Written Answers Nos. 106-17
106. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts he is making to ensure that customers of the national broadband scheme in an area (details supplied) in County Mayo receive an adequate service; the efforts he is making to ensure that they receive a value for money product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19730/14]
View answerThe broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable service in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with "3", the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3 Mbps and 1.4 Mbps, respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 18:1. The NBS satellite service, which is utilised in a small number of cases for technical reasons associated with the location of the premises, offers minimum download and upload speeds of 3.6 Mbps and 384 kbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 48:1.The Deputy refers to the data allowance which applies in the case of the NBS satellite service. The allowance is 11 GB over a 28 day rolling period with night time traffic, between the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. GMT, calculated at 50% of actual usage. Where customers require additional data, this can be purchased at a cost of €5.00/GB. The difference in the data allowance between the NBS satellite and wireless broadband service reflects the different technology utilised and the greater limitation on the availability of capacity in the case of satellite broadband. The data allowance provided by the NBS satellite service compares favourably with the data allowances offered on other basic satellite broadband packages.
As regards service quality, my Department has well-established monitoring arrangements in place to ensure that the NBS delivers the minimum specified service or better to all users. The NBS contract guarantees service levels and imposes a service credit regime on "3", with significant financial consequences in the event that minimum specification service levels are not met. The NBS contract also provides that where NBS customers do not receive the minimum guaranteed service, as set out in the terms and conditions of their contract, they are entitled to service rebates.
My Department has a role where customers, after fully utilising the established complaints process with "3", consider that their service issues have not been resolved. 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 will then liaise with "3" personnel at its Head Office in Dublin to ensure that any service performance issues, which are brought to its attention, are addressed as quickly as possible.
107. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding concerns from postmasters from all areas over the future of their industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19782/14]
View answerIt 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. The professionalism of the postmasters and An Post has served the network well down through the years and I do not see any reason why this should not continue to be so in the years ahead. I met the Irish Postmasters' Union on 24 March and we had a useful and wide ranging discussion on their concerns in relation to the future of the post office network.
Securing the future viability of the post office network in the longer term will entail the network continuing to modernise, as it is doing, to provide the services that its customers require. An Post has undertaken a programme of capital investment particularly in the computerisation of the post office network including the automation of all post offices. As a result, the post office network stands well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as the more traditional over the counter transactions. Any such developments would need to be subject to public procurement requirements as appropriate.
I had committed to taking the issue of the provision of additional public sector business to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy. The Committee had its initial consideration of the matter at its meeting on 28 April. I hope the Committee will make further progress on a whole-of-government approach to sustaining and developing the network consistent with European law. I see a strong future for the network by using its existing strengths to remain a significant player in the provision of Government, financial and other services.
108. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a progress report on the implementation of the national broadband plan and the rural broadband scheme for County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19795/14]
View answer109. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the areas in counties Wicklow and Carlow that have been selected for the provision of broadband or enhanced broadband; the way and when this will take place; the measures residents need to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19806/14]
View answer110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate broadband connectivity service available in areas (details supplied) in County Cavan; when the telecommunications infrastructure in this area will be upgraded to provide adequate service for both households and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19858/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 110, inclusive, together.
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 intervention 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. Commercial operators combined have either invested, or committed to invest, over €2 billion in their Irish networks, delivering high speed broadband to homes and businesses. For example:
- Eircom is rolling out a €400m investment in a Next Generation Access Fibre Network that offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Service is already available to over 800,000 addresses, with planned coverage to reach 1.4 million addresses by 2016.
- UPC has invested over €500m in upgrading its cable network. Over 700,000 homes can already access minimum broadband speeds of 120 Mbps and up to 200 Mbps. Businesses can access speeds of 500 Mbps.
- ESB is engaged in a new project allowing a fibre network to be rolled-out on its existing electricity infrastructure. It is understood that discussions between ESB and Vodafone to form a new Joint Venture Company are at an advanced stage. The company has initial plans to construct a fibre network directly to 450,000 premises outside of Dublin and it is expected that details will be announced over the coming weeks.
- Mobile operators have launched 4G high speed mobile broadband services following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. There has also been continued investment by all operators in enhancing and broadening 3G services and network improvements.
- Fixed wireless operators are continuing to invest in high speed point-to-point wireless broadband.
- The broadcaster Sky has entered the broadband market, increasing choice for consumers.
Of the estimated 2.3 million premises in Ireland, approximately 1.4 million are expected to be served by these commercial next generation broadband services over the coming years.
This accelerated roll out of high speed services by the commercial sector means that the addressable area required by the State intervention has been reduced by 30% since the National Broadband Plan was launched. While the commercial developments are welcome the acceleration of investment is largely contained to cities and towns. The speeds that are available in these areas are demonstrably better than those that are available in more rural areas.
On 25 April, I signalled the Government's commitment to a major telecommunications network build-out to rural Ireland, with fibre as a cornerstone of its investment under the National Broadband Plan. This commitment is a clear expression of Government’s determination to address the connectivity challenge in rural Ireland in a meaningful and sustainable way.
Central to the strategy will be a fibre build-out to locations in every county in the State identified as having no existing or planned enabling fibre network. It is intended that the fibre will be delivered directly to access points for homes and businesses, where service providers can utilise the fibre to provide high speed services to end users. The fibre build-out will also ensure that fibre is deployed to strategic locations on each route such as schools, business hubs and health facilities. The fibre build out will be part of an end-to-end strategy that will address all parts of Ireland that cannot access commercial high speed broadband services.
I have published a county-by-county list of towns and villages which have already been identified for a fibre build-out. This is an indicative list and is subject to the completion of the comprehensive mapping process currently underway. Further locations may be identified as this process continues. Similarly, it may be determined that some locations on the list will be addressed by the commercial sector and will therefore not require State intervention.The list is available on my Departments website www.dcenr.gov.ie.
In tandem with the fibre build-out, the Strategy will include measures to respond to aggregated community demand for services, and the provision of access services in the most remote areas where fibre roll-out may be insufficient to stimulate commercial investment or may be cost-prohibitive.
Intensive design work is ongoing in the Department with a view to publishing an end-to-end implementation strategy later this year, together with the outcome of the mapping exercise which will identify the areas that require intervention. A full public consultation will take place once the strategy is published and EU State Aids clearance will be required for the intervention strategy once finalised. It is expected that the detailed procurement process will take place in 2015 with a view to commencing construction of the fibre network and provision of services as quickly as possible.
I fully share the concerns of local representatives about the quality of broadband in rural areas. I intend to ensure that rural Ireland enjoys similar opportunities to urban areas by ensuring an end-to end market intervention with fibre as a core component. In committing to a fibre build-out at the heart of this strategy, the Government is acknowledging that broadband is the key infrastructure of the 21st century.
111. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been spent on water mains rehabilitation, to repair leaks and to replace pipes for each of the past six years including to date in 2014. [19638/14]
View answerMy Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 built on the investment which had taken place on water conservation in previous programmes. In total, over €290 million was spent by my Department on water conservation measures between 2003 and 2013. Annual expenditure by my Department on water conservation for the past six years up to the end of 2013 under the various Water Services Investment Programmes is as follows: €30.7 million was spent in 2008; €27.2 million in 2009; €37.7 million in 2010; €39.9 million in 2011; €39.3 million in 2012 and finally €43.5 million in 2013. This gives an overall total spend by my Department of over €218 million in the period 2008 – 2013.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. This includes water mains rehabilitation to repair leaks and to replace pipes in the public water supply. Irish Water is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. The further progression and funding of all water services capital projects, including those for water conservation , is now a matter for Irish Water.
Irish Water as confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
112. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the policy whereby applicants for loans from local authorities have to be in continuous employment for two years, thus excluding persons who have been in consistent employment on different contracts over that same period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19752/14]
View answerThere are two types of house purchase loan available from local authorities: standard annuity loans targeted at lower income first time buyers and those under the Home Choice Loan scheme which are available to qualifying middle income first time buyers affected by the "credit crunch".
The terms and conditions governing the operation, including eligibility terms, of annuity mortgages and the Home Choice Loan are set out under various Regulations such as the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009, the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009, and most recently in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012. These are available on my Department’s website: http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/.
Applicants for housing loans from local authorities must be in continuous employment for two years. There is no requirement for this continuous employment to be with a single employer.
113. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil cad iad na socruithe atá á gcur i bhfeidhm chun a chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhísí Leader á gcur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge do phobal Ghaeltacht Chonamara; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [19763/14]
View answerCeanglófar ar aon eintiteas atá roghnaithe chun seachadadh a dhéanamh ar ghnéithe LEADER den Chlár Forbartha Tuaithe don tréimhse 2014-2020 cloí le ceanglais reachtúla náisiúnta, lena n-áirítear iad siúd a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus le ceantair Ghaeltachta. Caithfidh na Grúpaí Gníomhaíochta Áitiúla a chuireann Straitéisí Forbartha Áitiúla isteach lena meas a lua sna straitéisí sin conas atá sé ar intinn acu na ceanglais sin a chomhlíonadh.
114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications on hand for seaweed harvesting licences; the date each application was received; the number of tonnes of seaweed sought to be harvested each year under each application; if public consultation has been advertised in each case; if not, when is it proposed to do so; if it is intended to hold oral hearings on the larger applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19767/14]
View answerThere are currently 10 applications for licences to harvest seaweed under the Foreshore Act 1933 before my Department. These applications are from both individual and commercial applicants and are at various stages of the assessment process.
Of the 10 applications, 4 are deemed to be sufficient for assessment purposes and are available to view on my Department’s website at; http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplicationsandDeterminations/
The public consultation process has concluded in respect of 2 these applications. The remaining 2 will proceed to public consultation as soon as practicable.
My Department is awaiting further information in 5 cases. The remaining case is currently at preliminary review stage. When these applications are deemed to be complete, they will be published on my Department’s website and also advertised for public consultation. No provision is made in the Foreshore Act to hold oral hearings.
The following table sets out the date of receipt of the applications concerned and the tonnage quantities applied for.
|
Date of receipt of application |
Quantity of seaweed applied for per annum |
|
Application (complete) |
- |
|
22 January 2014 |
Up to 12,500 tonnes |
|
18 November 2012 |
Up to 9,000 tonnes |
|
12 September 2012 |
Up to 10 tonnes |
|
16 December 2013 |
Up to 14,000 tonnes |
|
Application (at preliminary review stage) |
- |
|
21 March 2014 |
Up to 40,000 tonnes |
|
Application (awaiting further information) |
- |
|
5 May 2012 |
Up to 10 tonnes |
|
23 April 2013 |
Up to 30 tonnes approx. |
|
21 June 2013 |
Up to 46.5 tonnes approx. |
|
9 August 2013 |
0.5 tonnes |
|
30 August 2013 |
Up to 20 tonnes |
115. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will include 30 further landowners in the Clonfert area of the Hymany Way Walking Trail in the walks scheme as they claim they were promised participation in the scheme when the walking trail was being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19768/14]
View answerDue to budgetary constraints it has not been possible to develop new walks under the existing Walks Scheme since December 2010. I appreciate there were a number of proposed routes at varying levels of completeness in late 2010 when the Walks Scheme was closed to new applications. Only those projects where contracts had been signed and the Scheme was operational could be allowed to progress.
There are however 1,814 participants covering 39 trails still taking part in the scheme. In 2013 annual payments to participants who maintained sections of trail that traversed their lands exceeded €1.8 million.
116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he will put in place to ensure that the day-to-day administration of the social inclusion programmes and the Leader programme 2014-2020 for the islands is operated by an island based company for all the islands off the coast, as at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/14]
View answerThe LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will be delivered using a Community Led Local Development approach through the design and implementation of the Local Development Strategies. The Programme will provide sufficient focus, including funding supports, to the Islands to ensure that the development needs of the Island communities are fully addressed.
The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is currently being delivered on the Islands by Comhar na nOileán Teoranta and it will continue to be implemented by this company on a transitional basis until the end of 2014 pending the roll-out of a new programme in January 2015. Discussions with the relevant stakeholders in relation to how the successor programmes to LEADER and the LCDP will be delivered on the Islands are ongoing.
117. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the location of water meters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/14]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the metering programme.
Most meters for public utilities are located at the point where the connection enters the household. In the case of water services, under the provisions of the Water Services Act 2007, households' pipes internal to the boundary of a property are considered the responsibility of the householder, and thus water meters are being fitted at the stopcock at the boundary of the property. As this is located on publicly accessible land, it minimises disruption during the installation programme and also in terms of meter reading in due course as access is not required to people’s homes. The meter boxes are not sealed and can be opened to allow the householder to read their meter, if necessary. Meters will be read automatically and the information will be provided directly to customers in their bills.
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that all the water meters in use by Irish Water comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive. In all customer communications, Irish Water asks any householders with any disability, mobility or medical concerns to contact its call centre (1890 278 278) in advance of the meter installation so any additional support or advice can be arranged.
