Written Answers Nos. 1527-1545
1527. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will make a commitment to keep the post office network functioning, reliable, and sustainable for persons, particularly in rural areas of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30708/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 90 on today's Order Paper.
1528. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to bring the staffing levels of Inland Fisheries Ireland up to that of its employer control framework; if he is aware that staff shortages within IFI are compromising its ability to protect the angling stocks here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31418/15]
View answerIn the five year period 2010-2014 substantial Exchequer support, amounting to almost €130 million, has been provided for inland fisheries and almost €24 million has been provided for IFI in my Department's Vote this year.
The establishment of IFI has facilitated an improved national perspective in the formulation of inland fisheries policy which is more streamlined, coherent and integrated. It also facilitates the achievement of efficiencies in the effective management of the inland fisheries resource.
The Deputy will also appreciate that the Board and Senior Management of IFI have a key role in ensuring that the Agency continues to meet its objectives towards the conservation, protection, promotion and development of the inland fisheries resource. In achieving its objectives, IFI is delivering on the imperative, common to all Public Bodies, to achieve efficiencies and to maintain a high level of service.
IFI staff have embraced a range of changed work practices to improve operational efficiency. These include the increased use of surveillance technology and specialist vehicle and water craft patrols. These innovations underpin the imperative of ensuring the optimum deployment of resources.
I can confirm that an increase in staff numbers to 312 has been authorised and that sanction was received in 2015 for 35 additional temporary seasonal staff.
1529. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if staff in his Department or agents acting on his behalf carried out a survey of Lough Carra in County Mayo on foot of the European water directive during 2015; the result of the survey as it refers to fish counts, their species, diet and location; the number of trout killed by operatives in the course of the survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32047/15]
View answerI can confirm that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) carried out a survey of Lough Carra this year. I am advised by IFI that one of the purposes behind the survey was to provide fishery related inputs to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of its reporting obligations under the EU Water Framework Directive.
IFI have also confirmed that on completion of the field season (end October 2015), all fish sampled will be analysed by species in the IFI Laboratory to provide data including catch per unit effort (CPUE), biomass per unit effort (BPUE), age profiles, dietary analysis and other information. This analysis will result in the compilation of a detailed report.
I have asked IFI to provide a copy of the report directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
1530. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants available to provide insulation to timber frame homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32274/15]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of schemes under the Better Energy programme on behalf of my Department. There are no eligibility restrictions for these schemes based on building type. The Better Energy Homes scheme offers a range of grants to homeowners who wish to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Better Energy Rating (BER). The householder should discuss the best options for insulating their type of home with an SEAI registered contractor.
Timber framed homes would also be eligible for support under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, which delivers energy efficiency upgrades to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty and the Better Energy Communities Scheme, where the focus is on buildings in the community sector and local clusters of homes likely to be at risk of energy poverty.
Full detail on the range of grants available, along with technical information for householders is available on the SEAI website at: http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/.
1531. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider a voluntary buy-out scheme for snap-net fishermen on the Rivers Barrow, Nore, Suir, and Slaney if the fishermen were prepared to relinquish their licences in favour of compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30493/15]
View answerThe Salmon Hardship Scheme was introduced following a Government decision in 2006 to cease, for conservation reasons, the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery. Under the scheme fishermen active in the commercial snap net sector could opt to voluntarily cease fishing and undertake not to seek a licence in the future.
In excess of €25m was allocated to the scheme to facilitate payments to fishermen with a further €5m provided for community development projects. Payments to individuals were based on verifiable track record and recorded catches in the five years prior to its introduction.
The scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008 and I understand that all funds were expended and there are currently no plans to revisit such a scheme.
1532. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the nature of the survey conducted to decipher that salmon stocks had been depleted to such levels that fishermen were forced to abstain from salmon fishing on the Rivers Barrow, Nore, Suir, and Slaney; the criteria of same; the locations in which it was carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30494/15]
View answer1533. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider a re-assessment of the level of salmon stocks in the Rivers Barrow, Nore, Suir, and Slaney through the use of counters or alternative means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30495/15]
View answer1534. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will investigate the viability and feasibility of re-opening a hatchery facility at Inistiogue in County Kilkenny in an effort to restock the River Nore for salmon fishing to a level that is sufficient to allow the re-opening the aforementioned rivers for snap-net fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30496/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1532 to 1534, inclusive, together.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 143 salmon rivers has its own genetically unique stock of salmon
IFI is supported in its management role a statutorily independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) on Salmon comprising scientists from IFI, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI- Northern Ireland) other State bodies and third level institutions. Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks are carried out every year, with IFI engaged in an extensive monitoring of stock status which feed into the scientific committee's annual reviews.
The scientific committee estimates the number of salmon likely to return to each river in the next fishing season based on estimates of salmon runs over the most recent five years. Each river has an individual conservation limit (CL) which is essentially the number of salmon required to spawn to maintain a healthy population. If the estimate of returning salmon is above this limit then salmon from that individually genetic river population may be harvested commercially or by rod and line.
For rivers, such as the Suir, Nore and Barrow, where a counter is not in use, the primary index for evaluation of likely returning numbers is the recorded rod (harvest or catch and release) and commercial catch averaged over the previous 5 years. The scientific committee applies a range of rod exploitation rates for recreational fishing activity and adds the commercial catch to calculate the total run of salmon. In the case of the River Slaney, the fish counter data is used to estimate the salmon run.
In addition, information on juvenile abundance indices derived from electro-fishing surveys carried out annually by IFI is also evaluated as an indicator of stock status. This information is used primarily where new information has not been available for rod catches.
Harvest fisheries are only considered in rivers where the estimated returns are above the conservation limit for the river. I am advised by IFI that a Risk Analysis is undertaken on any estimate of returns expected to be above the conservation limit.
IFI have confirmed that, using the recorded salmon rod catch and any commercial salmon catch, the estimate of returning salmon in 2015 was below the individual conservation limits for the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir and no surpluses of salmon was available. No salmon surplus was also available using fish counter data for the Slaney averaged over the past five years.
I am informed that IFI is currently investigating the possibility of installing a fish counter on the river Barrow for salmon stock assessment. This process will depend on locating a suitable site and acquiring all planning and other relevant permissions.
The salmon assessment methodologies used in Ireland is considered internationally as best practice with many other countries moving towards the development of similar scientific assessment models for salmon stock conservation.
As regards the issue off salmon hatcheries, IFI have advised that there are significant genetic and ecological concerns when the progeny of wild salmon reared in a hatchery environment are released back into the wild and guidelines have been prepared by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) with regard to applying the precautionary approach to any proposed stocking of hatchery reared Atlantic salmon into the wild.
There are many possible causes for decline of Atlantic salmon populations and stocking may not be an appropriate solution. IFI’s advice for enhancement of salmon stocks nationally, including the River Nore, is to continue with single stock salmon management to achieve individual river spawning targets while also supporting habitat enhancement and removal of artificial barriers to migration rather than artificial stock enhancements which have potentially detrimental genetic impacts.
1535. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he envisages that the estuary to the Rivers Barrow, Nore, and Suir will ever be re-opened for drift-net fishing; if not, if he will consider a voluntary buy-out scheme for current licence holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30497/15]
View answerAs each of Ireland’s 143 salmon rivers has its own unique stock of salmon, Inland Fisheries Ireland manages salmon stocks by individual river based on the river's conservation limit. The salmon conservation limit (CL) is the number of spawning salmon required to maintain a sustainable population and is used to indicate the number of salmon in a river system above which a harvestable surplus can be considered. Salmon conservation limits are set similarly for all of Ireland’s salmon rivers.
IFI is supported in its management role by the statutorily independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) on Salmon comprising scientists from IFI, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI- Northern Ireland) other State bodies and third level institutions. IFI also carries out extensive monitoring of salmon stock status which feed into the scientific committee's assessments carried out every year.
The Barrow, Nore and Suir are the three main contributing rivers to Waterford Estuary. The SSC advice for 2015 is that the Nore had a deficit of 897 salmon below CL, the Suir had a deficit of 2762 salmon below CL and the Barrow had a deficit of 9720 salmon below CL. All three rivers remain closed for harvesting of salmon. The opening of a commercial salmon fishery can only be considered if there is a suitable surplus of salmon (in excess of conservation limit) available for harvest.
Prior to any commercial salmon fishing being permitted in the Waterford Estuary it will be necessary for all the waters in the vicinity of the fishing location to be in surplus at the same time and for genetic analysis to confirm that no other stocks are mixed in the area. If genetic assessment proves that the stocks in the area are specific to local rivers only, and that analysis shows that these stocks are all above their conservation limit with a surplus available for exploitation, consideration could be given to a commercial fishery.
Any future decision on a fishery can only be taken in this context and Ireland must be particularly careful to ensure that all national and international legislation and other obligations are met in any future management regime.
I am advised by IFI that all three rivers are currently below their individual conservation limits and therefore there is no permitted salmon /sea trout fishery in the common estuary.
The Salmon Hardship Scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008 and I understand that all funds were expended and there are currently no plans to revisit such a scheme.
1536. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha an nglacann sé leis go mbraitheann úsáid éifeachtach Eircode, do dhaoine atá ag lorg Eircode le haghaidh seoltaí poist i nGaeilge, ar bhunachar críochnúil seoltaí a bheith ar fáil a bheidh ar chomhchéim agus ar chomhchaighdeán leis an mbunachar céanna i mBéarla mar a thuairisc an sainghrúpa, a raibh ionadaíocht ag a Roinn féin air, i Márta 2015; an nglacann sé leis go bhfuil sé riachtanach go réiteoidh foras stáit éigin an t-easnamh sa mbunachar Gaeilge atá ann le go mbeidh sé sásúil sa dá theanga oifigiúla; cad iad na céimeanna atá i gceist aige a ghlacadh i dteannta le ranna eile rialtais leis an bhfadhb seo a réiteach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [30538/15]
View answerIs ón mbunachar sonraí GeoDirectory agus uaidh sin amháin a thagann na seoltaí Gaeilge a sholáthraítear i mBunachar Sonraí Eircode. Is é aidhm GeoDirectory na haistriúcháin Ghaeilge oifigiúla dheimhnithe ar sheoltaí a chur san áireamh taobh istigh den bhunachar sonraí nuair a bhíonn siad ar fáil agus aistriúcháin ón mBrainse Logainmneacha agus ó Shuirbhéireacht Ordanáis Éireann in úsáid. Is éard a bhí sa sainghrúpa dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ná grúpa oibre neamhfhoirmiúil ina raibh Foras na Gaeilge, an Brainse Logainmneacha (an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta), Conradh na Gaeilge agus Eircode. Bunaíodh é chun aon fhadhb a bhaineann le seoltaí Gaeilge a shainaithint. Cuireann na torthaí ón ngrúpa oibre seo ar chumas GeoDirectory agus an Bhrainse Logainmneacha sonraí a mhalartú maidir le seoltaí poist as Béarla agus as Gaeilge chun aon fhadhb a d'fhéadfadh bheith ann, nó aon neamhréir a d'fhéadfadh bheith idir an dá bhunachar sonraí, a shainaithint. Mar thoradh ar an anailís seo, táthar ag soláthar aistriúcháin Ghaeilge oifigiúla, atá ann cheana féin agus atá cothrom le dáta, ar sheoltaí poist sa bhunachar sonraí GeoDirectory a chuirfear ar fáil i mBunachar Sonraí Eircode.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach a thabhairt faoi deara nach bhfuil seoltaí ag athrú de bharr éirchóid a bheith á dtabhairt isteach agus nach gcaithfidh daoine an seoladh a úsáideann siad de ghnáth a athrú. Is é an seoladh poist a úsáideann An Post chun seachadadh poist a chur i gcrích ach is féidir le daoine an t-éirchód a chur i ndiaidh cibé cineál seolta a úsáidtear de ghnáth.
1537. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the public service broadcasting charge and a valuable local community radio station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/15]
View answer1555. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy toward community media and funding currently provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31829/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1537 and 1555 together.
The Programme for Government committed 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. The primary objective in introducing a Public Service Broadcasting Charge is to secure a more stable funding stream for public service broadcasting than the current TV Licence system provides in light of the current high level of evasion and the impact that technological developments are having on the way that media is consumed.
In terms of the introduction of any new charge, in my statement of 21 April 2015 on the publication of the NewERA and Indecon reports, I indicated that I had advised Government 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.
In terms of funding for community broadcasters, a proportion of the television licence fee monies are already being made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, as provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The purpose of this Scheme, which covers both radio and television, 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’ commercial, community and public service broadcasters. It is funded by way of a payment of 7% of net licence fee receipts, which is paid to the BAI in respect of this Scheme. This amount was increased from 5% to 7% under the Broadcasting Act 2009.
Community Broadcasters also have access to the Community Broadcasting Support Scheme which was recently launched by the BAI. This scheme has a total available fund of €30,000 for 2015 and is open to all fully licensed Community and Community of Interest TV and radio stations throughout the country. This scheme is specifically designed to offer funding support to enable them to further advance from an organisational development perspective, e.g. staff training and capacity development.
Between 2010 and 2014, the Community radio sector received €3.79 million from the Sound and Vision II scheme to produce 485 various programmes such as documentaries, sports, arts, music and drama. The current scheme, Sound & Vision III, was launched in February 2015 and will see up to €24 million in funding being made available to television and radio programmes through five funding rounds to be rolled out over the next two years.
1538. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the national broadband plan, with particular reference to County Longford and County Westmeath; the level of commercial involvement to date in these counties; the level of State intervention required in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30635/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
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 and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by 2016. The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves whether their individual premises is included in the planned intervention or not.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
More specifically I can confirm that high speed broadband has been extended to serve 7,105 premises to date in county Longford with a further 3,786 expected to be served over the next 18 months. This coverage is referred to as "homes passed" and consumers will need to enter into a contract for service in order to activate the service. The remaining 11,691 premises in county Longford will be covered by further commercial investment or the NBP intervention.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
1539. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the issue of persons receiving three different Eircodes for the same house; the way this can be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30680/15]
View answerAll postal addresses that receive mail were assigned an Eircode following the launch of the National Postcode System in July. The issue of a property receiving one or more Eircodes can arise for a number of reasons. For example, if there is a shared residential and business address within the same building both will be assigned an Eircode. The case referred to by the Deputy is one for the Eircode contractor to review and resolve if an issue exists. The person concerned can contact Eircode by e-mailing hello@eircode.ie, by post to Block C, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, W23 F854 or using the contact phone numbers on the Eircode website.
1540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30700/15]
View answerThe most comprehensive address database available in the country is the postal address database, which is owned by Geo-directory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland. The Eircode database is derived from this source and the addresses contained in the database are postal addresses used by An Post as opposed to geographical addresses. The postal address is used to ensure the correct routing of mail to individual addresses and for this reason the postal and geographical addresses may differ for some premises, for example in the Tralee/Dingle instance referenced in the Question. The introduction of Eircodes has not changed this. While An Post uses the postal address to effect postal delivery, individuals are entitled to append the Eircode to whatever form of address is normally used.
Similarly, the provision of Irish language addresses in the Eircode Database is solely derived from the GeoDirectory database. GeoDirectory aims to include the verified official Irish translations of addresses within the database where available, using translations from an Brainse Logainmneacha and Ordnance Survey Ireland. GeoDirectory and An Brainse Logainmneacha are currently exchanging English and Irish postal address data to identify any issues and discrepancies that may exist between the databases. This analysis will facilitate the provision of existing up-to-date official Irish translations for postal addresses in the GeoDirectory database that will be made available in the Eircode Database.
1541. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30735/15]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, and the pricing thereof, is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in cases of clear market failure, as was the case with the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which commenced in 2008. Through this scheme my Department, with the support of the European Union, invested significantly to ensure that infrastructure and services were made available to redress the deficit in basic broadband connectivity which existed at the time in certain designated rural areas. Following a 68 month operational period, the NBS expired in August 2014, in line with EU State Aid guidelines. The NBS, combined with private sector investment in the broadband market over recent years, means that there is now a choice of commercial operators offering basic broadband services, over a diverse range of technology platforms throughout Ireland.
The details provided in the Question refer to customers previously served by the NBS satellite service, which was utilised in a small number of cases for technical reasons associated with the location of the premises. Following the expiry of the NBS, these customers can continue to avail of broadband services on a commercial basis from Digiweb, which had previously provided the NBS satellite service on behalf of “3”, the NBS service provider. I understand that the tariff offered to former NBS customers is similar to the rates charged by the company to its customers outside of NBS areas and that customers receive increased download and upload speeds as well as a 37% increase in data allowance.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
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 and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by 2016. The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services. Members of the public can consult the map to establish for themselves whether their individual premises is included in the planned intervention or not.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
1542. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the need for quality broadband in Dingle town and the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula, County Kerry as the existing service is impeding the local economy of this prime tourist area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
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 and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by 2016 and includes the town of Dingle. The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services and includes most of the Corca Duibhne peninsula. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves whether their individual premises is included in the planned intervention or not.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
1543. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the funding for the scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and local authorities to improve the energy performance of older local authority housing stock is to be cut by 40% in October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31252/15]
View answerNeither my Department nor the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland operate any programmes specifically targeted at improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock. A scheme known as Better Energy Communities, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department does, however, support partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of existing building stock and homes vulnerable to energy poverty. These partnerships can involve local authorities working with other actors to improve the energy efficiency of local authority housing stock. This year, 29 projects received grant allocations totalling €18.6m under the Better Energy Communities scheme. 14 of these projects involve partnerships with local authorities. It is anticipated that these projects will improve the energy efficiency of 2,435 homes and 400 public, private and community buildings in 2015.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government operate the Social Housing Investment Programme. An element of this programme is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the social housing stock. The operation and funding of that Programme is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
1544. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenditure of State-owned entities on self-promotion and advertising to national and local sporting agencies of funding derived from individual and household payments to utility companies such as EirGrid and An Post; and the reason this finance is not being spent on lowering the grid transmission costs or on the rural community post offices respectively. [31269/15]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
1545. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to extend the better energy warmer homes scheme administered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31434/15]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, which meet the defined eligibility criteria. The homes of the scheme beneficiaries are retrofitted free of charge, thus making those homes more energy efficient. The retrofit measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation.
Since the commencement of the scheme in 2000, 117,787 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures at a cost to the Exchequer of €143.9m. €15.8m has been allocated to the scheme for 2015. Demand for this scheme remains strong, clearly demonstrating its potential to continue to deliver energy efficiency gains and related benefits, such as reduced energy costs and better health outcomes.
Spend on the Warmer Homes Scheme is set on an annual basis through the estimates process and my Department must work within approved allocations. However, there is clear evidence that delivering energy efficiency improvements remains the best method of combating energy poverty, which is a priority of the Government. Therefore, I will continue to ensure that improving the energy efficiency of homes of those vulnerable to energy poverty remains central to Ireland’s Better Energy Programme. I should also highlight that I will be publishing a new Affordable Energy Strategy around the end of this year.
