Written Answers Nos. 831-854
831. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 544 of 23 October 2018, if additional funding will be provided for the initiative in 2018 in view of its success to date and the need to expand the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45218/18]
View answerAs indicated in the reply given in Question no. 544 of 23 October 2018, €700,000 was made available as a once-off measure to remove old tyres from farms. This funding has been fully expended. A review of this measure will be undertaken before any further decisions are made. However, I will be mindful in my review to ensure that any further collections do not undermine the end of life tyres compliance scheme which has been successfully operating since 1 October 2017.
832. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funds raised through the public service obligation levy on electricity customers for the period October 2017 to September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45290/18]
View answer833. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funds provided for the generation of electricity from peat within the 2017-2018 public service obligation levy for electricity customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45291/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together.
The PSO levy has been in place since 2001, and consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply.
The PSO levy is a charge on all electricity customers without exception. The legal basis for the levy and its method of calculation are set out in regulations made under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (S.I. 217 of 2002), under which Ireland’s independent energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), is assigned responsibility for calculating the PSO levy each year.
The PSO levy calculated by the CRU for 2017-18 was €471.9 million. This included an allocation of €375.7 million for renewables generation and €117.8 million for peat generation. This calculation by the CRU resulted in monthly charges of €7.69 for household customers, €26.55 for small and medium sized businesses, and €3.33/kVA for large energy users in 2017-18.
The PSO levy calculated by the CRU for the period October 2018 to September 2019 is €209.19 million. This amounts to a substantial decrease of €262.71 million (56%) on the 2017-18 levy of €471.9 million, and includes an allocation of €65.52 million for peat generators.
835. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the scheme for former eel fishermen; when a request for applications will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45319/18]
View answerFollowing consultation with the European Commission and advice from the Revenue Commissioners, a Support Fund of €3 million has been established by the Government to address the hardship experienced by commercial eel fishermen and women in the light of the closure of the commercial eel fishery for conservation reasons. The fund is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
The scheme is currently open for applications which must be received by 5.00 pm 30 November 2018. An application form and detailed information on the scheme can be obtained from any IFI Office or by downloading the relevant documentation from the IFI website www.fisheriesireland.ie.
The fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the ESB in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007. In respect of former fishermen and women who were the holder of a licence or permit in the base year, payment will involve a tax free element for each of the 5 reckonable years for which a qualifying applicant was a licence or permit holder and a taxable element based on the average annual catch of the applicant during the reckonable years.
836. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department runs schemes aimed at educating young persons regarding recycling, environmental issues and climate change; his plans to extend public information programmes in relation to the challenges being faced in regard to climate change and the steps that can be taken as individuals in order to combat same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45335/18]
View answerMy Department currently provides funding to the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce for the operation of the Green Schools programme. Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Over 3,900 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland, in excess of 90% of all Irish schools, are currently participating in the programme and over 3,300 schools have been awarded at least one Green Flag. The Irish Green-Schools programme is one of the most successful within the international network. The aim of Green-Schools is to increase participants' awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies, and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and wider community. In addition to this, my Department also currently provides funding to Eco-Unesco for the operation of the Young Environmentalist Awards which is open to young people between the ages of 10 and 18.
In addition, the Government established a National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. The objectives of the National Dialogue, as agreed by Government, are to:
- create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change;
- create structures and information flows to facilitate people gathering to discuss, deliberate and maximise consensus on appropriate responses to these challenges, and to enable and empower appropriate action;
- 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; and
- provide regular input, through the NDCA, into the prioritisation and implementation of climate and energy policy which can be reported and monitored at local, regional, and national levels.
My Department is working closely with the Environment Protection Agency to implement the National Dialogue, including the following initiatives:
- regional and local gatherings which will be held across Ireland to engage with local communities on the challenges of addressing climate change. A pilot Regional Gathering was held on 23 June in Athlone, with a second event scheduled to take place in Tralee, County Kerry, on 10 November;
- professionally moderated and accessible expert lectures/debates on key policy issues, hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency; and
- the Tidy Towns Climate Action award, sponsored by my Department
Building on the existing Green Schools Programme, my Department and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce launched a National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme in 2017. A key initiative of the National Dialogue, this programme aims to raise awareness of climate change among students; support them and their communities in undertaking climate actions; and educate teachers about the science of climate change. The programme comprises:
- a Green-Schools Climate Change Ambassador Programme. This was launched in September 2017, with the aim of increasing awareness of climate change and promoting climate actions nationally. 108 members of the public were selected as ambassadors for 2018. The Ambassadors received training in the areas of climate science and communications. Recruitment for the 2019 programme is currently underway;
- a Climate Action Week, with all schools invited to participate in a national Green-Schools Climate Action Week in October each year. The week focuses on encouraging schools, teachers and pupils to get involved in climate-related events and to make ‘climate pledges’ via social media to raise awareness;
- Climate Change Teacher Training seminars, run during the school year, to provide key information to strengthen teachers' own knowledge on climate change, followed by practical guidance and ideas on how to introduce the topic into the classroom, along with outlines of curriculum links, lesson plans and resources. This course aims to raise teachers' awareness and build their knowledge and confidence. An online resource is being developed; and
- a Climate Change Resource for second level to be published this month, with work progressing on a resource for primary level. This comprehensive resource links to specific curriculum areas and contains practical lesson plans, activities and information. The resource has been developed with the advice and support of the Junior Cycle for Teachers, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and several teachers participating in the Green Schools programme.
837. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the source and amount of biomass that Bord na Móna will import to co-fire the affected power stations that use peat production; the plans Bord na Móna has to source biomass in the period ahead to replace its ceased peat production; and the studies carried out on the projected CO2 emissions of this sourced biomass. [45402/18]
View answerBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matter raised by the Deputy is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.
838. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the supply of broadband for a person (details supplied). [45414/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie . The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel with the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
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.
839. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a company (details supplied) was not registered as a guarantor during its ownership tenure with regard to the Corrib gas field; the reason this oversight was only discovered in January 2018; his views in this regard; if his Department has completed an analysis of the liabilities this oversight may have exposed the State to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45417/18]
View answerThe Corrib Petroleum Lease was granted on 15 November 2001 and vests in the Lessees the exclusive right to produce petroleum from the leased area. The Lessees are Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (45% interest and Operatorship), Equinor Energy Ireland Ltd (36.5% interest) and Vermilion Energy Ireland Ltd (18.5% interest). The Lessees are joint and severally liable for their obligations under the Lease and are required to fully indemnify the Minister against any claim arising out of their operations under the Lease.
In addition, the Lessees must also obtain and maintain such insurances as are required by the Minister in relation to their obligations under the Lease.
Furthermore, a guarantee must be given by the ultimate holding company of each Lessee, or such other person approved by the Minister in writing, and must be in place for the duration of the Lease. A guarantor guarantees payment of all moneys which are at any time due, owing or incurred to the Minister by the Lessee pursuant to the Lease. As the liability of each Lessee is joint and several, the Minister can if necessary pursue any one or more of the Lessees in respect of any liability under the Lease and, as a consequence make a demand on all or any guarantee.
During the course of a review of documentation associated with the Lease it came to my Department’s attention that the guarantee in respect of Shell E&P Ireland Ltd is being provided by a subsidiary in the Royal Dutch Shell Group. My Department wrote to Shell E&P Ireland Ltd on 22 January 2018 placing the Lessee on notice of the need to address this matter.
Given the provisions and operation of the Lease in respect of insurance, indemnification, guarantees and joint and several liability, my Department is satisfied that there is sufficient cover provided by the Lessees in respect of potential liabilities associated with the Lease and that the State is not exposed to such potential liabilities.
840. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45421/18]
View answer842. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45423/18]
View answer843. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45424/18]
View answer844. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45425/18]
View answer847. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45428/18]
View answer849. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45430/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 840, 842 to 844, inclusive, 847 and 849 together.
In April 2017 my Department 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 under the National Broadband Plan.
The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
The following table details the percentage of premises to be covered by the State Intervention and through commercial investment in the townlands identified by the Deputy.
The various premises in Cork referred to by the Deputy fall into all of these categories. Information on categories of specific premises can be accessed on my Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie, by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
|
Townland |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
Premises within eir planned rural deployment |
|
Barr An tSeanchnoic |
100% (16) |
0 |
0 |
|
Parkmore |
100% (9) |
0 |
0 |
|
Dunisky |
100% (76) |
0 |
0 |
|
Teergay |
100% (24) |
0 |
0 |
|
Coolanagh |
17% (8) |
0 |
83% (38) |
|
Knocknahilan |
44% (8) |
0 |
56% (10) |
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel to the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
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.
841. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45422/18]
View answer846. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45427/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 846 together.
The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with speeds of 30Mbps download or more.
Where an individual living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
845. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45426/18]
View answer848. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45429/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 845 and 848 together.
The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel to the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
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.
850. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45431/18]
View answerAccording to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, the premises referred to by the Deputy is in a BLUE area, where commercial operators are currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
The premises in question is indicated as having been passed by Eir as part of the company’s ongoing rural deployment of high speed broadband.
According to information given to my Department by Eir, the proprietor of this premises should be in a position to order a high speed broadband connection from a retail service provider. A list of the retail service providers which offer services on Eir's new network is available at https://fibrerollout.ie/rollout-map/where-to-buy-ftth/
851. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that each Minister of State in his Department has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45453/18]
View answerI am advised by my officials that my Department has no record of engagements, meetings or correspondence between any Minister of State in my Department and the individual referred to by the Deputy in the last three years.
852. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has authority to write regulations under section 3 and specifically section 10(2) of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000; if not, the Department which has legal authority under the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45510/18]
View answerAs Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have the power to make Regulations under section 3 of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000. This includes Regulations of the type specified by section 10(2). That section allows me to widen the scope of the Act to include laws set out at section 10(1), which were excluded at the time of enactment. In order to make Regulations under section 10(2), I must have formed the opinion that technology has advanced sufficiently and is widely available; that adequate procedures and practices have developed; or that such a change would be in the public interest. I am also required to undertake consultation with such Ministers that, in my view, have interest or responsibility in relation to the laws currently excluded. This is an important consideration as none of the excluded laws set out at section 10(1) of the Act relate to policy areas within my remit, and in that regard it would not be appropriate for me to act unilaterally.
853. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; when the project will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45536/18]
View answer854. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be available to households and businesses across County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45537/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together.
The 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. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. When this Government came into office this had risen to 52%. Today, 74% of premises can access high speed broadband services. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
In April 2017 my Department 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 under the National Broadband Plan.
The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll-out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
According to the latest map data for Q3 2018, there are some 83,500 premises in Mayo. More than 37,000 (44%) of these premises fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Some 37,000 (44%) of premises fall within a BLUE area - where commercial operators are currently delivering or plan to deliver this service. More than 9,500 (12%) fall within a LIGHT BLUE are and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment. This data has been verified by my Department.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel to the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
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.
