
600. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review the legislation regarding the ESB allowing users to enable broadband in rural areas under the national broadband scheme. [12838/14]
View answer601. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are alternative options available to households in rural areas that are not eligible to receive unlimited broadband; if he will acknowledge the difficulties some businesses operating from rural areas are experiencing as a result of slow broadband connection; if further steps will be taken to improve broadband connection in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12910/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999. 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 regulation of the industry, including regulatory issues surrounding speeds, is a matter for ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions. Details of broadband services available in each County can be found on a number of websites, including ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie, as well as the websites of individual commercial operators.
The legislation to enable the ESB become a player in the telecommunications market has now successfully passed through all stages of the legislative process. This will allow ESB, either alone or in partnership with another operator, to engage in the provision of broadband services in competition with other existing market players. I would again reiterate that such involvement is purely on a commercial basis.
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 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 1.4 m addresses with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100 Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120 Mbps and 200 Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings.
Many of 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 regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the roll-out of services by operators.
In tandem with these developments, intensive work, including a comprehensive mapping exercise, continues in my Department in relation to the 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.
Under the national mapping exercise, information has been sought from all undertakings authorised by ComReg in relation to current and planned broadband services, both basic and next generation access (NGA). Mapping data has been submitted to my Department by a total of 23 operators and the process of analysing the data and supporting information is continuing. The mapping data is being assessed on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the EU State Aid Guidelines. When all of the information has been analysed, a clear picture should emerge of coverage throughout all of the country. I expect that this process will be completed later this year, after which it is my intention to publish a map showing existing and planned NGA broadband coverage, along with the Government’s proposals for a State-led intervention to roll out high speed broadband across the country.
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 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.
602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to whom Eircom is responsible, or regulated by, in relation to matters of health and safety, falling poles and dangerous overhead cables. [12927/14]
View answerThe owner of any physical structure is required by section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the structure is not a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road. If any structure, including telecommunications infrastructure, is such a hazard or potential hazard the Local Authority, for the area in which the structure is situated, may serve a notice in writing on the owner to remove, modify or carry out specified works in relation to the structure within the period stated in the notice. Any dispute between a landowner and the company about any structure which is not located on a public road and is not a hazard to users of a public road is a matter to be resolved between the parties in dispute. The health and safety obligations of the company are the relevant provisions of law applicable to companies generally when performing as a contracting body, employer, provider of goods or services, the owner and operator of a significant physical infrastructure network including retail shops open to the public and all other potential employer and public liability risks which can arise, depending on the circumstances and activities in any particular case.
I have no statutory role in regulating such activities.
603. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of external or internal policy reports currently that have been handed to him but not yet published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13027/14]
View answer604. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish reports currently in his possession that have not been published to date; if he will outline in tabular form the reports involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13044/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 603 and 604 together.
Details of all external reports commissioned by my Department which are completed but will not be published are set out in the following table.
|
Reports Completed |
Reason for Non Publication |
|
Silvermines Vegetation Study |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase. |
|
Sampling of Gortmore and Silvermines Vegetation |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase. |
|
National Digital Research Centre |
This report was not published as it contains commercially sensitive information. |
|
Economic/Socio-Economic Analysis of options for rollout of next generation broadband |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
Analysis of options for potential State intervention in the rollout of next generation broadband |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
Provision of land valuation and negotiation services (Silvermines) |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase. |
|
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector Phase 1 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector Phase 2 |
This Report was not published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
Expert Services to Monitor Mining Activities and Compliance with terms of State Mining Leases/Licences. |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive |
My Department provides policy advice to me in written format on a regular basis covering all areas of work in the Department; such advice is not formally published in report format.
