Written Answers Nos. 598-607
598. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the national broadband plan with reference to the Foynes area, County Limerick, and with particular reference to Marine Cove Estate, Foynes, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/16]
View answerThe 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 areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including County Limerick.
Based on information provided by commercial operators, significant parts of Marine Cove and Foynes will be covered by commercial operators with any remaining premises being part of the State Intervention. Members of the public can view whether their premises in Limerick are in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
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.
Over 750,000 premises 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. 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 being assessed in line with the criteria set down by the Department with a view to shortlisting the qualified bidders to proceed to the next stage of procurement.
The second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to short-listed bidders. I expect that my Department will move to this stage in the next month. The third stage of the procurement process involves the issue of final tender documentation which follows the dialogue process. Following the submission of final tenders by bidders, a winning bidder(s) will be selected for the contract which will comprise one or two lots as set out in the NBP Intervention Strategy. The Department will then enter into formal contract negotiations with the winning bidder(s). It is expected that contract(s) will be awarded by June 2017.
As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out 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 roll-out 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 roll-out plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, Minister 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 a contract(s) has been awarded.
599. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to confirm that the Digital Hub has no objection to extending the lease for the Brú Aimsir emergency accommodation on James's Street, Dublin 8. [14730/16]
View answer600. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Digital Hub has an objection to extending the Brú Aimsir emergency bed facility beyond 31 May 2016; and if there is no objection, for how long will it be extended. [14798/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to addressing the housing shortage and homelessness, and is committed to publishing, within the first 100 days, a new Action Plan for Housing which will contain a specific section on preventing homelessness.
The accommodation referred to in the Questions is located in a warehouse property owned by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA), which operates under the aegis of my Department. My predecessor granted his consent to grant a lease, including two extensions thereto, to Dublin City Council (DCC) to use the vacant warehouse as a temporary cold weather emergency facility.
Any extension of the lease on the property is a matter for DCC and the DHDA in the first instance. I understand that DCC and DHDA are in discussions about the possibility of further extending the term of the lease, and I will consider any related request for Ministerial consent as a matter of priority.
601. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his proposals to apply a universal service obligation on broadband telecommunications providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14979/16]
View answerIn accordance with the EU Electronic Communications Regulatory framework the telecommunications networks and services occurs within a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The framework allows national regulatory authorities to intervene in the competitive market to ensure at least one telecommunications services provider meets all reasonable requests from the public for basic telephony services, including voice telephony, fax and basic internet access, as EU universal public access rights. In Ireland, this obligation is currently assigned to eir.
Imposing a USO for high speed broadband services funded by a levy on industry could be challenging under the current EU regulatory framework. My Department is however in discussion with ComReg as to whether USO may be a viable instrument in certain instances, and has raised the matter at EU level ahead of a major review of the EU Electronic Communications Regulatory Framework.
602. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider a new proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15020/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government recognises the importance of community participation in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects as it is in both the national and local interest. The analysis and public consultation on the new renewable electricity support scheme will include mechanisms to enable community participation in renewable energy projects.
The issue of Grid access is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I would point out in this regard that the CER launched a 'Review of Connection and Grid Access Policy' in December 2015. The consultation document published on 11th December provided the Commission's 'Initial Thinking & Proposed Transitional Arrangements'. The consultation closed on 29th Jan 2016 and the responses were published on 10th March 2016 on www.cer.ie. Section 4.4.6 of the consultation dealt specifically with community based schemes. This section requested responses to outline what specific issues should be taken into consideration regarding community based schemes and the outcome of the Commission’s review is awaited.
603. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of representations he has received from Members of the Oireachtas and the number of these to which he had not issued a substantive reply by 31 May 2016, by month of initial receipt, from 1 January 2015 to 30 April 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15033/16]
View answerThe system that records representations does not differentiate between the representations from Members of the Oireachtas and others.
The total number of representations received from 1 January 2015 to 30 April 2016, is 1,473 while the number outstanding is 173.
604. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about the European Union directive or legislation on noise abatement, if any, is due to come into effect in 2017; if domestic legislation is required to give effect to an EU directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14335/16]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that new European Union legislation is to apply in this area from 2016, not from 2017 as mentioned in the Deputy's Question. Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 enters into force on 13 June 2016 and is binding in its entirety on EU Member States from that date. Domestic legislation is required however for the purposes of clarifying national arrangements for the appropriate implementation of the requirements of this EU Regulation in Ireland. My Department, along with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Planning and Local Government, is engaged in discussions regarding the finalisation of these arrangements.
605. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will provide funding for the local improvement schemes; the amount he intends to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/16]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place this year. This Scheme provides funding for private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of which is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. While the LIS does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2016, local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding (15% of the Discretionary Grant) for LIS should they wish to do so. In addition Councils can also provide monies from their own resources towards LIS.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Local Improvement Schemes, on an annual basis. A major objective for the new Government will be to prioritise new investment in local and regional road maintenance and improvements, and LIS funding will be promoted in that context.
606. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the situation relating to the air traffic controller strikes in France; to provide detailed dates and routes that are affected in respect of the strikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14733/16]
View answerThe most recent action threatened by air traffic controllers in France covering a three-day period from 3 June 2016 has been called off. There has nevertheless been unwelcome disruption for some travellers as a result of some flight cancellations. Decisions on individual flight postponements or cancellations are matters for the airlines concerned.
607. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the upgrade for the N4 from Mullingar to Rooskey. [14255/16]
View answerAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to PQ No. 869 of 31 May 2016 concerning the N4, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N4) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
