Written Answers Nos. 1025-1044
1025. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to amend the renewable electricity support scheme and enact a measure to encourage the use of renewable energy on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35758/18]
View answerThe high level design of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was approved by Government on 24 July 2018 and the scheme will now go forward for EU State Aid approval. The RESS has been designed to deliver Ireland’s contribution towards an EU-wide renewable energy target of 32% out to 2030, within a competitive auction based, cost effective framework. The RESS will deliver a broader range of policy objectives including: the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects; broadening the renewable electricity technology mix and increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy.
Key to the success of RESS will be the development of an enabling framework for community participation and this will be crucial to drive broader participation in Ireland’s transition to a more decentralised and decarbonised electricity system.
Within this framework, there will be opportunities for farming communities to participate in the community-led category of RESS. Furthermore there will be obligations on developer-led projects to offer mandatory investment opportunities to those living in proximity to these project looking for support under the RESS. My Department will engage further with all relevant stakeholders over the coming months on the detailed design of these community measures.
Furthermore, in July I launched a pilot support scheme for micro generation, targeting domestic customers and solar PV, with an emphasis on self-consumption and battery storage. Farm homes will be able to avail of this grant support to install solar PV panels on their roofs, thereby reducing their energy costs. The scheme will be subject to a six month review which will explore opportunities for broadening the scheme to include other technologies and to support other groups of users.
In addition to these opportunities, there are a number of other supports available to farmers under various schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including supports for solar PV for electricity production under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes and supports for renewable heat technologies in the form of biomass boilers under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS). In addition, air-source heat pumps are currently supported under the PPIS and YFCIS schemes and they may be used as part of a water heater under the Dairy Equipment Scheme.
Complimentary programmes like these delivered across a number of Government Departments are crucial in delivering our climate and energy ambitions as laid out in the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. The Deputy will also appreciate that in developing and expanding renewable energy support schemes that a careful balance must be struck between the subsidy to renewable generators, whether they be large or small, and the additional costs to pay for these schemes that are transferred to electricity bill payers. Proposals for all such schemes are and must be subject to careful economic appraisal.
1026. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Inland Fisheries Ireland has plans to purchase a fishery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36174/18]
View answerI have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland that it has no plans to purchase the fishery referred to by the Deputy.
I understand that the fishery is in private ownership and that there is no indication of any intention on the part of the owner to offer it for sale.
1027. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made to introduce a payment to assist persons who have lifelong or long-term medical incontinence with the cost of disposing of incontinence products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36755/18]
View answer1032. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when an annual support of €75 for persons with lifelong, long-term medical incontinence under the waste management subvention scheme will be introduced. [35582/18]
View answer1050. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the annual support of €75 for medical incontinence wear promised in summer 2017 will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36529/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1027, 1032 and 1050 together.
My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a €75 support for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of medical incontinence products. This process has unfortunately taken longer than envisaged, due to data protection issues that have arisen since the introduction of GDPR. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to introducing the annual support as soon as practically possible in conjunction with relevant agencies and stakeholders.
In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this measure.
It is worth noting that this measure is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or a weight related fee.
As announced in mid-2017, mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging is not being introduced. Allowing for a range of charging options, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste, provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances.
The Price Monitoring Group has considered eleven months of data to date. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend is relative price stability.
1028. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if creating the office of the digital safety commissioner as recommended by the Law Reform Commission has been costed. [35439/18]
View answerThe Law Reform Commission Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, published in 2016 recommended, inter alia, the establishment of an Office of the Digital Safety Commissioner of Ireland.
As the Deputy is aware, in February the Government did not oppose the passage at second stage of a Private Members Bill by Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire which seeks to establish an Office of the Digital Safety Commissioner. This Bill, the Digital Safety Commissioner Bill 2017, has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment by the Oireachtas.
The Action Plan for Online Safety was launched by the Taoiseach on 11 July and contains 25 actions to be implemented by the six sponsor Departments over the next 12-18 months. These actions cover a range of activities relevant to the proposed Office of the Digital Safety Commissioner, including education and awareness raising, communicating with the public, and oversight and consultative structures. Action 18 of the plan commits the Government to working with the Joint Oireachtas Committee in relation to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's Bill.
The Bill raises jurisdictional and legal issues which will impact on the mandate, structure and costs of the proposed Office of the Digital Safety Commissioner. In advance of these issues being determined by the Oireachtas, it would not be feasible to set out costings. However, the Government will work with the Committee as it considers these matters in the context of its post Second Stage scrutiny.
1029. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there will be an ongoing subsidy required in terms of the national broadband plan tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35472/18]
View answerThe formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is in its final stages. The Intervention Area is depicted as Amber on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The procurement process will identify the level of subsidy being sought by the bidder to support the roll out, operation and maintenance of the high speed broadband network in the State intervention area.
1030. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of the contracting out of secure printing by his Department in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [35534/18]
View answerThe costs paid for internal printing in my Department during the years 2016, 2017 and to the end June 2018 are set out in the table below:
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
€109,991 |
€120,946 |
€63,949 |
1031. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding broadband access at a location (details supplied) in County Wexford to encourage remote working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35559/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie and is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is in its closing stages.
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.
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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
1033. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the roll-out plan will be modified for a person (details supplied) and that person's neighbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35638/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map`which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. They are therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is in its closing stages.
With regards to the Deputy's query on modification of roll out plans, any current deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in the area of the referred to premises is commercial in nature, and not part of the NBP State led intervention. Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
As the premises referred to by the Deputy are in the State intervention area, therefore they will be included in roll out plans for that infrastructure deployment, the details of which will be available following conclusion of the procurement process.
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.
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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
1034. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for the roll-out of high-speed broadband for a person (details supplied) and that person's neighbours; the reason the estate in question has been singled out as not being commercial in view of the fact that the surrounding estates either have high-speed broadband or are on the proposed roll-out plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35639/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. They are therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is in its closing stages.
With regard to the nature of the properties referred to by the Deputy, please note that the designation of premises as a commercial or non commercial area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map is based on plans provided to my Department by commercial operators. Further to this, any deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in the area referred to by the Deputy is commercial in nature, and therefore not part of the planned State intervention network.
Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
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.
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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
1035. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to a submission by a club (details supplied) in County Kildare regarding the national broadband plan; the status of the plan in the context of another bidder withdrawing from the plan; the full cost to date of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35671/18]
View answerI received a representation from the club referred to by the Deputy and a response to that representation has issued from my office. The club is in an AMBER area of the High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie and will therefore be served under the State led Intervention.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention or AMBER area. That procurement process is in its closing stages.
Expenditure from 2013 to date by my Department with regard to the National Broadband Plan is €21,201,029, inclusive of VAT.
1036. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when improved broadband services will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35688/18]
View answer1044. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a person (details supplied) will be connected to broadband in an area in north County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36112/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1036 and 1044 together.
The eircodes referenced to by the Deputy fall within an AMBER area on my Department's High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. They are therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband PlanBP.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is its closing stages.
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.
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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
1037. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a reply will issue to a query raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding broadband in the person's area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35716/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its closing stages.
Any current deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in the referenced area is commercial in nature, and not related to the NBP State led intervention. Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the rollout and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
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.
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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
1038. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the ESB Westwave project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35813/18]
View answer1039. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding received by the ESB Westwave project to date; the way in which this funding has been used to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35814/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1038 and 1039 together.
The WestWave project is a collaborative ocean energy project led by the ESB with the objective of accelerating the development of the ocean energy sector in Ireland. ESB is working with a number of wave energy project developers to realise this 5MW project.
Since 2003, the project has received exchequer funding of almost €780,000 including funding provided since 2009 from the Prototype Development Fund. This main focus of the Prototype Development Fund is to stimulate the development and deployment of ocean energy devices and systems. This funding has supported the overall objective of the WestWave project to demonstrate that wave energy projects can be designed, consented, developed and operated in Ireland, ultimately producing electricity to the grid. The WestWave project has established a site for a generic pre-commercial wave project off the west coast of Ireland, in Killard, Co. Clare.
Wave and tidal energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally, and while promising experimental devices have been developed, much more research is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability. Consequently it has not yet been possible to confirm a date for a final investment decision or operation. I am advised that the earliest date for operation based on the current view of technology is 2025. ESB is investigating various sources of funding such as those provided by the European Investment Bank.
It is expected that wave energy technologies will play a part in our energy transition from the 2030’s. The WestWave project is a highly innovative project and it is imperative that the technical solution chosen would be appropriate for the energetic wave conditions on the west coast of Ireland. The project represents a necessary step towards the development of, potentially, the world’s first commercial wave energy array.
1040. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the composite national coverage map for the 3G and 4G networks will be published; the action that will be taken to improve the service in blackspot areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35974/18]
View answerI recognise the frustration felt by communities where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Accordingly, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. The Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, which contained 40 actions to alleviate some of the deficits. The Implementation Group I co-chair with Minister Kyne is overseeing implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. This includes ComReg, which attends as both an action owner, and in an observer capacity in its role as the independent Regulator.
Action 31 of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2017, which Minister Kyne and I published on 21 February 2018, commits ComReg to developing and subsequently publishing on its consumer website a composite national coverage map, which will enable consumers across Ireland to make better informed decisions when choosing telecommunications service providers.
The composite national coverage map is due to be published by end Q4 2018.
In addition to the development of the national coverage map, a number of other initiatives are under way, which will address mobile coverage blackspots:
- My Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development have worked to achieve a greater consensus around site selection for telecoms infrastructure and therefore improve mobile phone coverage.
- Both Departments also worked with a pilot group of local authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local blackspots. This pilot exercise has been completed, with all local authorities having been asked to map local blackspots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to provide additional coverage on an economic basis. This exercise is ongoing, and has been included in the 2018 Taskforce Work Programme. It is planned to have dedicated GIS resources in place to support this.
- A focus group was established to provide guidance with respect to categories of location where high quality reliable mobile coverage should be made available as a priority. The report of the focus group was published on my Department’s website on 31 August 2018. It is anticipated that the output of the focus group should influence the actions of the mobile network operators in their work to reduce mobile phone blackspots. It will also inform future policy in my Department with regards to priorities for mobile phone services.
- A working group has been established with the remit of investigating the feasibility of developing standardised policy for accessing and utilising State and publicly-owned assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.
- In addition to its work on handset testing, following a consultation process, ComReg has also developed a licensing scheme which will enable households and businesses to use mobile phone repeaters to boost signals into their premises and bring immediate improvements in mobile coverage.
All of these initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services, particularly in rural areas.
1041. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the price monitoring group on residential household waste; the measures he is taking to ensure that the trend of increasing prices does not continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35987/18]
View answer1042. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe the price monitoring group on residential household waste will continue to operate; the plans in place should the group report a continuing steady increase across prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35988/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1041 and 1042 together.
I established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor pricing developments for household waste collection services during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered eleven months of pricing data trends. The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, charges have remained stable. Detailed data on the price offerings for the months of December to July is available on www.dccae.gov.ie. The PMG was originally due to complete its work in June this year; however, I decided to extend the operation of the PMG to the end of the year to allow it to continue to monitor pricing developments. The operation of the PMG may be extended further if I, in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders, feel there is a need to continue to monitor pricing developments in the waste market.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is also currently conducting a separate study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018. The terms of reference set by the CCPC for the study are:
1. Research on Current Issues in the Waste Sector
2. An Economic Assessment of the Household Waste Collection Market
3. An Overview of Waste Collection in Other Countries
4. Recommendation
The on-going results from the PMG in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions in relation to the household waste market.
1043. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the initiatives under way and planned to promote the use of environmentally friendly fuels such as smokeless coal by households; the measures in place to prevent the use of harmful fuels in fireplaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36050/18]
View answerThe ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels and has had the effect of significantly improving public health. Research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in over 350 fewer annual deaths in Dublin alone.
In light of its significant health benefits, I decided to extend the ban nationwide. This process necessarily involves discussion and consultation with a wide number of stakeholders, including with the European Commission, relevant Government Departments and Agencies and the residential fuel industry. Discussions with stakeholders on issues that may arise in connection with the proposed nationwide ban are underway.
Local Authorities, are primarily responsible for the enforcement of legislation on solid fuel including the ‘smoky coal’ regulations within their functional areas at present.
For householders who rely on solid fuel for heating, there is now a range of innovative low smoke solid fuel products, including low smoke coal products, available on the market. Low smoke solid fuel is cleaner and more energy-efficient. It can deliver improved air quality as well as human health benefits. Consumers should contact their solid fuel provider to clarify which of their products are low smoke and which are not.
In relation to cost, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has published figures comparing the respective costs of domestic fuels. These are available online at https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Domestic-Fuel-Cost-Comparison-October-2017.pdf and show that while low smoke fuels are typically more expensive to buy on a weight-by-weight basis, they have a higher heat output than coal or lignite nuggets.
