Barry Cowen
Question:588. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources which Department will have responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency under the new structures. [14432/16]
View answerDepartmental Functions
Questions (588)
Written answers
Under the arrangements recently announced by the Taoiseach, my Department, which will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, will assume responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Policy
Questions (589)
Bríd Smith
Question:589. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that climate change is the single most pressing issue for humanity, which will impact on every single aspect of our society and economy; that it is a major mis-step at this time to have effectively abolished the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the new Administration and that, notwithstanding recent reassurances, this suggests to the public that environmental issues will be downgraded; that if he is genuine about joined-up thinking he must reorganise Departments with a view to setting up a Department of environment, climate change and natural heritage, which would have a remit to deal effectively with pressing environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity and with water quality and supply; and if he will give a commitment that the correct urgency will be attached to the priorities of his Ministers concerned with environmental matters, and that they will not be seen as an add on or be relegated in the pursuit of corporate or business interests. [14525/16]
View answerWritten answers
A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this. In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:
- Environment Policy & Awareness;
- Climate Policy;
- EU and International Environmental Policy;
- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;
- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;
- Environment Advisory Unit.
There is no question of the environment or climate action being deprioritised by the Government. In fact, the Programme for Government sets out a clear vision and comprehensive set of policies and measures for addressing our national, EU and international climate change obligations. Assigning the leadership role in relation to climate action in a visible way to a specific Ministry, which also has responsibility for the energy and environment briefs, elevates the importance that the Government attaches to this issue and brings greater coherence to its management. Cross-Government management of climate and environmental issues will be addressed bilaterally with other Government Departments, through the relevant Cabinet Committees and at Cabinet when necessary.
I look forward to engaging actively on this agenda.
Departmental Functions
Questions (590)
Carol Nolan
Question:590. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the natural heritage, environment, division and the water quality section will fall under the remit of the Minister for communications, climate change and natural resources; if his Department will have the word "environment" included in its title; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14532/16]
View answerWritten answers
A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this. In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:
- Environment Policy & Awareness;
- Climate Policy;
- EU and International Environmental Policy;
- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;
- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;
- Environment Advisory Unit.
The heritage functions currently discharged by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will remain with that Department under its new title of the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.
Water Quality will be the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Departmental Functions
Questions (591)
Michael McGrath
Question:591. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when his decision to move environment related policy into a single Department with responsibility for climate change and energy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14653/16]
View answerWritten answers
A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this. In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:
- Environment Policy & Awareness;
- Climate Policy;
- EU and International Environmental Policy;
- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;
- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;
- Environment Advisory Unit
My Department is liaising with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the timescale for the finalisation of the transfer of functions order and both Departments are working on the legal, resource and logistics issues to ensure the implementation of the change occurs as soon as possible.
Inland Fisheries Stocks
Questions (592)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:592. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount Inland Fisheries Ireland spent on the pike culling and removal of pike in loughs Corrib, Mask, Conn, Cullin, Sheelin, Arrow and Carra since 1996; his views on if this has been a worthy process with particular emphasis on the loss of revenue to hoteliers and accommodation along said waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the National Pike policy, and similar policies for Bass and Trout, were launched in August 2014. The Pike Policy was agreed with the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs, the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and the National Association of Recreational Anglers. It was expected that the policy would be reviewed following 3 years of its implementation
However, I understand that IFI has already commenced the process of examining all relevant and appropriate data to inform the review of these policies. This process was initiated in January 2016 and includes the examination of:
- The current stock management programme, including resource usage, fish transfer and health and safety;
- Marketing and socio-economic information to include actual and potential economic value;
- Scientific information to provide advice and to consider the scientific merits of the processes being currently undertaken.
An important element of the review will be a public consultation process to ensure that anglers and other stakeholders have sufficient time to consider the existing policies and make submissions that will inform the review. IFI committed to the public consultation to ensure that the decision-making process around policy formation is better informed and more rigorous and accountable.
The latest available information as regards financial and time inputs to this activity by IFI, since its establishment in 2010, is publicly available on IFI’s website at the following link http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/FAQ/faq.html. I will provide the Deputy with a copy in the post.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (593)
Robert Troy
Question:593. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the tendering procedure for the roll-out of broadband in County Longford and a specific timeframe for it. [14254/16]
View answerWritten answers
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming.
The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area, which is the subject of procurement. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area where commercial operators have committed to providing services, to ensure that those services are delivered.
The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention.
Members of the public can view whether their premises are in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including County Longford.
My Department continues to actively monitor the deployment plans in the BLUE area where commercial operators have committed to providing services, to ensure those services are delivered. I would encourage consumers and business owners to contact my Department at broadband@dcenr.gov.ie where specific problems arise in relation to provision by commercial operators of High Speed Broadband services in the BLUE area.
There are over 750,000 premises in the AMBER area, and these are the focus of the procurement process, which formally commenced in December 2015 with the publication of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire ('PQQ') and Project Information Memorandum. The procurement takes the form of a competitive dialogue which is complex and involves several steps:
- Step 1: Publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire – this step was launched on 22 December 2015
- Step 2: The responses by telecoms operators to Step 1 are received. - Five responses were received to this stage of the process, by the deadline of 31 March (which was extended by one month, from 29 February to 31 March at the request of bidders). These responses are currently being evaluated and will result in a list of qualifying bidders being invited to dialogue with the Department;
- Step 3: The commencement of detailed technical and financial negotiations with qualified bidders (Invitation to Participate in Dialogue). This is scheduled to commence within the next month and will take a number of months;
- Step 4: Following the detailed negotiations outlined in Step 3, bidders submit draft bids for further dialogue;
- Step 5: Bidders will then submit final, formal tenders for evaluation;
- Step 6: The formal tenders submitted by bidders will be evaluated;
- Step 7: Preferred bidder or bidders are identified;
- Step 8: A contract or contracts will be awarded.
The timing of each stage of the procurement 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. Bidders will need several months to prepare their draft bids and their final formal bids and to get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at these stages of the process. It is expected that contract(s) will be awarded in June 2017.
As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best rollout strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network rollout plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht. A detailed rollout plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
In parallel with the procurement process, and in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government, my colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys will lead on the establishment of county or regional broadband taskforces, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices, LEADER Groups and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once contract(s) have been awarded.
Cross-Border Co-operation
Questions (594)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:594. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the State bodies under his remit which have developed memorandums of understanding with his counterpart in Northern Ireland with regard to the efficient delivery of services on the island of Ireland; if he has carried out a cost-benefit analysis of the development of further memorandums of understanding; the details of the cost-benefit analysis; and the new memorandums of understanding he will be creating between State bodies under his remit through the lifetime of this Government. [14278/16]
View answerWritten answers
Of the state bodies under the remit of my Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014, which outlines how they can maintain and facilitate effective and mutually beneficial co-operation and collaboration between their respective organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland, details of which are available at the following link on the CER website: Memorandum of Understanding between Utility Regulator N. Ireland and Commission for Energy Regulation.
In respect of Invasive species, IFI have had significant working relationships with the Invasive Species Ireland programme a cross border body set up by the national parks and wildlife service (NPWS) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). In this regard a number of species alerts for a range of aquatic invasive species, including Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) were produced. These are available on the invasive species Ireland website (http://invasivespeciesireland.com/species-alerts/freshwater-invasive-species/). More recently IFI have engaged in dialogue, and shared information with the Lough’s Agency in relation to the discovery of the Asian clam in the River Foyle.
There are no new Memoranda of Understandings in development or planned and for this reason, no cost benefit data analysis has been prepared in this area.
Wind Energy Guidelines
Questions (595)
Niall Collins
Question:595. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the complaints received by his Department regarding noise, nuisance and shadow flicker issues arising from wind farms, by county; if there is a formal register of such complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14360/16]
View answerWritten answers
Depending on the size and nature of a project, the authorisation of wind farms is a matter for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála and I have no function in the matter.
The Programme for Government commits to updating the wind energy planning development guidelines within 3 to 6 months of the formation of Government, to ensure an appropriate balance between the concerns of local communities in relation to matters such as noise and shadow flicker and the need to invest in indigenous renewable energy projects for the purpose of assisting in the achievement of our EU renewable energy targets. The Programme for Government also recognises the importance of community participation in renewable energy.
In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, in consultation with my Department and within the timeframe specified in the Programme for Government, will bring to Government revised Wind Energy Planning Development Guidelines. The issues of community benefit and participation will be further considered and developed as part of this ongoing process.
My Department does not maintain a formal register of complaints in regard to any aspect of wind farm development or management.
Ministerial Responsibilities
Questions (596)
Thomas Pringle
Question:596. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the concerns of the public regarding the lack of environmental policy in the remit of a Cabinet Minister; the reason for this; how he will ensure environmental policy will be included within the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14413/16]
View answerWritten answers
A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this. In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:
- Environment Policy & Awareness;
- Climate Policy;
- EU and International Environmental Policy;
- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;
- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;
- Environment Advisory Unit.
Cross-Border Co-operation
Questions (597)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:597. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the level of data that is collected on the issues which come under his Department's remit; the steps he will take to work with the Administration in Northern Ireland to collect data under his aegis on a North-South basis; and the budget he will put in place to undertake this work (details supplied). [14437/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is pro-active with our respective counterparts in Northern Ireland in facilitating data collection and analysis as part of collaborative arrangements in sectorial areas. Examples which may be of interest to the Deputy include:
- the Single Electricity Market (SEM) which is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated jointly by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and its counterpart in Belfast, the Utility Regulator (UR). The decision-making body which governs the market is the SEM Committee, consisting of the CER, the Utility Regulator as well as an independent member (who also has a deputy), with each entity having one vote. The SEM is operated by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO), which facilitates the continuous operation and administration of the Single Electricity Market. Under legislation in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the operation of this market is subject to the regulation of the CER and UR. Market-related data is available in the public domain via the SEMO website: http://www.sem-o.com/Pages/default.aspx.
- Historic market data is available in the SEM Committee quarterly market monitoring reports available on the SEM Committee website. The most recent quarterly report is available at this link:https://www.semcommittee.com/sites/semcommittee.com/files/media-files/SEM-16-014%20MMU%20Quarterly%20Report%20Q4%202015.pdf.
- Cyber Security has become a significant issue and my Department has a formal information sharing arrangement with the UK Authorities, including Northern Ireland, which is maintained on an on-going basis.
- Co-operation on a North South basis is on-going within the inland fisheries area. In the context of research, assessment and data gathering, the Standing Scientific Committees for key fish species are comprised of scientists from across the island of Ireland. Proposals are under discussion with our colleagues in Northern Ireland in relation to further strengthening this collaboration.
In respect of Invasive species, IFI have had significant working relationships with the Invasive Species Ireland programme a cross border body set up by the national parks and wildlife service (NPWS) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). In this regard a number of species alerts for a range of aquatic invasive species, including Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) were produced. These are available on the invasive species Ireland website http://invasivespeciesireland.com/species-alerts/freshwater-invasive-species/. More recently IFI have engaged in dialogue, and shared information with the Lough’s Agency in relation to the discovery of the Asian clam in the River Foyle.
The cost of data collection and analysis is managed within existing budgets.
My department will continue to explore the possibilities for further collaboration as opportunities arise.