Written Answers Nos. 855-878
855. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the costs incurred to date in a High Court and Court of Appeal case against the Information Commissioner and a person (details supplied) regarding the 2009 municipal area network concession agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45540/18]
View answerAny legal costs to date have been incurred by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. Legal costs were awarded against the Department in the High Court action. These costs form part of an appeal to the Court of Appeal, which has yet to be determined.
857. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount paid to each of the external advisers who are working on the national broadband plan from the date on which they were included in the plan to date by year and person engaged; the title role and or position within the adviser group in tabular form; if a person (details supplied) has engaged other consultants to assist with their review of the process; the date on which they will conclude their work; the date on which their report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45545/18]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question no. 249 of 18 October 2018.
Expenditure on the National Broadband Plan was first incurred in 2013. The total expenditure to date since then is approximately €22.2 million. This expenditure includes the cost of corporate finance and economic advice, technical support and network design, the cost of legal advice, environmental advice and process auditor costs. These services were procured by way of competitive tender. In addition, the Department has staff and other administrative costs, along with travel and expenses costs for the independent Steering Group members and event costs related to the NBP. The table below sets out payments by year.
Table 1: NBP Total spend by Year
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2013 |
€394,507.01 |
|
2014 |
€681,326.58 |
|
2015 |
€2,978,462.99 |
|
2016 |
€2,345,659.49 |
|
2017 |
€10,050,457.78 |
|
2018 |
€5,745,111.99 |
|
TOTAL |
€22,195,525.84 |
All figures include VAT.
I also attach a detailed table setting out expenditure on external advisers under the NBP from the date of their engagement.
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 is parallel with the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
A schedule of payments made to date on the NBP is set out in the following tables for each year, specifying the companies paid and the services engaged.
Table 2: Schedule of NBP Payments in 2013
|
Company/Payee Name |
Services Provided |
Cost |
|
PRISA Technologies Ltd T/A Prisa Consulting |
Technical, commercial, economic, financial and procurement advice |
€323,491.23 |
|
Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
Staff secondment |
€67,899.16 |
|
Word Perfect Translation Services Limited |
Translation services |
€3,116.62 |
|
TOTAL for 2013 |
€394,507.01 |
Table 3: Schedule of NBP Payments in 2014
|
Company/Payee Name |
Services Provided |
Cost |
|
AVC Ltd |
Audio visual services |
€2,257.05 |
|
Clever Cat Design |
Design and branding services |
€12,346.70 |
|
D4 Catering 4. U. |
Catering |
€231.08 |
|
Strategic Scout Ltd |
Steering Group costs |
€6,101.07 |
|
Kieran Clancy Photography |
Photography |
€346.86 |
|
Mason Hayes and Curran |
Legal advisory services |
€12,286.22 |
|
Mespil Hotel |
Steering Group costs |
€423.50 |
|
National Adult Literacy Agency Ltd ( NALA ) |
Literacy advisory services |
€854.29 |
|
Park Town Consulting |
Policy advisory services |
€6,089.25 |
|
PRISA Technologies Ltd T/A Prisa Consulting |
Technical, commercial, economic, financial and procurement advice |
€494,981.54 |
|
Consultant A (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Steering Group costs |
€4,195.07 |
|
Tony Harris Design |
Design services |
€2,324.70 |
|
Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
Staff secondment |
€109,417.11 |
|
Vilicom Engineering Ltd |
Technical advisory services |
€25,184.68 |
|
W1 Design |
Design services |
€4,287.46 |
|
TOTAL for 2014 |
€681,326.58 |
[Tables cont]
Table 4: Schedule of NBP Payments in 2015
|
Company/Payee Name |
Services Provided |
Cost |
|
Analysys Mason |
Technical advisory services |
€449,210.01 |
|
Buswells Hotel |
Steering Group costs |
€958.40 |
|
Café Sol |
Catering |
€434.02 |
|
Club Travel Ltd |
Travel costs |
€1,747.95 |
|
Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport |
Steering Group costs |
€100.65 |
|
Doyle Kent Planning Partnership Ltd |
Environmental advisory services |
€7,995.00 |
|
Dublin Chamber Of Commerce |
Steering Group costs |
€832.60 |
|
Strategic Scout Ltd |
Steering Group costs |
€15,997.32 |
|
Consultant B (Anonymised under GDPR) |
Process auditor for legal tender evaluation |
€4,458.75 |
|
KPMG |
Financial and procurement advisory services |
€729,831.57 |
|
Mason Hayes and Curran |
Legal advisory services |
€339,615.23 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Newspaper publication costs |
€4,646.89 |
|
Mespil Hotel |
Steering Group costs |
€922.00 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Economic and strategic advisory services |
€1,040,440.67 |
|
PRISA Technologies Ltd T/A Prisa Consulting |
Technical, commercial, economic, financial and procurement advice |
€302,020.35 |
|
Consultant A (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Steering Group costs |
€8,305.18 |
|
Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
Staff secondment |
€69,629.07 |
|
Vilicom Engineering Ltd |
Technical advisory services |
€1,317.33 |
|
TOTAL for 2015 |
€2,978,462.99 |
Table 5: Schedule of NBP Payments in 2016
|
Company/Payee Name |
Services Provided |
Cost |
|
Analysys Mason |
Technical advisory services |
€556,924.82 |
|
Club Travel Ltd |
Travel costs |
€422.48 |
|
Deloitte |
Tax and VAT advice |
€5,412.00 |
|
Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport |
Steering Group costs |
€441.91 |
|
Doggett Group |
Design and print services |
€4,314.84 |
|
Elaine Tohill Ltd T/A Press |
Catering - bidder dialogue |
€7,512.00 |
|
Here and Now Business Intelligence |
Communications advisory services |
€7,380.00 |
|
Hilton Dublin (Charlemont Hotels Group Ltd ) |
Meeting room hire |
€470.00 |
|
Strategic Scout Ltd |
Steering Group costs |
€591.15 |
|
KPMG |
Financial and procurement advisory services |
€513,409.38 |
|
KPMG |
Specialist personnel |
€585,206.33 |
|
Mason Hayes and Curran |
Legal advisory services |
€456,505.65 |
|
Pricewaterhouse Coopers |
Economic and strategic advisory services |
€143,145.58 |
|
PRISA Technologies Ltd T/A Prisa Consulting |
Technical, commercial, economic, financial and procurement advice |
€11,070.00 |
|
Public Affairs Ireland |
Training course |
€362.85 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Environmental advisory services |
€27,312.15 |
|
T Kilmartin & Sons |
Design and print services |
€178.35 |
|
The Irish Farmers Association |
National Ploughing Championships 2015 costs |
€25,000.00 |
|
TOTAL for 2016 |
€2,345,659.49 |
Table 6: Schedule of NBP Payments in 2018 (to date)
|
Company/Payee Name |
Services Provided |
Cost |
|
Analysys Mason |
Technical advisory services |
€1,115,387.37 |
|
Bank of Ireland Visa (Department credit card) |
Administrative procurement process costs (PMO) |
€310.97 |
|
Club Travel Ltd |
Travel costs |
€1,493.96 |
|
Deloitte |
Tax and VAT advice |
€24,354.00 |
|
Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport |
Steering Group costs |
€250.50 |
|
Doggett Group |
Design and printing services |
€510.45 |
|
Elaine Tohill Ltd T/A Press |
Catering - bidder dialogue |
€849.00 |
|
Here and Now Business Intelligence |
Communications advisory services |
€16,236.00 |
|
Strategic Scout Ltd |
Steering Group costs |
€6,941.94 |
|
Consultant C (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Independent Chair costs |
€2,000.00 |
|
KPMG |
Financial and procurement advisory services |
€2,497,834.80 |
|
KPMG |
Specialist personnel |
€902,993.92 |
|
Marsh Ireland |
Insurance advice |
€11,531.25 |
|
Mason Hayes and Curran |
Legal advisory services |
€1,021,850.64 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Newspaper publication costs – public consultation |
€9,736.89 |
|
Consultant F (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Independent Chair costs |
€7,500.00 |
|
Pembroke Hall Limited |
Meeting room hire |
€444.22 |
|
Peter Smyth Management Consultancy Ltd |
Process auditor costs |
€7,872.00 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Economic and strategic advisory services |
€75,031.93 |
|
Consultant A (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Steering Group costs |
€4,264.20 |
|
Consultant G (Anonymized under GDPR) |
Telecommunications regulatory advice |
€6,150.00 |
|
Quigg Golden |
Independent Chair costs |
€602.70 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Environmental advisory services |
€30,965.25 |
|
TOTAL for 2018 |
€5,745,111.99 |
858. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has finalised an estimated cost for the national broadband plan; if this cost is €3 billion; if there are a range of estimated costs; the scenarios associated with these different costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45551/18]
View answerThe 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.
The level of subsidy required to bring high speed broadband services to the 540,000 in the NBP State intervention area is to be determined through the procurement process.
859. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45698/18]
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. 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. Commercial operators have invested over €2.75 billion in upgrading and modernising their networks over the past 5 years, and further investments are planned.
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 will be published on my Department’s website shortly.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation of the final tender submission received on 18 September ongoing. 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 tackle 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.
860. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national broadband plan will be rolled out throughout counties Cavan and Monaghan in view of the perceived totally inadequate broadband infrastructure in the counties at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45699/18]
View answerIn 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.
There are approximately 42,000 premises in Cavan. Nearly 17,000 (40%) fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Some 23,500 (56%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers, while some 1,500 (4%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment.
There are approximately 33,000 premises in Monaghan. Almost 16,000 (48%) fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Just over 16,000 (49%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers, while some 1,000 (3%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment.
These figures are based on data for Q3 2018, which is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
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. For those premises who fall within eir's commercial deployment to 300,000 premises further detail is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
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.
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.
861. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to promote the development of offshore wind energy generation. [45763/18]
View answerThe 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out the Government’s policy for the sustainable development of our offshore renewable energy resources. Offshore renewable energy covers a number of technology types and includes wind (fixed and floating), wave and tidal, all of which rely on harnessing the motion of wind or water to generate energy. Of these technology types fixed offshore wind has reached the commercial stage, while floating wind, wave and tidal technology are still at the experimental stage globally. Floating wind has the potential to be deployed in deeper waters and as such could have potential for development off the south and west coasts of Ireland. Bottom fixed wind turbines are limited to relatively shallow waters. To date, Ireland has only one offshore fixed wind farm generating electricity in Irish waters. The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind could be sustainably developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030. An interim review of the OREDP was published in May and is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. The Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group, which oversees the implementation of the OREDP will now consider the recommendations of the review and continue the work of implementing the actions and enablers set out in the Plan.
Between 2014 and 2017 capital funding of €17.7 million was allocated by my Department under the OREDP for research and development of offshore renewable energy technology, with a further €4.5 million allocated in 2018.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was approved by Government in July and is now subject to the EU state aid approval process. It is expected the first RESS auction will be held in 2019. The new Scheme has been designed to incentivise sufficient new renewable electricity generation to deliver Ireland’s contribution to the EU wide renewable energy target of 32% for 2030. Technology diversity, including solar PV and offshore wind, will occur naturally as the scheme matures and certain intervention levers may be used within each auction round to promote certain policy objectives such as community participation, community ownership and diversifying the renewable energy mix.
Legislative proposals have been led by the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government to draft the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, including provisions to address the absence of a regulatory framework to regulate offshore renewable energy developments beyond the limits of the foreshore (12 nautical miles). If we are to attract investment in the offshore renewable energy sector, it is critical that a robust, streamlined consenting regime is provided to regulate activities in the maritime area.
862. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount which will be spent on official development assistance in 2018; the recipients of this ODA; and the amount each recipient will receive. [45774/18]
View answerMy Department has allocated a sum of €1,958,341 to two recipients to date in 2018 on official development assistance (ODA) and details of the recipients are outlined in the table below. In addition, a sum of €2.5m has been set aside for International Climate Commitments and the recipients of this particular funding, which is also classed as ODA, will be decided on in the coming weeks.
|
Recipient |
Amount Allocated |
|
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund |
€1,420,000 |
|
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) |
€ 538,341 |
|
TOTAL |
€1,958,341 |
864. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of public buildings and-or State body buildings that are not connected by MANs to co-location centres; if his attention has been drawn to barriers financially and or administratively that prevent some buildings such as public libraries, schools, departmental offices and so on connecting to the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45790/18]
View answerMetropolitan Area Networks (“MANs”) are local authority-led infrastructure projects which are State owned, underground telecommunications networks that are located in regional cities and towns. They consist of carrier-neutral duct and fibre rings linking the main commercial and public buildings to “co-location centres” where service providers locate their telecommunications equipment and access the network. These facilities are available to service providers to enable them offer high-speed broadband to their retail customers without having to build their own networks. MANs routes were designed to specifically target key business areas for which the availability of high speed broadband services would be attractive, such as:
- Technology, business and industrial parks
- Primary businesses within each urban area
- Education Sector, Health Sector and local government
- General business and commercial clusters
The routes were also designed to run in close proximity to the main hubs of the service providers which were already present in each urban area for easy connectivity.
Enet is responsible for the provision of wholesale telecommunications services on commercial terms to service providers. The number and location of buildings, be they state owned or otherwise connected to the MANs network is an operational matter for the Management Services Entity (enet) and the relevant service providers.
865. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he or his predecessor met with either the communications regulator or companies (details supplied) in the past two years to date regarding pricing structures in the context of the NBP and or the operation and access by commercial companies to the MANs; if so, the dates of those meetings with the communications regulator and the commercial operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45792/18]
View answerThe Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has a broad remit and is responsible for communications, broadcasting, postal services, energy, natural resources, climate change, waste management, air quality and environmental policy. The day-to-day functions of the Department and of the Minister in carrying out this remit, therefore, involve engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Commission for Communications Regulation (Comreg) and the telecommunications operators referenced by the Deputy. My Department informs me that they hold no records of meetings involving my predecessor Deputy Naughten with Comreg regarding pricing structures in the context of the NBP and I have not had any such meetings.
Regarding the Deputy's question regarding telecommunications operators my Department advises that the former Minister met with a representative of BT on 10 January 2018. The matter of the company’s access to public infrastructure in respect of high speed electronic communications was raised in follow up correspondence.
Deputy Naughten also met with eir on 8 May 2018 in relation to the finalisation of the company’s acquisition by NJJ Telecom Europe. During the course of this meeting the matter of the potential use of eir’s infrastructure by the bidder in the NBP procurement process was raised.
Details around both of these meetings have been released under FOI and are available on my Department's website.
866. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes which are passed but not connected to high speed broadband under the concession agreement announced on 6 August 2017; the number of these homes that have requested a connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45850/18]
View answerUnder 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. Under the terms of the Commitment Agreement, where eir has passed a premises with high speed broadband and has received a request for connection, it is required to provide 95% of such requests with a connection at the standard published connection charge within 20 working days of receipt of the request.
Details of the number of connections are published on my Department’s website, under ‘eir Commitment Agreement – Progress Update Q2 2018’, at the following link:
https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/latest-news/Pages/Latest-News.aspx
The details show that as of Q2 2018, 37,000 premises have been connected, based on just over 175,000 premises passed at that point.
867. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the allocation in 2019 to North-South bodies in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45892/18]
View answerThe Loughs Agency (of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission) is a North-South body for which my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland are the joint sponsors. The Agency is funded via both Departments on a 50/50 basis. My Department's portion of the Loughs Agency’s annual allocation is included in the Department’s Inland Fisheries subhead (E3). Details of the allocation to the subhead for 2019 will be published shortly in the Revised Estimates Volume.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department's allocation to the Loughs Agency for 2018 was €2.7 million. Additional once-off availability of capital funding of up to €200,000 was also agreed by the Department to underpin two particular capital projects during the year.
868. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount his Department has spent in 2018 on carrying out commissions of investigations and State inquiries as recommended by the Independent Review Mechanism and State tribunals; the number and name of these investigations; the individual costs in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45907/18]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure in relation to carrying out commissions of investigation and State inquiries in 2018.
869. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a bus stop at Cork University Hospital will be restored (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44610/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure including the provision of bus stops and bus shelters.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
870. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for delays in a Bus Éireann service (details supplied) which services County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44611/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The service mentioned is an Expressway service which is operated by Bus Éireann on a commercial basis in a similar fashion to any other commercial licensed bus service.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
871. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44614/18]
View answerWhile the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for various categories of roads, elected members of local authorities have statutory responsibility for deciding on and making appropriate Special Speed Limit bye-laws for roads within their administrative area and, in the case of national roads, subject to the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The making of such bye-laws is a reserved function of the elected members of the council.
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland, which is available on my Department’s website, reiterate the statutory responsibilities of elected members in relation to the making of such Special Speed Limit bye-laws, while providing Guidelines taking account of relevant national policy and local circumstances - including road safety.
872. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedure on the M7-N7 for breakdowns while the upgrade work continues; and if there is a maximum length of time a person would wait for the recovery truck to arrive. [44622/18]
View answer873. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the contractors employed to recover broken down vehicles from the M7-N7 while the roadworks are taking place. [44623/18]
View answer874. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the breakdown procedure on the M7-N7 will be considered in view of the long delays being experienced due to car breakdowns. [44624/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 872 to 874, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in relation to national roads.
Noting the above position, I have referred the questions concerning the issues raised on the M7/N7 route to TII for a more detailed and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
875. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a rescue service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/18]
View answerBanna Rescue has approached Irish Coast Guard to explore the possibility of becoming an Irish Coast Guard boat unit. The Irish Coast Guard is to conduct a review of boating operations generally. While this process is ongoing, the Coast Guard is not in a position to consider taking on additional boat rescue units in the near future.
876. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the current round of submissions to the sports capital grant scheme; and when the current round of grants will be issued. [44636/18]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme opened for applications on Friday 7 September and the application period closed on Friday 19th October. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding.
For the first time, applicants who have submitted incorrect documentation under this round will be given the opportunity to correct their application during the assessment period. While there will be no undue delay in completing the assessment process, in view of the opportunity to correct documentation, the record number of applications received and the detailed information contained in each application, it is likely to take a number of months to have all applications assessed. Accordingly, I expect that it will be at least the second quarter of next year before the full set of allocations under this current round of the programme are announced.
877. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Tourism Ireland has filled all its additional Brexit related staff positions; if not, when remaining staff posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44691/18]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the board and management of Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
878. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the next consultation to be completed by the National Transport Authority on the BusConnects proposals; when maps will be available on changes being considered to upgrade the 16 spine bus routes and provision of continuous cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44707/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities on the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
