Written Answers Nos. 1-36
4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his efforts to roll out high-speed broadband in rural Ireland and in County Tipperary in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16411/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county, including County Tipperary.
The county breakdown for the National Broadband Plan Intervention in Tipperary is set out in the following table, with the percentage of premises to be covered by the Intervention and through commercial investment also listed.
|
County Name |
Total Number of County Townlands |
Number of Premises Covered by National Broadband Plan Intervention |
% Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
% Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
|
Tipperary |
3,167 |
41,207 |
49% |
51% |
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to qualifying 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
14. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is taking to maintain the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/16]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community.
The post office network plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year-on-year. However, post offices, having being fully computerised some years ago, also stand well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as the more traditional over the counter transactions.
In recognition of the changing commercial environment my predecessor established the Post Office Network Business Development Group last year, the remit of which was to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the Post Office network. Mr Bobby Kerr was appointed as the independent Chair of the Group and he brought a depth of knowledge and experience in identifying and developing business opportunities for the post office network.
The Final Report of the Group, which was published in January of this year, represents an important step towards greater financial sustainability for the Post Office and the wider network and specifies 23 recommendations with Network Renewal, Basic Payment Account and Motor Tax being the three key actions arising from the Final Report.
The Programme for Government commits to acting on all of the recommendations of the Final Report including supporting the implementation of a Basic Payment Account and enabling the payment of motor tax through the post office network. My officials have been actively engaging with other Departments and agencies on these issues over the past six months.
Responsibility for implementation of the recommendations in the Final Report will shortly transfer to the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.
15. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the commitment to and the timeline for providing high-speed broadband to every home and business in County Donegal; the number of these which have high speed broadband and the additional number which will receive it in 2016 and in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16113/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. I do not have precise details of rollout schedules by commercial operators for 2016 and 2017. The Department however continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county.
The county breakdown for the National Broadband Plan Intervention in Donegal is set out in the following table, with the percentage of premises to be covered by the Intervention and through commercial investment also listed.
|
County Name |
Total Number of County Townlands* |
Number of Premises Covered by National Broadband Plan Intervention |
% Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
% Premises within Commercial Operators' Area |
|
Donegal |
2,644 |
52,004 |
52% |
48% |
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
16. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the sections of his Department and the remit which have been transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and the State agencies and bodies he will have responsibility for. [16245/16]
View answerAs part of the re-configuration of Government Departments, responsibility for certain elements of the National Broadband Plan and the post office network will transfer to the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.
In relation to the National Broadband Plan, the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht will assume responsibility for the establishment of county or regional mobile phone and 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 the procurement process being conducted by my Department is complete. This will also include the development of Rural Digital Strategies for specific areas and work on the advancement of mobile communications in rural areas.
In so far as the post office network is concerned, the implementation of the Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group will be managed by the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht. Oversight of An Post as a corporate entity remains with my Department.
The details of the new working arrangements are being finalised by both Departments. I am confident that the new approach will support the achievement of the objectives in the Programme for Government in relation to the National Broadband Plan and the re-vitalisation of the post office network and I look forward to working with my colleague Minister Humphreys in this regard.
With regard to state agencies and bodies, my Department will assume responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the transfer of environment functions from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. I also have responsibility for the following State agencies and bodies:
- An Post
- Bord na Móna
- EirGrid
- Electricity Supply Board (ESB)
- Raidió Teilifís Éireann
- TG4
- Inland Fisheries Ireland
- Digital Hub Development Agency
- Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency)
- National Oil Reserves Agency
- Irish National Petroleum Corporation
- Mining Board
- Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
- Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
- Commission for Energy Regulation
- Commission for Communications Regulation
17. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland is on course to meet its renewable energy targets by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16177/16]
View answerThe 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and in order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. The Government has adopted a range of support measures designed to meet our binding target, and although good progress towards our target has been made to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates we had reached 9.2% of the overall 16% target at the end of 2015.
In the electricity sector the primary support mechanisms introduced for renewable electricity are the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) schemes and the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes have proved successful at incentivising the development of the renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to meet our 40% renewable electricity target, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimate for 2015 is that 25.3% of electricity demand was met by renewable sources.
In the heating sector, my Department is working on the introduction of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to support the deployment of renewable energy in the sector. The primary aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in heating and to help reach our 12% target by 2020. In 2015 it is estimated that 6.8% of heat was derived from renewable sources.
In the transport sector Ireland aims to meet our renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. In 2015, 5.7% of our energy needs in the transport sector were met from renewable sources.
The Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future, published in December last, sets out a vision for transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system by 2050. The clear focus of my Department is on implementing the range of actions set out in the White Paper that are aimed at meeting our energy and climate change targets.
18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his proposals to swiftly situate Ireland as a carbon dioxide-free energy user; the steps he will take to ensure Ireland no longer relies on imports of fossil fuels, on the future extraction of energy sources or on hydraulic fracturing in Ireland that would contribute to carbon dioxide levels rising, given that carbon dioxide levels have surpassed 400 parts per million and that the rate of increase is greater than at any previous time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16179/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a broad range of initiatives aimed at addressing climate change. The Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030, published in December last, sets out a vision and a framework to guide Irish energy policy up to 2030, aimed at transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system by 2050. The clear focus of my Department is on implementing the range of actions set out in the White Paper to meet our energy and climate change targets.
The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers as our energy system undergoes the fundamental transformation required to meet our climate policy objectives. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers as we make this transition. To achieve this, it is vital that our indigenous energy resources continue to be developed. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels in line with the EU objective. Fossil fuels will remain a progressively decreasing part of the energy mix as we transition to a largely decarbonised energy system by 2050, and significant progress is already being made in increasing the share of renewables in that mix.
As regards fracking or hydraulic fracturing, I am currently awaiting the outcome of an all-island research programme on unconventional gas exploration and extraction (UGEE), which is examining the potential impact on the environment and human health associated with UGEE projects.
In addition to the EU's 2020 targets for emissions reductions, 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, with the latter transport target also being legally binding. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates we had reached 9.2% of the overall 16% target at the end of 2015. In 2014, 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources and SEAI has estimated that this avoided €346 million of fossil fuel imports.
Ireland intends to make a cost-effective and fair contribution to the EU's overall 2030 ambition, which seeks to have at least 27% of energy demand met from renewable sources by 2030. To this end, Government policy will continue to be supportive of the increasing deployment of renewable energy. In addition, to the extent that non-renewable sources will remain an ever decreasing part of the energy mix, Government policy will also seek to reduce import dependency by supporting the identification and harnessing of indigenous supplies. Corrib gas coming on stream will make a significant impact on reducing energy imports, meeting 40% of all-island demand in its first years of production.
19. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will implement the national broadband plan and award it to an external body so that small businesses can be certain of a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16110/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county.
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
20. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to request the Commission for Energy Regulation if it has approved or if and when it will approve the extension of the natural gas pipeline to New Ross, County Wexford and to request Gas Networks Ireland to state if and when it will extend the pipeline to New Ross, given that it has already extended it to Wexford town, and narrowly bypassed New Ross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/16]
View answerThe development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial and operational matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. Gas Networks Ireland's published Connections Policy, most recently revised in 2015, set out its policy on the connection of all loads to the transmission and distribution gas networks.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), the independent energy regulator, is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. It also approves the GNI Connections Policy.
I, as Minister, have no statutory function in relation to either the routing of pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network.
The shareholding Minister for GNI is the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and consequently it is not appropriate for me to make such a request to that company. Nevertheless, I shall convey to that Minister the Deputy’s request for GNI to set out the position.
21. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has provided him with a comparison between the basic cost of energy in Ireland and in European Union states including, but not limited to, its bi-annual reports; if he will provide these; if the authority has not done so, if he will request it to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/16]
View answerElectricity and gas price statistics for Ireland and for both European Union (EU) and Eurozone Member States are publicly available. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), as part of its functions, publishes biannual reports presenting electricity and gas price statistics from Ireland and all European Union Member States. These reports analyse electricity and natural gas price statistics and the data is based on a standard methodology for the EU Gas and Electricity Price Transparency Directive 90/377/EEC.
While the SEAI no longer publish the Electricity and Gas Price Reports in hard copy, they are available, along with a wealth of other energy statistics and reports at the SEAI website.
Comparative data on electricity and gas prices are available here: http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Electricity_and_Gas_Prices/.
The Energy in Ireland 1990-2014 (2015) Report contains data on Irish energy statistics and is available here: http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Energy_in_Ireland/Energy-in-Ireland-1990-2014.pdf.
The SEAI publications home page is accessible through the following link: http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/.
22. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will roll out rural broadband in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16169/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including County Wexford.
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
23. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will honour the commitment that a five-year strategy and pilot service hub post offices would be in place by July 2016 which the chairperson (details supplied) of the Post Office Network Business Development Group made at the launch of its report in January 2016 and the commitment in the programme for Government to consider enabling the payment of motor tax at post offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11766/16]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community.
The Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, published in January, clearly sets out the challenges that An Post and Postmasters face as they ensure that the network remains relevant in the context of an ongoing shift in consumer preferences, including the trend towards digital transactions.
The Report recommended that An Post should, following appropriate consultation with Postmasters and others, review and amend the five-year strategy for the Post Office Network. A number of working groups have been established, including a Network Renewal Implementation Group, which is being independently Chaired by Mr Bobby Kerr. This Group is examining the number and spatial distribution of branches, branch modernisation, the streamlining of products and services, postmaster payments and contracts, and training and qualifications for post office employees. An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) are members of the Group, which is of fundamental importance to the long term future of the Network. I understand that good progress has been made and in a collaborative environment and that work remains ongoing in the Group.
The Programme for Government commits to acting on all of the recommendations of the Final Report including supporting the implementation of a Basic Payment Account and enabling the payment of motor tax through the post office network. My officials have been actively engaging with other Departments and agencies on these issues over the past six months.
Responsibility for implementation of the recommendations in the Final Report will shortly transfer to the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.
24. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he will take to ban hydraulic fracturing for fuel extraction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16178/16]
View answerIn coming to a view whether unconventional gas exploration and extraction (UGEE) could be permitted in Ireland, it was considered necessary in the first instance to establish if this technology could be carried out in a manner that would not negatively impact on the environment and human health. Having consulted publicly on the terms of reference for a research programme, the issues identified on foot of this process have been included in the scope of a research programme being administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department.
The Steering Committee took the view at the beginning of 2016 that it was an appropriate time to reflect on the overall timeline for the delivery of the research. The Steering Committee has agreed a revised scope of work to combine all of the work carried out to date into a meaningful synthesis report, which will be published once concluded. It is anticipated that this report will be published by year end.
No application to engage in UGEE has been received by my Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider the findings of the synthesis report. Any policy decision will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low carbon energy system by 2050.
25. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the outcome of discussions he had with EirGrid in relation to the North-South electricity interconnector; if he is aware of the widespread opposition in communities in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath placing the transmission lines underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16156/16]
View answerEirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. As detailed in the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid in the development of energy infrastructure to particular sites or routes or technologies.
EirGrid made a formal application for the North-South 400kV Interconnector project to An Bord Pleanála on 9 June 2015. This is the subject matter of a statutory independent planning process currently before An Bord Pleanála who conducted an oral hearing on the application which concluded last month. I am aware that many of the contributors to the oral hearing raised concerns in relation to aspects of the project. However, as the planning process is still ongoing it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
26. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources what he considers to be high-speed broadband in terms of its national roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16120/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The Broadband Intervention strategy for Ireland published in July 2015 and 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 30mbps download and 6mbps upload to all citizens.
- be capable of catering for higher performance in the future so as to keep pace with consumer demand.
- 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 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.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county.
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
27. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on the exploratory drilling at Woodburn Forest in County Antrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16155/16]
View answerApplications to carry out exploration and production activities in jurisdictions outside of the Republic of Ireland are a matter solely for the authorities in such jurisdictions and other than statutory transboundary consultation, the Irish authorities have no role in the consideration of such applications.
However, on the broader question relating to unconventional gas exploration and extraction (UGEE) in this jurisdiction, in coming to a view whether the use of this technology could be permitted in Ireland, it was considered necessary in the first instance to establish if this technology could be carried out in a manner that would not negatively impact on the environment and human health. Having consulted publicly on the terms of reference for a research programme, the issues identified on foot of this process have been included in the scope of the research programme being administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department.
The Steering Committee took the view at the beginning of 2016 that it was an appropriate time to reflect on the overall timeline for the delivery of the research. The Steering Committee has agreed a revised scope of work to combine all of the work carried out to date into a meaningful synthesis report, which will be published once concluded. It is anticipated that this report will be published by year end.
No application to engage in UGEE has been received in the Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider the findings of the synthesis report. Any policy decision will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low carbon energy system by 2050.
28. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to the European Commission's recent Digital Scoreboard Report which states that a lack of rural broadband has resulted in Ireland having one of the lowest rates of broadband take-up in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13114/16]
View answerThe EU Commission’s digital scoreboard report on access to standard broadband services in rural areas includes a table measuring access to broadband over fixed line connections only. The EU Commission reports that 91% of households in rural areas can access broadband in this manner, and on that basis Ireland is ranked 19th of the EU member states compared.
When measured in a technologically neutral manner, including both wired and wireless broadband subscriptions purchased by households, Ireland is however ranked 9th highest for households which subscribe to a broadband service at 83%, of which 65% use a fixed line access path. The overall penetration of 83% in Ireland compares to an EU average of 80%.
The focus is now on fast tracking the roll out of high speed services through the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The Government’s NBP intervention will ensure the availability of quality future proofed broadband services to all other parts of the country.
This Plan aims to ensure that high speed broadband will be available to all citizens and businesses. The Plan will deliver on targeted areas by leveraging investment from both private and public sectors.
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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders, following the assessment of responses to the PQQ stage. 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(s) 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 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. Once contract(s) are in place, I expect to publish a detailed rollout plan for the network.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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 contract(s) have been awarded.
In addition to the NBP, improvement in access to digital services in Ireland is also being achieved through digital literacy training, which is provided nationwide under the BenefIT Programme funded by my Department.
29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will introduce a national ban on hydraulic fracturing, given the international evidence on its dangers; if not, why not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16154/16]
View answerIn coming to a view whether unconventional gas exploration and extraction (UGEE) could be permitted in Ireland, it was considered necessary in the first instance to establish if this technology could be carried out in a manner that would not negatively impact on the environment and human health. Having consulted publicly on the terms of reference for a research programme, the issues identified on foot of this process have been included in the scope of the research programme being administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department.
The Steering Committee took the view at the beginning of 2016 that it was an appropriate time to reflect on the overall timeline for the delivery of the research. The Steering Committee has agreed a revised scope of work to combine all of the work carried out to date into a meaningful synthesis report, which will be published once concluded. It is anticipated that this report will be published by year end.
No application to engage in UGEE has been received in my Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider the findings of the synthesis report. Any policy decision will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low carbon energy system by 2050.
30. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide high-speed, high-quality broadband and mobile telephony in all areas and to maximise the quality and availability, as available globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16167/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county.
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
In the meantime, my Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks. The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband services, including acquiring spectrum under ComReg's 2012 Multi-Band Spectrum Auction for rollout of 3G and 4G mobile services. These investments will further improve the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country. The Department is working with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to removing planning and other infrastructure barriers to telecommunications infrastructure rollout.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to the establishment of a mobile phone and broadband taskforce which will consider further measures to address telecommunications deficits in rural Ireland. My Department is engaging with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in relation to the terms of reference for the taskforce to ensure delivery of the Programme for Government commitment within the timelines set out. It is likely that the taskforce will involve a number of Government Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with telecommunications operators. My Department has already conducted a number of meetings with vendors and mobile operators to help inform the process and identify what tangible measures can be taken.
31. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the high level of termination charges in the mobile telephony sector; on the position of the European Union Commission on these charges, and retaining roaming charges in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16121/16]
View answerThe setting of domestic mobile termination charges for service providers with significant market power is a function of ComReg , which must act independently in exercising this function. ComReg is accountable directly to Committees of the Oireachtas for its exercise of the function.
In the case of EU roaming charges, the European Parliament and the Council have most recently adopted EU Regulation 2015/2120. The Regulation follows on previous EU Roaming Regulations to impose further reductions in the maximum permitted retail roaming charges within the EU, with the objective of abolishing such charges from June 2017.
In the period of EU regulation, the maximum permitted wholesale roaming charges, exclusive of VAT, have fallen significantly. The per minute charge for an incoming call has reduced from 24 cent to 0.0114 cent and for data downloads from €1 to 5 cent per megabyte downloaded. The EU Commission is currently examining proposals to further reduce wholesale roaming charges to ensure the planned abolition of retail roaming charges within the EU from 2017 is sustainable over time. This is good news for European consumers and I look forward to the eventual abolition of all roaming charges across Europe.
I have no statutory authority to intervene in the EU Commission’s role in proposing EU wide regulated wholesale roaming charges nor the exercise by ComReg of its statutory authority to set regulated mobile termination rates in the domestic market.
32. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how he intends to ensure that, in the 21st century, all areas receive 4G internet connectivity under the national broadband package. [16246/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority, in order to ensure that high speed broadband services are available to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. 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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to the establishment within 100 days of a mobile phone and broadband Taskforce which will consider immediate measures to address telecommunications deficits in rural Ireland. My Department is engaging with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the terms of reference for the Taskforce to ensure delivery of the Programme for Government commitment within the timelines set out. It is likely that the Taskforce will involve a number of Government Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with telecommunications operators. My Department has already conducted a number of meetings with vendors and mobile operators to help inform the process and identify what tangible measures can be taken.
The provision of mobile telephony services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers operating in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). It is subject to a requirement to secure access to the required radio spectrum by way of licence. The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg and accordingly I have no statutory function in this matter.
I am aware however that licences issued by ComReg apply terms and conditions on Mobile Network Operators, such as quality of service and minimum population coverage obligations. The design of the network is a matter entirely for the operator concerned although operators tend to exceed their minimum coverage requirements for commercial reasons. ComReg monitors compliance with licence requirements by means of bi-annual drive tests. I understand that current testing is designed to cover all primary and secondary national routes, with measurements being performed on all Mobile Networks.
4G offers potential to deliver better services to people, particularly in rural areas, where the fixed broadband network has not yet been upgraded. There are several ways in which improved wireless broadband and mobile voice services can be achieved. This includes the Government and Local Authorities working to reduce barriers to the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure through better planning laws and processes; and working with telecommunications operators to improve information on various aspects of their activities, including upgrades and changes to their networks. My Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks and this will be a key focus for the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to measures to assist in the rollout of the network once a contract under the NBP 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. These measures should also assist in the rollout of mobile telecommunications services.
The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband services including acquiring spectrum under ComReg's 2012 Multi-Band Spectrum Auction for rollout of 3G and 4G mobile services. These investments will further improve the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country although I understand that some temporary disruptions to service have been encountered when upgrades are taking place. ComReg is also planning the further release of spectrum to assist in the rollout of wireless services, particularly in rural areas.
33. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Irish Water is to be established as a public body; why the Energy Bill 2016 seeks to expand the remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation to cover the regulation of water services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16176/16]
View answerI have no role or function in the operation or regulation of Irish Water. Irish Water was established as a company under the Water Services Act, 2013. The development of policy in the water area is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The Energy Bill 2016 proposes a change of name of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities. The Water Services (No. 2) Act, 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. It is appropriate and timely to change its name to reflect this. The Energy Bill 2016 does not propose any expansion of the CER’s remit in respect of its water functions.
34. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the progress of operations of the Eircode system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16117/16]
View answerSince the launch of Eircode in July 2015 there have been over 4 million lookups on the Eircode finder, with average daily hits running at almost 19,000. Over 80 million records across 15 public sector bodies were encoded prior to their launch and over 3 million pieces of correspondence have been issued by public sector bodies since the Eircode launch.
Some examples of usage by public sector bodies include:
- The Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS), which takes emergency calls made to 112 and 999 numbers, has updated its systems and changed processes to enable the use of Eircodes when presented by callers;
- The National Ambulance Service has installed a new computer-aided dispatch system, which incorporates the Eircode. This allows callers in any part of the country to phone the ambulance control centre and give their Eircode facilitating a speedier dispatch of the ambulance;
- The passport card online application form was introduced in October 2015 and all passport card online application forms request an Eircode;
- All 2016 Census forms included an Eircode;
- The Department of Transport has started uploading the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) with Eircodes. This database includes address particulars in respect of the 2.6 million licensed vehicles and 2.74 million driving licence holders in the country. The motor tax database of the NVDF went live in January 2016 with Eircodes;
- The Revenue Commissioners has uploaded Eircodes in some of their main databases and started issuing Eircode enabled correspondence on July 2015. In November 2015 alone one database issued more than 800,000 pieces of correspondence with Eircodes;
- The Department of Social Protection started issuing Eircode enabled correspondence in October 2015; since then more than 877,000 pieces of correspondence has issued with an Eircode;
- The educational grants authority, SUSI process over 120,000 grant applications per annum and they now request that college grant applications include an Eircode. This has assisted SUSI to more efficiently determine the location of student addresses saving them time and facilitating faster processing times for issuing grants;
- Electric Ireland issued 680,000 electricity bills in February which had an Eircode included on them;
- A new version of the Register of Electors was rolled out to 31 local authorities. This version incorporates the ability to add in an Eircode against a dwelling; and
- The HSE now include Eircode in their primary care reimbursement service, an additional 1,000,000 pieces of correspondence will issue with the Eircode over the coming months.
Some key benefits that public sector bodies have experienced already are:
- Savings in time directing ambulances to addresses especially those in rural areas;
- Eliminating duplicate entries in Customer Databases;
- Increased speed of processing applications and saving in processing costs;
- Increased reliability of the geographical location of addresses, in particular non-unique addresses;
- Improved efficiency in matching address locations.
The Department and Capita (Project Management Licence Holder - PMLH) have worked to ensure that commercial bodies can use the Eircode and a significant number of commercial bodies have incorporated the Eircode into their online services, and this is growing all the time. Since the launch Capita (PMLH), has signed up a total of 28 Eircode Value Added Re-sellers who provide a broad spectrum of Eircode specialist services to businesses including, location based applications for logistics/deliveries sector, address validation, database cleansing, address look ups and a range of spatial analytic applications. These 28 VARs have signed licences with 399 End User organisations who are using Eircodes in their businesses. The industries using Eircode data include Retail, Logistics/Delivery, Financial Services, Insurance, Utilities and Public Sector bodies. Most of the Eircode licensed End Users are using the data for address verification and deliveries, as well as for risk assessment in the Insurance and Financial Services.
35. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will fully roll out the broadband structure for County Tipperary under the national broadband plan, given that poor coverage is impacting negatively on the economic development of the county. [16122/16]
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 formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area 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. The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county, including County Tipperary.
Over 750,000 premises are the focus for 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 second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted 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 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.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the rollout 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.
36. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for a national dialogue on climate and energy, as set out in the White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015 to 2030; when it will occur; the persons who and the bodies which will be involved; the outcomes he is hoping to achieve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a National Dialogue on Climate Change. This builds on the commitment in the Energy White Paper to establish a National Energy Forum to maximise and maintain consensus on the broad policy measures set out in the White Paper required to ensure the transition to a low-carbon energy future.
It is my intention that the National Dialogue on Climate Change will encompass the role envisaged for the National Energy Forum but with a wider focus to include the examination of key infrastructural, land use and economic issues that need to be addressed in our long-term transition to a low-carbon future.
It is important that the National Dialogue on Climate Change reflects the views of all stakeholders including businesses, communities and citizens. This will require careful consideration in terms of the membership of the dialogue, its format and how it engages with the wider public. We are currently considering these matters and I hope to bring proposals to Government in the coming months with a view to the first meeting of the National Dialogue on Climate Change being held later this year.
