Written Answers Nos. 456 - 468
456. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider revising the electoral boundaries and take steps to reunite south Donegal with Donegal and west Cavan with Cavan-Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8505/16]
View answerSection 5 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for the establishment of a Constituency Commission upon the publication by the Central Statistics Office of preliminary census results. Census 2016 was taken on 24 April 2016 and the Central Statistics Office expects to publish the preliminary results in July of this year. The function of the Constituency Commission is to make a report on the constituencies for the election of members of the Dáil and the members of the European Parliament having regard to Article 16 of the Constitution and to the terms of reference set out in section 6(2) of the Electoral Act 1997.
In accordance with section 9 of the Electoral Act 1997 the Constituency Commission must present its report to the Chairperson of the Dáil no later than 3 months after the publication of final census results. These results are expected in March or April 2017.
Section 10 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for the Constituency Commission to invite and consider submissions in relation to matters which should be considered in preparing its report.
457. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which the pay-by-weight bin charges will work for multi-unit complexes, such as apartment blocks that share bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8520/16]
View answerThe Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, require a waste collector to weigh household waste and charge on a per kilogramme pay-by-weight basis. A service fee may also be charged.
In the case of multi-unit complexes, such as apartment blocks that share bins, such fees will be charged to the management company or person who arranges for the collection of the waste on behalf of the residents of multi-unit complexes, such as apartment blocks.
458. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that independent contractors carrying out home insulation works grant-funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are advertising that they are SEAI approved; if the SEAI approves contractors; the oversight the authority has over such contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/16]
View answerSince 2009 the Better Energy scheme has provided over €400 million for energy efficiency upgrades in almost 300,000 homes, supporting an average of 2,300 jobs per annum in the construction sector.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) maintains a register of contractors who are authorised to undertake works under the Better Energy scheme. Each contractor on the register is required to undertake all works in accordance with the technical specifications of the scheme, demonstrate their tax compliance and insurance cover and cooperate with the scheme's Quality Assurance (QA) programme.
The QA programme has been designed to maintain high standards of contractor workmanship; build consumer confidence; monitor health and safety; and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money. Inspections are undertaken on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the home-owner.
Following an extensive tendering process in accordance with EU and Irish public procurement rules, KSN Energy was appointed to undertake property inspections on behalf of SEAI in relation to the Better Energy scheme. In the twelve months to September 2015, KSN completed 12,200 home inspections costing €634,000.
Registered contractors are not permitted to advertise that they are SEAI approved. I encourage the Deputy to report any contractors advertising that they are SEAI approved to the SEAI who will investigate the matter. SEAI has established a specific email address for contact with Oireachtas members. Any communications can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
459. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the name and location, by county, of community benefit schemes in place for wind farms owned or operated by semi-State companies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/16]
View answerThe operation and detail of any community benefit schemes operated by Semi-State companies is a matter for the companies themselves and I have no function in relation to such.
The development of the recently published Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030', revealed a wide citizen and community desire to be consulted on, and participate in, Ireland’s energy transition and the development of energy-related projects. The White Paper acknowledges the need to develop mechanisms and instruments to make this happen and commits the Government to working to widen the opportunity for participation. An additional and potentially important element in developing our energy systems will be exploring the potential of microgeneration which would be primarily focused on communities.
460. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the mean wind speed profiles forecast by the 2003 and 2013 wind atlases for Ireland for all wind farms with a capacity greater than 5 MW, including those with connection offers that are as yet uncommissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/16]
View answerI understand that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) wind atlas was developed as an information tool for Local Authorities to identify areas suitable for renewable energy in their County Development Plans and for developing their wind energy strategies. The SEAI wind atlas is available at http://www.seai.ie/.
The wind atlas provides information on wind speeds in various areas around Ireland. It does not provide an analysis of speeds at specific wind farm sites, whether operational or in planning, for which specialist wind farm modelling capability and site specific data, would be required. However, the SEAI wind atlas database is available to any private or public entity wishing to carry out an initial analysis of the wind energy potential of a site in Ireland. As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the technical details of individual wind farms.
Neither does the wind atlas contain information pertaining to connection offers. Information in relation to renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the electricity grid, including capacity that is contracted for connection, is available on EirGrid’s and ESB Networks’ websites at www.eirgrid.com and www.esb.ie respectively. If the Deputy wishes to obtain detailed information regarding grid connection offers she should contact EirGrid and ESB Networks who are the electricity system operators.
461. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to consider providing grant aid for the installation of photovoltaic cells on roofs of houses for electricity generation, similar to the grant scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8086/16]
View answerThe White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, identifies the potential for solar technology in Ireland, including the development of Solar Photovoltaic (PV).
It is widely recognised that Solar PV technology has become more cost competitive for electricity generation, not only compared with other renewables but also compared with conventional forms of generation. The deployment of Solar PV in Ireland has the potential to contribute to our renewable energy targets and is one of the technologies being considered in the context of ongoing work to develop a new support scheme for renewable electricity.
My Department published a public consultation on the development of a new renewable electricity support scheme (RESS) last year. This consultation was designed to review the technology options that may be supported by any new incentive scheme. Solar PV - utility-scale and roof-top mounted - will be assessed as part of the design process for the new scheme, and an additional public consultation will take place in 2016 before a decision is taken on the introduction of a new renewable support mechanism.
The next phase of this work will explore a range of design options for the support tariff. This will involve assessing whether a grant payment or simple tariff payment option is the most appropriate and cost effective support mechanism to encourage the deployment of renewable technology.
Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department’s website www.dcenr.gov.ie. Before any such scheme could be introduced, it would have to secure Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.
462. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status and timeline for completion of the procurement process for the €250 million intervention strategy as part of the national broadband strategy. [8222/16]
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.
On 29 September 2015, the Government agreed and published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention and it is expected that further funding will be available over the lifetime of any contract(s).
Funding of €75m is also committed through the European Regional Development Fund which can be drawn down after Exchequer expenditure is first incurred.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched a major Government procurement process for the State intervention to deliver a high quality high speed broadband infrastructure to over 750,000 premises in Ireland. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire ('PQQ') and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March 2016. The five responses are now being assessed in line with the criteria set down by the Department with a view to short listed qualified bidders proceeding to the next stage of procurement.
The second stage in the procurement process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders. The third stage of the procurement process involves the issue of final tender documentation, which follows the ITPD process. Following the submission of final tenders by bidders, a winning bidder or bidders will be selected for the two lots/one lot as set out in the Intervention Strategy document. The Department will then enter into formal contract negotiations with the winning bidder(s).
The timing of each stage of the procurement process is dependent on a number of factors, including the number of bidders short-listed and the complexities that may be encountered during the dialogue process. Based on extensive procurement planning, the granting of an earlier industry request for an extension to the PQQ submission deadline, and the number of responses received, it is envisaged that the Department will finalise the procurement process in 2017.
Building the network in the intervention area remains a priority and the Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area 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 all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
463. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns raised about the national broadband strategy by the Department of Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise, namely that the minimum download speed of 30 Mbps and minimum upload speed of 6 Mbps that service providers will have to guarantee if they wish to bid for the contract are too low (details supplied); and if he will provide an estimate of the additional cost associated with meeting the needs raised by the Department of Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise. [8223/16]
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 Broadband Intervention strategy for Ireland available at http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Ireland's-Broadband-Intervention-Strategy-update.aspx 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 30 Mbps download and 6 Mbps upload to all citizens;
- be capable of catering for higher performance in the future so as to keep pace with consumer demand; and
- ensure the availability of high quality wholesale services to allow retail competition to develop.
In addition, the intervention strategy also requires measures to meet the specific needs of businesses as well as ensuring scalability in terms of future anticipated growth in demand for bandwidth. Bidder(s) will therefore be invited to put forward minimum speeds for businesses, which can be built into the service standards of the winning bidder(s) contract. The Department will not prescribe future speeds which may not reflect future market developments and technology evolution. As an alternative the winning bidder(s) network will be subject to periodic reviews on a 3-5 year basis to ensure that it is keeping pace with demand.
On 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 process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
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.
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.
The State’s intervention strategy under the NBP will ensure that whatever network is built, can be scaled up to meet current and future demand, with 30 Mbps as a minimum rather than a ceiling for consumers.
464. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to encourage broadband providers in County Dublin to urgently deal with the lack of adequate broadband provision in the Drimnagh and Inchicore areas and to establish when provision will come on stream. [8271/16]
View answerThe provision of electronic communications infrastructure, including the significant investment required to make high speed telecommunication services publicly available, occurs within a fully liberalised market. It is a matter for the competing networks providers to decide those areas which can be served on a commercial basis, in the first instance. Intervention by the State is limited to investment or co-investment in those areas of the country the commercial market will not serve.
The 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 is being 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 has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
On 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 process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area.
The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services and include large areas of Inchicore and Drimnagh in Dublin. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area to ensure that all of the 1.6m premises, where commercial operators have committed to providing services will have access to High Speed Broadband of at least 30 Mbps.
The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the State Intervention. Members of the public can view whether their premises is in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
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 30 Mbps download and 6 Mbps upload. It must also be capable of catering for higher performance in the future so as to keep pace with consumer demand.
The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area 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.
465. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of charging points for electric motor vehicles in place in each county; the total cost per county of installing these facilities to date; and if he will provide a breakdown of the level of usage they generated in each county in 2015. [8394/16]
View answerThe ESB, through its ecars programme, is continuing to roll out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points. I am advised that 910 public charge-points have now been installed nationally. These include 78 DC fast chargers, most of which have been installed on major roads. The location of these charge-points is available on the ESB’s website at https://www.esb.ie/our-businesses/ecars/charge-point-map. In addition, to the end of March 2016, ESB ecars had installed 1096 domestic chargers and 542 chargers on commercial premises.
The installation cost for these charge-points is an operational matter for the ESB. My Department does not hold information on the level of usage of these charge-points.
466. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress which has been made by his Department to date with implementing the recommended findings identified in the report of the Internet content governance advisory group in May 2014, with regard to the findings in chapters three and four of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8405/16]
View answerThe Report of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group was presented to Government in June 2014.
A number of the recommendations in the report have been implemented or will be implemented having regard to evolving policy at EU level and across Government. These include a number of the Report's recommendations that were administrative or general in nature, and which are being implemented, in some cases as a consequence of general policy improvements (including in particular the advancements made in Relationship and Sexuality Education and in the National Sexual health Strategy).
One of the report’s key objectives is to ensure that safeguards are put in place for children online and it makes 14 recommendations which relate to the transfer of specific functions between Departments.
The recently enacted Children First Legislation is predicated on the clear principle that child protection issues are the responsibility of all Departments in their respective sectors, and that they must be embedded in the policy considerations of all relevant departments.
My Department will continue to work with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Justice and Equality and other relevant Departments, under the auspices of the Children First Inter-Departmental Group, established by the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, to determine the most appropriate mechanisms to address the outstanding issues in the Report of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group.
467. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts he is making to bring about a reduction of the price in oil and gas, having regard to decreasing prices internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8453/16]
View answerThe gas market is commercial, liberalised, competitive and it operates within national and European regulatory and legislative regimes. I have no statutory function in the setting or review of gas prices.
Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body, and is legally underpinned by the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002 as amended. CER has functions to regulate the gas market and to monitor competition and compliance by industry with legislation. In relation to CER's previous price regulation role, it ceased regulating the prices charged by Bord Gáis Éireann to domestic consumers in July 2014. Prices are set by suppliers operating in a commercial manner in the competitive gas market.
The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control in the oil sector and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. I have no statutory function in the setting of oil, petrol or diesel prices.
468. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the provision of energy efficient windows is covered under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8514/16]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of schemes on behalf of my Department to support energy efficiency improvements to homes. The Better Energy Homes scheme makes a range of grants available to home-owners who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their home, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme offers free energy efficiency upgrades to those in energy poverty and the Better Energy Communities scheme funds community activity on energy efficiency.
The measures currently supported are those that can deliver the most energy savings at the lowest cost and the upgrade of windows is not currently supported under the Better Energy Programme due to the need to balance the limited budgetary resources available with the demand for the programme. While window insulation does improve the energy efficiency of a home, the cost of such a measure is high in relation to the energy efficiency gains made.
Information on the grant support available under the Better Energy Programme is available on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie.
