Written Answers Nos. 180-198
180. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to appoint agricultural officers to monitor carcass trim classification and weights at meat plants on a daily basis in view of the commitment made regarding same. [40109/17]
View answerThere have been approximately 500 control visits conducted in Department approved beef processing plants to date this year and almost 40,000 carcasses checked for conformation, fat and carcass presentation during these visits by officers of my Department’s Beef Carcase Classification Section. My Department is continuously monitoring the resource that is required for the control of the carcase classification system in the plants to ensure a robust inspection process is maintained at all times and is considering how to enhance the system at present.
181. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with his ministerial colleagues at EU level on the New Zealand lamb quota with the EU in the context of Brexit; if the tariff rate quote will be amended in view of the fact that the UK takes up a large share of this EU wide rate; and his plans to ensure that sheep farmers will not be disadvantaged. [40110/17]
View answerAs part of my preparations for the Brexit negotiations I have embarked on an extensive round of bilateral engagements with many of my EU counterparts. The purpose of these meetings is to apprise them of Ireland’s concerns about the impacts of Brexit, build alliances and assess the degree to which they would support our efforts to have the agri-food and fisheries impacts specifically and adequately taken account of in the negotiations.
In addition to meeting the Agriculture Ministers of Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Estonia, Poland, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Malta and Spain, I have also had detailed discussions with Commissioner Hogan, Michel Barnier and the UK Secretaries of State for Agriculture.
In relation to the splitting of WTO tariff rate quotas between the EU and UK, this is matter that is the subject of ongoing technical discussions between the Commission and UK in parallel to the withdrawal negotiations, and Member States are being kept abreast of developments. The intention is to agree an appropriate and fair methodology for the splitting of such quotas, which would then form the basis of a joint approach to the WTO on the matter.
182. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the use of the EU CAP crisis reserve will result in a reduction of the funding of the basic payment. [40111/17]
View answerThe financial discipline mechanism which is implemented by the Member States involves a monetary deduction from some direct payments thereby creating a financial Crisis Reserve for the European Union. This reserve is intended to provide additional support for the agricultural sector in the case of major crises affecting agricultural production or distribution. In the event that the Crisis Reserve is not activated in the financial year, or it is not fully utilised, the balance not used is refunded to farmers in the subsequent financial year.
For example, following notification from the Commission, in June this year some €13.6, million which had been deducted from the 2015 BPS payment under the financial discipline mechanism, was reimbursed to eligible 2016 applicants.
183. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which his Department plans to invest in the post office network to secure local access to services in both urban and rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39926/17]
View answer184. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will liaise with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to prevent the promotion of commercial banks by his Department to the detriment of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39927/17]
View answer185. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to authorise the implementation of the government services identified in a report (details supplied) through the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39928/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together.
As 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 for the Governance of State bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters, are matters for the board and management of An Post. As Minister, I do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters.
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. However, the environment in which the post office operates is changing and the network needs to change to thrive particularly with the move to digital transactions. This involves harnessing existing strengths such as its trusted brand and the relationship of postmasters with individual communities to build the network of the future. The post office plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike and this is at the forefront of An Post’s mandate. The mechanisms for disbursing payments from the Department of Employment and Social Protection are a matter for that organisation. The Government is fully committed to a sustainable post office network which it sees as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. I understand that the report of the network renewal implementation group, which was undertaken by Mr. Bobby Kerr on behalf of An Post, is under consideration by An Post.
The 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 nearing completion. All opportunities are being assessed by An Post in the context of the current strategic review. Naturally, the outcome of the review will impact on the extent to which the recommendations contained in the report of the network renewal implementation group can be implemented.
Until such time as the review is finalised and assessed it will not be possible to comment further. Government will be briefed once a definitive strategy has been agreed.
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the roll-out of fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39934/17]
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.
While the town of Kenmare and much of the surrounding area falls within a BLUE area and will be provided by commercial operators, the two businesses detailed by the Deputy are within the AMBER area and will be covered by the State intervention. With regard to the nearby eir roll-out, details of the premises included in that roll-out are a matter for the operator.
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 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 roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
187. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the design of a REFIT scheme for the solar energy sector; if he has given consideration to such a scheme; if he has met with those who wish to benefit from such a scheme; if so, the persons or groups he has met with; and the date he has met these groups during his tenure as Minister. [39957/17]
View answerThe 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 exported to the national 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 in comparison to other renewable electricity technologies.
My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive 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 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.
Since coming into office I have twice met with representatives of the Solar Industry and details are set out in the following table:
|
Date |
Meeting |
|
21st September 2016 |
Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) |
|
21st February 2017 |
Michael Quirke (ISEA), Minister of State Stanton |
During this period, officials from my office have met with commercial Solar companies and representatives of the Solar Industry on 7 separate occasions and the details are set out in the following table:
|
Date |
Meeting |
|
16th May 2016 |
Solar Energy |
|
14th July 2016 |
Elgin Energy |
|
10th October 2016 |
Future Analytics |
|
11th October 2016 |
Lightsource Renewable Energy |
|
19th October 2016 |
Elgin Energy |
|
21st March 2017 |
Amarenco |
|
3rd April 2017 |
ISEA |
188. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding fibre broadband in an area (details supplied) in which a company has a unit installed in the area to facilitate the provision of broadband for 12 months; the reason the service remains unconnected; when the service will be connected; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are losing out on employment opportunities in rural areas based on the provision of having a fixed line internet connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39970/17]
View answerIn 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 map shows that the village of Castlebaldwin, County Sligo falls entirely within a BLUE area and will be provided by commercial operators. According to openeir network website www.openeir.ie/Our_Network/ the fibre build to the Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo has commenced and completion work is in progress.
189. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil an bhfuil iarratas déanta ag TG4 ar mhéadú ar an maoiniú a fhaigheann siad ón roinn don bhliain 2018; má tá, cad é an méid airgid atá iarrtha agus cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar an iarratas; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [40006/17]
View answerTá iarrtha ag TG4 a deontas i gcabhair do 2018 a mhéadú. Tá an t-iarratas fós á mheas mar chuid de phróiseas níos leithne a bhaineann le meastacháin bhuiséid na Roinne agus an Rialtais agus déanfear cinneadh ar aon dul leis an bpróiseas seo. Agus an próiseas seo ar siúl, bheadh sé neamhfhóirsteanach tuilleadh a rá ar an ábhar
190. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil cén sciar den cheadúnas teilifíse a thugtar do RTÉ, do TG4 agus don Chiste Craolacháin faoi seach; cén bunús ar a ndéantar an t-airgead sin a roinnt; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [40007/17]
View answerDáiltear an táille cheadúnais, de réir Alt 123 den Acht Craolacháin 2009, ar RTÉ agus ar TG4 chun cur i bhfeidhm a gcuspóirí seirbhíse poiblí, atá leagtha amach in Acht 2009 freisin, a éascú. Íocann An Post ioncaim na gceadúnas teilifíse a bhailítear ó dhíolacháin leis an Roinn agus íocann an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí €53 milliún gach bliain i leith ceadúnais shaor in aisce teilifíse a eisítear. Ó na fáltais chomhlána seo, baineann an Roinn coimisiún, atá iníoctha leis An Post dá ról gníomhaireachta, as agus faigheann TG4 €4.245 milliún de faoi láthair.Ina theannta sin, téann 7% den ioncam go dtí an Ciste Craolacháin, atá á oibriú ag Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann. Cuireann na scéimeanna a bunaíodh faoin gCiste seo maoiniú ar fáil chun tacú le cláir ardchaighdeáin ar chultúr, ar oidhreacht agus ar eispéireas na hÉireann, le cláir chun litearthacht daoine fásta a fheabhsú, agus le cartlannú ábhair ó chláir. Is féidir le léiritheoirí agus le craoltóirí neamhspleácha cur isteach ar ioncam ón gciste seo do thionscadail ar leith a bhaineann leis an tseirbhís phoiblí.
Íoctar an t-airgead atá fágtha le RTÉ.
191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40013/17]
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 (BLUE), or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services (LIGHT BLUE),
- 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 eircode referred to by the Deputy is that the premises falls within an area being covered by the State Intervention. The other specific premises referenced by the constituent falls within an area being covered by eir's planned rural deployment of 300,000 premises.
Those premises within the State Intervention area form part of my Department's on-going procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network. 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 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 roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a sports capital grant application by a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39967/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February and I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to.
By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The total amount currently available to allocate under this round is €30 million. Accordingly, the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
193. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will award sports capital funding to a group (details supplied). [40043/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February and I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation in question. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The total amount currently available to allocate under this round is €30 million. Accordingly, the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
194. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1639 of 11 September 2017, if Tusla will attend the Workplace Relations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40001/17]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to support the work of a large number of Family Resource Centres throughout the country. This funding is provided under an annual Service Level Agreement, and is by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres.
As previously highlighted to the Deputy, Family Resource Centres are independent organisations and are managed by a Voluntary Board of Management which is representative of the local community. They operate independently of Tusla. Each individual Family Resource Centre is responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed.
Tusla very much values the work of Family Resource Centres and recognises the positive impact of their work in supporting families and local communities around the country. Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to children and families in their communities.
195. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of extending the ABC programme until August and December 2018 respectively. [40003/17]
View answerThe Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department. The Programme commenced in 2013 and was designed as a time-bound co-funding arrangement for the period 2013 to 2016 in conjunction with The Atlantic Philanthropies.
A key purpose of the ABC Programme is to identify the learning across the programme and transfer this learning into existing and established services. In budget 2016, my Department secured additional funding to extend all of the existing ABC Programme to the end of December 2017.
Based on past costs and projections submitted by areas to the Programme managers for 2018, the total estimated cost of extending the entire ABC Programme from January 1st to August 31st 2018, is approximately €6.5 million. Based on the extension requirements for 2017 and on costs for previous years in the existing programme, an indicative amount for extension of the ABC Programme for the entire calendar year 2018 would be in the region of €10 million.
My Department is working to ensure that we take full account of the learning from all the interventions across the 13 ABC sites, and the national evaluation, in order to inform the delivery of prevention and early intervention initiatives and to achieve our shared goal of improving the lives of children and families throughout Ireland.
196. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of restoring family resource centre funding to pre 2011 levels. [40004/17]
View answerI am very conscious of the role that Family Resource Centres play in offering early intervention and support to families in difficulty. The centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification of need, provision of appropriate interventions, and timely referrals to appropriate services for more intensive and targeted work as required.
In 2017, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is allocating €13.512m to Family Resource Centres. Funding of €15.37m was allocated to Family Resource Centres by the former Family Support Agency in 2010.
While it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time on any future decisions that may be taken by Government in the context of Budget 2018, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to support the work of the Family Support Centres and to the targeting of available resources at those services which make the greatest impact on vulnerable children and families.
197. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent by Tusla on legal costs of cases taken to challenge care orders. [40008/17]
View answerThe information requested is an operational matter for Tusla and is not readily available or collated in my Department. I have requested Tusla provide the relevant information directly to the Deputy.
198. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will investigate with Tusla the steps that were taken on a report in 2016 of mental, physical and sexual abuse by a person (details supplied) and other service users and staff in each of the years 2010 to 2012 at a charity; and if she will further investigate the claim that the further complaints of the person that complaints were not taken seriously or investigated adequately by the charity or Tusla. [40066/17]
View answerIn order to facilitate enquiries into the matters raised in the question, I request that the Deputy would provide more information to my Department.
