Written Answers Nos. 237-251
237. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the €11 million in EU aid that was allocated to Irish farmers and subsequently put into the €150 million agri-loan scheme in budget 2017, if all moneys in this fund are not fully drawn down within the period the facility will remain open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36768/16]
View answerI announced last week that the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) has invited banks and other lenders to take part in the "Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme". The Scheme, with total funding of €150 million, will support highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000, at an interest rate of 2.95%. The public funding of €25 million provided for the Scheme includes €11.1 million from the EU’s ‘exceptional adjustment aid for milk and other livestock farmers’.
The need for this Scheme has been identified and expectations are that it will be well subscribed. However it is an innovative approach. The expenditure will be closely monitored and, if necessary, appropriate action will be taken to help ensure that Irish farmers get the full benefit from the allocated funding.
238. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36771/16]
View answerThe person concerned applied for approval under the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II for milk storage and cooling equipment. A payment claim was submitted to the online payment claims system and the grant was paid on 21 November 2016.
240. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the roll-out of broadband will take place in Belcarra, County Mayo (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36636/16]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to 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 a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area:
- The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention, which are the subject of the current procurement process. It is intended that premises within this area will have access to services of at least 30Mbps when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
As you will see from the Map Belcarra, County Mayo largely falls within a BLUE area and will be covered by commercial operators. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode. Based on information provided by one commercial operator I understand that high speed broadband services are available to some 310 premises from the Belcarra exchange and that work on a further 185 premises has been completed and rollout is planned for these premises in early 2017. This is however a matter for the company in question.
While I cannot compel any operator to provide services to a particular premises, the NBP aims to ensure that all premises can access high speed broadband. My Department is therefore closely monitoring the rollout of services in the BLUE area, including Belcarra. I would encourage consumers in Belcarra who cannot access high speed broadband services to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie, quoting their address and Eircode, and giving details of providers they have contacted with a view to obtaining services. This information will assist the Department in keeping track of progress in those areas. If it transpires that some premises will not be connected by the commercial telecoms sector, I will consider including them in the procurement process, as part of the State intervention.
My Department is now in the formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network to over 750,000 premises in Ireland, Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. Householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but potentially up to 1000 megabits per second with businesses potentially availing of symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Earlier this year, before I came into office, the Department announced that it would be June 2017 before contract(s) were awarded under the NBP. The bidders in the process have recently indicated that they may need more time to conclude the procurement process. The timing of each stage of the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders, during the procurement process. Bidders need adequate time to prepare detailed proposals and their final formal bids. In addition, bidders need adequate time to get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at key stages of the process. It is also important to ensure that risks in this multi-million euro procurement are carefully managed. I do not propose to comment any further on timelines at this juncture, given that discussions are on-going in the procurement process. I can assure the Deputy, however, that the procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The Government considers the NBP to be one of the most significant investments in rural Ireland for decades, and one which will transform society, akin to rural electrification in the last century.
During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to rollout a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP. 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 Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed rollout plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for 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 two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded.
In a further positive initiative, last July, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce with my colleague Minister Humphreys to address immediate issues in relation to the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage. I expect the Taskforce to report by end 2016.
I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 auction of the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, to provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. I have also secured €8m for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band, to provide enhanced mobile services.
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 and mobile telecoms services.
These investments will further improve the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country, including County Mayo.
241. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vacancies on boards or agencies within his Department's remit that currently exist; the number that have been filled since 8 May 2016; the number of these that were filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timeline for filling remaining vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36643/16]
View answer245. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vacancies on State boards in his Department; the number filled since he took office; the number filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timelines to fill vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36834/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 245 together.
There are currently 19 vacancies on the Boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department and since 6 May 2016 there have been 26 appointments made. All of the appointments were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards which were published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2014. 7 appointments were made in accordance with the PAS process outlined in the Guidelines and the remaining appointments were re-appointments, ex-officio and elected employee representatives and therefore not subject to that process.
In respect of the current vacancies, arrangements are in hand to fill these through the PAS process where appropriate and it is expected that appointments will be made in the coming months on completion of that process. 6 of the vacancies relate to the Digital Hub Development Agency and in light of that body’s merger with Dublin City Council it is not proposed to fill all these positions. The legislation underpinning appointments to the Board of TG4 provides that casual vacancies can only be filled for the unexpired term in question. Consequently, the current vacancy on that Board could only be filled up to end April 2017. At the request of the Chairperson I have agreed that this vacancy will be carried and an appointment made for a full term next year.
242. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request the communications regulator to contact a company (details supplied) regarding a broadband connection that has been down for the past month and to deal with the matter as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36669/16]
View answerThe provision of electronic telecommunications services, including broadband services occurs within a fully liberalised market, offered by competing services providers. The regulation of services providers to the extent permitted by law regarding the provision and quality of such services and the investigation of complaints is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions.
I have no statutory function in relation to ComReg's exercise of its regulatory functions. However, I have passed the details provided by the Deputy to ComReg for its attention.
243. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps his Department has taken to attract television broadcasters here under EU country of origin rules in view of the British decision to exit the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36782/16]
View answerThe Audiovisual Media Services Directive is based upon the country of origin principle which means that TV broadcasters who obtain regulatory clearance in one Member State can make their services available in all Member States, without having to obtain separate regulatory clearances.
A large number of broadcasters who have established their businesses in the UK, have obtained regulatory clearance there, and are making their services available in other Member States, including Ireland.
Following the British decision to exit the EU, the continued longer-term application of the country of origin principle to UK-based broadcasters has come under question. It is not possible at this stage, however, to determine what the outcome of that decision will mean for UK-based broadcasters as this will depend on the nature of the EU-UK relationship that emerges following negotiations.
As with other Government departments, the immediate focus of my Department is on seeking to identify the risks and opportunities that may emerge as a result of Brexit and to develop appropriate strategies for these.
244. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has established a specific Brexit preparation unit to prepare for the opportunities and threats of a British exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36783/16]
View answerThe Government’s Brexit Contingency Framework sets out that all Departments should identify a senior official to oversee Brexit matters and to create a Top Management sub-committee to deal specifically with the implications of Brexit for their areas of work.
My Department nominated an Assistant Secretary to take lead responsibility for Brexit matters. Under the chairmanship of this Assistant Secretary a sub-committee, consisting of Principal Officers representing the various work areas covered by my Department, has been convened.
This sub-committee has 11 members including the Chair reflecting the broad remit of my Department. The sub-committee will continue to meet regularly to ensure that my Department is prepared for the possible implications of Brexit. I would add that I as Minster participate in the Cabinet committee on Brexit and my Department is also represented on the Interdepartmental Brexit Group. This ensures a ‘whole of Government’ approach when dealing with Brexit.
Brexit is a standing item on the Agenda of my Department's Management Board which generally meets weekly and which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department. It is also on the Agenda of my monthly meetings with the Management Board which examines progress on priority issues being addressed by the Department.
246. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a copy of an accident report for a marine accident in Killala Bay on 11 November 1980 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36665/16]
View answerThere is no record in my Department of an incident relating to a report of an accident in November 1980 involving a vessel of the name supplied. My Department has a record of an accident relating to a vessel of a similar name, which may be what the Deputy is referring to. The Report of the Preliminary Inquiry into the casualty on the vessel in question is on a file in the Department which, as it is now over 30 years old, is being sent to the National Archives, where a request can be made in due course to view it.
247. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allocate funding for a bypass at Ardee, County Louth; the timeframe for the delivery of such a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36603/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Within its annual budget the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, such as the Ardee Bypass is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The Ardee Bypass was not included in the Capital Plan published in September 2015. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget, over €4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway. In this context the Ardee bypass was one of the projects that it was not possible to include given the overall funding envelope available.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government proposes to undertake a Review of the Capital Plan next year, which will take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.
248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a mountain bike track (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36610/16]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the development or management of individual tourism projects, such as the project mentioned, which is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.
I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
249. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has given any consideration to the option of magnetic decals for taxi drivers, rather than the current adhesive version, to allow taxi drivers to have the option of using their vehicles for private personal use when they are off duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36612/16]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to decals, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
250. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow for taxi plates to be sold on by taxi drivers should they choose to leave the business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36613/16]
View answerAction 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 recommended the prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates.
The underlying principle for the recommendation was that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. The measure was provided for in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 which was commenced with effect from 6th April 2014.
Special provisions, contained in Section 15 of the 2013 Act, apply in the case of the death of a licence holder, whereby a licence may continue to be operated by a person nominated by the licence holder before his/her death.
The regulation of the SPSV industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, including administration of the nomination process under section 15 and the requirements relating to rental of a small public service vehicle to another person.
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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
251. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vacancies on boards or agencies within his Department's remit that currently exist; the number that have been filled since 8 May 2016; the number of these that were filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timeline for filling remaining vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36654/16]
View answer253. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vacancies on State boards in his Department; the number filled since he took office; the number filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timelines to fill vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36843/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 253 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
Board appointments are generally made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on State Board Appointments. Under these Guidelines, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) advertises vacancies on the State Boards portal, www.stateboards.ie, is responsible for establishing Assessment Panels to assess all applications. Where a re-appointment is proposed the PAS process does not apply. I am currently considering means by which the appointment processes can be enhanced to ensure in so far as possible the best appointments are made.
