Written Answers Nos. 244-251
244. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there will be a delay in rolling out the national broadband contract; the reason for and extent of such a delay; if he will take action to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19911/16]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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. 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. Yesterday I announced that my Department has also identified a further 170,000 premises which are currently market BLUE on the High Speed Broadband Map and which are unlikely to get access to services. The intention is to undertake further analysis on these additional premises with a view to including them in the formal procurement process.
I also announced yesterday (5 July) that the Department has now moved to the next stage in the procurement process. In this Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) phase, three qualifying bidders have been invited to meet with the Department to commence the formal dialogue process. The qualifying bidders will shortly be furnished with a draft contract, with detailed specifications for a quality and affordable high speed broadband network.
Following the ITPD stage, which will take a number of months, the Department will issue final tender documentation to bidders. When final tenders have been submitted 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. There has been no delay in the process since I took office. The timing of each stage of the procurement is however dependent on a number of factors, including the complexities that may be encountered during the process.
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 rollout plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed roll-out plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the 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.
245. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of appointments he has made to State boards since the move to use the Public Appointments Service two years ago to date; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the short-list; the date when the short-list was provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20062/16]
View answerThere have been 6 appointments to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period 6 May 2016 to date. All of the appointments were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards which were published by the Department of Expenditure and Reform in November 2014.
The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy. I do not consider it appropriate to provide details of the names of those persons shortlisted as this information is covered by personal confidentiality. Furthermore, I am advised that releasing such information could discourage individuals from participating in this process in the future.
The shortlist in respect of appointments to the DHDA was provided to my office for consideration on the 30 May 2016. The other 3 appointments related to the appointment of an elected employee member, a re-appointment and an ex-officio appointment of a CEO. Consequently, no shortlist was prepared in respect of those appointments.
|
Board |
Name of appointee |
Appointment Type |
Date of appointment |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
Michael Conlon |
Member |
03/06/2016 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
Ann Markey |
Member |
03/06/2016 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
Brian Keogh |
Member |
03/06/2016 |
|
Bord na Móna |
Paschal Maher |
Elected Employee Member |
14/05/2016 |
|
Bord na Móna |
Denise Cronin |
Member |
23/05/2016 * |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) |
Jim Gannon |
CEO |
23/05/2016 |
* This re-appointment will commence on the 16/09/16 when Ms Cronin’s first term has been completed. In line with the Guidelines the process to fill vacancies arising should be formally initiated at least six months before the current member’s term expires.
A complete list of all current members and vacancies is available to the Deputy and all members of the public on the State Boards website at www.stateboards.ie.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and I are currently finalising the process of appointments to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland. The details of the appointees will be sent to the Deputy upon completion of their appointment.
246. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha cén líon státseirbhíseach atá earcaithe le bliain anuas in a Roinn a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu; cén grád ar a earcaíodh iad; cén líon iomlán státseirbhíseach a earcaíodh i rith an ama sin agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20443/16]
View answerEarcaíodh 34 státseirbhíseach nua i mo Roinn le bliain anuas. Ní féidir a rá cé mhéad acu sin a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu ach ceapadh triúr mar gheall ar a n-oilteacht sa Ghaeilge go sonrach.
Within the last year, 34 civil servants were newly recruited into my Department. It is not possible to say how many of those have Irish and English but 3 were appointed specifically because of their proficiency in Irish.
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will allocate funding to Kerry County Council for the R556 regional road from Tralee to Ballyduff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19963/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of a local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded from these monies is a matter for each local authority. All available grant funding for 2016 has now been allocated.
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. 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.
248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with the relevant sporting bodies to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19985/16]
View answerThe development of proposals for the staging of major sports events is a matter in the first instance for the governing bodies of the relevant sports and other event promoters. In that regard, the tourism and sports agencies are available to discuss proposals to host or stage sports events and may be in a position to support those events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support. I am not aware of any immediate plans to stage an event of the type mentioned by the Deputy.
249. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of funding for a club (details supplied). [19997/16]
View answerNo decision has been made on the timing of any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme.
Any interested group should register online now at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie as this portal will be the only way to apply under any future rounds of the Programme.
250. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of appointments he has made to State boards since the move to use the Public Appointments Service two years ago to date; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the short-list; the date when the short-list was provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20074/16]
View answerFull details of the appointments that have been made to the State Boards under my Department's remit are available on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
It is not the policy of the Department to release the names of those shortlisted but not appointed. I am advised that to do so may discourage future applications.
The dates of short-lists provided to my predecessor are listed in the following table.
I have not made any appointments to Boards under the remit of my Department since taking up Office but I am currently considering a number of appointments.
|
State Board Appointments |
Short-list to Minister |
|
CIÉ |
29 May 2015 |
|
Bus Átha Cliath |
29 May 2015 |
|
Bus Éireann |
29 May 2015 |
|
Iarnród Éireann |
28 September 2015 |
|
National Transport Authority |
10 September 2015 |
251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt cén líon státseirbhíseach atá earcaithe le bliain anuas in a Roinn a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu; cén grád ar a earcaíodh iad; cén líon iomlán státseirbhíseach a earcaíodh i rith an ama sin agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20450/16]
View answerEarcaíodh tríur státseirbhíseach a bhfuil Gaelige agus Béarla acu i mo Roinn le linn an dá mhí dhéag dheireannach; Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin, Oifigeach Cléireachais agus Oifigeach Raidió Grád III. Earcaíodh daichead státseirbhíseach san iomlán le linn na tréimhse céanna i mo Roinn.
