Written Answers Nos. 200-206
200. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding apprenticeships (details supplied) under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48202/14]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, apprenticeships in the local authorities are a matter for the Chief Executives.
201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied) in County Cavan; when it is planned to have this infrastructure upgraded to ensure that business and households in that area have an appropriate level of communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47512/14]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next number of years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. The map can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high speed broadband services of at least 30mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises / home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands in every county in Ireland, including Cavan.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) towards the end of 2015. In this regard the Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost to taxpayers as low as possible. It is expected that the physical build of this network will commence from 2016.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
202. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details in tabular form by county for 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 of the number of persons who have been prosecuted for non-payment of the television licence. [47578/14]
View answerProsecutions for non-payment of TV Licence are a matter for the Courts Service and, therefore, I have no role in the matter.
203. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list, following the completion of the post-primary broadband network, of the broadband connectivity assets and network which are now owned by the State. [47584/14]
View answerThe provision of 100Mbps connectivity in all post-primary schools, following a public procurement competition, is delivered on existing telecommunications networks, owned and operated by licensed service providers. As such, this project did not require any new infrastructure to be constructed by the State for the purposes of delivering this broadband connectivity. Under the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) programme, the State, with the support of the European Union, invested over the period 2002-2009, in the provision of wholesale, open access fibre networks in 94 regional towns and cities. The MANs infrastructure is managed, maintained and operated by a private company, enet, on behalf of the Contracting Authority, namely the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Local Authorities. The MANs have played an important role in driving competition in the regions and have facilitated telecommunications operators, large and small, in providing high speed broadband services without having to build their own networks.
A number of commercial and non-commercial semi-state entities also own telecommunications networks and infrastructures. Such companies and agencies include ESBT, Eirgrid, Bord Gáis Éireann (Aurora), RTÉ, Bord na Móna, Coillte, CIE, OPW, RPA and Waterways Ireland.
204. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following the launch of the proposed high speed broadband network to all premises here, the total cost of this programme for each year up to 2020; and the resulting network and broadband assets which will be owned by the Irish State as a result of this programme. [47585/14]
View answerThe proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State. I have undertaken to complete a detailed intervention strategy that will be submitted to Government in mid-2015. This process is complex and will include close examination of issues such as:
- The appropriate ownership model for the infrastructure;
- Whether there will there be a single contractor or multiple contractors to build the infrastructure;
- The appropriate duration of the contract; and
- How the service quality is to be measured and assured
Consideration will also be given to the identification of strategic connection points, for example, business and enterprise parks, schools, hospitals, Garda Stations and any other centres of economic or social activity in rural communities. Part of the necessary analysis will be to examine the feasibility of identifying and prioritising particular parts of the country that might be considered black-spots in terms of overall quality of existing broadband coverage.
The scale of the planned intervention means it is likely that the overall cost will be significant. However, given the current dynamic that exists in the commercial market, it is expected that there will be a highly competitive procurement process.
Detailed technical, legal, regulatory, financial and economic evaluations are required to ensure that the State's intervention is fully compliant with EU rules. My Department is working with a number of Government Departments and both State and European agencies to explore all possible funding options and ensure the optimum arrangements for financing for this major infrastructure investment.
The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder or bidders towards the end of 2015. We will be designing the tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost to taxpayers as low as possible.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current and future connectivity challenges in Ireland.
205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the full extent of the requirement of electricity generating capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in the future; the extent to which this will facilitate compliance with EU or other guidelines and-or agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47665/14]
View answerThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share of renewable energy in our generation portfolio. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Figures for 2013 show that 20.9% of electricity demand was met from renewables. To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. In 2013, 16.5% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2013, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was in excess of 2,200 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target.
The October European Council endorsed a binding EU target of at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. In addition, an EU target of at least 27% is set for the share of renewable energy consumed in the EU in 2030, and an indicative target at the EU level of at least 27% is set for improving energy efficiency in 2030 compared to projections of future energy consumption.
Ireland intends to make a cost-effective, achievable and fair (in terms of effort sharing among Member States), contribution to these high level EU goals. My Department is overseeing detailed and rigorous energy system and economic modelling to identify the contribution which is appropriate for Ireland taking account of our specific economic circumstances. This analysis will address issues such as the quantum of additional renewable electricity we should seek to achieve by 2030, the technologies that should be supported in this regard, and the level at which any future supports should be set.
A Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework is under development to ensure that Ireland meets its future needs for renewable electricity in a sustainable manner, compatible with environmental and cultural heritage, landscape and amenity considerations. The second stage of public consultation on the Framework is to begin shortly.
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the need to enhance the role of An Post continues to feature in discussions with relevant bodies or agencies with a view to possible increased use of postal service infrastructure as a means of providing increased services to the community nationally in both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/14]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. Currently, there is a whole-of-government review under the auspices of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy exploring the scope for providing additional public services and securing new lines of business through the post office network. I have engaged with both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union concerning this review as and when appropriate.
