Written Answers Nos. 274-284
274. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan who have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reasons for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12433/17]
View answerUnder the EU Regulations governing GLAS and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
Some 913 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 445 are active in GLAS 2 in County Cavan of which 807 in GLAS 1 and 390 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued.
The current position for Cavan is that 106 farmers in GLAS 1 and 55 farmers in GLAS 2 have yet to receive their payment and their applications continue to be processed.
For County Monaghan some 579 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 150 are active in GLAS 2 of which 508 in GLAS 1 and 130 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued leaving 71 in GLAS 1 and 20 in GLAS 2 remaining to be paid.
Outstanding payments under both GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 are largely delayed due to declaration of incompatible parcel usage on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for a chosen GLAS action; changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels; an applicant no longer claiming a parcel on their 2016 BPS; incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry Declaration; incomplete interim commonage management plans and incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases.
Payments under the Scheme will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as issues are resolved and cases are cleared for payment.
In respect of AEOS, as all AEOS II participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. This is the same procedure as applied to AEOS 1 participants finishing in that Scheme.
A total of 244 farmers in Co. Cavan were due a 2016 payment in AEOS, of which 198 have been paid and 46 are awaiting payment.
For County Monaghan a total of 151 farmers were due a 2016 payment in AEOS of which 107 have been paid and 44 are awaiting payment.
275. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan enrolled in the areas of natural constraint scheme; the status of the process of reviewing qualifying areas for the areas of natural constraint scheme; if his Department has completed the mapping exercise in counties Cavan and Monaghan; when the maps will be published; the consultation that will be undertaken with persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12434/17]
View answerUnder the 2016 ANC scheme there were 4,507 applicants in County Cavan and 3,768 in County Monaghan.
Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme / Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria. In cases where a Member State does not introduce this new system for payment, the old scheme remains in place but payments must phase out on a digressive basis.
The biophysical criteria set out in the legislation to underpin the new system of designation are:
- Low temperature
- Dryness
- Excess soil moisture
- Limited soil drainage
- Unfavourable texture and stoniness
- Shallow rooting depth
- Poor chemical properties
- Steep slope.
My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. Department officials have also been in contact with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and DG Agri in the EU Commission in relation to technical issues arising. Over the coming months this analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
276. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money allocated to the National Reserve Programme; the number of persons expected to benefit; if it will apply to those persons who lost out in 2016 due to no scheme being in place; the value to young farmers who have completed the relevant agricultural courses; the way they can apply for this scheme and from when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12192/17]
View answerI recently announced that funding of just over €5 million will be made available to fund a National Reserve in 2017. As the National Reserve is a demand led scheme it is not possible to estimate the number of persons expected to benefit under the scheme in 2017.
EU Regulations governing the National Reserve provides that the two mandatory categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant to farming’ must receive priority access to the Reserve. A young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when they first submit an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. A new entrant to farming is defined as a farmer who commenced their agricultural activity during the previous two years and did not have any agricultural activity in their own name and at their own risk in the five years preceding the start of the present agricultural activity.
Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive an allocation of entitlements at National Average value or a top-up to the National Average value on entitlements that are below the national average. The National Average value is expected to be in the region of €185. Successful applicants will be required to comply with specific criteria in relation to off farm income and attainment of agricultural education.
Full terms and conditions pertaining to the 2017 National Reserve and details in relation to the online application process will be available in the coming weeks. Details will also be available on my Department's website. The closing date for applications under the Scheme will be 15 May 2017.
277. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of all proposals regarding the granting of a State subvention for solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12239/17]
View answerThe Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030' sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting these RES-E targets.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the 2015 Energy White Paper and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the technologies being considered in the context of the new support scheme for renewable electricity generation under development.
The new Scheme design requires detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting several renewable technologies, including Solar PV, at various scales. The analysis and assessment is currently underway and a second public consultation will be published in Q2 this year outlining various design options.
However, before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission.
Finally, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland currently provides supports for the use of solar thermal heating technology to both large industry and SMEs. Households can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations, including solar thermal, under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.
278. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address the need for broadband by two significant employers on the Longford-Westmeath border (details supplied); if grants may be available to cover such businesses in the interim in view of the fact that these businesses threaten to close while the NBP is being progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12214/17]
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 in Broadband 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 €2.5 billion in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
Currently, approximately 1.4 million 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 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.
Information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county is available on my Department’s website at www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Broadband/Pages/County-and-Townland-Maps.aspx.
Based on information provided by commercial operators and represented on our broadband map, the Eircode referred to by the Deputy, Legan in the townland of Smithfield and the townland of Adare fall within the AMBER area and will be part of the State Intervention.
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 current Intervention Area.
My Department has no funding schemes providing grants to individual companies to access broadband in areas where broadband is not readily commercially available. Rather, through the National Broadband Plan, it is pursuing a policy to ensure that broadband is made readily available nationally.
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 (AMBER) 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 from contract award 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 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. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 auction of the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band, to provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. I have also secured €8 million for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700 MHz 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.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country including Counties Longford and Westmeath.
279. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the national broadband plan in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12241/17]
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 €2.5 billion 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 1.4 million 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.
There are c. 42,000 premises in County Cavan, of which approximately 24,000 are located in the Amber area on the Map, and will benefit from the NBP's State Intervention. The remaining 18,000 premises are located in the commercial BLUE area and will be served by commercial operators.
In the case of County Monaghan there are c. 33,000 premises, of which approximately 19,000 premises will benefit from the NBP's State Intervention. The remaining 14,000 premises are located in the commercial BLUE area and will be served 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.
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 (AMBER) 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 current 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 from contract award 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.
280. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on and position, not ComReg's, following the decision by certain mobile phone operators to circumnavigate the recent European directive designed to lower and standardise roaming rates for Irish citizens on the Continent; the action he will take to ensure that the directive is adhered to by Irish-based operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12277/17]
View answerEU "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) will give Irish and EU consumers the ability to use their mobile devices, within other EU countries, at domestic rates, subject to Fair Use Policy, from 15 June 2017.
Throughout negotiations at EU level on this initiative, including at the EU Council of Ministers, Ireland has been fully supportive of the Roam Like at Home principle, and, in particular, the importance of obtaining a sustainable agreement for business and consumers alike.
The new EU rules clearly cover data services, along with voice and SMS. There is no exemption for the data services, only exceptional limits in case of unlimited or very competitive offers.
I would expect all mobile operators to be fully compliant with Irish and EU legislation, including Roam Like at Home from 15 June 2017.
The European Commission is currently collaborating with National Regulatory Authorities to provide detailed guidance on how Roam Like at Home can be introduced at retail level and is also working closely with consumer organisations across the EU (BEUC).
The Irish Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, is the competent statutorily independent regulatory authority for Telecoms and as such will be the authority which will regulate the Roam Like At Home regime in Ireland from 15 June 2017. ComReg will have a role in scrutinising all existing and new mobile market offerings to ensure full legal and regulatory compliance.
As ComReg are statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions, I have no authority to intervene in those functions.
281. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the renewable heat incentive scheme will be introduced; the rate to be paid per kilowatt hour; the rate to be paid per size of boiler; if this scheme will be fully operational by mid 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12419/17]
View answerThe introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in White Paper on Energy and Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, 6.5% of heat was derived from renewable sources in Ireland.
The proposed RHI scheme is aimed at supporting larger industrial and commercial installations outside of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources.
Before a final decision is taken on the overall costs and technologies to be supported including the rates to be paid per kilowatt hour relative to boiler size, an analysis is underway of all submissions received to the final public consultation on the RHI which closed on 3 March. Ultimately, the rate the RHI tariff is set at will be a factor of the renewable heat technology in question, the size of the boiler or unit and the sustainability and air qualify criteria that form part of the new scheme.
Before a new RHI scheme is introduced, the scheme will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. It is expected that the RHI scheme will be introduced before the end of the year.
282. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a broadband telecommunications universal service obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12420/17]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan, aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every household, school and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and for those areas that will not be covered by commercial operators the State has committed to intervene and subsidise a network build, so that nobody is left behind.
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. 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 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.
There is no universal service obligation (USO) for high speed broadband provision or mobile voice services in Ireland. The current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications relates solely to voice telephony and Functional Internet Access (28.8 kilobits per second) and is provided for under the current EU regulatory framework governing telecoms. In September 2016, the European Commission published an ambitious proposal for the regulation of the European telecoms sector, which aims to incentivise and encourage increased investment in high speed broadband networks. Negotiations on the review of the EU regulatory framework give Ireland an opportunity to seek inclusion of a USO in respect of high speed broadband connectivity.
In that regard, I have raised the issue of a USO for high speed broadband at EU level. I am seeking inclusion of a specific provision in the new framework that would allow Member States to apply a USO for high speed broadband, where such networks are available.
My Department is also in discussion with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) as to whether a USO may be a viable instrument in instances where a high speed network is available, but individual premises cannot access such services at an affordable price.
283. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a universal service obligation for mobile phone service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12421/17]
View answerThe current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications allows for the application of a Universal Service Obligation (USO) in respect of fixed voice services. This framework has, in my view served consumers well over several decades and ensured that householders can get an affordable fixed voice service, regardless of where they are located.
There are no provisions in European or national regulation for a USO in relation to mobile voice services. Mobile operators are however rolling out 3G and 4G networks across Ireland following ComReg’s 2012 Multiband Spectrum auction, with at least one operator now having over 90% population coverage of 4G services. The rate of demand for data services has, however, 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.
284. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to regulate for insurance for hobby drone users; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the two insurance companies here underwritten by UK companies that offer insurance cover for drones will not cover drones used by amateurs and hobbyists; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there have been a number of accidents and damage to property caused by drones operated by amateurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/17]
View answerThe issues raised are primarily operational matters for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). I have referred the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
I have been informed by the Minister for Finance that his attention has not been previously drawn to the refusal by two insurance companies, who are underwritten by UK companies, to provide insurance cover for hobby drone users.
The Minister for Finance is responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. However, it is important to note that the neither the Minister for Finance nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products. Consequently, the Minister for Finance is not in a position to direct insurance companies to provide cover to particular categories of individuals such as hobby drone users.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
