Written Answers Nos. 1448-1467
1449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national climate change dialogue will commence; his plans to start the dialogue after the Citizens' Assembly has concluded its deliberations on the topic of how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37893/17]
View answerI was pleased to announce earlier this year that the Government was establishing a National Dialogue on Climate Action. This is in line with the commitment set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government. I subsequently announced, alongside my publication of the National Mitigation Plan on 19 July last, the establishment of an Advisory Group to provide me with advice in relation to the overall strategy, structure and operation of the National Dialogue. The Advisory Group held its first meeting in July.
The primary objective of the National Dialogue will be to ensure an inclusive process of engagement and consensus building across society towards enabling the transformation to a low carbon and climate-resilient future. To do this, the Dialogue will seek to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change and to establish, on a long-term basis, appropriate networks for people to meet periodically to consider evidence-based inputs on the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.
National Dialogue initiatives already announced for 2017 include the Green Schools National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme, incorporating Climate Action Week between 16 and 20 October and the Green Schools Climate Expo on 22 February 2018, and the Climate Ambassador Programme which is scheduled to be formally launched later this month.
I understand that the Citizens' Assembly will meet at the end of this month and again in November to consider the topic of how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change and that these sessions will be informed by a public consultation which took place in August. As part of its work, the Assembly will be also asked to consider how the National Dialogue on Climate Action should engage with the wider public to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act in relation to the challenges of climate change. I expect that this will provide a valuable base of evidence and ideas from which to draw on in the preparation of further activities under the National Dialogue in the coming months, including proposals for regional gatherings and local community conversations incorporating innovative consultation mechanisms.
1450. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will roll out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37949/17]
View answer1459. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if fibre broadband can be extended an extra 100 m to service a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38159/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1450 and 1459 together.
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5 m or 65% of the 2.3 m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second and this footprint is expanding.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area. The Map is searchable by eircode.
- The BLUE areas on the Map represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering, or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The AMBER areas on the Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of a procurement process.
The position in relation to the areas referred to in the Question is as follows:
- the domestic premises falls within a LIGHT BLUE area on the Map and is covered by eir’s planned rural fibre high speed broadband deployment. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available from eir at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/.
- the National School within the AMBER area will be covered by the State intervention. With regard to the nearby eir rollout, details of the premises included in that rollout are a matter for the operator and my Department has no input in the process.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage, with “Detailed Solutions” to be submitted by bidders later this month. The next stage of the procurement process is Final Tenders.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the rollout of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area, I established a Taskforce to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
1451. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37987/17]
View answer1452. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff deployed full-time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1451 and 1452 together.
The Government’s Brexit Contingency Framework set 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 the Assistant Secretary for Energy to take lead responsibility for Brexit matters. Under the chairmanship of this Assistant Secretary a sub-committee, consisting of Principal Officers representing policy areas with potential Brexit implications in my Department, was established.
This sub-committee has representatives from across the divisions of my Department, reflecting its broad remit. The sub-committee meets regularly to ensure that my Department is prepared for the possible implications of Brexit. I would also add that I as Minster participate in the Cabinet Committee structures dealing with Brexit issues 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.
Energy has been identified as a key priority for my Department and Government in the Brexit negotiations. As a result, the Strategic Energy Policy Division - consisting of four staff - has taken a leading role in co-ordinating all Brexit work across my Department.
The work on Brexit to date has been funded from existing budgets including the All Island Brexit Civic Dialogue on Energy on 6 February in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, which had a total cost of €3,590.70. Planning is underway for a further Brexit Civic Dialogue later this year specifically for industry stakeholders. The costs will be met out of current budgets. Given the uncertainty in relation to Brexit, it is not practicable to provide an estimate of further future costs at this time.
1453. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38019/17]
View answerMy Department does not currently engage directly in any construction projects and accordingly does not directly monitor construction inflation. In relation to other types of capital expenditure, all projects operate within agreed budgets and must adhere to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code. All procurements for capital projects in my Department must comply with National and EU procurement rules.
1454. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department has carried out in conjunction with An Post regarding the ongoing public banking investigation by the Department of Community and Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38102/17]
View answerAs Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, to ensure that the company is fully compliant with the code of practice and governance of State bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are matters for the board and management of An Post. As Minister, I do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters. Consequently, measures to maintain, enhance and diversify the post office network are matters for An Post.
It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong, viable company in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and that it maintains a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. A fundamental review of An Post, including the post office network, which will identify the strategic changes and restructuring necessary to maintain the company on a sound financial footing is ongoing. All opportunities are being assessed by An Post in the context of the current strategic review.
The recommendations of the post office hub working group, which includes the community banking proposal, will continue to be finalised between both my Department and the Department of Community and Rural Development.
1455. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the additional resources that can be put in place to support Inland Fisheries Ireland in tackling river pollution events that kill fish similar to the incident that occurred in the River Tolka at Mulhuddart in July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/17]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has statutory responsibility for the conservation, protection, development and promotion of Ireland’s inland fisheries resource, including sea angling.
An element of IFI’s protection and conservation role includes response to pollution incidents and fish kill events. IFI receives Exchequer allocations each year to support its wide range of functions. These allocations are not disaggregated between operational functions. The support of all functions is a day to day operational matter for the Board of IFI.
Pollution and fish kill events and their impacts vary greatly and issues such as the magnitude of the event and the relative health of fish stocks in the particular water body are key considerations in relation to potential interventions. In addition, IFI concentrates on prevention via information dissemination and education and as a matter of policy seeks to prosecute polluters.
Where it is notified of such events, IFI would immediately deploy resources to contain and assess the situation. Subsequent to immediate response, IFI assesses each individual incident to consider what if any remedial interventions may be required and whether natural rehabilitation is the best solution to ensure genetic integrity of the stocks.
IFI considers that the Tolka and its fish stocks are particularly vulnerable to the impact of pollution and ensures a rapid response when incidents are reported in order to mitigate impacts.
I am happy to advise the Deputy that, in relation to the fish kill incident on the River Tolka, IFI met with representatives from the local angling clubs last month to discuss matters following the incident and to identify any way IFI can help to remediate the impacts. It was agreed at the meeting that:
1. IFI will stock fish to the Tolka – this will likely happen in March 2018 ahead of the fishing season
2. IFI will support clubs for competitions and other community initiatives
3. IFI will support the call for mapping of pipes in the vicinity of the River.
IFI is also investigating the possibility of working with the clubs involved, the Local Authority and other relevant agencies on the potential to develop a youth angling venue on the Tolka - similar to the Darndale Lake/Corkagh Park development.
1456. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to allow excess solar energy generated through solar PV panels to be sold back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38108/17]
View answer1460. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions and supports he plans to take to support the development of residential solar power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38201/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1456 and 1460 together.
The 2016 Programme for Government and 2015 Energy White Paper recognise that Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future and Solar PV has the potential to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and climate change objectives.
However, at present, Solar PV, for electricity generated and export to grid, is not supported under any of the existing renewable electricity support schemes operating in Ireland. This is largely down to the historic higher costs associated with Solar PV technologies in comparison to other renewable electricity generators.
My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting Solar PV (both rooftop and ground mounted) and a range of other commercial renewable technologies, at various scales, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The assessment also included analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.
A public consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS was launched on 4 September and submissions are invited from the public. All submissions will be considered and following on from this final public consultation, a design proposal will be brought to Government for approval. Full details of the consultation are available on my Department’s website at: www.dccae.gov.ie.
Micro generation of renewable electricity was appraised as part of the RESS economic assessment, including the use of solar PV panels on domestic rooftops. The analysis identified a number of challenges that may need to be addressed before the introduction of a tariff for exported electricity from solar PV rooftop installations. These include among others, a reform of network charges, an assessment of the distributional impact of such a policy decision on the PSO (cost burden sharing), and development of a fair tariff for exported electricity taking the benefits of self-consumption into account. This approach is in line with experience from other EU member states who have attempted to introduce supports for micro generation.
I am committed to finding an appropriate mechanism for supporting micro generation, as I believe that micro-generation will have an important role in Ireland’s transition to a carbon free economy, in assisting Ireland meet its renewable electricity targets, and increasing social acceptance of and promoting renewable energy projects.
I have asked the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to facilitate a workshop on micro generation, and this will take place in October. All relevant stakeholders will be invited to participate with the end goal being the development of a policy position on how best to support micro generation in Ireland.
1457. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he or bodies and agencies under the remit of his Department plan to make services or payments dependent on the mandatory use and production of the public services card; if so, the services and payments which will now be dependent on the mandatory use of the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38143/17]
View answerThere are no services operated by the Department that require a Public Services Card (PSC).
The information requested regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
1458. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide information on the roll-out of fibre broadband, with reference to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38157/17]
View answerThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second and this footprint is expanding.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area. The Map is searchable by eircode.
- The BLUE areas on the Map represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering, or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The AMBER areas on the Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of a procurement process.
The premises referred to in the Question falls within the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map and will be covered by the State intervention. With regard to the eir fibre rollout, details of the premises included in that rollout are a matter for the operator and my Department has no input in the process.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage, with “Detailed Solutions” to be submitted by bidders later this month. The next stage of the procurement process is Final Tenders.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the rollout of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area, I established a Taskforce to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
Question No. 1460 answered with Question No. 1456.
1461. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual percentage of staff of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies under the remit of his Department who were women in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38358/17]
View answerThe information requested regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
1462. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises and households in County Louth that have access to broadband. [38373/17]
View answer1463. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises and households in County Louth that will be covered by an agreement with a company (details supplied); and the timeframe for this process to be concluded. [38374/17]
View answer1464. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises and households in County Louth that will remain without broadband by the end of a contract with a company (details supplied); and the timeframe for these premises and households to receive broadband. [38375/17]
View answer1465. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects the completion of the formal procurement process to select a company to roll out the broadband network within the State intervention area. [38376/17]
View answer1466. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects the roll-out of the broadband network in the State intervention area to be completed. [38377/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1462 to 1466, inclusive, together.
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second and this footprint is expanding.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area. The Map is searchable by eircode.
- The BLUE areas on the Map represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering, or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The AMBER areas on the Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of a procurement process.
Also in April, eir signed a agreement with me committing them to follow through on their commercial plans to provide new high speed broadband infrastructure to 300,000 premises in rural areas. eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period with an average of 500 premises passed per day.
Quarterly updates on progress of the eir 300k rollout are published on my Department’s website. The Quarter 2 2017 figures have been verified by my Department and the eir rollout is in line with the Commitment Agreement.
The Quarter 2 2017 position in relation to the County Louth is set out in the table:
|
County |
Number of premises |
AMBER premises State led Intervention area |
BLUE premises commercial operators |
Light BLUE planned rural deployment by eir |
|
Louth |
60,055 |
8,526 |
47,374 |
4,155 |
A full set of county statistics are available at www.broadband.gov.ie.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage, with “Detailed Solutions” to be submitted by bidders later this month.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the roll-out of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area, I established a task force to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
1467. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual percentage of public service staff who were women under the remit of his Department in each of the years from 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38381/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Percentage of Female Staff |
|
2010 |
51% |
|
2011 |
52% |
|
2012 |
52% |
|
2013 |
53% |
|
2014 |
54% |
|
2015 |
51% |
|
2016 |
49% |
|
2017 to date |
48% |
