Written Answers Nos. 855 - 868
855. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of any commercial discoveries of oil, gas, or other minerals, onshore or offshore in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23890/15]
View answerThere have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the past five years. There has, however, been a positive upswing in the level of petroleum exploration activity during this period, in particular acquisition of new seismic data. While the number of active mineral prospecting licences, currently in excess of 580 licences, indicate the prevailing state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered either during this period. While there have, however, been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits.
856. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on foot of the recent announcement in relation to the rural broadband scheme, his plans for the type of broadband for the Smarmore, Ardee area in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23931/15]
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 and includes Smarmore, Ardee, County Louth.
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.
More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to 43,963 premises to date in County Louth with a further 1,052 expected to be served over the next 18 months. The remaining 15,129 premises in Co Louth will be covered by commercial investment or be the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan.
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.
857. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which electrically powered motor vehicles have increased in numbers, and are likely to do so in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23947/15]
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, 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. According to information furnished to my Department by the Central Statistics Office, 72 electric vehicles (EV) were registered in Ireland in 2013, 238 were registered in 2014 and, in the first five months of this year, 312 have been registered.
My Department expects that the numbers of EVs in Ireland will continue to increase. In this regard, Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020, which is available my Department’s website, estimates that approximately 50,000 EVs 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 internal combustion engine comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase.
858. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to amend SI No. 426 of 2014 which deals with energy efficiency regulations; if so, the timeframe for these changes to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23958/15]
View answerStatutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 426 of 2014 (European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations, 2014), transposed the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU). The key objective of the Directive is to achieve energy efficiency gains for the EU of 20% by 2020. The S.I. sets out the legal basis for measures required to ensure Ireland will improve its energy efficiency by 2020. Ireland, like the EU as a whole, aims to achieve a 20% target for energy efficiency from these measures.
The European Commission has recently asked Ireland to provide some additional information regarding the transposition of the Directive. In this context, I expect to present secondary legislation later this year. I do not envisage that any substantive changes will be introduced. Rather, I will provide the necessary clarifications to the existing legislation sought by the European Commission.
859. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make legislative changes to encourage all drivers to take out motor insurance; his views that the current penalties for not having insurance are inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23066/15]
View answerSection 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 makes it compulsory for a person, other than an exempted person, driving a motorised vehicle in a public place to be covered by third party motor insurance.
The penalties for non-compliance with this legislation do not include minimum fines. The level of a fine to be imposed following conviction is at the discretion of the Judge hearing the case.
At present, District Court Judges have the discretion to deal with the offence of driving without insurance either as a penalty point offence, with 5 points being endorsed or one attracting a consequential disqualification following conviction. Both attract a maximum fine of €5,000 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.
I do not have any plans to amend the current legislation.
860. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver penalty points which cannot be applied to the driver licence record file due to the fact that the driver licence number supplied by An Garda Síochána does not match the driver number on the record in his Department's national vehicle driver file; the number of instances, in tabular form, where this occurred in each of the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/15]
View answerAn Garda Síochána do not accept payments under Section 103 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 in respect of penalty point offences without obtaining details of the driving licence of the offenders. Consequently all penalty points in respect of offences received by my Department from this source are applied to Irish or Foreign driver records, as appropriate, on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF).
The following tabular statement provides the breakdown in respect of the years 2012 (from June onwards) to date in 2015 (up to end of May) for penalty points records received from An Garda Síochána:
|
Year |
Total Penalty Points Offences |
Irish Licence |
Foreign Licence |
|
2012 |
168,862 |
149,409 |
19,453 |
|
2013 |
195,040 |
172,363 |
22,677 |
|
2014 |
214,701 |
189,571 |
25,130 |
|
2015 |
104,904 |
92,609 |
12,295 |
861. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be put in place to bypass Macroom and Baile Bhuirne in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23263/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects 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 question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
862. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be will be provided to bypass Adare in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23264/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects 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 question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
863. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the sale of Aer Lingus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22965/15]
View answerAn agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS). This agreed solution is a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.
Any potential proceeds from the sale of the State's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus will be paid into the Exchequer and the Government has indicated that such proceeds should be used to establish a new 'Connectivity fund', as a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
Any proceeds from the sale of the State's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus will be paid into the Exchequer and the Government has decided that such proceeds should be used to establish a new 'Connectivity fund', as a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
Under Eurostat rules, the proceeds arising from the sale of the State's shares in Aer Lingus, representing a sale of a financial asset, will have no beneficial impact on Ireland's General Government Balance (GGB). Accordingly, the money received will not provide any capacity for additional Government expenditure on a GGB neutral basis.
It was for this reason that the Government has decided to allocate the proceeds to a special fund, which will operate on a commercial basis and therefore not constitute Government expenditure, but will facilitate the re-use of the proceeds for productive purposes within the economy, on a GGB neutral basis.
864. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legal standing of the closed circuit television footage which is due to commence at the accident blackspot at the red line Luas in Dublin 7. [22970/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) in conjunction with the National Transport Authority and the Garda Síochána and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RPA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
865. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information regarding the section of the M50 between exit No. 13 and exit No. 14; the number of vehicles which passed through this section each month, over the past two years; the measurements of air and noise pollution that are available for this section; if available, if he will provide such measurements; when the surface of this section was last maintained; the type of surface that was installed; the policy of his Department and the National Roads Authority regarding regular resurfacing in the future; and when the next resurfacing of this section will be completed. [22994/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects 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 question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
866. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the National Transport Authority will conclude its report on a rail line to the airport; and if he will support a light rail, above-ground option. [22995/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) have been carrying out technical reviews of all the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) public transport projects and I am awaiting delivery of their report and recommendations. The NTA anticipates delivering this work by the end of June.
Following receipt and assessment of the documentation, I will then make my decision regarding public transport investment priorities in the GDA by the end of the summer.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any particular project in advance of the NTA's report and recommendations.
867. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23053/15]
View answerDuring my time as Minister, I have not met with this person or any senior executives from his media companies.
868. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedures and supports in place to assist persons who are involved in traffic accidents, where the person who caused the damage is an uninsured driver; the circumstances under which a person may claim against the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland, pending finalisation of a claim against the Bureau; the facilities in place to assist victims of such accidents meeting the costs which arise from an accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23065/15]
View answerSection 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 makes it compulsory for a person, other than an exempted person, driving a motorised vehicle to be covered by third party motor insurance. Third party claims against any insured driver have to be met by the insurer under the terms of the EU Motor Insurance Directives which have been transposed into law in Ireland.
Third party claims against an uninsured driver are the remit of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland which is also subject to the terms of the EU Motor Insurance Directives. The Bureau operates under an Agreement with my Department, copies of which are available on their website at www.mibi.ie. The website also includes advice and support to those injured or suffering loss in such circumstances.
