Written Answers Nos. 490-509
490. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to supply a copy of the conformity clearance audits from 2009, 2010 and 2012 as used by the European Court of Auditors to determine that Ireland should be subject to a 2% flat rate financial correction of €181.5 million. [18430/16]
View answerThe documentation requested by the Deputy has been forwarded to him under separate cover.
491. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1057 of 17 May 2016, when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/16]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received an application from the herd owner to which the Deputy refers. The closing date for receipt of applications for PI calves born in 2015 was 4th March 2016. These applications are currently being prepared for payment and it is anticipated that payments will be finalised in the next 4/5 weeks.
492. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources why Bord na Móna is pumping water off the bog at Derryadd, County Longford, into the river on the proposed site of the Derryad windfarm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17965/16]
View answerDerryadd is a bog that Bord na Móna use for peat production as part of their normal business. I am informed by the Company that in some locations, the bog or part of the bog, is below the level of the surrounding water table or rivers and, in such cases, it is usual for Bord na Móna to pump water from the bog. This is a common occurrence in bogs located in the Shannon catchment. Pumping is encompassed by Bord na Móna's licensing issued by the EPA. I am further informed by Bord na Móna that there is no connection between the pumping at Derryadd and the co-located wind farm project.
493. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources why the process of gill netting, a practice carried out by Inland Fisheries to improve water quality, is carried out here; the amount it has cost the taxpayer to date; the other countries use this process; if any other process has been explored to improve water quality here and his plans to cease this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18018/16]
View answerI can confirm that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) carry out fish stock surveys of a number of waters in the State. I am advised by IFI that one of the many purposes behind these surveys is to provide information on the fish communities to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of its monitoring obligations under the EU Water Framework Directive.
IFI have also confirmed that fish are surveyed using various methods, including gill nets, and that the fish which are not released during these scientific surveys are further analysed to provide information on age, weight, growth, diet etc. Given the multifaceted nature of survey work, it is not possible to disaggregate costs in respect of the water quality aspects.
The latest available information as regards financial and time inputs to the combined elements of survey/management activity by IFI, since its establishment in 2010, is publically available on IFI’s website at the following link http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/FAQ/faq.html. I will provide the Deputy with a hard copy in the post.
The issue of water quality generally is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
494. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a recent survey of fishery stocks has been carried out on the River Slaney; if so, when and the findings; if not, when is it proposed to carry out such a survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18081/16]
View answer495. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will re-open a hardship fund for drift net licence holders on the rivers Barrow, Nore, Suir and Slaney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18083/16]
View answer496. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if drift net licences are transferable or inheritable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 to 496, inclusive, together.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 143 salmon rivers has its own genetically unique stock of salmon
IFI is supported in its management role a statutorily independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) on Salmon comprising scientists from IFI, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (Northern Ireland), and other State bodies and third level institutions.
Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks, including the River Slaney, are carried out every year and the SSC estimates the number of salmon likely to return to each river in the next fishing season based on estimates of salmon runs over the most recent five years. Each river has an individual conservation limit which is essentially the number of salmon required to spawn to maintain a healthy population. If the estimate of returning salmon is above this limit then salmon from that genetically unique river population may be harvested commercially or by rod and line.
The primary index for evaluation of likely returning numbers is the recorded rod (harvest or catch and release) and commercial catch averaged over the previous 5 years. In the case of the River Slaney, the fish counter data is used to estimate the salmon run. As stated, fisheries are only considered in rivers where the estimated returns are above the conservation limit for the river. I am advised by IFI that a risk analysis is undertaken on any estimate of returns expected to be above the conservation limit. IFI has confirmed no salmon surplus was available using fish counter data for the Slaney averaged over the past five years. The most recent stock assessment on the River Slaney was carried out in October 2015.
Assessments on all 143 Salmon rivers, including the Slaney, are carried out each year and the stocks will be again assessed later this year. The period for assessments takes account of the fishing season and the timing of salmon runs so as to capture as much fresh data as possible in the current year and to ensure that the management legislation can be reviewed before 1 January the following year. This data is added to the most recent 4 years of data to create a new 5 year average to ensure that a "good" or "bad" year does not have a disproportionate impact on the assessment to the detriment of the conservation imperative
The salmon assessment methodologies used in Ireland are considered internationally as best practice, with many other countries moving towards the development of similar scientific assessment models for salmon stock conservation.
The Salmon Hardship Scheme was introduced following a Government decision in 2006 to cease, for conservation reasons, the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery. Under the scheme, fishermen active in the commercial salmon fishery, could opt to voluntarily cease fishing and undertake not to seek a licence in the future.
In excess of €25m was allocated to the scheme to facilitate payments to fishermen, with a further €5m provided for community development projects. Payments to individuals were based on verifiable track record and recorded catches in the five years prior to its introduction.
The scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008. I understand that all funds were expended and there are currently no plans to revisit such a scheme.
Public commercial fishing licences are issued annually on a prescribed application basis and, therefore, are not transferable or inheritable. There is no property right attaching to them.
497. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of acres of bog in total under the control of Bord Na Móna; those that are special areas of conservation, national heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18528/16]
View answerI understand from Bord na Móna that the company's total land holdings amount to approximately 200,000 acres. The vast majority of this is peatland, although there are some small agricultural sites included in that total. Bord na Móna estimate that approximately 3,100 acres of their lands are designated either Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) or proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs). This does not include lands under consideration for designation as SACs or NHAs by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
498. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will undertake to ensure broadband roll-out for Pluckstown and Hurdlestown, Athboy, County Meath under the national broadband plan, as the areas nearby are currently being rolled out with fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/16]
View answer499. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when broadband will be rolled-out in Fordstown, Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18199/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together.
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, 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 and includes the townlands of Pluckstown, Hurdlestown and Fordstown, County Meath.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including County Meath. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by scrolling through the map online or entering their Eircode. The Department also has a dedicated mailbox and anyone with a query in relation to the Map should email the Department, quoting their Eircode, to broadband@dcenr.gov.ie.
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 over the coming weeks. 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 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 is leading 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.
500. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the names of the companies involved in the tendering process for the recent broadband contract; the criteria involved in drawing up the tender; the companies which got the tender; and how the value of the tender. [18312/16]
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 procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to over 750,000 premises 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: 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 have now been evaluated.
- Step 3: Qualified bidders will be invited to commence dialogue (Invitation to Participate in Dialogue). This is scheduled to commence within the next month and will take a number of months;
- Step 4: Bidders will be invited to submit detailed solutions for further dialogue (Invitation to submit detailed solutions);
- Step 4a: Bidders will then submit detailed solutions for evaluation;
- Step 5: Bidders will be invited to submit final, formal tenders following further dialogue
- Step 5a: Bidders submit formal tenders;
- Step 6: Formal tenders submitted by qualified bidders will be evaluated.
- Step 7: Preferred bidder(s) identified
- Step 8: 25 year contract awarded – June 2017.
The Deputy will see from Step 3 above that the second stage in the competitive process involves the formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to qualifying bidders. This step will commence in the coming weeks. The Deputy will appreciate that the procurement process is ongoing and that I am not in a position to provide the details of prospective bidders.
The timing of each stage of the procurement is dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to 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. The Government's Capital Plan commits initial stimulus funding of €275m for the first five years of the NBP. Ultimately the outcome of the procurement process will determine the final cost of the intervention. Therefore, and in order to ensure a competitive procurement process, I am not in a position to speculate about the potential overall cost of the intervention.
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 is leading 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.
501. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the funding the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland provided under the better energy communities scheme by county and local authority in each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date. [18421/16]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Communities scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme aims to support and encourage community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area. To date the scheme has supported the upgrade of more than 12,000 homes and several hundred shared community facilities, from sports clubs to community centres and childcare facilities
Under this year's scheme, €20 million in grant support has been awarded to 38 community groups. This will provide for energy efficiency upgrades to more than 2,600 homes and almost 300 community and commercial facilities. The total investment in energy efficiency, including funding from local communities themselves, is almost €48 million, which will support an estimated 700 direct and indirect jobs right across the country.
Due to the nature of community projects, many individual projects cross county and Local Authority areas. The details of each project that has received funding from my Department under the scheme from 2013-2016, along with the areas where works were delivered, have been forwarded to the Deputy and are also available at the link below. The scheme was only operated on a pilot basis in 2012. My officials, and SEAI, would be happy to consult further with the Deputy to confirm that this material provides sufficient information and identify how best to supply any further data required.
Website: http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_Energy_Communities/Better-Energy-Communities-Projects-2015.pdf
Document Links:
502. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of grants his Department has paid out and the total value of such grants for the purchase of battery electric vehicles and for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date. [18422/16]
View answerThe Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme was introduced in April 2011 to incentivise and support, through grants of up to €5,000, the early deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 which apply to electric vehicles.
The number of grants paid and the total value of such grants for the purchase of battery electric vehicles and for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in each year from 2011 to date is set out in the following table:
|
Year/s |
No of Grants |
Amount (Euro) |
|
2011 |
42 |
198,000 |
|
2012 |
183 |
767,400 |
|
2013 |
53 |
242,200 |
|
2014 |
257 |
1,203,400 |
|
2015 |
555 |
2,647,800 |
|
2016 (to 24 June 2016) |
369 |
1,758,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1,459 |
6,817,000 |
The extent to which electric vehicles are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including, inter alia, the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. There are signs that these factors are improving. In 2015, the number of electric vehicles supported under the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme exceeded the combined total supported over the previous four years. My Department expects that the numbers of electric vehicles in Ireland will continue to increase.
503. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of drain cleaning (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17924/16]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place. 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.
504. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to address concerns on the taxsavers scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18148/16]
View answerThe issue raised in relation to fares is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
505. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received requests for funding from Cork County Council, east Cork municipal district or any other body for the provision of a zebra crossing in Rostellan village in East Cork; and if not, if he will commit to releasing funds to provide such a zebra crossing as was laid out in local area plans since 2011. [18272/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
As regards measures to address safety hazards, my Department operates a Safety Improvement Grant Programme whereby local authorities submit a list of schemes in order of priority for consideration for funding. Within the constraints of the overall roads budget, allocations are made to local authorities for the scheme each year. The application received from Cork County Council for 2016 did not include a project at Rostellan. All available funding has been allocated for this year.
When allocating grant funding my Department has emphasised that the commitment of local authorities to contribute significantly from their own resources towards the cost of improving and maintaining the regional and local roads network is essential and that full consideration needs to be given to utilising the Local Property Tax to boost own resources expenditure on regional and local road maintenance and renewal.
506. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if and when he will introduce regulations or legislation regarding the use of rickshaws, trikes and other novelty type vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17918/16]
View answerAll vehicles are obliged to obey road traffic law. Pedal-powered rickshaws come within the definition of 'pedal cycles' and powered rickshaws are classified as 'mechanically propelled vehicles'. The measures which were introduced last year to allow An Garda Síochána to issue fixed charge notices to cyclists also apply to pedal powered rickshaws and provide an important tool for An Garda Síochána in enforcing the law.
At present there is no specific legislation to regulate the carriage of passengers by rickshaws. I understand that, in response to some concerns - primarily of a safety nature - both Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority have obtained legal advices in relation to their respective powers to regulate rickshaws. Following consideration of those advices my Department will be consulting the Attorney General on the best way to proceed to provide for the appropriate regulation of rickshaws.
In the case of trikes or other novelty vehicles that come within the definition of mechanically propelled vehicle, it is a matter for the National Transport Authority to determine the appropriateness of licensing such vehicles as small public service vehicles. I have therefore referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
507. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position of his Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the need to upgrade the Waterford to Limerick N24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17989/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 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. 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 I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 days.
508. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the completion of the Ring Road in Kilkenny City with particular emphasis on the section including a new bridge linking the N77 to the R693; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17990/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 (such as the Kilkenny Northern Ring Road) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland - TII (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 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 don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
509. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of complaints from the residents of Hollystown and surrounding areas in west Dublin in respect of the noise generated from early morning and late night flights to and from Dublin Airport, between the hours 12 a.m. and 7 a.m; the number of these flights that have taken place in 2015 and 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18016/16]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the Competent Authority in Ireland with the responsibility of ensuring that airport authorities adopt a balanced approach in dealing with noise-related matters at airports. The IAA exercises its responsibilities by reference to EU legislative provisions and I have asked the IAA to liaise directly with the Deputy. The IAA will be in a position to provide the Deputy with information on flight activity. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my private office.
