Written Answers Nos. 1124-1145
1124. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for details of plans to make biofuel more readily available through fuel pumps in retail garages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37328/15]
View answer1126. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will indicate the performance to date of the biofuels obligation scheme; how it is verified that 6.383% of motor fuels by volume is coming from renewable sources; the revenue generated by the biofuel levy in each year of its operation; if his Department will be undertaking a review of the effectiveness of the scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37469/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1124 and 1126 together.
The 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 (NORA), 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 (6.383%) of petroleum based fuel it has placed on the road transport market. Two certificates are awarded for each litre of biofuel produced from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material, and ligno-cellulosic material placed on the market with one certificate awarded per litre of other biofuels. Certificates are only issued for biofuels that have been demonstrated to have complied with the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive.
The scheme has resulted in increases in the amount of biofuels in Ireland since its introduction. In 2014, almost 167 million litres of biofuel was placed on the road transport fuel market, which is an increase of over 16 million litres from the previous year. This represented 5.2 percentage points of the 10% target required by 2020.
It is estimated that in order to achieve the binding target for Ireland of 10%, a biofuel obligation rate of 12% by volume may be needed by 2020. Therefore, the obligation rate must be increased progressively and in a managed and phased basis over the coming years. Last month, I launched a consultation seeking views on an increase to the biofuel obligation rate from 2016. The consultation closed last Friday and my Department is considering the responses received.
The amounts collected by NORA for the Biofuel Levy, since its introduction in 2010, are contained in the following table:
|
Year |
Levy Collected |
|
2010 |
€1,970,321 |
|
2011 |
€2,891,441 |
|
2012 |
€2,493,159 |
|
2013 |
€3,065,196 |
|
2014 |
€3,328,554 |
1125. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Eircode will not change an incorrect code to address the correct postal address of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37448/15]
View answerThe most comprehensive address database available in the country is the postal address database, which is owned by GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Eircode uses the addresses from this database in the Eircode finder and used the postal address to ensure delivery of the Eircode letter. Eircode does not have the right to change postal address data on behalf of GeoDirectory. It is important to note that as there is no official form of address for properties, the introduction of Eircodes has imposed no obligation to change the address normally used. The Eircode can simply be added to the address normally used for the property.
1127. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the granting of onshore options licences granted to companies (details supplied) to prospect onshore in the north-west carboniferous basin and the Clare basins complied with the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/15]
View answerI assume that the Deputy’s reference to compliance with the Aarhus Convention is made in the context of the public’s right to participate in decision-making in environmental matters, for example projects affecting the environment, or plans and programmes relating to the environment. Granting of a Licensing Option of itself is not a permission to carry out a project that would affect the environment. The work programmes carried out under the Licensing Options were primarily of a desk-top study nature. Had the holders of the Licensing Options proposed to undertake projects likely to have a significant effect on the environment then such activities would have been subject to Environmental Impact Assessment, which would have included public participation. The companies would have also had to hold a Petroleum Prospecting Licence and the process through which such licences may be granted also involves public participation.
1128. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the situation of workers in the emergency call answering service run by Conduit company and British Telecom Ireland; that workers are paid well below the living wage of €11.50 per hour; that they are refused collective union representation; and that they often cannot receive the annual leave to which they are entitled. [37418/15]
View answer1129. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure the Conduit company respects its workers’ basic human right to collective bargaining by engaging in meaningful discussions with the Communications Workers Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together.
BT Ireland has operated the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on behalf of my Department under a concession agreement since July 2010 and is responsible for the conditions and resourcing of the Service. BT employ a third party contractor, Conduit Ireland Ltd, to provide operators to answer calls. Operators at ECAS call answering centres in Navan, Ballyshannon, and Dublin, process emergency calls and forward these to the appropriate emergency service as quickly and effectively as possible. The ECAS operators handle calls effectively and efficiently, often in response to stressful and distressing situations for citizens. The Service answers over 2 million calls annually, and has one of the fastest emergency call answering times in Europe. The number and cost of operators is assessed annually by the Commission for Communications Regulation as part of its annual review of the cost of the ECAS service. An expert report commissioned by ComReg is appended to this review. The latest expert report was appended to a decision on costs by ComReg published in January 2015. The expert report states that ECAS “is run effectively against the service targets and quality requirements and overall is approaching ‘leading practice’ from a performance perspective”. Furthermore, ComReg’s review concluded that an increase to the operator’s hourly rate was reasonable and notified BT Ireland accordingly.This is a matter now for BT and Conduit, and I understand that discussions between the two companies are advanced with a view to addressing ComReg's findings. I would hope therefore that the matter can be dealt with quickly given the important service that ECAS operators provide.
1130. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the final report of the post office network business development group is due to be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37620/15]
View answerThe Post Office Network Business Development Group, whose remit is to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network, presented its initial report to me in May 2015. In summary, the initial report outlined that the future of the post office network would be best secured by seeking out opportunities in the following areas: financial services, including basic banking for the unbanked, Government services, social capital and enterprise, and white labelling of financial and other products. To gain further insight into these areas, a public consultation exercise was held from 16 June to 28 July. Interested parties were invited to submit their views on the initial report. It is clear from the responses received that there is a strong public desire to maintain the nationwide network of post offices. The consultation responses are assisting the group in identifying opportunities that can benefit the post office network and will inform the final report, which I expect to receive presently.
It is premature to speculate, in advance of the final report, on what the next steps will be until I have had the opportunity to consider in detail the findings of the group.
1131. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if financial assistance or grants are available to elderly persons who wish to install a landline for the purpose of having an alarm in their house [37641/15]
View answerThe provision of fixed line electronic communications networks connections is undertaken on a commercial basis by competing networks providers. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has intervened in the market and designated eir as a universal service provider of basic electronic communications connections at any fixed location, if requested. Eir is also obliged to provide such connections at an averaged connection charge, currently €121.93 (inclusive of VAT), if the total connection costs do not exceed €7,000 in any individual case.
Neither my Department nor ComReg has any further mechanisms to assist potential customers to meet the connection costs or ongoing line rental charges. I am aware however that other Departments may have support schemes which are designed to contribute to the cost of installing alarms or operational costs; these include the Seniors Alert Scheme and the Community Alert Programme.
1132. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve broadband in Kilrush, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37653/15]
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 the end of 2016 and includes Kilrush in County Clare.
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.
According to publicly available information on eir's website (www.openeir.ie) fibre build has commenced in Kilrush to enable the provision of high-speed broadband services.
I would encourage members of the public to consult both my Department's map and the information being provided by the commercial operators on their respective websites to establish the precise situation regarding their individual premises.
38 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions have been published since last week and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area Map. I expect to publish an updated version of the Map and to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
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.
1133. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources given that the quantity of bioenergy on the planet is inherently limited, the steps he has taken to ensure that energy planning for transition to a low-carbon society does not assume the unlimited availability of bioenergy. [37707/15]
View answer1134. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies he has in place, or is considering putting in place, to ensure bioenergy use is sustainable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. [37708/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1133 and 1134 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2014, 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Bioenergy is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here in Ireland and in the EU as a whole.
In 2014, I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website. The draft Plan is currently undergoing Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments which will inform the content of the finalised Plan.
The draft Plan recognises that, although Ireland will remain a net importer of biofuels in the transport sector, meeting demand for solid biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic benefits. Consequently, the draft plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard, the key recommendations include the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Mona and Coillte.
Furthermore, in terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy, and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.
In addition to its availability, the sustainability of biomass will continue to be a critical factor in the development of bioenergy policy, with liquid biofuels already having to meet certain strict sustainability criteria. The European Commission recently adopted a Directive which will limit the amount of certain crop based biofuels, whose use could lead to Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC), that Member States can count towards renewable energy targets.
1135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the future use of the Eircode system; if An Post is one of the sponsoring bodies; if he has advised An Post to become involved; if there is a human resource difficulty in An Post regarding its use of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37858/15]
View answerEircodes are an essential piece of the national postal infrastructure, which was successfully rolled out in July 2015 with the assistance of An Post, amongst others. An Post, as universal service provider, was engaged in the design phase of the national postcode project and the Eircodes are fully integrated with An Post mails sortation systems. An Post was also heavily involved in the dissemination of the Eircode to 2.2million residential and business addresses following the project's launch. Both the CEO and mails operations director for An Post have stated publicly that An Post will use eircodes in all their mail operations.
1136. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the introduction of Eircodes; if he will request an assessment on their uptake and usage and whether the uptake and usage is consistent with what was envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38051/15]
View answerEircode, the National Postcode System for Ireland was launched on 13 July 2015. The Eircode system is a vital piece of national infrastructure and before its introduction Ireland was the only country within the OECD that did not have a National Postcode System. A successful national information campaign was completed over the summer to inform the public about Eircodes and promote their usage. During the dissemination phase of Eircodes, Amárach, an independent body, conducted two parallel surveys, a face-to-face survey of 1,200 households and 200 business premises. The results of the surveys showed that 89% of the public knew the Eircode for their address; a number in excess of the target set out for Capita, the Eircode contractor. Public sector bodies, such as the Revenue Commissioners and Department of Social Protection, have started using Eircodes in customer engagement and this process will continue over the coming months. In accordance with the contract for the development and maintenance of Eircodes, my Department has put in place reporting structures with Capita which will, inter alia, include information on the commercial use of the Eircode system. Since the launch, a total of 21 Value Added Resellers have been signed up to develop and sell products and services using Eircode databases.
1137. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that the State has achieved value for money from the €57 million spent on the Eircode project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38052/15]
View answerThe cost of the contract with Capita who were awarded a ten year licence to develop and maintain the postcode system is €27m. Taking consultancy costs, staffing costs and VAT the total cost of the project is estimated to be €38m over its lifetime. The total cost of the project covers design of the eircode, encoding public sector databases, accessing the GeoDirectory database, the launch and implementation of Eircodes and the ongoing management of the system for the licence period. The total spend to date on the postcodes project amounts to €19.5m (including VAT). Capita have been paid €17.5m (including VAT) to date on foot of delivery of agreed milestones. The bulk of this figure, €9.4 million was spent on encoding public sector bodies' databases. Aside from payments to Capita, €2m (including VAT) has been spent on specialist costs arising in the project in the period 2009 to date.
Public sector bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection are already using the codes in day to day business.
Capita has signed up 21 Value Added Re-sellers who will develop products and services using the Eircode databases.
As the Eircodes were only launched in July, usage of the codes is only starting to be visible and it is too early to make an evaluation of the project. However, based on engagement with public and private sector bodies during the developmental phase of the project, I am satisfied that, in time, as usage of Eircodes increases, they will support economic activity and deliver social benefits.
1138. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding appointments to a board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38085/15]
View answerAll vacancies on state boards, including the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are filled by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in line with the 2014 Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. The stateboards.ie website is the primary portal through which vacancies on State Boards are publicised. Any person interested in serving on a state board should register their interest on the website in order to be informed of future vacancies.
1139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to strengthen existing legislation to afford consumers of telecommunication products who experience disruption to services and connectivity issues greater protection and options for redress. [38086/15]
View answerSection 45 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended, among other things, prohibits telecommunications services providers from imposing charges on customers for services not provided. In addition, there are more detailed consumer protection measures set out in the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users’ Rights) Regulations (SI 337 /2011) which, among other things, oblige telecommunications services providers to include in customers’ contracts information regarding the minimum service quality levels and the types of maintenance service offered, the customer support services provided, the means of contacting those services and conditions regarding any compensation and refund arrangements which apply if contracted service quality levels are not met.
Any customer who is charged for a telecommunications service which is not provided or who cannot resolve a quality of service dispute in bilateral dealings with the service provider can submit a dispute to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent market regulator to pursue further.
Given the measures that are already in place to protect consumers, there are no proposals to amend these legislative provisions at this time. These measures are in addition to the more general consumer protection rights and dispute resolution procedures which apply to the provision of goods and services generally.
1140. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of any local authority which, further to the publication of the national broadband strategy, has completed and submitted a county broadband strategy to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38135/15]
View answerI am unaware of any such reports being submitted to me or my Department. Local Authorities can play a significant role in terms of promoting and facilitating broadband investment across all of the various technology platforms. Consequently, my officials have liaised very closely with local authorities in order to keep them fully informed in relation to the development of the strategy for implementing the various targets in the National Broadband Plan.
Six Local Authorities responded to the recent public consultation on the Government’s National Broadband Plan draft Intervention Strategy. Non-confidential versions of all 38 submissions received, including the 6 Local Authority ones, have been published on my Department's website (www.dcenr.ie).
1141. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to list the individual names and the organisations, agencies and Departments of the participants in decisions to recommend or award contracts for the Environmental Protection Agency's hydraulic fracturing research project to a company (details supplied). [38143/15]
View answerThis research programme is a multi-agency transboundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction projects/operations. It is co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. My Department is represented on the Steering Committee which was responsible for the award of the contract and which is overseeing the project and my officials are engaged in the external review of the work being produced by the consortium engaged to carry out the research programme. Membership of the Steering Committee includes representatives from the EPA, the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government; the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources; the Geological Survey of Ireland; Commission for Energy Regulation; An Bord Pleanála; Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and the Health Services Executive. The draft terms of reference drawn up by this Committee for the research programme were subsequently the subject of a public consultation process.
The contract award procedure chosen for this competition was by open procedure. Six tenders were received. The contract was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with procurement guidelines. The constitution of the evaluation panel was approved by the project Steering Committee and included personnel with the capacity to make informed decisions on the tenders received. The evaluation panel consisted of 27 existing and retired personnel from the following organisations: An Bord Pleanala; Commission for Energy Regulation (CER); Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR); Department of the Environment Community and Local Government (DECLG); Department of the Environment – Northern Ireland (DOENI); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI); Health Service Executive (HSE); Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA); the former Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) (now part of EPA); University of Ulster; University College Cork; University of Bergen, Norway.
1142. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is he aware of the poor quality broadband service in the Moone area of County Kildare; the plans to enhance the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38215/15]
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. 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.
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.
Based on information provided by commercial operators, and the current high speed broadband map, 26% of the townland of Moone will be covered by the commercial sector while the remaining 74% of the townland of Moone will be part of the State 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.
38 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions have been published since last week and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area Map. I expect to publish an updated version of the Map and to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
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.
1143. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the roll-out of broadband in County Limerick. [38281/15]
View answerThe Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. On 29 September the Government approved an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan, which will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention. Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage by 2020.
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 the end of 2016. The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the proposed State intervention.
I can confirm that high speed broadband has been extended to serve 48,872 premises to date in County Limerick with a further 14,826 expected to be served over the next 14 months. The remaining 33,943 premises in county Limerick will be covered by further commercial investment or the NBP intervention.
I would encourage consumers to consult the websites of the various commercial operators to ascertain details of current and planned future deployment plans.
38 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions have been published since last week and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie .
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area Map. I expect to publish an updated version of the Map and to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
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.
1144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the proposal to ban roaming mobile telephone charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38379/15]
View answerI welcome the recent agreement of the European Parliament and the Council of an EU Regulation, which among other things, provides for the abolition of retail roaming charges within the EU from June 2017. This will make a strong statement to EU citizens about a single and unified EU where barriers to trade and travel are minimised. As an interim measure, the Regulation will further reduce the maximum permitted retail roaming charges from current levels. This means that from April 2016, roaming charges (exclusive of VAT) for voice calls will reduce from 19 cent to 5 cent per minute. Roaming charges for SMS or text messages will reduce from 6 cent to 2 cent and for data downloads from 20 cent to 5 cent per megabit. The Regulation contains an additional provision to further reduce wholesale roaming charges to ensure the abolition of retail roaming charges is financially sustainable from June 2017.
The Parliament completed its legislative procedures on Tuesday last, the 27th October when it adopted the Council's proposed text without amendment. The legislative process will be completed shortly when the legislative text is signed by the Presidents of the Parliament and Council and the text is published.
1145. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of civil servants under his remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38722/15]
View answerThe arrangements that apply in relation to career breaks in the Civil Service are outlined in current Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 4/2013 - Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service. Any employees in my Department who have taken a career break or returned to work following a career break have done so in line with the relevant guidelines set out in this Circular. A Civil Servant returning from a career break may be required to work in a different Department, or work in a different geographical location, or work in a different business area from that which he or she worked prior to going on the career break, or work different hours or work pattern than he or she had before taking the career break. In addition, it may not be possible to facilitate the return to work of a Civil Servant for up to twelve months after the end date of the career break.
In relation to the number of staff who returned to work in this Department following completion of career breaks in recent years, four returned in 2013, two in 2014, and to date two have returned in 2015.
