Patrick O'Donovan
Question:608. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to update broadband in the Ballycanew and Ballyoughter area of County Wexford. [7808/15]
View answerBroadband Service Provision
Questions (608)
Written answers
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.
A public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 which was launched last November, closed on the 12th February. 27 submissions have been received to date and will be assessed over the coming weeks in terms of the overall intervention strategy. The map continues to be available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention and includes Ballycanew and Balloughter, Co Wexford.
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 including County Wexford.
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.
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 and likely market impact.
Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy during next summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year 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 anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises 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.
Fisheries Protection
Questions (609)
Gabrielle McFadden
Question:609. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on plans to tackle the infestation of Asian clam on the River Shannon at Lanesboro in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7838/15]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that following the initial identification, by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) of the Asian Clam (Corbicula Fluminea) in the ‘hot water’ stretch and ‘cut’ areas of Lough Ree at Lanesborough, early action was taken to close the fishery and erect public warning signs to reduce the threat of further spread. I visited the site at the initial stages and met with local representatives and community groups. The fishery reopened, with strict biosecurity conditions, very shortly after the outbreak. The design and build of a disinfection station prototype has been completed and four units, funded by ESB have been installed on site.
While IFI has no statutory remit as regards Alien Invasive Species, they are coordinating the response actions of a range of State bodies. Following these initial steps, IFI also conducted a comprehensive scientific survey to provide critical information on the nature and extent of the infestation.
Since it discovered the outbreak IFI has been facilitating and chairing meetings of relevant Agencies, including Waterways Ireland, the ESB, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bord Na Mona and Longford and Roscommon County Councils. The cross agency group has agreed a plan to carry out a trial dredge operation on the “hot water” stretch. This trial will inform on the feasibility and success rate of the method(s) to be used in any larger scale operation. Consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is also underway as regards disposal.
I am advised that the trial dredge will commence once water levels facilitate an operation which is safe for personnel and which takes precaution against further spread. I am advised that equipment to carry out the trial is already on site while the appropriate weather window and water level is awaited. IFI, on behalf of the Agency Group, has kept local stakeholders advised of developments as they occur and will provide further updates closer to the commencement of the trial operation.
However, it is important to understand that Asian Clam, like many other aquatic invasive species, is extremely pervasive in the environment, and once in a water body it is likely that operations will be focused on managing the infestation rather than eradication.
Fishing Industry
Questions (610)
Michelle Mulherin
Question:610. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the income for 2014 for the State-owned fisheries on the River Moy at the Ridgepool Cathedral beat and the Spring Wells beat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8151/15]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that the permit income from the Ridgepool, Cathedral beat and the Spring Wells beat on the river Moy for the 2014 season amounted to €96,403.57. Permit income contributes to the effective management by IFI of the Moy Fishery.
Fish Farming
Questions (611)
Michelle Mulherin
Question:611. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the count on the salmon-run returns on the boxes in the Ballina fisheries in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8152/15]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that the primary index of salmon abundance on the Moy is the comprehensive rod catch statistics returned annually. The refurbished weir in Ballina includes three fish counters: a LOGIE resistivity counter is installed in box 1 and two VAKI infra-red fish counters have been installed in boxes 2 & 3. These counters operated in the months from April to September 2014
The counters primarily provide very good indicative data on the timing (and to a lesser extent quantum) of salmon runs. The count on the salmon run returns on the boxes in the Ballina Fisheries in 2014 was 2056. This figure is the net upstream count representing the gross upstream count, less the gross downstream count.
During summer 2014 an additional LOGIE resistivity fish counter was installed in box 7 and, following testing and calibration, is expected to be operational during 2015. The boxes are numbered from the east or Ardnaree bank.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (612)
Noel Coonan
Question:612. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when an area (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be included for high-speed broadband; the reason for the delay in same; if 10 Mbps will be available under the national broadband plan for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8203/15]
View answerWritten answers
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.
A public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 which was launched last November, closed on the 12th February. 27 submissions have been received to date and will be assessed over the coming weeks in terms of the overall intervention strategy. The map continues to be available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention and includes Moneygall, Co Offaly.
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 including Counties Offaly and Tipperary.
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.
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 and likely market impact.
Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy during next summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year 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 anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises 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.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (613)
Ciaran Lynch
Question:613. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider the matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the provision of broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8307/15]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of telecommunication services, including broadband, are a matter in the first instance, for the many commercial players who operate in the Irish market. Therefore, decisions on when and where to locate investment are always taken on commercial grounds, having regard to the likely return on investment. As Eircom is a private company, I have no role in relation to directing them to invest in any particular project. The State can only intervene in this market in cases of clear market failure.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.
A public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 which was launched last November, closed on the 12th February. 27 submissions have been received to date and will be assessed over the coming weeks in terms of the overall intervention strategy. The map continues to be available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER area shows the target areas for the State intervention and includes Currabinny, County Cork.
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 including County Cork.
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.
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 and likely market impact.
Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy during next summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year 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 anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises 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.
Road Safety Strategy
Questions (614)
Tom Fleming
Question:614. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the speed limits in residential estates, schools, places of assembly for example cinemas, theatres, community centres and so on, around the country with a view to reducing the speed limits in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7857/15]
View answerWritten answers
In the examples cited by the Deputy, local authorities already have the necessary powers to provide for a 30 km/h Special Speed Limit if they deem such a limit to be appropriate and necessary. Special speed limits may also include periodic speed limits which can be designed to apply and operate at specified periods, for example when children are arriving at and leaving a school.
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed limits, my Department is currently finalising an update to the Guidelines on Special Speed Limits and will be available to all local authorities early next month.
I have also made €2 million available in the current year to assist local authorities with the purchase of signs and, where required, with traffic calming measures where they wish to reduce speed limits in housing areas. I have also committed to providing for a lower special speed limit of 20km/h limit for use in certain residential areas. This will be done in the Road Traffic Bill 2015. It is appropriate to allow local authorities the freedom to decide where lower speed limits should apply.
Public Transport Provision
Questions (615)
Anthony Lawlor
Question:615. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures in place to ensure that private bus operators who have been found to use illegal fuel are disqualified from tendering for Coras Iompar Éireann bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7669/15]
View answerWritten answers
The competitive tendering process mentioned is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Driver Safety
Questions (616)
Michael McNamara
Question:616. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider relaxing the regime with regard to L-plate drivers, to allow them to travel unaccompanied, within a 20 km radius of their residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7678/15]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the licensing system is to promote safety through ensuring that people licenced to drive on our roads are qualified to do so. Learners, by definition, are not yet qualified. The presence of an accompanying driver is therefore essential.
Learner permits are not driving licences. They are permits allowing the holder to drive unlicensed on public roads while they are learning, and subject to certain conditions. The presence of an accompanying driver is perhaps the most important of these conditions. In fact, when a learner permit holder drives without an accompanying driver, they are not complying with the conditions of the learner permit and therefore not covered by it. I appreciate that many people, particularly in rural areas, feel that this is harsh. However, it is important for people to understand that a learner permit is not meant to be a substitute for an actual licence, and holders should not expect to be able to drive freely in the same manner as licence holders.
Road Network
Questions (617)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:617. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that motorists are catered for adequately on the M8 motorway connection between Dublin and Cork, with no online services and rest facilities; his plans to install online services on this route, in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7702/15]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including service areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In particular, Section 54 of the Roads Act 1993 specifically provides for the National Roads Authority or a local authority to provide and/or operate service areas.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects, such as motorway service areas is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
Motor Tax Yield
Questions (618)
Dessie Ellis
Question:618. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the portion of the proceeds received from motor tax in 2015 that will go towards repairing roads and footpaths. [7729/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Department receives a contribution from the Local Government Fund, which is derived from Motor Tax receipts, as an Appropriation in Aid every year. This AinA partially funds the expenditure programmes for Roads and Public Transport with the balance funded directly from the Exchequer. In 2015, the LGF contribution to my Vote is estimated to be €376.4m, which will part fund expenditure programmes for Roads (at €728.5m), including for repairing roads and footpaths, and for Public Transport (at €271m).
Haulage Industry Regulation
Questions (619)
Robert Dowds
Question:619. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action the Road Safety Authority has taken to investigate possible breaches of regulation 10 of the European Communities (Road Transport) (Organisation of Working Time of Persons Performing Mobile Road Transport Activities) Regulations 2012 (SI No. 36/2012) by a company (details supplied), which may constitute a serious risk to road safety, for both hauliers and other road users, in view of the levels of fatigue which drivers experience when forced to work in conditions, such as are currently in place by the company. [7732/15]
View answerWritten answers
This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not be received within 10 days.
Harbour Authorities Membership
Questions (620)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:620. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a schedule of the current directors of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, to include the date of their first appointment to the company, amount of terms served, and the date their current directorship expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7865/15]
View answerWritten answers
A complete list of all State boards including the current directors of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is available on http://membership.stateboards.ie/http://membership.stateboards.ie/.
The information requested by the deputy in relation to the current directors serving on the board of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is set out in the following table.
|
Eithne Scott-Lennon (Chair) |
3/3/1997 |
23/09/2018 |
5 |
|
Gerry Dunne (CEO) |
N/A Ex-Officio |
N/A Ex-Officio |
N/A Ex-Officio |
|
Name |
Date First Appointed |
Expiry date of current appointment |
Number of Terms of Office served |
|
James Jordan |
12/02/2014 |
11/02/2019 |
1 |
|
Mark Finan |
12/02/2014 |
11/02/2019 |
1 |
|
Don McManus |
5//2/2004 |
01/07/2018 |
3 |
|
Justin McKenna |
12/02/2014 |
11/02/2018 |
1 |
|
Pam Kearney |
05/12/2012 |
04/12/2017 |
1 |
|
Peter Brennan |
05/12/2012 |
04/12/2016 |
1 |
Harbour Authorities Membership
Questions (621)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:621. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that no chief executive on any State harbour company is in receipt of bonuses or directors' fees for attending their respective companies' board meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7866/15]
View answerWritten answers
In accordance with Government policy, no bonus payments are being made to any Chief Executive of any of the State harbour companies.
In accordance with the One Person One Salary direction issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in late 2011, payment of Board Fees to public sector employees with a contractual obligation in place, with certain exceptions, can be paid but should be stopped at the earliest legally acceptable opportunity (normally on expiry of the appointment).
Details of directors fees paid to Chief Executives are available in the Annual Reports and Accounts of the individual harbour companies.
Harbour Authorities
Questions (622)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:622. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that all moneys agreed to be repaid by a person (details supplied), a former director of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, back to the company in relation to expenses, the subject of previous parliamentary questions, have been repaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7867/15]
View answerWritten answers
As I have stated previously, the payment of expenses to Directors is a matter for the Company in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. As the matter is currently subject to legal proceedings by the Company,I am not in a position to comment any further on this matter at present.
Driver Licences
Questions (623)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:623. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of cases of driving licence fraud that the National Driver Licence Service has identified since October 2013; if any cases were identified, due to the requirement of drivers to visit the offices of the service, prior to issuing a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7910/15]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Tourism Industry
Questions (624)
Pat Deering
Question:624. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, the amount of Fáilte Ireland capital grant paid over the past five years. [7917/15]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days