Charlie McConalogue
Question:8. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects all citizens in County Donegal to have access to high speed broadband. [31287/14]
View answerBroadband Service Provision
Questions (8)
Written answers
The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector have accelerated with commercial operators investing, or committing to invest, approximately €2.5 billion. I understand that at least one network operator has published a programme to roll out 59 fibre-based broadband networks in County Donegal by July 2016. In addition, the recent announcement of a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone includes a proposal to provide high speed broadband in Letterkenny.
The Government has committed to an ambitious plan which involves ensuring the delivery of broadband services to those parts of rural Ireland that will not be served by the commercial sector. Services will be delivered over a network, with fibre at its foundation, which is sustainable and guarantees a quality broadband service to rural consumers into the future. This will be the key element of an intervention strategy that will ensure that all citizens and businesses can access high speed broadband services regardless of where they live.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes 78 areas in County Donegal.
A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in the autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed intervention strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services as quickly as possible.
It is my intention to progress this complex and ambitious project as a key priority. I believe that it will address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way and will ensure that rural Ireland can enjoy comparable levels of quality and service as those experienced in urban areas.
Questions Nos. 9 to 12, inclusive, answered orally.
Energy Resources
Questions (13)
Michael Colreavy
Question:13. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the provisions that will be made for local authorities to buy energy for electricity and heat from local micro-generation units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31646/14]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland's electricity and gas markets are commercial, competitive, liberalised and regulated in accordance with frameworks set out in EU and national legislation. The regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the retail segments of these markets, is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 provided for the establishment of the CER as an independent statutory regulator. Since its establishment, there have been a number of changes to the regulatory framework, and CER’s functions, in line with the continually evolving energy policy landscape and partly as a result of EU obligations.
The CER has a statutory responsibility to regulate the supply and purchase of electricity in both the wholesale and retail electricity markets. Any person or company who intends to supply electricity to a final customer, including to a local authority, requires a supply licence from the CER. The CER grants a licence to supply electricity under section 14(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
The supply and purchase of heat is not a regulated matter and local authorities and others are free to purchase heat as they see fit, whether the producer is a microgenerator or not.
It is important to note that the procurement of energy supplies by local authorities is not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. Rather, public sector procurement is generally a matter for the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The current Framework Agreement for the supply of electricity to the Irish public sector runs to 20 October 2014. Matters pertaining to the OGP are the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Rural Broadband Scheme
Questions (14)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the roll out of rural broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31295/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector have accelerated with commercial operators investing, or committing to invest, approximately €2.5 billion in networks and services. The recent announcement of a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone will result in further deployment of high speed networks in 50 towns providing the possibility of direct fibre connectivity for 500,000 premises.
The Government has committed to an ambitious plan which involves ensuring the delivery of broadband services to those parts of rural Ireland that will not be served by the commercial sector. Services will be delivered over a network, with fibre at its foundation, which is sustainable and guarantees a quality broadband service to rural consumers into the future. This will be the key element of an intervention strategy that will ensure that all citizens and businesses can access high speed broadband services regardless of where they live.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes over 1,100 locations across the country.
A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in the autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed intervention strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services as quickly as possible.
It is my intention to progress this complex and ambitious project as a key priority. I believe that it will address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way and will ensure that rural Ireland can enjoy comparable levels of quality and service as those experienced in urban areas.
Renewable Energy Generation Targets
Questions (15)
Michael Moynihan
Question:15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his Department's position with regard to the viability of biomass energy as an energy resource which could be utilised on the Irish electricity grid; if Ireland is currently reaching its EU targets with regard to renewable energy; the further actions that will be taken to reach our EU targets in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31423/14]
View answerWritten answers
The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this overall target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources. At the end of 2012, 19.6% of Ireland’s electricity requirements came from renewable sources with 5.2% of our heat requirements and 2.4% of energy in transport coming from renewables. This equated to 7.1% of overall energy from renewables.
In order to support development of renewable electricity generation, policy interventions are designed to incentivise the market to deliver the necessary renewable generation capacity. The choice of technology is ultimately a commercial decision for individual project developers. Currently the REFIT schemes are the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind and are paid for by electricity customers through the Public Service Obligation.
To date wind energy has proved to be the most commercial technology in the Irish market and provisional figures for 2013 indicate that 16.4% of energy demand in the electricity sector was met from wind. Nevertheless, diversification of the renewable generation portfolio in the longer term will be important for creating a sustainable, carbon free, electricity system. In this regard, biomass will have a role to play and, depending on electricity demand, the full implementation of current policies could mean that up to 5% of electricity may be generated from biomass in 2020.
Biomass, however, is likely to have a more significant role in the heat and transport sectors where fewer alternative technologies exist. Furthermore, estimates by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland show that current policies on their own will not deliver 12% renewable energy in the heat sector. The analysis underpinning the draft Bioenergy Plan, recently approved by Government, is that an additional bioenergy-focused measure in the heat sector would be a cost effective means of meeting Ireland's renewable energy targets. The Plan, therefore, recommends, subject to State Aid clearance and further Government approval, that a scheme be introduced that would incentivise larger heat users to convert to biomass heating solutions. My Department is progressing these outstanding issues and I will revert to Government with a fuller proposal in due course.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (16)
Noel Harrington
Question:16. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the national broadband plan to provide an adequate broadband service to the Coomhola-Borlinn Valley in West Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31299/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector have accelerated with commercial operators investing, or committing to invest, approximately €2.5 billion in networks and services. I understand that at least one network operator has published a programme to roll out 103 fibre-based broadband networks in County Cork by July 2016. In addition the recent announcement of a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone includes a proposal to provide high speed broadband in a number of areas in Cork.
The Government has committed to an ambitious plan which involves ensuring the delivery of broadband services to those parts of rural Ireland that will not be served by the commercial sector. Services will be delivered over a network, with fibre at its foundation, which is sustainable and guarantees a quality broadband service to rural consumers into the future. This will be the key element of an intervention strategy that will ensure that all citizens and businesses can access high speed broadband services regardless of where they live.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes 108 areas in County Cork.
A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in the autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed intervention strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services as quickly as possible.
It is my intention to progress this complex and ambitious project as a key priority. I believe that it will address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way and will ensure that rural Ireland can enjoy comparable levels of quality and service as those experienced in urban areas.
Offshore Exploration
Questions (17)
Clare Daly
Question:17. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on establishing a State oil/gas exploration company to seek an arrangement with Governments which have control over their oil/gas resources to directly link up and secure the benefits of our natural resources for the Irish people rather than multinationals. [31298/14]
View answerWritten answers
Since the 1960s, exploration activity in the Irish Offshore has yielded four commercial gas fields and no commercial oil discoveries. Exploration offshore Ireland is expensive due to its remoteness and water depths. The cost of drilling a single deep-water well in the Atlantic can be in excess of €100 million. Limited infrastructure, such as pipelines, terminals and platforms, pushes up the cost of development and negatively affects the commerciality of oil and gas discoveries. As a consequence, exploration for oil and gas in the Irish offshore is both a costly and high risk investment. The recent Wood Mackenzie Report on Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal terms considered, as alternatives to the current concession system, the establishment of a state hydrocarbon exploration company and of introducing production sharing contracts. Wood Mackenzie identify the potential benefits and risks associated with both models and concludes that at this time Government should not introduce a mandatory State participation in future licences, nor should Government change to a production sharing system.
While Wood Mackenzie recognise that an efficient State hydrocarbon exploration company could be a helpful partner to industry, the report includes a discussion of a series of risks related to issues of governance, funding, potential conflicts of interest and commercial efficiency.
It is evident from the discussion and analysis in the report that Wood Mackenzie recognise that the process of fully investigating the options and issues associated with establishing a national hydrocarbon exploration company would be a very complex process that would need to involve a broad range of stakeholders and would take a considerable time. It would have to adequately address fundamental questions such as how the cost of resourcing all of the functions would be met and in particular how the State would finance a share of any future field development costs. As a consequence, there are no plans to establish a State hydrocarbons exploration company at this juncture.
Renewable Energy Generation Targets
Questions (18)
Thomas Pringle
Question:18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the details of the proposals outlined in the bioenergy plan to optimise the contribution that energy from biomass can make in achieving our renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently approved the publication of the Bioenergy Plan in draft form pending the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the conditions to underpin the development of the sector. The Plan recognises that improved coordination will allow the sector to contribute to a number of policy objectives ranging from the achievement of renewable energy targets, complementing waste management policies, supporting sustainable agriculture and forestry and stimulating economic activity. The Plan also identifies the necessary next steps to be taken by various government departments, agencies and State bodies to support the sustainable development of the sector.
In terms of bioenergy's role in meeting Ireland's renewable energy targets, the Plan recommends the continuation of the two most significant bioenergy policies currently in place which are the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme.
Furthermore, the analysis underpinning the Plan is that an additional bioenergy-focused measure in the heat sector represents the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the Plan also recommends the introduction of a renewable heat incentive for larger heat users, who currently use oil, to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources.
Meeting this demand through indigenously sourced biomass could deliver significant economic benefits. Consequently, the Plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard the key recommendations include: the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Mona and Coillte.
In terms of developing new sources of biomass, the Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.
A further recommendation set out in the Plan is the continued support, on a cross-Government basis, for Research, Development and Demonstration in bioenergy including conducting an economic assessment of the costs and benefits of biogas and biomethane.
I look forward to the publication of the draft Plan shortly and to preparation of the Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments which will clear the way for the Plan's full implementation.
Exploration Licences
Questions (19)
Michael Colreavy
Question:19. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if any petroleum companies have made contact with his Department following the opening of the 2015 Atlantic Margin Oil and Gas Licensing Round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31644/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the principal regulator for the petroleum exploration sector operating in the Irish offshore, my Department is in ongoing contact with exploration licence holders regarding the setting, monitoring and delivery of licence commitments along with the acquisition of seismic and other data. In addition, my Department engages with companies that are not currently involved in exploration in the Irish offshore to promote the opportunity to invest here and with respect to providing access to existing exploration data. The 2015 Atlantic Margin Oil and Gas Licensing Round was formally launched on 18 June 2014 at the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth Conference and my Department will continue to promote the opportunity to apply for licences under the round at conferences and events. The Round opened for licensing all of Ireland’s major Atlantic basins: Porcupine, Goban Spur, Slyne, Erris, Donegal and Rockall. The form of petroleum authorisation on offer will be two year Licensing Options. The Round will close in September 2015 and the earliest applications may be submitted is 31 August 2015.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (20)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:20. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate broadband connectivity service available in many parts of County Donegal; when the telecommunications infrastructure in the county will be upgraded to provide adequate service for both households and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31288/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector have accelerated with commercial operators investing, or committing to invest, approximately €2.5 billion in networks and services. I understand that at least one network operator has published a programme to roll out 59 fibre-based broadband networks in County Donegal by July 2016. In addition the recent announcement of a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone includes a proposal to provide high speed broadband in Letterkenny.
The Government has committed to an ambitious plan which involves ensuring the delivery of broadband services to those parts of rural Ireland that will not be served by the commercial sector. Services will be delivered over a network, with fibre at its foundation, which is sustainable and guarantees a quality broadband service to rural consumers into the future. This will be the key element of an intervention strategy that will ensure that all citizens and businesses can access high speed broadband services regardless of where they live.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes 78 areas in County Donegal.
A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in the autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed intervention strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services as quickly as possible.
It is my intention to progress this complex and ambitious project as a key priority. I believe that it will address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way and will ensure that rural Ireland can enjoy comparable levels of quality and service as those experienced in urban areas.
Energy Prices
Questions (21)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:21. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures being taken by his Department to tackle the problem of fuel poverty. [31512/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's policy on energy affordability is founded on the fundamental principle that everyone should be able to afford to light and heat their home. The Government’s affordable energy strategy “Warmer Homes” identified three key interlinking factors which determine whether a person falls into energy poverty, namely energy costs, incomes and thermal efficiency.
Our high dependence upon imported fossil fuels limits our ability to control energy costs. However, we can promote and facilitate competition in the energy market through appropriate regulation and consumer awareness. Energy customers can choose between multiple energy suppliers and can shop around to seek a deal that best suits their needs and circumstances.
The Government will continue to ensure that those on low incomes are supported and treated with dignity through the household benefits package and specifically through the fuel allowance.
The most meaningful measure that can be taken is to continue to improve the thermal efficiency of people’s homes and protect them from the effects of rising energy costs. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households that meet defined eligibility criteria and are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations, augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have energy efficiency measures installed free of charge. Since the commencement of the scheme in 2000, over 105,000 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures under the Warmer Homes scheme, with a total spend of over €116 million. The Warmer Homes scheme is expected to upgrade another 12,000 households in energy poverty this year.
In addition, late last year a taskforce was established to examine the specific issue of consumer disconnections in the electricity and gas market. The taskforce has developed a number of new measures that will have a significant impact in this area. The CER (Commission for Energy Regulation) has published a consultation paper on debt management and has provided guidance that allows suppliers to make more Pay-As-You-Go meters available to customers. The network companies (ESB Networks and Bord Gais Networks) are running a number of pilot programmes which should ensure more customers get the opportunity to avoid a disconnection and energy suppliers for their part, have launched a new code of practice, "The Energy Engage Code", which guarantees that no customer engaging with them will be cut off. The CER will be monitoring and reporting on disconnection statistics on a monthly basis.
On the launch of the Energy Green Paper in May, the holding of a number of workshops on the paper was signalled. One of these workshops will be on empowering energy citizens, with energy affordability an integral part of this workshop.
Finally, the Government intends to review the affordable energy strategy and I anticipate releasing a consultation paper this autumn to commence the process.
State Bodies Funding
Questions (22)
Michael Colreavy
Question:22. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from where funding for payment of those who sit on the board of RTÉ comes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31643/14]
View answerWritten answers
Section 84 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the terms of Board members of the Public Service Broadcasting Corporations, RTÉ and TG4. In accordance with section 84(2), Board members may be paid such remuneration (if any) as is determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, out of monies at the disposal of the corporation. The manner in which such monies are sourced and paid is a matter for the corporation and not one in which the Minister has a role.
Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation
Questions (23)
Mick Wallace
Question:23. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the development of wave power here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31649/14]
View answerWritten answers
The ocean energy sector in Ireland, as in other countries, is at the pre-commercial stage. As identified in the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which was published earlier this year, the ocean energy sector holds real potential for growth in the green economy and jobs in our coastal communities. The OREDP sets out policy actions and enablers to realise this ambition.
Supporting developers in bringing their devices from prototype to full scale commercial viability requires a broad range of policies. To that end, the ocean energy development budget, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides support to developers in various ways. €6.5 million is available from the budget during 2014. Initial device development and testing is supported through the Prototype Fund. Developers must satisfy a range of technical criteria to indicate potential viability in order to receive funding. The €6.5m also includes funding for the development of the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) off County Mayo. From 2016, this facility will provide a grid connected test site with some of the best conditions for wave energy development in the world. Currently SEAI and the Marine Institute provide quarter size test facilities off the Galway coast.
The Irish Maritime and Energy Research Centre (IMERC) provides initial device testing facilities and critical research and development capacity. My Department is contributing €3 million in co-funding to the IMERC between 2013 and 2016. In total, my Department has allocated €26.3 million for ocean energy in the period 2013 to 2016. This funding, which will benefit from increased cross government coordination through the implementation of the OREDP, is vital if the ocean energy sector is to reach its full potential in Ireland. The fact that this level of funding has been retained for ocean energy despite the budgetary constraints of recent years indicates the level of Government commitment to realising the potential of our abundant, indigenous, offshore energy resources.
Renewable Energy Generation
Questions (24)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:24. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the development of policy within his Department on the use of biomass crops as a source of renewable energy; if he will provide details of the interactions he has had with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/14]
View answerWritten answers
Last week, the Government approved the publication, in draft form, of a Bioenergy Plan, which was prepared by my Department with input from a number of government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Plan identifies the opportunity for the sustainable development of Ireland's bioenergy resources and will be implemented through a number of policy and enabling actions.
The Plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT3 scheme which is designed to incentivise the addition of 310 MW of renewable electricity capacity to the Irish electricity grid. The scheme was designed, inter alia, to complement the Bioenergy Scheme by offering a premium tariff for electricity generated from energy crops. The Plan also recommends, subject to State Aid clearance and further Government approval, the introduction of a renewable heat incentive for larger heat users to change to renewable heating solutions. The introduction of such a scheme would further increase the demand for biomass.
Furthermore, the Plan also contains a range of measures to underpin the supply of Irish biomass including the continued support for the Bioenergy Scheme and the Afforestation Programme, both of which are administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of bioenergy, implementation of the actions arising from the Plan will be coordinated by a Bioenergy Steering Group which will draw on the relevant government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, agencies and stakeholders as appropriate.
Post Office Network
Questions (25)
Bernard Durkan
Question:25. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which efforts continue to identify various services suitable for inclusion in the portfolio of services for administration by An Post, with particular reference to the utilisation of the nationwide network of post offices, sub-post offices and counter services, thereby providing an enhanced role for the post office in both urban and rural areas and simultaneously contributing to the viability and scale of services available through An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31622/14]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Proposals for a whole-of-government review of the scope for providing additional public services through local post offices were presented to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy at its meeting on 28 April 2014. In its initial consideration, the Committee agreed to the proposal for a review of the scope of additional public services in the post offices. This process is underway and my Department is now examining the initial responses received with a view to engaging in further discussions with Departments as necessary with the aim of presenting a final report to the Cabinet Committee in September.
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. 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. Any such developments would need to be subject to competition and public procurement requirements as appropriate.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (26)
Bernard Durkan
Question:26. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has had discussions with the Regulator, telecommunications sector-service providers and the community at large in the context of availability, standard and quality of broadband in all areas throughout the country in line with standard and quality available in other European and worldwide jurisdictions; if he has received submissions in this regard in his Department from any or all of the interested parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31621/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government’s National Broadband Plan to accelerate commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure and to launch a Government led market intervention to make high speed broadband services accessible in areas the commercial market will not serve, was preceded by a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report and a public consultation process.
The NGBT report identifies actions which could accelerate commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure where such investment is commercially viable and areas the commercial market is unlikely to serve. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its functions, participated in the NGBT in an observer capacity. The launch of the NGBT report, in May 2012 was followed by a four week public consultation.
The National Broadband Plan was published in August 2012 in response to the NGBT report and consultation. Since publication of the Plan, commercial operators have either invested, or committed to invest, approximately €2.5 billion in broadband services. As a result of the increased investment the addressable area required by a State-led intervention to make high speed broadband accessible in areas the commercial market will not serve has been reduced by 30%.
The Government has committed to an ambitious network build-out to rural Ireland, with fibre as the foundation of the State-led intervention. This will be part of an end-to-end strategy to deliver high speed broadband services to all parts of Ireland that cannot be commercially served.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes over 1,100 towns and villages across Ireland.
A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed end-to-end strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing construction of the fibre network and provision of services as quickly as possible.
Energy Schemes
Questions (27)
Seamus Healy
Question:27. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is replacing the existing grant scheme operated with community not-for-profit organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31289/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low-income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and are vulnerable to energy poverty.
Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge. Homeowners register their interest in the scheme and are placed on an SEAI waiting list. Since the commencement of the scheme in 2000, over 106,000 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures under the Warmer Homes scheme, with a total spend of over €119 million.
The scheme is delivered by Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and a panel of contractors in order to ensure national coverage. The scheme has evolved over time from a small programme to the current level of delivery, with approximately 12,000 energy poor homes due to receive upgrades this year. SEAI now wish to consolidate delivery of the scheme to achieve the optimum efficiency and value for public money.
SEAI has extensively engaged with CBOs over the past year on the transition to the new model. CBO involvement, supporting local employment, and assisting in identifying and gaining access to the most vulnerable homes, will still be an integral part of the new model.
The new model will use a competitive tendering process to ensure the best value is delivered for the State. This tendering process will still consider all proposals based on their approach to identifying and accessing vulnerable homes, involvement of local community groups and the benefits for local employment. The new model will also encourage partnerships between Participating Energy Suppliers, Contractors and CBOs.
Data Protection
Questions (28)
Thomas Pringle
Question:28. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will permit An Post to access TV subscription data for payment of the TV licence taking into consideration data protection concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31651/14]
View answerWritten answers
As you will be aware, the Government gave approval to my Department to prepare legislation to enable the TV Licence Collecting Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers, including Sky and UPC.
The legislation will be designed to allow the Collecting Agent to have access to the information solely for its statutory functions in relation to licence fee collection and the commercial confidentially of the information will be safeguarded. My Department will consult with the Data Protection Commissioner in due course in relation to the drafting of legislation to ensure that it takes full account of data minimisation and data security principles.
Departmental Funding
Questions (29)
Seamus Healy
Question:29. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will grant increased funding on a multi-year basis to TG4, in view of the fact that its funding is significantly below similar services in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31291/14]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014. The position is unchanged.