Written Answers Nos. 389-415
389. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who breached the nitrates regulations in 2015 and 2016; the total number of fines incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9457/17]
View answerIn 2015, 1,968 herd owners incurred penalties for breaching the nitrates limits. The numbers for 2016 are currently being processed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Proactive measures farmers can take to avoid incurring these penalties include:
- Applying for a derogation;
- Renting additional land;
- Reducing livestock numbers;
- Exporting slurry/farmyard manure.
My Department has put significant effort into trying to reduce the number of these penalties, including:
- Text messaging of farmers during the year with the up-to date position vis a vis the limits,
- Interim statement on N available on-line during the year,
- Telephone helpline for advisors and farmers,
- Work ongoing with a behavioural economist ( ESRI).
390. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount expended on the scheme of assistance for persons who suffered fodder losses as a result of the severe flooding in 2016, by county, in tabular form; the total number of participants per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9458/17]
View answerA fodder aid scheme to help farmers who suffered damage/loss to animal feed during the December 2015 and January 2016 floods commenced in January 2016. Following receipt of aid applications, and the completion of on farm verification visits to each holding, payments under the scheme issued from mid February with all payments finalised by August 2016.
Below is a breakdown of applications.
|
Number of Applications received |
Not Valid under Fodder Aid |
Number of applications paid |
Amount Paid |
|
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Cavan |
4 |
0 |
4 |
5,575.00 |
|
Clare |
22 |
3 |
19 |
46,938.00 |
|
Cork |
14 |
4 |
10 |
16,250.00 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
4 |
4 |
1,925.00 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Galway |
96 |
13 |
83 |
164,387.50 |
|
Kerry |
11 |
2 |
9 |
27,295.00 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1,950.00 |
|
Laois |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1,625.00 |
|
Leitrim |
8 |
1 |
7 |
4,675.00 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
2 |
1 |
750.00 |
|
Longford |
13 |
1 |
12 |
23,865.00 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Mayo |
59 |
7 |
52 |
68,510.00 |
|
Meath |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Monaghan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1,500.00 |
|
Offaly |
25 |
2 |
23 |
36,855.00 |
|
Roscommon |
65 |
9 |
56 |
120,760.00 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
0 |
6 |
11,975.00 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1,440.00 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
2 |
3 |
12,119.20 |
|
Westmeath |
37 |
3 |
34 |
118,075.00 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Totals |
390 |
60 |
330 |
666,469.70 |
391. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the current restrictions regarding the holding standstill period for sheep prior to export; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9467/17]
View answerThe standstill period is enshrined in EU legislation which provides that breeding and fattening sheep must be certified as having been continuously resident on a holding of origin for at least 30 days prior to export, including a "standstill" period of 21 days prior to export during which time no sheep have been introduced on to the holding. A derogation applies where sheep introduced during the standstill period are completely isolated from all other animals on the holding. To avail of this derogation, isolation must be notified to and pre-approved by my Department. Sheep being exported for slaughter must be resident on the holding of origin for 21 days but a standstill period is not required if the animals are consigned directly to a slaughterhouse in another Member State. A 21 days standstill period is required in the event that sheep for slaughter are exported from an approved assembly centre or dealer's premises and/or stop at a staging point in another Member State (transit or destination).
The rules on intra-Community trade in sheep, in particular, the "standstill" requirement, stem from the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001, the general view being that movements of sheep largely contributed to the spread of the disease. The rationale for these requirements is to ensure that sheep going for export do not come in contact with other animals or become infected following such contact.
Sheep exports rose to nearly 47,000 head last year, up from 32,000 in 2015.
392. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to abolish fur farms here within the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9504/17]
View answerMy predecessor established a Review Group in November 2011 to examine all aspects of fur farming in Ireland.
The Terms of Reference of the Review Group were:
(i) To review fur farming in Ireland taking into account existing legislative provisions for the licensing of mink farming
(ii) To comment on the economic benefits of the sector
(iii) To consider the effectiveness of existing welfare controls, and
(iv) To make appropriate recommendations
The Review Group invited submissions from the public and interested parties and considered over four hundred submissions which were received.
The Group concluded that it did not find the arguments in favour of banning the farming of fur animals in Ireland compelling and recommended that instead, fur farming be allowed continue under licence and subject to official control.
On foot of the Review Group’s deliberations, my Department introduced more rigorous controls on licence holders in the areas of animal welfare, animal accommodation, security and nutrient management. Licensees are subject to regular inspections, including unannounced inspections by Department officials.
My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations, 2010) (Statutory Instrument No 311/2010) and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Irish fur farmers are subject to the same animal welfare legislation as any other livestock farmer.
There are currently a total of three operators in Ireland licensed to keep mink.
393. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of employees in his Department and under its aegis who are suspended from work without prejudice and on full pay pending an investigation. [9713/17]
View answerMy Department currently has one employee suspended from work without prejudice, on full pay pending an investigation. The information for Bodies under the aegis of the Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.
394. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a digital safety commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9459/17]
View answerThe Law Reform Commission Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, which was published in September 2016, recommends the reform of Criminal Law in relation to a number of issues that arise in the context of society’s growing use of online communications, include the posting of online intimate images without consent, cyber-bullying, online harassment and stalking, and new types of voyeurism. In December, the Minister for Justice and Equality announced that her Department would draft the heads of a Bill aimed at dealing with these issues, along the lines of the draft legislation contained in the LRC's report.
The report also proposes the establishment of a Digital Safety Commissioner to promote digital safety and oversee efficient take-down procedures to ensure that harmful communications can be removed as quickly as possible from social media sites.
I confirm that I intend to meet with my colleagues, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to progress the Report's proposal to establish a Digital Safety Commissioner.
395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) with regard to the LNG, liquefied natural gas, project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9123/17]
View answerIn mid 2016 I met with a delegation of TDs and subsequently my officials met with other relevant stakeholders to discuss the Shannon LNG project. On 7 October 2016 I provided an update to TDs where I outlined the position.
I and indeed previous Ministers have supported this project, as appropriate, given that it would enhance Ireland's security of supply. This support is in line with the Programme for Government. In addition, as part of our actions under the Energy White Paper, my Department has recently set up a group to examine Ireland's resilience to a long term gas disruption. The potential for LNG will form part of this analysis.
It is important to understand that this is a commercial, private sector project, the implementation of which is ultimately the responsibility of the project promoters. Final investment decisions for the Shannon LNG project are a matter for the project promoters to take.
396. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the success or otherwise of the warmth and well-being pilot programme that commenced in 2016 and piloted in parts of Dublin 8, 10, 12, 22 and 24; his plans to extend the pilot scheme in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9196/17]
View answerThe Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The objective of the pilot is to validate, in an Irish context, the international evidence that suggests making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have a positive effect on the health and well-being of people in energy poverty who are also living with a chronic respiratory condition. As it is a pilot scheme, eligibility is necessarily limited. In 2016 the operational area for the scheme was selected as Community Health Area (CHO) 7, following consultation with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This CHO encompasses Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City and Dublin South West. Within CHO 7 the need to build capacity in the local public health and SEAI teams, and establish communications with the local community, meant that a further localisation was necessary and Dublin 12 and 24 were selected as the initial operational areas.
With the increase in capital for the pilot to €8m for 2017, the steering committee for the scheme, made up of representatives from my Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Department of Health and the HSE, determined that the area covered by the scheme could be expanded to cover Dublin 8, 10 and 22 and that eligibility could be expanded to cover families with young children. By including families with young children it is hoped that the scheme can also show a positive impact on school attendance and social inclusion.
To date, 352 successful applications have been processed by the HSE team and referred to SEAI for surveying and works. Of these, the number from each area is listed below:
|
Postal Area |
Number |
|
Dublin 8 |
10 |
|
Dublin 10 |
8 |
|
Dublin 12 |
144 |
|
Dublin 22 |
18 |
|
Dublin 24 |
182 |
The lower numbers in Dublin 8, 10 and 22 are due to the fact that the pilot has only recently been extended to these areas. I would be very keen that public representatives continue to help to raise awareness of the pilot in their communities. Nevertheless, this represents a strong pipeline of works and I am confident that the scheme will achieve its objectives for 2017.
The scheme is intended to run for at least a further two full years (2017-2018). In parallel with the scheme’s delivery, an independent research project is in the process of being commissioned by my Department, which will assess the impact of the scheme. At the conclusion of the scheme, and with independent evidence on its effectiveness, the potential for a wider roll-out will be considered.
In addition to the Warmth and Wellbeing pilot, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is available on a nationwide basis to low income households who are at risk of energy poverty. More information on this scheme is available on SEAI’s website at: http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Warmer_Homes_Scheme/About_the_BEWH.html
397. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; if the roll-out of this plan is on schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9211/17]
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. A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, the commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
There has been significant progress in relation to broadband roll-out so that today, approximately 1.4m or 61% of premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector, which is continuing to expand this footprint.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the current 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 30 megabits per second when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
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.
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map to finalise the Intervention Area for the Procurement process, taking into account industry investments that have not materialised in Blue areas, together with new industry investments within the proposed State Intervention Area, along with concrete and credible commitments by industry for further new investments within the Intervention Area.
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. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. This provides for a future proofed solution for the 25 years of the contract and beyond. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
The timeframe for 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. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to roll-out 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 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 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 Government also commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded.
In this regard, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016 together with Minister Humphreys. The findings of this Taskforce recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July last, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representatives, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band, in early 2017. This will 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.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
398. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason persons in an area (details supplied) cannot access 4G coverage when there is a mobile phone mast in the area and neighbouring villages can access the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9215/17]
View answerI am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Any customer, including those in Clonbullogue in County Offaly, who experiences service difficulties should raise the matter with the service provider in the first instance. If this fails to resolve matters, customers can and should refer a complaint to the independent regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which will investigate the service provider's compliance with its contractual obligations.
The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by ComReg. I do not have a statutory authority to require commercial companies to roll-out services to particular locations. However, mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. However as mobile services are a radio based technology, services can be affected by topography, quality of handsets and the capacity of the network, as well as by and proximity to mobile telephone antennas. The rate of demand for data services has increased by 500% in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally.
Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force. In July 2016, I established the Task Force together with Minister Humphreys to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention. The report of the Task Force was published in December and is available on both Departments' websites.
In producing this report, the Task Force worked with Departments, local authorities, ComReg, State agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders.
The report contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland and the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access identifies 19 of these actions as areas where immediate and direct action by Departments and State agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers.
The work of the Task Force will also assist local authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contracts are in place.
In addition, I have signed regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.
In my Department's Estimates for 2017, I have secured an €8 million provision for RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to allocate this spectrum to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances.
These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland and particularly in rural Ireland.
In parallel, the National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high-speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland, through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment plans have not been fully demonstrated.
399. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when an area (details supplied) will be connected with fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9280/17]
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.
A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, the commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
Currently, approximately 1.4m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband from commercial service providers and investment by the telecoms sector is continuing to expand this footprint.
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 on the High Speed Broadband Map 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.
Individuals can check whether their premises are in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
Ballylongford in the townland of Aghanagran Middle Co Kerry falls within an AMBER area and will there be included in the State intervention procurement process under the NBP.
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map to finalise the Intervention Area for the Procurement process, taking into account industry investments that have not materialised in Blue areas, together with new industry investments within the proposed State Intervention Area, along with concrete and credible commitments by industry for further new investments within the Intervention Area.
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. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. This provides for a future proofed solution for the 25 years of the contract and beyond. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
The timeframe for 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. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to roll-out 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 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 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 Government also commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded.
In this regard, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016 together with Minister Humphreys. The findings of this Taskforce recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July last, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representatives, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band, in early 2017. This will 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.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
400. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost per year for the past three years for the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off-site locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9303/17]
View answerThe costs associated with the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off site locations for the years in question are as follows:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2014 |
€3,032.04 |
|
2015 |
€3,258.74 |
|
2016 |
€2,476.70 |
401. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide the most up-to-date information on the level of fixed broadband connections and subscriptions per 100 persons here; the position of Ireland in this regard among the OECD and EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/17]
View answerAccording to the latest ComReg Quarterly report Q3 2016 published in December 2016 there were over 1.7m broadband subscriptions in Ireland of which 1.3m were fixed broadband subscriptions and over 365,000 mobile subscriptions.
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 the 34 countries for mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants which is ahead of the OECD average.
Ireland was the 12th highest country in the OECD in increasing its fixed broadband penetration between June 2015 and June 2016. This represents an increase of 4.2% in fixed broadband penetration during the stated period.
According to the EU Statistic body Eurostat, the EU average for broadband penetration is 80%. Ireland’s penetration rate is 83% which is above the EU average.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is addressing access to high speed broadband (speeds of 30 megabits per second and above) through commercial investment by telecommunications networks providers and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. 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.
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map to finalise the Intervention Area for the Procurement process, taking into account industry investments that have not materialised in Blue areas, together with new industry investments within the proposed State Intervention Area, along with concrete and credible commitments by industry for further new investments within the Intervention Area.
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. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. This provides for a future proofed solution for the 25 years of the contract and beyond. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
The timeframe for 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. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to roll-out 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 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 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 Government also commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded.
In this regard, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016 together with Minister Humphreys. The findings of this Taskforce recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link:
http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July last, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representatives, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band, in early 2017. This will 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.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
402. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost per year for the past three years for the storage of data and or files on cloud storage or third party servers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9401/17]
View answerMy Department has not used cloud storage or third party servers for the storage of data or files during the past three years. All departmental data and files are stored and managed internally.
403. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if all regulatory impact assessments for his legislative proposals are published on his Department websites; the web address for each such site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9417/17]
View answerIt is my Department's policy to publish Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) on my Department's website in respect of legislative proposals in accordance with the procedures set out in the RIA Guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach. In line with the Guidelines, RIAs are subject to usual freedom of information exemptions.
The web address for my Department is http://www.dccae.gov.ie and the RIAs can be found under the specific legislation link under each of the Departmental sectors.
404. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of employees in his Department and under its aegis who are suspended from work without prejudice and on full pay pending an investigation. [9716/17]
View answerNo employees of my Department are currently suspended from the workplace.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
405. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of his annual budget that is allocated to cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9139/17]
View answer419. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding towards walking and cycling initiatives in line with reducing carbon emissions, improved health and less congested cities and towns; his views on whether active modes of transport should be prioritised for enhanced funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9468/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 419 together.
Claims have been made in the recent past that out of the €10bn funding allocation my Department has received under the Capital Plan, only 1% is devoted to cycling and walking infrastructure and facilities. While €100m of my Department's €10bn capital allocation is eamarked for Smarter Travel initiatives, this does not reflect the totality of funding for cycling and walking measures. In addition to the Smarter Travel funding, significant funding is also allocated for walking and cycling measures via programmes administered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on behalf of my Department.
Under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme, my Department provides funding to the NTA for the seven local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area for the implementation of sustainable transport measures which includes cycling and walking infrastructure. Funding of €23.2 million was allocated to this Programme alone in 2016. The NTA also manages a similar sustainable transport grants programme – the Regional Cities Programme – in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Overall funding for these two programmes in 2016 was €36.7.
In 2017, we will be investing 355m in public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure. Of this figure over 10% (more than €37m) will be allocated to Smarter Travel and Sustainable Transport measures. I am sure the Deputy was pleased to see, as I was, the significant increase in the numbers cycling and walking into Dublin City Centre in the Canal Cordon Report published last week. We are now seeing more than two thirds of people using sustainable transport modes (public transport, cycling and walking) to enter Dublin in the morning peak. It is important that we continue to build on that progress in the coming years.
The Government is embarking on a Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which will take stock of progress under the Plan to date and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment. In addition, with the scheduled completion of the Luas Cross-City Project later this year, which was one of the more capital intensive projects under my Department's remit in recent yeas, I hope that more funds may become available to support cycle routes. I will certainly be making the case for increased investment in public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure in discussions on the review of the Capital Plan.
The Deputy will also be interested to know that my Department is presently establishing a fund to support low carbon technologies in public transport vehicles including a Green Bus Fund. These various initiatives demonstrate my Department's commitment to continued investment in infrastructure to support walking and cycling and in the development of clean transport technology.
406. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to implement the national cycle policy framework; the steps and timeframe to its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9140/17]
View answerThe National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) which was published in 2009 included a range of objectives and actions to be achieved and implemented over the period to 2020. The targets contained in the NCPF were ambitious and were predicated on substantial investment under the Transport 21 investment plan at the time, which given the economic crisis which ensued could not be delivered on.
Implementation of the various actions falls to a wide range of public bodies including local authorities, transport agencies, my Department and other Government Departments. The National Cycling Policy Framework has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so as to ensure that the objectives and policies to support and promote cycling are taken account of in current and future planning.
In 2013 and 2015 the Department asked local authorities and other stakeholders for an update on progress on implementation of the NCPF. The Department now intends to undertake a full review of the framework and we will be pursuing this over the coming year.
Despite the reduced level of funding available since the publication of the framework, compared to that envisaged under the Transport 21 investment plan, good progress has been made to date. To mention a few, the Dublin and Regional Public Bikes Scheme have been successfully delivered and are operating successfully. Also, the roll out of the new National Cycle Training Standard for Ireland "Cycle Right" which was developed by Cycling Ireland with funding from my Department commenced in January of this year. The Deputy will also be aware of the very heartening figures published recently in the 'Canal Cordon Report 2016' which shows significant increases in the numbers cycling and walking into Dublin City Centre in the morning peak.
407. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions, including timeframes, he will take to reduce transport emissions in order that Ireland fulfils its obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/17]
View answerIn order for Ireland to effectively and equitably contribute to the EU emissions reduction commitments in line with the Paris Agreement and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, an ambitious low-carbon development strategy is being developed. My Department is working closely with the new Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and the Department of Agriculture to prepare this National Mitigation Plan.
Specific focus is being placed on the four sectorial areas of electricity generation, the built environment, agriculture and transport. The responsibility for emissions reduction is, of course, a collective one and Ireland's EU emission reduction targets are national and not sectorial in nature. When all sectorial inputs have been co-ordinated, the draft mitigation plan will be available for extensive public consultation before being submitted for approval to Government. It is expected that the draft plan will be available for public consultation in March. Transport will of course have to play a significant role on the national mitigation effort. The measures under consideration for transport will be wide-ranging and will focus on modal shift, movement to alternative fuels, and targeted behavioural change. To date, considerable progress has been achieved through measures aimed at promoting improved technologies and changing behaviour.
My Department has also recently developed a National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport, which will be published in the coming weeks, following our recent public consultation on the draft Framework. Furthermore, my Department is working closely with the DCCAE on an interdepartmental Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) Task Force which is charged with presenting a range of measures and options to the Government that will assist in accelerating the deployment of LEVs in Ireland.
408. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the financing structure of the New Ross bypass PPP project, including the level of Exchequer funding; the level of private finance involved and the role of the European Investment Bank guarantee; if the assets will be in full public control; and the expected unitary payment charges to the Exchequer or associated with this PPP once completed. [9164/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual PPP road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland concluded the PPP contract for the New Ross Bypass with the BAM PGGM Iridium consortium in January 2016. The debt funding for the project is being provided by institutional investors and this was the first Irish project to avail of the European Investment Bank’s project bond credit enhancement programme. Once the bypass is constructed the PPP consortium will be responsible for managing the road for the duration of the contract period.
As the detailed commercial arrangements relating to the project are a matter for TII, 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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
409. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the future of a bus service between Sligo and Dublin, which will incorporate the towns of Dromod and Rooskey. [9180/17]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport provider 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.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
410. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional money for the CLÁR programme will be provided for all roads outside national schools in south Monaghan that are substandard; and if money will be provided to tar outside all the schools in order that the money from CLÁR is spent effectively. [9201/17]
View answerI have no function in relation to the CLÁR programme. The CLÁR programme, which provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas, is operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
411. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding roads on the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9268/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects (including those located on the Wild Atlantic Way route) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 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.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including those located on the Wild Atlantic Way route) 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.
In January 2017, I announced the 2017 regional and local road allocations to local authorities. While there is no specific funding provided for roads on the Wild Atlantic Way, funding is provided to local authorities under a number of programmes to supplement their own resources. It is a matter for the relevant local authority to prioritise, agree and progress its work programme for roads each year. All regional and local road funding for 2017 has now been allocated.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
412. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide for dedicated space for cycle lanes in cities and towns separate from bus lanes in view of the rise in cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9294/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to transport. The provision of transport infrastructure falls to a number of bodies, namely Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the National Transport Authority (NTA) and local authorities. All of these bodies are mindful of the need for the provision of safe cycling infrastructure in our cities and towns and guidance on the provision of safe cycling infrastructure is provided in the National Cycle Manual published by the NTA in 2010.
Cycling facilities can be provided for in a number of ways, one of which is cycle tracks or lanes separate from other modes of transport. However, full segregation is not required in every instance.
The appropriate cycling facility on a route is determined by reference to the guidance contained in the NTA's National Cycle Manual; in particular, the guidance on Integration/Segregation, the Width Calculator, the adjacent traffic and bus regime and the overall Quality of Service intended for the cycle route itself (as proposed in any relevant Cycle Network Plan such as the NTA's Greater Dublin Area (GDA) Cycle Network Plan 2013).
413. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost per year for the past three years for the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off-site locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9314/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded within 10 working days.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to your Parliamentary Question above which was submitted to my Department for written answer by myself on Thursday 23 February 2017 and to which you received a holding reply.
The information you requested In this Parliamentary Question has been collated by officials in my Department in the following table:
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport costs for the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off-site locations for the past three years:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2014 |
€1,989 |
|
2015 |
€2,158 |
|
2016 |
€4,672 |
I trust that this clarifies the position satisfactorily.
414. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in view of the evidence that an airline (details supplied) will not be employing crew or pilots in Cork or Shannon Airports, he will review its operating licence and reconvene a more comprehensive meeting with IALPA, the Irish Airline Pilots Association. [9390/17]
View answerIn February 2014 Norwegian Air International (NAI) was granted an Irish Air Operator’s Certificate by the Irish Aviation Authority and an Irish Air Carriers Operating Licence by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.
I met with IALPA on Friday the 17th of February and a number of matters were discussed in some detail, including Norwegian Air International (NAI).
Further to the meeting, IALPA provided my Department with material as evidence that NAI would not be employing crew or pilots in Cork or Shannon, in the form of an "Inside Business" podcast interview broadcast on the 7th of December 2016. In that interview, the NAI spokesperson reiterated comments made previously by the airline, throughout the application process for a foreign air carrier permit to operate flights from Ireland to the US, that only EU and US based crew would be employed to operate those services.
While it appears that NAI will not establish an airline base in Cork initially, I was heartened by the recent news that NAI has hired 24 graduates from the Cork based Atlantic Flight Training Academy.
I now look forward to NAI's forthcoming announcement of details of the long awaited transatlantic services from Ireland. I will consider the possibility of convening another meeting with IALPA in the near future.
415. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to alter the existing sentencing range for persons convicted of dangerous driving causing death; if he will explain the current system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/17]
View answerThe Road Traffic Act as amended sets out the penalties for dangerous driving where the consequences are death or serious bodily harm. Upon conviction by the court, the penalties are a fine up to a maximum of €20,000 and/or a custodial sentence of up to 10 years. Sentencing is at the discretion of the courts.
I have no plans to change this at the current time.
