Written Answers Nos. 220-230
220. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the local development companies and local authorities that have tendered an expression of interest in delivery of the rural development programme may commence their strategy in order to have drawdown to allow suitable projects to commence this autumn. [26736/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 247, 248, 249, 250 and 254 of 18 June 2015, which sets out the position in relation to this matter.
221. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he plans to take to address the fact that many homeless persons are currently unable to vote in any election or referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26748/15]
View answerIn order to vote at an election or a referendum a voter must be registered in the appropriate register of electors for that election or referendum. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for the registration of voters where they are ‘ordinarily resident’. Depending on the circumstances, the registration authority may consider it appropriate to register a homeless person at a particular hostel or shelter where they may be residing, either permanently or temporarily.
While the registration of voters is a matter for the registration authorities, I would expect, in the circumstances, that they take a reasonable and common-sense approach to the inclusion of homeless persons in the register of electors.
222. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has received any request for financial assistance from Galway City Council and Sligo County Council in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family; if his Department had budgeted for the visit; the level of funding his Department plans to provide for Galway City Council and Sligo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26819/15]
View answerMy Department received an enquiry from Sligo County Council but has not received a formal request for financial assistance in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family. I have no plans to provide funding for such costs. Matters of this nature fall within the remit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
223. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by him from 2011 to date in 2015, including the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26995/15]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
224. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures being taken to stop the proliferation of dace, an invasive species, on the River Barrow. [26750/15]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. I have been informed by IFI that from the first discovery of Dace in the tidal waters at St. Mullins, in 1992, the species had spread over 70km upstream, to near Vicarstown and upstream of the confluence of the Barrow Navigation and the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal by 2006. At present, the species is firmly established throughout the river and navigation and there are no practical measures that can be taken to control or eradicate this species where it is already present in abundance.
While Dace is a valuable angling species for many anglers in certain freshwaters, including the River Barrow it is acknowledged that the species can prove to be a nuisance to game anglers targeting brown trout and to a lesser extent salmon, in waters where it is present.
The presence of Dace in the Barrow system pose an increased risk of spread to interlinked waters and the primary approach of IFI in this regard is to prevent its spread outside of systems where it is already established, such as the Barrow.
IFI have conducted a number of surveys in recent years to monitor for the spread of Dace into the Grand Canal system. Potential locations through which Dace might potentially colonise the canal have been identified through analysis of GIS maps and through consultation with Waterways Ireland staff. Electrofishing operations have been conducted on all levels of the Grand Canal - Barrow Line between 2003 and 2015. To date, 16 Dace have been captured and removed at only one location, the most southerly section, in the Grand Canal-Barrow Line, the last detection being in 2010.
Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (2011), with regard to Dace, a licence is required, to breed, reproduce or release or allow or cause to disperse or escape from confinement, or for any person who has in his or her possession for sale, or for the purposes of breeding, reproduction or propagation, or offers or exposes for sale, transportation, distribution, introduction or release.
225. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26696/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies.
Since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 11 July 2014 I have attended some 870 meetings with a range of individuals and groups, including meetings with representatives of those bodies under the aegis of my Department, and other public representatives. This does not include informal unscheduled meetings that might arise from time to time. In the time available, it has not been possible to break this figure down between the different categories of meetings listed in the Question.
The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 was enacted by the Oireachtas earlier this year and will commence on 1 September 2015. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online register of lobbying and oversee compliance with the legislative provisions. The purpose of the register will be to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials. Persons lobbying will have to register with the Standards Commission and will be required to submit returns on their lobbying activities.
226. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the current levels of broadband in Baltinglass, Blessington and Dunlavin, County Wicklow and in Naas and Athy, County Kildare; the proposed upgrades for these areas; the proposed timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26709/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. 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. The AMBER area on the map shows the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
Based on information provided by commercial operators 94% of Baltinglass West, 100% Baltinglass East, 100% Blessington, 96% Dunlavin Upper, and 58% Dunlavin Lower Co. Wicklow, 100% Athy, 100% Naas West and 100% Naas East Co. Kildare will be covered by the commercial sector. The remaining 6% of Baltinglass West, 4% Dunlavin Upper and 42% Dunlavin Lower will be part of the State intervention.
Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.
More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to 33,686 premises to date in Co. Wicklow and 55,272 premises in Co. Kildare, with a further 12,564 in Co. Wicklow and 12,516 in Co. Kildare expected to be served. The remaining 16,574 premises in Co. Wicklow and 20,536 in Co. Kildare will be covered by either commercial investment or through the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive design and planning work is under way 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 Ireland.
227. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by him from 2011 to date in 2015, including the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; his plans to introduce changes to the expenses system to ensure all expenses are fully vouched for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26992/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of my predecessor and myself are outlined in the following tables. Expenses incurred in relation to all items listed with the exception of some travel have been paid on the basis of an invoice. The current policy including rules and guidelines in relation to travel expenses is set at central level and the introduction of any amendment to this regime is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Minister Rabbitte
|
Expense € |
2011 (March to December) |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (Jan to July) |
|
Mobile Phones /IT Equipment |
1,352 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Mobile Phone - Calls & Rental |
384 |
506 |
510 |
306 |
|
Fixed Lines - Calls & Rental |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Publications |
964 |
2,484 |
2,732 |
1,761 |
|
Travel |
12,396 |
14,734 |
16,186 |
16,432 |
|
Credit Card Charges & Interest |
- |
31 |
30 |
30 |
|
Official Gifts |
- |
- |
- |
31 |
Minister White
|
Expense € |
2014 (July to Dec) |
2015 (to 30 th June) |
|
Mobile Phones/IT Equipment |
3,540 |
- |
|
Mobile Phone - Calls & Rental |
671 |
1,985 |
|
Fixed Lines - Calls & Rental |
195 |
502 |
|
Publications |
331 |
571 |
|
Travel |
3,878 |
25,090 |
|
Credit Card Charges & Interest |
30 |
30 |
|
Official Gifts |
29 |
156 |
228. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if cellars running under roads have to be purchased prior to Luas works being commenced. [26682/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Luas light rail projects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
229. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the minimum disruption to traffic, pedestrians and businesses is being caused by the ongoing Luas works in Dublin city centre. [26683/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA), which has responsibility for the Luas Cross City project, reports regularly to my Department on its progress.
The NTA chair the Luas Cross City Traffic Management Forum comprising representatives of the NTA, RPA, DCC, Dublin Bus, An Garda Síochána and business representatives, utility contractors and main infrastructure contractors, which meets regularly to consider impacts of works on traffic and local businesses.
In addition I chair a Luas Cross City Project Group comprising business representatives, the NTA, RPA, Dublin Bus, and An Garda Síochána which reviews progress and seeks to ensure the city remains open for business. I chaired the latest meeting yesterday (1 July) which reviewed the preparations and arrangements for the upcoming start of the main contract works. There will be an extensive communication campaign on the traffic arrangements.
While there have been significant unavoidable bus route and traffic changes to facilitate works, I consider that the traffic arrangements have been handled satisfactorily to date.
230. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the continuing encroachment on the closed and disused railway alignment from Athenry, County Galway to Collooney, County Sligo, the reason for the current unavailability of finance for the development of new railway projects and the unlikelihood of providing finance for future rail projects in the absence of a clear business case, coupled with the failure of the first stage of the so-called western rail corridor to reach projected targets and the groundswell of public support in the north west for tourism, leisure and a sustainable commuting infrastructure, if he will confirm that the priority for Córas Iompair Éireann and his Department is to use this corridor to enhance the national cycling network and thus to protect the route for possible rail use at some time in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26684/15]
View answerIn addition to the tourism and business that they bring, Greenways that are developed along a rail corridor would of course also fully protect the integrity of the corridor in the event of its future reopening as an operational railway.
Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that when Greenways are being developed along closed and abandoned railways there is specific provision in the licence agreement to ensure that the corridor could be brought back to use as a working railway, should it be required at a future date.
It is a matter for the relevant Local Authority in the first instance to initiate the Greenway proposals and to liaise with Iarnród Éireann about the development of any such proposal.
