Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
511. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on each recommendation (details supplied) as contained in the latest National Competitiveness Council report, Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2017; his plans to implement the policy recommendations which he has statutory remit for; and the timeframe for implementation. [4053/18]
View answerThe National Competitiveness Council annually publishes its recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland's competitiveness position. My Department contributed to the report for 2017, which contained a number of recommendations. Implementation of these recommendations is underway and is described below:
Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce the December 2016 report available on my Department’s website, which contains 40 actions to alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland. I have published three Quarterly Progress Reports so far which demonstrate that good progress has been made in delivering the actions, and I plan to publish an Annual Report shortly. This Report will give an update on progress made on each of the 40 actions and will also contain a work programme for 2018.
Some examples of the Taskforce’s achievements to date include funding of all local authorities to assign a Broadband Officer; most local authorities applying waivers in respect of development contributions for telecoms development and; facilitation of telecommunications ducting on Ireland's roads and motorways such as the M7/M8 with more expected in the coming months.
National Broadband Plan
Ireland's National Broadband Plan has acted as a catalyst to the telecoms sector so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland now have access to high speed broadband. This is expected to rise to 77% by the end of this year and 90% by 2020. My Department remains committed to delivering high speed broadband to all premises in the country. The procurement process to select a bidder(s) who will roll out the NBP state intervention network is now at an advanced stage. “Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders on 26th September 2017 are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature. Network build will commence once a contract(s) are in place. Notification of the rollout programme will also be announced at that time. Ensuring that the Intervention delivers communications infrastructure that is future-proofed and can take into account the expected emergence of new services and applications is a crucial aspect of the procurement.
Moneypoint
Moneypoint continues to contribute to Ireland’s security of supply by diversifying the fuel mix, provide generation storage capacity on site and provides competitively priced electricity. While Moneypoint is an important element of Ireland’s power generation mix, before it comes to the end of its operating life in its current configuration in 2025 the most suitable low carbon generation technology will be identified, as committed to in the Programme for Government. Key decisions on the future of Moneypoint will be taken before 2020.
Provision of assistance to Brexit-exposed enterprise sectors reliant on diesel vehicles
There are a number of supports currently in place to support the increased deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). Some examples, in the case of enterprises, include an EV Purchase Grant which provides grant aid of up to €3,800 towards the purchase of a new Battery EV (BEV) or new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV); VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 for BEVs and PHEVs; and 0% Benefit in Kind without mileage conditions for Battery Electric Vehicles.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is currently developing an Electric Vehicle Public Engagement Programme which will include commercial fleet trials as well as an awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of electric vehicles and the supports that are available.
In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport are co-chairing a Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) Task Force to consider further measures and options available to accelerate the deployment of low emission vehicles. The work of this Task Force has been divided into two phases with the first phase focusing solely on electric vehicles. The second phase will examine other low emission technologies.
Energy Infrastructure in the context of climate and renewable energy targets
Over the last decade EirGrid has placed a key emphasis in ensuring that the national electricity transmission grid is adaptable and flexible and also contributes to helping Ireland achieve our 2020 and 2030 targets. As a country, we are now able to integrate over 60% of our renewable electricity onto the grid, meaning that Ireland has become a world leader in the integration of renewables onto the electricity grid. This has been recently recognised by the European Commission who have awarded an EirGrid-led consortium €20m in Horizon 2020 funding for the “Sysflex” project, that seeks to explore how the successful integration of renewables in Ireland might be transferred to the wider European electricity grid. EirGrid’s stated aim is to increase renewables penetration to at least 75% by end of 2020. In addition, proposals for enhanced electricity interconnection to the UK and France are actively being pursued by project promoters.
