Written Answers Nos 1-17
12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that Ireland is significantly underperforming in the development of a substantial insulation and retrofit programme as a means to conserve energy and create employment. [3912/15]
View answerWhile I agree with the Deputy that insulation and retrofitting are vital to conserving energy and boosting domestic employment, I do not accept that Ireland is underperforming in this area.
Under the range of Better Energy Schemes administered on behalf of my Department by SEAI, energy efficiency retrofitting has been supported in over 163,000 homes, while almost 112,000 homes in energy poverty have received free energy efficiency improvements. A further 9,600 homes have received funding as part of community energy efficiency initiatives. In total, nearly one sixth of all homes in the country have received a Government supported energy efficiency upgrade. The Better Energy Programme will be continued in 2015 with expenditure of €40m planned.
To build on this progress, and to embed energy efficiency in the supply chain, last year I introduced an energy efficiency obligation on energy suppliers. This places a mandatory requirement on energy suppliers to work with all categories of customer, including those in energy poverty, to deliver energy efficiency improvements. The aim of this scheme is to increase the scale, and reach, of energy efficiency projects. Similar projects are already in operation in other EU states and internationally.
It is clear that increasing the scale of energy efficiency action in both the private, and public, sectors requires commercial funding. This is why the National Energy Efficiency Fund was launched in 2014. This type of initiative is critical to supporting the scale of energy efficiency deployment necessary to maintain our progress to 2020 and to lay the foundations for continued action to 2030. Energy efficiency will be key to a cost effective and technically feasible contribution by Ireland to the objectives of the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework.
13. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the roll-out of high speed rural broadband and time scale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3667/15]
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 two 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. This consultation will close on the 12th February next. 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 30 Mbps 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 or 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 throughout the entire country.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30 Mbps 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.
In tandem with the mapping consultation, intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy. The strategy will address a range of issues in relation to the intervention including the optimum procurement model, ownership model for the infrastructure, intervention cost and likely market impact.
My Department has engaged external advisors to provide legal, economic, technical and financial advice on the various aspects of the Plan over the next two years. The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. The Intervention Strategy will be notified to the European Commission for State Aid clearance.
Following the public consultation, towards the end of this year a detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders. The Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost of the network build as low as possible. I am keen to see the implementation begin as quickly as possible and completed at the earliest opportunity. I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having the final homes and businesses connected within a 5 year period.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
14. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on progress towards the 2020 target for electric vehicle use in the State; the number of EV charge points that have been installed by location and type of charge point in each year since 2008; the number of charge points that have been installed by Electric Ireland at private dwellings, by county; if it is likely that the 2020 target will be met; the additional supports he has planned to boost take-up; if his Department has had any discussions with a company (details supplied) with regard to the deployment of their vehicles in the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/15]
View answerThe 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a contribution.
The Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme supports and incentivises, through grants of up to €5,000, the early deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 which apply to electric vehicles. The grant scheme will remain open for this year and I have no plans, at this stage, to introduce any new financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. Additionally, the ESB is continuing to roll out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points.
Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which is available my Department’s website, estimates that approximately 50,000 electric vehicles could form part of the transport fleet in 2020. However, the extent to which electric vehicles are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including, inter alia, the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. There are signs that these factors are improving, and 2014 saw an increase in electric vehicle purchases through the EV Grant Scheme compared to previous years. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, who administer the scheme, has advised of increasing interest in EVs continuing into 2015.
My Department has not had any discussions with the company mentioned regarding the deployment of its vehicles in Ireland. The company has not registered with the SEAI for participation in the EV grant scheme. However, I understand that its vehicles are available for Irish consumers to purchase from the company's website and that there are a small number of the cars registered here.
In relation to the Deputy's question regarding charge points, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a tabular statement setting out the information requested.
15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which deficiencies in terms of access to and quality of broadband have been identified at various locations throughout the country with a view to the taking of emergency initiatives to address the problem at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3891/15]
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 two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available. However, not all parts of the country are benefitting from this very welcome investment, hence the requirement for a targeted public intervention to ensure those particular areas of the country also have access to modern high-quality broadband services.
The national high-speed coverage map published on the 24th November last shows clearly those areas of the country where public investment will be required. On the same day I also published a public consultation on the mapping process. This consultation will close on the 12th February next. 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 30 Mbps 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 or 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 throughout the entire country.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30 Mbps 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.
In tandem with the mapping consultation, intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy. The strategy will address a range of issues in relation to the intervention including the optimum procurement model, ownership model for the infrastructure, intervention cost and likely market impact.
The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. The Intervention Strategy will be notified to the European Commission for State Aid clearance.
Following the public consultation, towards the end of this year a detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders. 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.
16. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of training courses in 2014 provided to assist companies to trade online; the discussions held in this regard; his views that the target under the Action Plan for Jobs in respect of businesses trading online will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48138/14]
View answerIn July 2014, my Department launched a national Trading Online Voucher Scheme, following a successful pilot in the Dublin area. The scheme is a key initiative under the Government’s National Digital Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs.
The changes in consumption patterns and citizen behaviour that come with the online revolution are affecting all Irish businesses. Irish consumers are now spending more than €6 billion online every year. Yet, less than a third of this spend goes to Irish retailers, and only 23% of small Irish companies have engaged in online sales.
To address this challenge and working in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office network, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme aims to get 2,000 small and micro businesses trading online by the end of this year. This targeted initiative has the capacity to bring new sustainable jobs to all parts of Ireland: directly for the businesses that participate, and indirectly for those who supply them with expertise, training, hosting and logistics services.
The scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500, matched by the qualifying business, for investments in a digital component of their business. Initial allocations of Trading Online Vouchers were made in 2014 to the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. By end 2014, some 550 businesses were awarded a voucher under the scheme. Rollout of the vouchers will continue in 2015 and a number of awareness raising initiatives, including the development of online resources, are planned to drive its momentum.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme was informed by learnings from other schemes in the marketplace which have sought to incentivise small businesses to get online, including Google’s Getting Irish Business Online and Dublin Chamber of Commerce Activating Dublin as well as the pilot phase of the scheme. Such initiatives pointed to the value of including a training element in the scheme to help businesses to understand the opportunities of digital and how best to adapt it for their business.
An information session forms an important part of the application process for a trading online voucher. It provides support to prospective applicants who have little knowledge of the internet or its potential to help them access new markets and create jobs. It assists business owners and managers in their application by encouraging them to think strategically about enhancing the digital capability of their business.
Under the scheme, 53 information sessions were held nationwide in 2014. This intervention in advance of an application to the scheme has resulted in an increase in the quality of the applications received by the Local Enterprise Offices which in turn is expected to enhance the impact of the vouchers on the businesses who receive them.
The scheme is on target to reach 2,000 businesses by the end of the year in line with the commitments in the National Digital Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs.
17. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is committed to providing fibre connection to every household here; if not, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3856/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan will deal conclusively with the rural connectivity issues so that current and future generations will have a guaranteed access to high quality, high speed broadband. The network we wish to see built will, therefore, have to be scalable and capable of meeting future anticipated traffic growth.
Whatever the technology used, the proposed intervention must ensure users have a minimum service of 30 Mbps and that this can also meet future anticipated growth in traffic and consumer demand for more bandwidth.
In line with the EU competition rules, we must observe a policy of technology neutrality in any State intervention into a competitive market.
However, the scale of the Government’s ambition in regard to the level of service we wish to see available in rural areas, the step change in broadband quality demanded by the EU Commission’s State Aid guidelines, the exponential growth in demand from consumers, the on-going significant improvement in services that is now available to many urban dwellers and businesses through commercial investment as well as the current fibre deficit in much of rural Ireland all point to a major role for fibre in resolving this issue.
In line with the provisions of the State Aid Guidelines, we are likely to adopt an approach that will see the deployment of fibre networks as close as possible to end-users. Through a variety of technology platforms, retail telecommunications providers would then able to use this wholesale network to offer services to the final customer.
