Written Answers Nos. 247-255
247. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated value of the Corrib gas supply in its first year of operation and the estimated value of revenues the State expects directly from that gas flow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21762/16]
View answerThe Corrib gas field, operated by Shell E&P Ireland Limited, on behalf of the Corrib Gas Partners, came on stream in the final days of 2015. The bulk of the gas produced from the Corrib field will be supplied to the National Grid operated by Gas Networks Ireland. Estimation of the value of gas supplied from the Corrib gas field into the National Grid in its first year of operation is a commercial matter for the Corrib Gas Partners and as such I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information sought.
Profits from the Corrib gas field are subject to Corporation Tax at a rate of 25%. The level of profits arising from the Corrib gas field will depend on a combination of factors, including the volume of recoverable gas, the cost of developing and operating the infrastructure, together with the timing and profile of production.
The operation of the taxation system and the receipt of taxation are matters for the Revenue Commissioners. As a consequence I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with an estimate of the revenues to be received by the Exchequer in respect of the operations of the Corrib gas field.
248. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when is he due to consider which sporting events would be designated free-to-air under European legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21850/16]
View answerThe Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air in this jurisdiction. Under the 2009 Act, I as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three years. The purpose of the review is to consider the appropriateness of the current list of designated events and to examine the requirement to add any events of major importance to society.
The current review is ongoing. It was launched in June 2014 with an initial consultation process with 44 submissions received from interested parties. This was followed by a public consultation launched in May 2015 seeking submissions from interested parties on the current list and their views on the possible designation of additional events which are as follows:
- Ireland's Games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship on a live basis (currently designated on a deferred basis)
- The All Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final;
- The All Ireland Senior Camogie Final.
Consultants were engaged in October 2015 to conduct a full review of the current list, those events proposed for designation and the 493 submissions received from interested parties. The final Report is being considered by my Department in consultation with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. When this process is completed the proposed list will be notified to the European Commission in accordance with the Audio Visual Media Services Directive. The Commission will then have three months to consider the list and indicate whether it complies with EU criteria. If approved by the Commission, I will then sign an Order setting out the events to be designated. In the meantime, the existing Order remains in force. It is expected that the current review process will be completed later this year.
249. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the latest statistic for the number of rivers that are meeting their conservation limits for salmon; and the rivers which have changed status in the past five years with regards to their fishing rights. [21851/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables which provide the latest statistics for the number of rivers which are meeting their conservation limits for salmon and the rivers which have changed status in the past five years. The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations are revised on an annual basis following management advice from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) based on the scientific advice of the Independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) for the management of the wild salmon fishery in each year.
The Independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon comprises scientists from IFI, an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Marine Institute, the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI-Northern Ireland) other State bodies and third level institutions.
The scientific committee assesses and offers advice on the predicted stocks status in all of Ireland’s over 147 salmon rivers each year against that rivers conservation limit using the most recent five years of available data from the catchment. The conservation limit is the number of adult salmon required on each river to maintain a healthy population - the stock level that maximises the long-term average surplus.
The individual river management strategy is based on the fact that each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers has its own unique stock of salmon which migrates to sea as juveniles and returns to the same river in adulthood to spawn and create the next generation of fish exclusive to that river.
Since 2007, the harvest of salmon, by commercial and recreational (angling) means, has been restricted to those stocks of rivers that are meeting their conservation limits.
2016
|
Fishery District |
River Name |
Conservation Limit (CL) Fixed |
Surplus above CL |
Proportion of CL achieved |
|
Dundalk |
Glyde |
1856 |
81 |
1.04 |
|
Lismore |
Blackwater, Glenshelane, Finisk |
12024 |
3714 |
1.31 |
|
Cork |
Owennacurra |
293 |
8 |
1.03 |
|
Cork |
Lower Lee (Cork) |
1898 |
1612 |
1.85 |
|
Cork |
Bandon |
1631 |
584 |
1.36 |
|
Cork |
Argideen |
467 |
92 |
1.20 |
|
Cork |
1SW +2 SW Ilen |
678 |
657 |
1.97 |
|
Cork |
Mealagh |
96 |
191 |
3.00 |
|
Cork |
Owvane |
372 |
530 |
2.42 |
|
Cork |
Coomhola |
310 |
24 |
1.08 |
|
Cork |
Glengarriff |
166 |
332 |
3.00 |
|
Kerry |
Sheen |
624 |
300 |
1.48 |
|
Kerry |
Roughty |
1539 |
209 |
1.14 |
|
Kerry |
Sneem |
347 |
695 |
3.00 |
|
Kerry |
1SW+2W Waterville |
119 |
329 |
3.77 |
|
Kerry |
Inney |
629 |
289 |
1.46 |
|
Kerry |
Ferta |
224 |
117 |
1.52 |
|
Kerry |
1SW+2SW Caragh |
395 |
1327 |
4.36 |
|
Kerry |
1SW+2SW Laune and Cottoners |
2072 |
4537 |
3.19 |
|
Kerry |
Maine |
1181 |
924 |
1.78 |
|
Kerry |
Owenmore |
105 |
211 |
3.00 |
|
Limerick |
1SW+2SW Feale, Galey and Brick |
2847 |
1452 |
1.51 |
|
Galway |
Corrib |
7572 |
5227 |
1.69 |
|
Connemara |
Cashla |
421 |
375 |
1.89 |
|
Connemara |
Screebe |
151 |
26 |
1.17 |
|
Connemara |
Ballynahinch |
834 |
1321 |
2.58 |
|
Ballinakill |
Owenglin |
423 |
402 |
1.95 |
|
Ballinakill |
Dawros |
493 |
580 |
2.18 |
|
Ballinakill |
Culfin |
136 |
271 |
3.00 |
|
Ballinakill |
Erriff |
1383 |
574 |
1.42 |
|
Ballinakill |
1SW +2SW Bundorragha |
95 |
324 |
4.41 |
|
Ballinakill |
Bunowen |
462 |
447 |
1.97 |
|
Ballinakill |
Owenwee (Belclare) |
374 |
33 |
1.09 |
|
Bangor |
1SW+2SW Newport R. (Lough Beltra) |
507 |
467 |
1.92 |
|
Bangor |
1SW+2SW Owenduff (Glenamong) |
712 |
1268 |
2.78 |
|
Bangor |
1SW+2SW Carrowmore |
232 |
707 |
4.05 |
|
Bangor |
Glenamoy |
623 |
86 |
1.14 |
|
Ballina |
Moy |
16730 |
19012 |
2.14 |
|
Ballina |
Easky |
1399 |
344 |
1.25 |
|
Sligo |
Ballysadare |
6363 |
2616 |
1.41 |
|
Sligo |
1SW+2SW Garvogue (Bonnet) |
2543 |
658 |
1.26 |
|
Sligo |
Drumcliff |
510 |
126 |
1.25 |
|
Ballyshannon |
1SW+2SW Drowes |
1059 |
2707 |
3.56 |
|
Ballyshannon |
Glen |
1197 |
116 |
1.10 |
|
Letterkenny |
Owenea and Owentocker |
1690 |
558 |
1.33 |
|
Letterkenny |
1SW+2SW Gweebarra |
611 |
310 |
1.51 |
|
Letterkenny |
Gweedore (Crolly R.) |
342 |
121 |
1.35 |
|
Letterkenny |
Clady |
345 |
219 |
1.63 |
|
Fishery District |
River |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Dundalk |
Castetown |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Dundalk |
Dee |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Dundalk |
Fane |
Open (BT) |
C&R |
||||
|
Dundalk |
Glyde |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Dublin |
Liffey (Upstream of Leixlip Dam) |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Wexford |
Owenavorragh |
Closed |
C&R |
Closed |
|||
|
Wexford |
Slaney |
Closed to 11th May, C&R from 12th May |
C&R |
||||
|
Waterford |
Barrow & Pollmounty |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Waterford |
Corrock |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Waterford |
Nore |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
Open |
C&R |
||
|
Waterford |
Suir |
C&R to 14th August, Open from 15th Aug |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
C&R |
||
|
Cork |
Argideen |
Open |
C&R |
C&R |
Open |
||
|
Cork |
Bandon |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
||||
|
Cork |
Glenagarriff |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Kerry |
Blackwater |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Kerry |
Behy |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Kerry |
Clonee |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Kerry |
Croanshagh |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Kerry |
Feohanagh |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Kerry |
Ferta |
Open |
C&R |
C&R |
Open |
||
|
Kerry |
Kealincha |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Kerry |
Lough Fada |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Kerry |
Milltown |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Kerry |
Owenmore |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Kerry |
Sheen |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Limerick |
Mulkear |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Limerick |
Owenagarney |
Closed |
C&R |
Closed |
|||
|
Limerick |
Skivileen |
Closed |
C&R |
C&R |
Closed |
||
|
Connemara |
Lough na Furnace |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Connemara |
Screebe |
Open |
C&R |
Open |
|||
|
Ballinakill |
Bunowen |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Ballinakill |
Owenwee (Belclare) |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Bangor |
Shramore (Burrishoole) |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Bangor |
Newport |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
||||
|
Bangor |
Owenmore |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
C&R |
|||
|
Sligo |
Garvogue |
C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May |
Open |
||||
|
Sligo |
Grange |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Ballyshannon |
Bungosteen |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Ballyshannon |
Eany |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Ballyshannon |
Owenwee (Yellow) |
C&R |
Closed |
C&R |
Closed |
||
|
Ballyshannon |
Duff |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Ballyshannon |
Eske |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Braky |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Clady |
C&R |
Open |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Crana |
Open |
C&R |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Glenna |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Glennagannon |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Lackagh |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Leannan |
Closed |
C&R |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Ray |
C&R |
Closed |
||||
|
Letterkenny |
Tullaghobegley |
C&R |
Open |
Open (BT) |
C&R |
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which improvements in quality and speed of broadband is envisaged over the next two years with particular reference to the need to meet the requirements of customers as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21877/16]
View answer252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to what extent he has identified the existence of particular black spots in respect of the availability of broadband services, when he expects such issues to be address in full with particular reference to meeting the needs of the business, domestic and commercial sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21879/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together.
The National Broadband Plan is a priority for Government. The Plan is being delivered through a combination of investment by telecommunications operators and a State Intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. This is reflected in the High Speed Broadband Map, at broadband.gov.ie.
The areas marked BLUE on the map are where commercial providers have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The areas marked AMBER represent the State Intervention area. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by entering their address or Eircode. They can also email the Department, quoting their Eircode, to broadband@dcenr.gov.ie.
There are over 750,000 premises in the Intervention Area. Last week, I announced that a further 170,000 premises may need to be covered by the State Intervention. Further analysis is being undertaken by my Department to identify the exact location of these premises and to adjust the High Speed Broadband Map.
The Department has now moved to the next stage of the procurement process and three qualifying bidders will commence dialogue with the Department next week. This will be followed by the issue of final tender documents and the current schedule envisages contract(s) award in June 2017. The timing of each stage of the procurement is dependent on a number of factors, including the complexities that may be encountered during the process.
The Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best rollout strategy, in order to target areas of poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will be balanced with the efficient network rollout plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place and a detailed rollout plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for Government recognises the on-going frustration of consumers with the quality of mobile phone and broadband services. It therefore commits to the establishment 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, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the terms of reference for the Taskforce.
The Taskforce will involve a number of Government Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with ComReg and telecommunications operators and will be established over the coming weeks. I expect that the Taskforce will consider all of the factors contributing to coverage disruptions. Measures arising from the Taskforce will be implemented by Government as a matter of priority. This will help alleviate the challenges facing consumers who may have poor mobile data coverage as well as poor broadband.
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. I expect that Minister Humphreys and I will bring proposals to Government by the end of 2016, on foot of the Taskforce's report.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits 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 action groups, 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.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to what extent comparisons continue to be made with the quality, scale, standard and availability of broadband and mobile telephony in this jurisdiction with that available in other European Union and non-European Union competing jurisdictions, if the upgrading required is adequately provided for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21878/16]
View answerThe European Commission’s Europe's Digital Progress Report 2016 ranks Ireland 15th of the EU 28 and ahead of the EU average. In the mobile market the EU Commission ranks Ireland 9th highest within the EU and ahead of the EU average. In wider international comparisons, the OECD ranks Ireland 25th of 34 countries for fixed broadband connections per 100 inhabitants. In the mobile market the OECD ranks Ireland 13th of 34 countries for mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants which is ahead of the OECD average.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is addressing the remaining deficit in access to high speed broadband networks in Ireland. It aims to provide access to high speed broadband services in every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through commercial investment by telecommunications networks providers and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming.
The Programme for Government also commits to the adoption of measures to assist in the rollout of broadband networks. 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) to deliver the State intervention has been awarded.
The Programme for Government also commits to the establishment 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, Rural, Regional and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the terms of reference for the Taskforce to ensure delivery of the Programme for Government commitment. The Taskforce will involve a number of Government Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with ComReg and 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. I expect that Minister Humphreys and I will bring proposals to Government by the end of 2016, on foot of the Taskforce's report.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of mineral exploration licences and petroleum, oil and gas exploration licences applied for, granted and activated in the past five years, how this compares with previous licensing regimes, if particular noticeable issues have arisen in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21880/16]
View answerDetails of all petroleum exploration and mineral prospecting authorisations granted are published on my Department's website www.dcenr.gov.ie on a quarterly basis. In addition I am required to lay before the Oireachtas under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, and the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, respectively half yearly reports detailing all petroleum and mineral exploration authorisations granted during the period of the report. The last such report under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 was in respect of the six-month period ending 30 June 2016, and the last report under the Minerals Development Acts was in respect of the six month period ending 31 December 2015 with the report for the next six month period being completed shortly. These reports are also available on my Department’s website. The tables outline, in respect of both petroleum exploration licences and mineral prospecting licences, the number of applications received by my Department and the number of licences granted over the last five years to date.
Petroleum Exploration Licences
|
Year |
Applications for Petroleum Exploration Licences Received in Year |
Applications for Petroleum Exploration Licences Granted in Year. |
|
2011 |
2 |
2 |
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
13 |
5 |
|
2014 |
0 |
6 |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
0 |
0 |
Mineral Prospecting Licences
|
Year |
Applications for Mineral Prospecting Licences Received in Year |
Applications for Mineral Prospecting Licences Granted in Year. |
|
2011 |
148 |
98 |
|
2012 |
115 |
102 |
|
2013 |
138 |
142 |
|
2014 |
81 |
71 |
|
2015 |
60 |
90 |
|
2016 |
94 |
2 |
The current petroleum exploration and production licensing regime is underpinned by the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007 (“2007 Licensing Terms”) which sets out the different forms of petroleum authorisation and the conditions that apply to such authorisations. The 2007 Licensing Terms, which are available on my Department’s website, replaced the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 1992. Once issued all petroleum authorisations are active.
The current mineral exploration licensing regime has been in place since the 1990s. The licensing regime is underpinned by the 1994 Licensing Terms and Procedures for Prospecting Licences. This regime has been recognised by the Fraser Institute of Canada Survey of Mining Companies for 2015 which ranked Ireland first globally in the Policy Perception Index. This index ranks the attractiveness of Government mining policies to industry. There are currently 500 mineral active prospecting licences. Such licences are normally granted for an initial period of six years and may be renewed for a further six years. Thereafter, licences may be renewed for one or two years, as appropriate. Once issued, all licences are active. Information relating to prospecting licence fees, expenditure commitments, environmental guidelines and application forms are available on my Department's website.
254. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that Kildare County Council's proposal for a north County Kildare swimming pool that was submitted to the public swimming pool programme in 2016 has not received a response to date; and if this submission was deemed to be invalid. [21694/16]
View answerIn response to a Ministerial representation received from Kildare County Council, a reply issued to Kildare County Council on 30 June reconfirming that their submission was invalid. Kildare County Council were aware of the title requirements at the time of their expression of interest in the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and that they did not meet those title requirements. Should Kildare County Council be in a position to meet the title requirements at the time of any future round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme it would then be open to them to make an application.
255. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with Dublin Bus on the issue of transport provision earlier on Sunday mornings to customers who rely on Dublin Bus to get to work and in the absence of a bus service, are forced to pay for taxis in some parts of the city. [21703/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Dublin Bus 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.
