Written Answers Nos. 207-213
207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which improvements in quality and speed of broadband are envisaged over the next two years, with particular reference to County Kildare and the need to meet the requirements of customers therein as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47667/14]
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 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 each townland.
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.
208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the growth and development of electric motor engines, with particular reference to technical advances affecting range, acceleration and speed; the extent to which these developments have been factored into energy requirements for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47669/14]
View answerThrough its membership of the International Energy Agency, Ireland has regular contact with all of the leading countries who are actively promoting electric vehicles and we receive regular updates on technological progress and policies to promote electric vehicles (EVs).
Technology advances will continue in the sector, with the biggest developments expected to take place in the areas of range increases and reduced recharging times for electric vehicles. EVs currently on the market are offering ranges under 200km per charge. This compares to ranges of approximately 170km two to three years ago. It is expected that similar evolutionary increases in range will continue through improved battery technology and vehicle design. Such increases in range will impact on the longer term requirements for charging capability such as public charging points and I understand that this is being monitored by the ESB. The ESB is also actively monitoring developments in charging technologies and is working closely with motor manufacturers, charging equipment suppliers and international standards bodies to ensure that Ireland is well prepared for such developments.
The level of electricity system impact will depend on the level of uptake in the vehicles over that period. The EV Roadmap prepared by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is an estimate of the possible long term electrical energy requirements for electric vehicles and the associated benefits out to 2050 based on a number of different deployment scenarios.
The report, available on the SEAI website, shows that the electrical demand on the system is unlikely to impact the business as usual development requirements for the electricity grid until 2040. Even then, it finds that charging strategies and time of use pricing methods could be employed to avoid the need for additional grid capacity development until beyond 2050. The reason for this is the high energy efficiency of the EV and the drop in electrical power demand at night time. EVs, therefore, could increase the utilisation of this spare night time capacity and, in doing so, make better commercial use of the existing electrical network assets.
The ESB is also evaluating, through the current EV trial, the impact that electric vehicles are likely to have on the overall energy requirements and the resulting network implications in order to plan for and accommodate the expected increase in demand for electric vehicles.
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his expectations in regard to the development of the wind energy sector; the extent to which national grid requirements are likely to be met through wind energy including potential backup in respect of both targets for the internal or export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47670/14]
View answerThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Whilst acknowledging 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 energy mix. Ireland has a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport.
To date, wind energy has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target, with an installed capacity of 2,200MW. It is estimated that an installed capacity of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW is required to achieve 40% renewable electricity by 2020.
Over 3,000 MW of new generation, mainly wind, has accepted grid connection offers. Comprehensive engagement with communities, and communicating the benefits for citizens of realising the potential of our indigenous renewable electricity resources, will be essential in the rollout of renewable energy and grid infrastructure.
As regards renewable energy export, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation with the UK Government in January 2013, a joint programme of work was undertaken to consider how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both Ireland and the UK.
Economic analysis clearly indicates that, under agreed policy and regulatory conditions, renewable energy trading could deliver significant economic benefits to Ireland and the UK, as well as being attractive to developers. However, given the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved, and some key decisions that the UK are not yet in a position to take, delivery by 2020 of renewable energy trading will not be possible. In the context of a European Internal Energy Market, it would appear that greater trade in energy between Britain and Ireland is likely in the post-2020 scenario.
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress regarding the availability of product from the Corrib gas field to the national grid in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47671/14]
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 in early 2015 with first gas anticipated in mid 2015.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which imported oil, gas or other energy sources are likely to be replaced by existing or anticipated onshore or offshore discoveries; their anticipated impact on this economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47673/14]
View answerThere have been no new commercial discoveries of oil and gas within the territory of the State since the discovery of the Corrib Gas Field in 1996.
With first gas expected in the first half of 2015, the Corrib gas project will make a significant contribution to the island's security of supply situation. It is estimated that the project will have an operating life span of between 15 to 20 years and gas production will on average meet 42% of all island gas demand over the first 2 years of operation declining thereafter. I understand that the bulk of the gas produced from the Corrib field will be supplied to the national grid via the 149km pipeline constructed by Bord Gáis Networks and which runs from the Gas terminal in Bellanaboy Co Mayo to Ballymoneen outside of Galway.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the full requirement in terms of high speed, high quality broadband is available to hospitals, schools, local authorities and third level educational institutions throughout the country, with particular reference to the need to compete with the best in Europe and worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47674/14]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen, business and public service provider, 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.
Telecommunications networks operators are investing approximately €2.5bn to provide next generation telecommunications services. Access to high-speed retail broadband services is already available in many urban areas. In these and other areas users with specific needs can negotiate access to high-speed broadband services over leased circuits or alternative technologies. In the case of schools the roll-out of high-speed broadband to all post-primary schools has been completed by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. In addition, all 3rd level institutions are provided with high-speed broadband services through the HEAnet's dedicated infrastructure.
On 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 potential users of high-speed broadband services to see whether or not their premises or home is within an area to be served by the commercial market or is included in the Government’s proposed intervention.
This is a complex and ambitious project which aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges for all potential users of high-speed broadband services. It will allow businesses, citizens and public service providers to access high quality, high-speed connectivity regardless of location.
213. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to upgrade broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47694/14]
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 24th of 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.
