Written Answers Nos. 195-201
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected that product from the Corrib gas field is likely to become available to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40868/14]
View answerCompletion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline will be completed later this year, with first gas anticipated in mid 2015.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of new oil, gas or other mineral finds arising from exploration on foot of licences issued over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40869/14]
View answerThere have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last five years. Ireland, however, has witnessed a positive upswing in the level of petroleum exploration activity in recent years, in particular acquisition of new seismic data. We need to see this translate into an increased level of exploration drilling in the coming years, if Ireland’s true petroleum potential is to be realised. In a similar manner, while the number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the buoyant state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in the last five years although there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. However, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits or to estimate the economic benefits that might accrue.
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which unilaterally or in conjunction with his EU colleagues, adequate provision continues to be made to safeguard the security of telecommunication systems through the prevention of hacking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40870/14]
View answerThe security of telecommunications networks is, in the first instance, a matter for the telecommunications operators. Under the Communications Regulation Act 2006 as amended, the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Framework) Regulations 2011 and the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Privacy and Electronic Communications) Regulations 2011, telecommunications operators are obliged to take “appropriate technical and organisational measures to appropriately manage the risks posed to security of their networks and services.”
The legislation also includes reporting obligations to the relevant regulatory body. This includes the Commission for Communications Regulation and the Data Protection Commissioner.
My Department also has a role in working with telecommunications operators preparing for and managing cyber incidents, through the National Cyber Security Centre.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which communication black spots throughout the country have been identified with particular reference to improved broadband and mobile telephone coverage; if some areas are equally affected by both; the action taken or proposed to be taken to address such infrastructural deficits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40876/14]
View answerIn terms of the quality of mobile phone coverage throughout the country, mobile licences issued by ComReg require Mobile Network Operators to provide a minimum level of national population coverage. There are no Universal Service Obligations attached to mobile phone licences and the design of individual networks is a matter entirely for the operators concerned. Given that mobile telephone services operate on radio based technology, services can be affected by several factors including topography, the capacity of the network and more generally the quality of access which customers have to mobile telephone antennas. That said, mobile service providers are rolling out 4G mobile services and upgrading 3G services which should further improve the coverage and quality of mobile service throughout the country.
The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention.
The National Broadband Plan has a dedicated work-stream looking at the removal of barriers to the roll-out of both broadband and mobile telephony infrastructure. A working group has been established to address infrastructure barriers. It is chaired by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and includes representatives from my Department, the Local Government Management Agency, the National Roads Authority and Local Authorities.
One of the current projects under the remit of the Group, is a review of issues surrounding the potential location of telecommunications infrastructure on public roads with a view to providing advice to telecommunications operators as to how such infrastructure could be accommodated along all major routes, with a particular focus on motorways. Consultation between the NRA and industry is ongoing and it is hoped that this would assist in reducing communications blackspots on motorways. Local Authorities also have an important role in working with telecommunications operators to assist in the roll-out of supporting infrastructure.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next number of years.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene with high speed broadband services where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. My Department is currently finalising a national map which will identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list of areas has already identified a number of areas that will require State intervention.
As part of the mapping process, a stakeholder consultation was launched in June. 32 submissions have been received and non-commercially sensitive versions of these responses were published by my Department earlier today.
I expect to publish the map shortly. Those accessing this map will be able to identify their own house or premises and see whether it is in the proposed intervention footprint. Where a house or premises is not in the proposed intervention area it means it either currently, or will in the near future, have access to commercial high speed broadband services. The map will be subject to change as new information becomes available or commercial investments are announced in the future.
A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015. My Department is also working closely with the European Commission with a view to obtaining State Aid clearance for the programme.
A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) towards the end of 2015.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland. Our goal is to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located.
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the issue of bullying by electronic means may be combated at national and-or European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40877/14]
View answerThis Government is committed to keeping our children and young people safe online, and to ensure that our legal and administrative systems reflect best practice in this area, and that people enjoy the same protection and rights online as already exist offline. To that end, the Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group was established in December of last year to review existing policy and practice across the full range of issues that arise in this space, and to make recommendations on same. The ICGA Group’s report was brought to Cabinet and published this summer and makes several recommendations aimed at protecting children and young people without unduly limiting their opportunities and rights online. Along with changes to institutional, administrative and legal structures, the report makes four specific recommendations on cyberbullying aimed at providing stronger supports for tackling this issue through primary and post-primary curricula and additional training and awareness measures. An Implementation Group has been established, and its Final Report, which I expect will be completed by year end, will set out the full set of measures to be introduced on foot of this process. In terms of dealing with cyberbullying, our most immediate and important task is to help educate children, young people and parents as to the risks that can be found online, to support parents and teachers in explaining these issues to children and to identify the optimal solutions to mitigate these risks and protect children. In this regard, the Department of Education and Skills (DES), who are represented on the Implementation Group, have a number of ongoing actions in place, for children of a variety of different ages. This is a complex and rapidly developing area, and government, industry and parents all have a role to play in ensuring that children can take full advantage of the opportunities offered online in a safe environment. The ongoing work across Government in this area will bring significant improvements in our regulatory and support system in this area, but the process of adaptation will continue, and these are issues that we will need to refer to again in the future.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which combined heat and energy generation is being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40878/14]
View answerCombined heat and power (CHP) is the simultaneous generation of heat and electricity in a single process and has the potential to enhance fuel efficiency. The European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014, which transpose the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive, set out a range of requirements for the promotion of energy efficiency, including a requirement for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to undertake an assessment of the potential for the application of cost beneficial high efficiency CHP in Ireland. This assessment is expected to be completed in 2015. In addition to improving fuel efficiency, CHP can also, by using fuels from renewable sources, contribute to achieving Ireland's 2020 overall renewable energy target, through renewable electricity and renewable heat. Recognising this potential, the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) scheme is designed to support up to 180 MW of biomass-fuelled CHP.
Additionally, all renewable electricity generating technologies can avail of Section 486B of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 which allows an investor to claim the lesser of 50% of all capital expenditure (excluding lands) or €9.525 million for a single project. Investment by a company or group under this scheme is capped at €12.7 million per annum.
Other tax-based support measures include the Employment and Investment Incentive (EII) Scheme which allows individual investors to obtain income tax relief on investments in renewable energy in each tax year. This scheme supersedes the previous Business Expansion Scheme. It provides a minimum tax relief of 30% with an additional 11% accruing at the end of the third and final year if the business has expanded to employ a designated number of people (or if the investment was used for R&D). The scheme has an investment cap of €750,000 and may thus be suited to small industrial renewable energy projects. A number of financial services companies offer EII Funds or portfolios to investors.
An Accelerated Capital Allowance scheme also allows companies to offset the cost of investment in CHP against their tax liabilities in year one, rather than over a more prolonged period, thus aiding their cash flow.
CHP is already deployed in Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has advised that the installed capacity at the end of 2013 was 334 MW (336 units) compared to 330 MW (325 units) in 2012. It has also advised that of the 336 units installed, 248 were reported as being operational and that the operational installed capacity increased by 2 MW, to 308 MW, in 2013 compared with 2012.
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which bioenergy reduction continues to be assisted with a view to achieving self-sufficiency in respect of energy sources in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40879/14]
View answer203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which employment creation has been generated by the biofuel and bioenergy sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40881/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 203 together.
I recently published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (www.dcenr.gov.ie). The draft 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 draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly.
The draft Plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, both of which provide a route to market for biomass. 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 (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources and its introduction would further increase the demand for biomass. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.
Although my Department does not hold figures on the number of jobs that have been created and supported in the bioenergy sector, the draft Plan recognises that meeting the demand for biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic and employment benefits. Consequently, the draft Plan 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 Móna and Coillte.
In terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of the 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.
