Written Answers Nos. 467-482
467. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of extending the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland electric vehicle grant until 2017 and until 2020, assuming the 2020 targets for electric vehicle usage are met, and not assuming they are not met. [2124/16]
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 increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.
The Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme supports and incentivises, through grants of up to €5,000, the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the Vehicle Registration Tax reliefs of up to €5,000 which apply to EVs. The grant scheme commenced in 2011 and, to end 2015, the purchase of 1,090 new EVs has been supported. The scheme, which will be kept under review, is continuing this year and an allocation of €4.5 million has been provided for this purpose.
468. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of administering of the building energy rating system for 2015. [2136/16]
View answerThe Building Energy Rating System is administered by the Department for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I refer to the reply to Question No 456 on today’s Order Paper.
469. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to address the serious issues concerning broadband raised by a business in the Rosemount area of County Westmeath (details supplied) and to offer real and viable solutions rather than statistics which have no direct bearing on this business. [2140/16]
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. 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.
On the 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State Intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment. The formal procurement commenced with the publication of the Project Information Memorandum and the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. In addition, my Department also published: - the National Intervention Strategy – updated in December 2015, which takes account of responses to the public consultation which took place in July 2015 and subsequent expert analysis; and - the High Speed Broadband Map 2020 - which follows ongoing engagement with industry and public consultation.
The Intervention strategy sets out a detailed service specification including a requirement that the State-funded network must be capable of delivering high-quality, high speed broadband of at least 30mbps download and 6mbps upload. It must also be capable of catering for higher performance in the future so as to keep pace with consumer demand. It is therefore a matter for bidders to select the technology which will show how they propose to meet these contractual requirements.
The 2020 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 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 and includes Rosemount in the townland of Ballintober, County Westmeath. Members of the public can see whether their individual premise is in the BLUE or AMBER area by inserting their Eircode, and-or address, or scrolling through the map.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network in the AMBER area 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. While the Government intervention will make high speed services available in Rosemount over the coming years, the business in question could engage with all commercial operators in the meantime, to see if any improvements on existing services can be achieved.
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.
More generally, I am informed by the commercial operators that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 20,000 premises to date in County Westmeath with over 6,500 more expected to be serviced by commercial investment. Almost 18,000 remaining premises in County Westmeath will be covered either by further commercial investment or the proposed State intervention.
470. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Government has transposed the European Broadband Directive (2014/61/EU) which will reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2153/16]
View answerDirective 2014/61/EU 14, on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks, among other things, will require operators of networks providing communications, district heating, electricity including public lighting, gas, transport or and waste water services to negotiate agreements to share their network physical infrastructure with public communications networks operators from 1 July 2016, unless there are objective reasons not to do so in any particular case. It is proposed to implement the required legislation by Regulations under the European Communities Act 1972 and the required legislative text is well advanced. I expect that the Regulations will be adopted shortly, pending the conclusion of discussions with relevant Government Departments on provisions relating to permits to install telecommunications infrastructure above, on or below public roads and an obligation to require building developers to make provisions for telecommunications ducting in future planning applications.
471. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of carrying out the national broadband plan high speed mapping exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/16]
View answerThe development of the High Speed Broadband map under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) was only one aspect of the very detailed intervention strategy under the NBP. The mapping exercise was undertaken by officials within my own Department and its advisors and involved extensive discussion with industry. The stages involved in the mapping exercise comprised: - An information request to all authorised undertakings in July 2013 - A Call for Inputs in June 2014 to assist in the development of the assessment criteria
- Publication of High Speed Broadband Map in November 2014 – further public consultation
- A supplementary information request issued to industry in April 2015
- Consultation on managing the map – October 2015
- Publication of High Speed Broadband Map 2020 in December 2015.
All information gleaned from the various stages of this process was required to be validated before being transferred to an interactive map and colour coded BLUE and AMBER. The BLUE area indicates that commercial servcices will be provided by the end of 2016. Premises in the AMBER area will be included in the State intervention. This process culminated in the production of the High Speed Broadband map 2016 initially and subsequently the High Speed Broadband Map 2020.
The 2020 map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie allows all member of the public, be they business or residential , to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services or whether they will be included in the Government’s intervention. Citizens can search for their individual premises using their Eircode, or address, or by scrolling through the map, and see whether that premises will be covered by commercial investment or the State intervention. Every townland in Ireland has been mapped, and information on the number of premises in each townland and the percentage that are in commerical (BLUE) and non-commercial (AMBER) areas are provided.
The Map is a critical aspect of European State Aid compliance and the mapping process remains open, in accordance with terms that have been published on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie so that any new developments can be managed.
I do not have precise figures for all elements of the mapping exercise as it impacts on all aspects of the intervention strategy and is integrated with several work streams. I can confirm however that the in-house ICT related cost to the Department to date of producing the map is in the region of € 203,000 including VAT.
472. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources under the Civil Service reform programme, the number of clerical officers who have been promoted to higher executive officer and the number of executive officers who have been promoted to assistant principal officer in his Department through internal competitions after the significant change in eligibility rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2572/16]
View answerI can confirm that no Clerical Officers have been promoted to Higher Executive Officer and, similarly, no Executive Officers have been promoted to Assistant Principal Officer in this Department through internal competitions since the eligibility criteria for promotion competitions were changed in January 2014 to remove restrictions in relation to service in particular grades.
473. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff in the National Roads Authority in each of the years 2010 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
474. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the administrative costs of operating the National Roads Authority from 2010 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1971/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Transport Infrastucture Ireland (TII) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
475. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether it is appropriate that the Freight Transport Association is carrying out safety inspections on Bus Éireann buses when over 50% of the members of the FTA are associated with Bus Éireann directly through the ownership of buses. [2038/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
476. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of driver testing for powered two-wheeled vehicles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2042/16]
View answerThe categories into which vehicles are divided for driver licensing and testing purposes are set at EU rather than national level. Irish requirements in regard to the matter raised are therefore a transposition of EU law, rather than a national policy decision. I therefore have no power to change the current procedure.
477. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of installing automatic number plate recognition cameras; the number of cameras in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2131/16]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has no role in the use of automatic number plate recognition cameras. Such devices are used by the M50 Concession for the purpose of the collection of tolls and as such are entirely a commercial matter for that company.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras are used by An Garda Síochána in the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As such, this is an operational matter for that organisation under my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
478. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Northern Ireland Executive has updated him on its revised plans for expenditure on the A5 dual carriageway (details supplied); the amount of money the Executive will spend on the project; the timescale within which this expenditure will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2165/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start reaffirms the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and commits an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. Under the Agreement it is envisaged that construction of Phase 1 of the A5 will start in 2017 with a view to completion in 2019. In keeping with the revised project timeline, the Government funding is to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Northern Ireland Executive decisions on funding allocations are a matter for the Executive and it is not a matter on which I propose to comment. The Irish Government will be liaising with the Northern Ireland authorities on project implementation under the aegis of the North South Ministerial Council and an initial meeting of senior officials from both sides has taken place regarding implementation of commitments under the Agreement.
479. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request Iarnród Éireann to increase the number of carriages from three to four on the 06.15 train service from Cork to Dublin Heuston each weekday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2176/16]
View answerThe issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
480. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the continued closure of the waiting rooms at Newbridge train station, County Kildare, for a number of years, given that it is a very busy station and is regularly used by persons travelling to seek hospital services in the Dublin area. [2229/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The issues of the provision and operation of waiting rooms at rail stations are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann; I have no function in such matters.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
481. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of rickshaws (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2242/16]
View answer483. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person who is responsible for the supervision and regulation of rickshaws in the Dublin area; the names of the companies that are involved in this transport business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2256/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 483 together.
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Rickshaws are covered by road traffic law. Pedal-powered rickshaws come within the definition of 'pedal cycles' and powered rickshaws are classified as 'mechanically propelled vehicles'. They, like all other road traffic, are obliged to obey road traffic law. The measures which I introduced recently to allow An Garda Síochána to issue fixed charge notices to cyclists also apply to pedal powered rickshaws and will provide and important tool for An Garda Síochána in enforcing the law. At present there is no legislation in place to regulate the carriage of passengers by rickshaws. Rickshaws by their nature operate at a local level. Local authorities regulate many activities at local level through bye-laws made under local government regulation. In response to concerns (primarily of a health and safety nature), and following a consultation process with relevant stakeholders, Dublin City Council (DCC), has prepared draft bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001 to regulate the operation of rickshaws. As I set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1186 of 3rd November 2015, it is my understanding that DCC, subject to receipt of certain legal clarifications, intend to bring the draft bye-laws, which would provide for a licensing regime for rickshaws, before the Strategic Policy Committee of the Council for its consideration. |
482. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene in the return of a C1 Licence to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; which was taken away without the person's knowledge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2246/16]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
