Written Answers Nos. 1-134
106. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the scientific investigations that are being carried out, or will be carried out, on wild salmon stock; if the Government will consider a limited reintroduction of drift-netting to assist the collection of scientific data on wild salmon stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23127/15]
View answerI am advised that research on salmon in Ireland’s coastal areas and marine environment both concentrates on increasing knowledge of juvenile and adult migratory patterns, identifying and partitioning marine based mortality, understanding the impacts from aquaculture on wild salmon and monitoring salmon survival rates. Stock assessments can only be carried out on the individual stock in each river.
Juvenile salmon migrate from rivers to marine feeding grounds returning to their native rivers as adults. Research has shown that adult salmon from both rivers in Ireland and other counties travel through Ireland’s coastal waters. These “mixed stocks”, either in coastal waters or distant waters, pose particular difficulties for management as they contain individual fish often from a wide range of rivers some of which are below sustainable reproductive capacity.
In order to align fully with the EU Habitats Directive and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) advice, the Irish Government closed mixed stock fisheries in 2007 including coastal and offshore fishing for salmon. This measure also had regard to the decline of almost 75% in mixed stock catches in the period 1975 to 2000. Since then the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCS) advise annually on the predicted returning stocks for all of Ireland’s 142 salmon rivers; based on this advice harvest fisheries are only allowed on individual river stocks which are shown to have a surplus of fish over the conservation limit.
A conservation limit is, in its simplest form, the number of adult salmon required on each river to maintain a healthy population. Fisheries in estuaries may also be permitted where the stocks from individual rivers entering the estuaries are each meeting their individual conservation limits. Ireland’s current salmon management regime is compliant with the Habitats Directive under which salmon is a protected species.
The conservation/exploitation balance is best achieved where fisheries target individual river-based stocks that have been shown to be at full reproductive capacity and capable of sustaining the genetically unique population of that individual river. Any deviation from this policy, such as the opening of drift net fisheries for salmon, would be contrary to national and international independent advice and such a move could potentially lead to conflict with EU and international obligations on grounds of not protecting vulnerable Irish and international salmon stocks.
107. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is considering to better regulate the ownership of media in the State; if he can account for the reason, as has been reported recently, that proposals on regulation of media ownership will only apply to new acquisitions-mergers, and will not attempt to regulate or ameliorate existing concentrations of media ownership in the State, in the public interest; the conclusions of the European Commission with regard to retrospective regulation proposals and their compatibility with European Union market law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22941/15]
View answerIn July last year the Oireachtas passed the Consumer and Competition Authority Act 2014, introducing the new Part 3A of the Competition Act 2002. This Act fundamentally updated the media mergers regime, implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers. These changes were designed to deal with contemporary issues like an increasingly fragmented media, the rise of online media and an increasingly dynamic media sector. The central element of the new regime is a new public value test, involving a far more exhaustive definition of media concentration than before and which deals explicitly with cross media ownership as well as the relevant criteria by which media mergers will be examined. Guidelines explaining the legislation governing the new media mergers regulation and providing guidance on the process were published on 10 June 2015.
Retrospective actions are not provided for in the relevant legislation; this regime is designed in the 2014 legislation to give the Minister for Communications the responsibility to assess proposed media mergers, and to empower the Minister to block any merger that is deemed likely to be contrary to the public interest. No provision was made in that legislation to allow a Minister open a case against a media business of their own volition. This would be a substantially different matter to dealing with mergers, and would raise a number of difficult questions about preserving the freedom and independence of the press, even before one considers the legal and constitutional complexities associated with retrospective action of this kind.
108. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to protect the independence of our national broadcasters; the improvements that are being put in place to monitoring the integrity of this independence; if he has concerns at concentrations of ownership within and across media platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22937/15]
View answerPart 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for public service broadcasting in Ireland and sets out the provisions relating to the regulation, operation and funding of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4, including their principal objects. These objects provide the companies’ statutory mandates and encapsulate national policy in terms of public service broadcasting. Section 98 provides that RTÉ and TG4 shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act.
Section 42 of the 2009 Act provides for the preparation and revision of codes governing the standards and practice of broadcasters, encompassing the issues raised by the Deputy concerning editorial independence. In addition, Part 4 of the 2009 Act makes provision for the preparation and implementation of codes of practice in relation to complaints handling and for a complaints process for cases where, for example, a broadcaster is considered to have failed to have complied with a Broadcasting Code.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 assigns these functions to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, an independent regulatory body, including the role to investigate and adjudicate cases where complaints are made.
I am satisfied that the BAI’s approach to regulation in this area respects the editorial independence of broadcasters while providing the appropriate level of regulatory oversight to protect the interests of citizens.
Ireland has a particularly concentrated media market. This is a function of the small size of the market and the relative ease with which actors from other jurisdictions can enter the market, either merely for advertising sales or with Irish specific editorial content. It falls on Government to vigilantly guard the public interest in maintaining the plurality of media. Accordingly the Government introduced the new media merger regulatory regime in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 and I published the associated guidelines on the 10 June 2015 following a public consultation process.
110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is concerned at the continuing impact of the increase in the price levels of fuel on households and on the issue of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22938/15]
View answerI am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families and businesses from high energy prices. The Government’s national strategy on affordable energy makes it clear that addressing energy poverty is a whole of Government responsibility.
My Department offers energy efficiency upgrades that are free of charge to households that are at risk of energy poverty. I also introduced a new scheme in 2014 that requires the main energy suppliers to deliver annual energy efficiency savings, a certain proportion of which must be in the energy poverty sector.
Other Departments are also proactive in tackling energy poverty, including the Department of Social Protection through its income supports for those in energy poverty and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government which offers a range of supports through Local Authorities.
While energy poverty will, of course, be an important element of the forthcoming White Paper, there will also be a new Government Strategy on Affordable Energy published in the Autumn. This strategy will be informed by the results of the engagement on the Consultation Paper on Affordable Energy published earlier this year. The aim of the strategy will be to focus on a small number of high impact actions. My intention is that those actions would be progressed over the next three years with a view to tackling energy poverty to maximum effect.
Responsibility for electricity and gas market regulation is a matter for the CER, which is an independent statutory body.
113. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has studied the impact of likely competitive pressures on An Post, arising from the Postal Services Amendment Bill 2015, from the point of view of jobs and conditions of work. [23130/15]
View answerThe purpose of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Amendment Bill 2015 is to put in place a statutory data protection framework for postcodes to ensure that the public interest is satisfied in the undertaking of legitimate postcode activities. The exercise of these activities is fundamental to the establishment and implementation of postcodes and includes the development, implementation and maintenance of the system, the association of a postcode with a postal address, and the dissemination of the postcodes.
The Bill will enhance the protections already available under the Data Protection Acts and protect the privacy of owners and occupiers of property in respect of which a postcode has been allocated by placing obligations on the Postcode Contractor and the Value Added Resellers in relation to the processing of data as part of the postcodes project.
As the Bill is technical in nature and is focused on the data protection aspects of the project, it will have no impact on jobs or conditions of work in An Post.
An Post have been actively engaged in the design phase of the postcodes and the postcodes will be fully integrated with An Post mails sortation systems. An Post will be heavily involved in the dissemination of the Postcode to 2.2 million residential and business addresses when the postcode project is launched this Summer.
114. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the wholesale pricing being offered by enet is sufficient to allow retail service providers to provide a service and a reasonable margin. [23148/15]
View answerenet acts as the Management Services Entity (MSE) for the State-owned Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). The MANs consist of fibre rings around 88 towns across Ireland. The MANs are now used by over 60 licensed telecoms operators to provide services in those towns. It is estimated that in excess of 600,000 users are benefiting directly from services provided through the MANs. The MANs have also facilitated foreign direct investment in many of the towns concerned.
In addition to operating as MSE for the MANs, enet also has private, commercial interests outside of its MSE role. enet’s commercial dealings with telecommunications operators outside of its role as the MSE for the MANs are a private matter for the company.
In its capacity as MSE, enet is responsible for managing, maintaining, marketing and operating the MANs in a commercial manner on behalf of the State. It is required to operate the MANs on a wholesale, open access and carrier neutral basis. It makes services, including access to dark fibre, managed services, duct-only products and colocation facilities, available to licensed telecommunications operators. These services allow third party operators to avail of the MANs fibre to provide high speed telecommunications services to their end customers.
The maximum price that enet can charge for MANs services is agreed with my Department and this information is publically available on enet’s website. enet is required to treat all operators in an equal manner for equivalent services and they must charge customers the same price for similar type services. enet takes cognisance of market pricing trends in determining charges for MANs services, while respecting the maximum permitted prices for those services and the need to make a commercial return. The determination of prices to be applied to individual telecommunications operators is a day-to-day matter for enet. In turn, the prices charged by telecommunications operators who avail of the MANs is ultimately a matter for those operators.
Questions Nos. 115 and 116 answered orally.
117. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to make biofuel more readily available through fuel pumps in retail garages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22940/15]
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. In this regard, biofuels are readily available in Ireland and regulations on fuel standards, introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in 2011, and which transpose the Fuel Quality Directive, permit the sale of petrol with up to 10% bioethanol, and diesel with up to 7% biodiesel.
Currently, when petrol and diesel are purchased at the petrol pumps, they contain a certain amount of biofuel which has been blended into the petrol or diesel.
The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means through which Ireland would meet the transport target and is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland.
The scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency, is certificate based and, since January 2013, an obligated road transport fuel supplier, at the end of each calendar year, must hold six biofuel obligation certificates for every 94 litres of petroleum based fuel it has placed on the market. Certificates are only issued for biofuels that have been demonstrated to have complied with the sustainability criteria of the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive. In 2014, approximately 167 million litres of biofuels were placed on the Irish transport fuel market blended with petroleum products. Of this, approximately 25 million litres were produced in Ireland, all of which was from waste materials such as used cooking oil and category 1 tallow. Further increases to the obligation rate will be required in the context of achieving our 2020 target and I intend to consult on a proposed increase shortly.
118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeline for the roll out of high speed broadband to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22964/15]
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 and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million addresses in Ireland 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.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is 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. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention. eircom recently announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 premises with fibre-to-the-premises technology by 2020. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I expect the physical build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take 3-5 years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
119. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a progress update regarding the Government's commitment to provide fibre broadband to every house and business in County Donegal; the deadline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23128/15]
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 and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million addresses in Ireland 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.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is 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. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention. Eircom recently announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 addresses with fibre-to-the-premises technology including locations in Donegal. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to 21,238 premises to date in Co Donegal with a further 27,276 expected to be served over the next 18 months. The remaining 52,004 premises in Co Donegal will be covered be the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan, subject to examination of any further commercial development plans in the area.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. In order to comply with EU State Aid Guidelines we must not favour one technology over another. Therefore, in accordance with EU State Aid guidelines, the procurement process for the State led intervention will be technology neutral.
Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to the formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I expect the physical build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take between three and five years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
120. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any further development in restocking Irish rivers with eels, or if compensation will be made available to eel fishermen. [23142/15]
View answerThe latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2014 states that while the annual recruitment of juvenile eels (glass eels - elvers) to Europe has increased over the last 3 years from 5% to 12% of historic levels, recruitment is still well below the reference levels of 1960-1979, there is no change in the status of the eel as being critically endangered and the overall requirement and objective remains to provide, with high probability, a long-term 40% escapement to the sea of the biomass of silver eel, relative to pristine conditions (i.e. if the stock had been completely free of man-made influences including commercial fishing). This points to a situation where the recruitment of glass eels and elvers remains perilously low and sustainable availability of juveniles presents a significant challenge. Stocking of elvers is a long term conservation measure with no short or even medium term benefit as regards eel fisheries. In Ireland, on average it takes up to two decades for eels to reach maturity. To stock home rivers with eels would mean obtaining elvers from some other European source and re-introducing these eels to rivers in Ireland. There are very considerable challenges to this:
- the potential for the transmission of disease and parasites when introducing eels from other catchments;
- the stock decline is a pan-european issue and any estuaries where elvers are in adequate numbers will be targeted in the first instance by the nation in whose waters the elvers are to ensure that their rivers are adequately populated;
- elvers are extremely costly and it would be expensive to source these elvers competing with both the host nation and any other countries for the opportunity to obtain wild elvers, with no benefit to the fishery for many years.
Stocking is not included as a management action in Ireland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP) and surplus elver recruits were not identified for the 2012-2015 period to facilitate a stocking programme. Ireland’s EMP is currently being reviewed and a public consultation process is underway. All elements, of the EMP are being considered based on an additional three years of scientific and management advice .
While I recognise fully the difficulty facing eel fishermen, there is no property right attaching to public eel licences and currently there are no plans to introduce a hardship scheme as outlined by the Deputy.
121. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent Leitrim County Council vote of no confidence in a company (details supplied) appointed to carry out a 24-month research programme looking at the potential impacts on the environment and human health of hydraulic fracturing. [22991/15]
View answerI have received no communication from Leitrim County Council in the matter referred to.
As for the appointment of CDM Smith, and the involvement of that company in the multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research commissioned by the EPA on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects, I would like to comment as follows. The Programme is managed by the EPA and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department.
As is usual in major and broad ranging projects such as this, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. CDM Smith is the lead consultant in the consortium engaged to carry out the programme of research and that consortium includes the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, Queens University Belfast, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors, each offering a particular specialism required by the project scope.
The contract for this programme of research was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with public procurement guidelines, where the tender submitted by the CDM Smith headed consortium was evaluated as being the strongest bid.
I am aware that there has been some recent focus on the fact that CDM Smith has provided expert advice to oil companies involved in the development of unconventional gas resources. CDM Smith has also provided advices to State bodies and regulatory agencies across its area of expertise.
As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate it is common that a broad range of parties will seek to draw on the specialist expertise available from a firm such as CDM Smith. The fact that disparate entities seek to draw on such expertise, is generally seen as an indicator of a company's recognised experience.
122. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that there are potential data protection issues involved in sourcing information from television providers in order to source information for An Post to collect TV licence fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22943/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government gave approval for the preparation of legislation to enable the TV Licence Collecting Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers, including Sky and UPC.
The legislation will be designed to allow the Collecting Agent to have access to the information solely for its statutory functions in relation to licence fee collection and the commercial confidentiality of the information will be safeguarded.
My Department has been advised by the Office of the Attorney General on the matter and the legislative provisions will be drafted in consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure that it takes full account of data minimisation and data security principles.
123. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are any expected delays in the implementation of the national broadband plan; if so, the details of the updated schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23146/15]
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 and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is 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. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
Last week eircom announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 premises with fibre-to-the-premises technology. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
Good progress is being made on all of the different elements of this complex project and we remain on track to publish the draft Intervention Strategy for public consultation next month.
Once the public consultation has been completed, I expect to move quickly into the formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I expect the physical build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take between three and five years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
124. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that it is acceptable that there is no solution identified to provide broadband in substantial parts of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22990/15]
View answerThe Government's 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 and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers plan to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas on the map show the target areas for the State intervention.
Under EU State Aid rules, public investment in a commercial market has to be targeted at areas where there is evidence of market failure. Therefore, the Government's proposed investment under the NBP will only apply to those parts of County Dublin that are within the Amber areas of our map. Those premises in Co Dublin within the Blue areas will be provided with services through commercial investment.
In addition, eircom recently announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 premises with fibre-to-the-premises technology. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I expect the physical build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take between three and five years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects high quality, high speed broadband to become available in all urban and rural areas in the country, with particular reference to the need to address the frustrations experienced by the domestic, business and commercial sectors, arising from a lack of availability of high quality broadband services, comparable to that available in other jurisdictions throughout Europe and globally; if it is recognised that the provision of adequate broadband services is a vital prerequisite to continued economic recovery; if he will provide the schedule for the provision of such services in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23014/15]
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 and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is 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. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
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 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.
More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to approximately 1.2 premises to date in Ireland with a further 400,000 expected to be served over the next 18 months. The remaining 700,000 premises in Ireland are the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan, subject to examination of any further commercial development plans in the area.
Eircom recently announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 premises with fibre-to-the-premises technology. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I expect the physical build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take between three and five years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in Ireland.
It is envisaged that access to high speed broadband coupled with the measures being introduced under the National Digital Strategy will maximise growth potential in rural areas by encouraging businesses to make better use of the internet so that they can reach wider markets, grow their business and create jobs.
126. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any move to renew talks on the export of renewable energy from Ireland to Britain. [23139/15]
View answerIntensive discussions took place in 2013 and 2014 between my Department and the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the UK to establish if it would be possible to export renewable energy in order to allow the UK meet its 2020 renewable energy target. 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. In April 2014 it was announced by my predecessor that it was not possible to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) as originally envisaged.
Economic analysis conducted on the Irish side clearly indicated that with the appropriate policy and regulatory framework, renewable energy trading could deliver benefits to both Ireland and the UK. However, given the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved and some key decisions yet to be taken by the UK, delivery of renewable energy trading by 2020 is not now a realistic proposition.
127. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the latest developments concerning media merger guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22977/15]
View answerOn 9 June 2015 I published the finalised Guidelines on Media Mergers and the associated Notification Form in accordance with Section 28L of the Competition Act 2002 as amended by the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014. The draft Guidelines were developed by my Department working with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation as well as media experts from academia. In accordance with the Act the guidelines were published in draft form for public consultation on 8 December 2014. A number of submissions were received which were given full consideration by the Department in finalising the Guidelines.
The guidelines are designed to provide interested parties with insight on how the new media mergers regulatory process will work including information on who is required to apply, the notification process, an explanation of how media mergers will be examined and the relevant criteria that will help inform the Minister when making his determination. The guidelines also include a definition of ‘significant interest’ and metrics that will be used to identify when a holding in a media business represents a ‘significant interest’.
The Guidelines must be viewed as a living document; as experience is gathered dealing with the new media mergers process and lessons are learned from both regulatory and industry perspectives, and as the BAI conducts its research under the Act, changes may be made to improve the value of the Guidelines and reflect refinements in the regime.
128. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if plans exist to develop sea angling in the west of Ireland, in view of its potential for tourism; the support currently available to new entrants in the sea angling sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/15]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has extensive interaction with the sea angling sector both in the terms of supporting the relevant sea angling Federations and also working directly with providers such as Chartered Skippers. In addition, IFI is working with many local authorities and has communicated with all authorities in relation to their Local Economic and Community Plan to ensure that angling development is included.
Examples of initiatives undertaken include working directly with the Northwest Chartered Skippers Association in the development and promotion of the sea angling resource, and in relation the Irish Federation Sea Anglers, which will host the 2015 FIPS-M World Boat Competition which will be held in Bundoran, Co. Donegal in September. This event will see more than 20 countries participating and experiencing Ireland's excellent sea angling facilities. IFI is confident that this event will contribute significantly to the local economy not only during the event but also in the approach and aftermath of the event. IFI is supporting this event to ensure the economic contribution is maximised as well as ensuring that the Irish angling experience is promoted to anglers internationally. A shore angling event held in Dingle in 2013 with 124 participants is estimated to have contributed up to €335,000. to the local economy over a period of 6 days.
In planning for the future, IFI is currently preparing a National Angling Development Plan (NADP) and has undertaken an evaluation of the sea angling product throughout the country, including the west coast. Criteria are being developed which will assist individuals, communities and agencies to identify areas and angling products which can be developed to drive sustainable economic development. The NADP is also being developed with the express purpose of developing our recreational angling resource. It is anticipated that this plan will act as a vehicle to secure funding for the promotion and development of all types of angling including sea angling
I am keenly aware of potential development opportunities in small boat hire business in west coast areas with no existing sea angling offering. There are also opportunities for Sea Angling Guides along the west coast. Charter Boats are in good supply and safety is well managed by the Marine Survey office. Consistent customer service and disabled access areas need also to be addressed. I have asked IFI in the formulation of the National Angling Development Plan to follow up and advise on these issues.
129. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider a revised definition of the term "public service broadcast" in the context of the implementation of the television licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22942/15]
View answerPart 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for public service broadcasting in Ireland and the provisions relating to the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4, including their principal objects. These objects provide the companies’ statutory mandates, including the specific objective of providing national, free-to-air public service broadcasting services, as well as the provision of a broad range of other additional services that are seen as fundamental to the role of the public service broadcaster. In their pursuit of these objects, the provisions in the Act subject the public service broadcasting corporations to a range of additional requirements.
These statutory objects and requirements encapsulate national policy in terms of public service broadcasting and I have no plans to amend the current position.
In relation to the funding of the public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4, this is met through a mix of licence fee revenues, Exchequer grant-in-aid and commercial revenues obtained largely from advertising.
The rationale for providing State funding for Public Service Broadcasting is to provide an independent and reliable income flow that allows these corporations to attain their public service objects, while ensuring they can maintain editorial independence, which is especially important in the context of news and current affairs. On the other hand, independent commercial broadcasters, while bringing choice and competition to the market, are privately owned and funded companies that have entered the market on the basis of a commercial proposition.
A proportion of the television licence fee monies is available to all commercial, community and public broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. The purpose of this Scheme is to encourage the inclusion of additional programming of a particular character in broadcasters programme schedules. The Scheme is open to independent producers and all ‘free to air’ broadcasters. It is funded by way of a payment of 7% of net licence fee receipts, which is paid to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) in respect of this Scheme. This amount was increased from 5% to 7% under the Broadcasting Act 2009.
I remain to be convinced that the distribution of public funds to independent commercial broadcasters, beyond the supports that already exist, would represent good public or broadcasting policy.
130. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps being taken to support the maintenance of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22963/15]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community.
I established the post office network business development group earlier this year. The terms of reference for the group are to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network; identify the new business opportunities for the network, taking account of international experience; engage as necessary with the public sector, commercial bodies and other interested parties in pursuit of the aforementioned objectives; and prepare an interim and final report for the Minister in accordance with an agreed timetable.
The work of the group will be of strategic importance to the future of the post office network and I look forward to it concluding its deliberations later this year. In the meantime, I will shortly publish the initial report of the group for consultation, the results of which will contribute to the final report in due course.
It is in everyone's interest that we have a sustainable post office network, one which meets the needs of the consumer first and foremost. Our collective challenge will be to ensure the future services offered by An Post and the postmasters place the company on a sound financial footing.
131. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a preliminary update on research directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency; the position of the Government on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/15]
View answerAt the outset, I would like to confirm again that no exploration involving hydraulic fracking has been authorised in this jurisdiction and I can also confirm, as I have done on numerous occasions, that no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme, until there has been time to consider the outcome of the research programme directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) Joint Research Programme is a comprehensive programme of research and there are many elements to it including baseline analysis and desk –based literature reviews.
The five main elements comprise :
1. Impacts on surface waters, groundwater and related ecosystems;
2. Impacts on seismic activity;
3. Impacts on air quality;
4. International operational practice and impact mitigation measures; and
5. Regulatory regimes for fracking in different countries
The EPA is coordinating this multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential Impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction projects/operations. This UGEE Joint Research Programme is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The UGEE Research Programme is managed by a steering committee.
The research is being undertaken by a consortium of independent organisations comprising CDM Smith, British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, Queens University Belfast, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors. The project began in August 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in July 2016.
There has been good progress made on the programme to date. The final report will be made publically available on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website once the research has been concluded. Further details on the research programme are currently available on a dedicated website www.ugeeresearch.ie and a progress report can be accessed at the following link
http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/ugeepublicconsultation/UGEE%20JRP_Progress%20Report_forWEB_220415.pdf .
132. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a broadcasting charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22939/15]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in light of existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the TV licence into a household based Public Service Broadcasting Charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless of the device used to access content or services. In the context of publishing the results of an RTÉ efficiency review, which was conducted by NewERA, and a broadcasting advertising market review, carried out for my department by Indecon. I recently briefed the Cabinet on the importance of providing adequate funding for public service broadcasting in a time of stretched family budgets and limited exchequer funds. I set out my belief that a public service broadcasting charge could contribute to this, while reflecting the changing ways that viewers now access public service broadcasting. However, I made clear my legislative priorities in light of this analysis and that it would not be possible to replace the TV licence fee with a public service broadcasting charge within the lifetime of this Government. I also pointed to the need to build public understanding and support for the introduction of such a charge.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps taken, or likely to be taken, to enhance the role and profitability of An Post, with particular reference to the possibility of the provision of extra suitable and compatible services through An Post, which has a nationwide network of post offices and sub post offices, combined with counter services; if he will have discussions with other Government Departments which may find themselves in a position to utilise An Post Services through the use of modern technology, or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 130 on today's Order Paper.
134. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position of the Government in relation to supporting the post office network, especially in view of the fact that social welfare recipients are being encouraged to change their payment method from post offices to banks, a move which will directly undermine the viability of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22935/15]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community. Social welfare payments comprise an important component of post office business irrespective of the size of the office. The Department of Social Protection recently amended a number of forms to list electronic payment options as the first option available to benefit recipients. However, all payment options, including payment via Post Offices, continue to be fully available to all customers. As such, the only change (in relation to Post Offices) relates to the order in which the payment options are listed.
I established the post office network business development group earlier this year. The terms of reference for the group are to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network; identify the new business opportunities for the post office network, taking account of international experience; engage as necessary with the public sector, commercial bodies and other interested parties in pursuit of the aforementioned objectives; and prepare an interim and final report for the Minister in accordance with an agreed timetable.
The work of the group will be of strategic importance to the future of the post office network and I look forward to it concluding its deliberations later this year. It is in everyone's interest that we have a sustainable post office network, one which meets the needs of the consumer first and foremost. Our collective challenge will be to ensure the future services offered by An Post and the postmasters place the company on a sound financial footing.
