Written Answers Nos. 309-316
309. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date for the roll-out of high speed broadband for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29480/18]
View answerThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to 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. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
The premises referred to by the Deputy falls within a BLUE area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map available at www.broadband.gov.ie and is within the area targeted for delivery of high speed broadband by commercial operators. While telecommunications companies operate in a liberalised market and I have no statutory authority to intervene in their day to day operations, my Department is collating information in relation to cases/areas where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises have not materialised. In this regard, where a premises situated in a BLUE area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service I encourage customers to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with details - quoting their address, eircode and fixed line telephone number (if available) and details of operators they have contacted with a view to obtaining a broadband service. This information assists my Department in identifying areas for further focus and facilitates engagement with telecommunication operators on this issue. My Department is aware that there are premises in the townland of Ringmeen that do not appear to have access to a high speed broadband service from a commercial provider, including the premises referenced by the Deputy, even though they are in a Blue area on the High Speed Broadband Map, and my Department is investigating this matter.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services. My officials have carried out a desk top survey of the premises in Ringmeen and have determined that there are 4G options (eir mobile and 3 Ireland) by means of the 4G antennas in the Ferryport at Ringaskiddy some 1500 metres away. This is an alternative option while commercial plans materialise
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/latest-news/Pages/Broadband-Officers-Workshop.aspx.
310. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delay in a company (details supplied) receiving approval from SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29492/18]
View answerThe Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme is a tax incentive to encourage companies to invest in energy efficient equipment. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the 'Triple E' Register that defines the technical criteria for products that are then eligible for the ACA scheme. SEAI is responsible for setting the eligibility criteria for the Register and maintaining and reviewing the list of eligible products.
The Register contains energy efficient equipment listed under ten broad categories and 52 associated classes of technology. The Register sets minimum criteria that products are required to meet to be listed, backed up by internationally accepted test standards. The categories are set down, and revised, in the supporting Statutory Instruments for the ACA, which also gives legal effect to new categories and eligibility criteria when necessary.
I have enquired with SEAI and I understand that the Deputy is referring to a request for approval to have a product included on the "Triple E" Register. I understand that the product in question does not fit within any of the existing categories or technology groups. Therefore, it is not yet possible for it to be assessed against the published technical criteria and considered for inclusion on the Register.
SEAI has a robust assessment process in place for adding new technologies and criteria to the Register, which would then need to be updated through Statutory Instrument. SEAI is currently reviewing the proposal made by the company in question to ascertain that there is a sufficient evidence base to confirm this technology's energy saving potential.
It is my understanding that SEAI will revert to the company shortly with a series of queries to be addressed. Whether, and over what timescale, it might be possible to make provision for inclusion of the product on the Register will be dependant on the company being able to satisfactorily address the relevant issues and demonstrate the requisite standards.
311. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of times his Department has engaged polling companies and-or Irish market researchers to conduct research on its behalf in each of the past two years; the names of such companies; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29569/18]
View answerMy Department has engaged the services of an Irish market research company to conduct research on two occasions during the period in question, the details of which are set out in the following table.
|
- |
Year |
€ |
- |
|
iReach Insights |
2017 |
€6,027 |
Survey of consumer attitudes to waste |
|
iReach Insights |
2018 |
€7,318 |
Follow up survey of consumer attitudes to waste |
312. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure there is no shortage of taxis in view of the significant reduction in the number of taxi drivers in the past five years; the steps he is taking to address the high costs of insurance faced by new taxi drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29542/18]
View answerIn relation to insurance, I am aware that the increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years has been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, I am happy to note that recent CSO figures show overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the previous two years.
As you may know, the pricing of insurance products is a commercial issue for insurance companies, based on an assessment of the risks that 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. Following the publication of the Department of Finance Working Group's Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance last year, the Advisory Committee on SPSVs met with Insurance Ireland and both parties have agreed that there should be ongoing engagement between them. I believe that this will be an important channel to ensure that the concerns of taxi drivers can be articulated and addressed.
As the Deputy will be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I understand that the NTA has been taking some actions, including changes in their approach to Driver Entry Test to encourage growth in the number of drivers entering the SPSV industry. I will refer the Deputy's Question in relation to these matters to the NTA for direct reply by them. Please inform my office, should an answer not be received within 10 days.
313. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times his Department has engaged polling companies and-or Irish market researchers to conduct research on its behalf in each of the past two years; the names of such companies; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29582/18]
View answerInformation relating to all expenditure by my Department on external services is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services
The information is updated twice yearly. The first six months of 2018 will be published later in the year.
314. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the speed limits for electric bicycles will be increased from 25 to 30 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29591/18]
View answerI have no proposals at this time for amending legislation in relation to electric bicycles.
315. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the new intersection under construction on the M7 between junctions 9 and 10 outside Naas; if part of the cost is being met by developer contributions; and his views on whether the provision of this infrastructure will contribute to meeting the aims of the national planning framework. [29595/18]
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 operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
316. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will agree to a request made in a letter sent by a group (details supplied) in County Donegal to meet with him, the relevant Ministers and local Houses of the Oireachtas Members to discuss a section of the proposed Ten-T priority route project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29631/18]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that any such meeting request received will be considered in line with normal procedure.
