Written Answers Nos. 490-515
490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has dealt with proposals to treat the entire sewerage intake for the eastern region and release as sludge into Lough Ennell, County Westmeath. [42937/19]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the agency of my Department with the statutory remit for the conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource. The involvement of IFI in the matter referred to by the Deputy is confined to that remit. I understand that Irish Water has overall responsibility for proposals to develop sewage sludge hubs and for compliance with relevant EU and domestic legislation in this regard. IFI was consulted as a notice party by Irish Water in relation to its preliminary plans for the development referred to in the Question.
IFI has already made a submission at the strategic environmental assessment scoping report stage carried out on behalf of Irish Water. This submission identified key issues from a fisheries perspective, principally:
- Water Quality,
- Fish Spawning and Nursery Areas,
- Ecosystem Structure and Functioning,
- Sport, Commercial Fishing and Angling,
- Amenity and Recreational Areas.
IFI also recommended that consideration should be given to watercourses outside formal EU designation which may hold species that are designated under the European Habitats Directive such as salmon and lamprey.IFI has recently received additional proposals from Irish Water and I am advised that a further submission will be prepared on all relevant fisheries related concerns and issues in connection with the proposed hubs in the study area.
491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress towards meeting the renewable heat obligation of Ireland under EU directives for 2020; if Ireland is on course to meet the target; the budget for the support scheme for renewable heat in 2019 and 2020; the number of applications received under the scheme to date; the number of grants awarded for 2019; the number of applications by county; his plans to address the delays in approving up to 40 eligible projects in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42943/19]
View answerThe share of renewable energy in the heating sector in Ireland has risen from 2.4% in 2000 to 6.9% in 2017. Ireland has a binding EU target of 12% by 2020. The 2019 Climate Action Plan recognises the need to lift our ambition in regards to the use of renewable energy. The Plan contains a range of actions across different sectors of society in relation to the use of renewable energy, together with clear timelines for completion. The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat has been developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System.The first phase of the scheme, an installation grant for heat pumps, opened for applications in September 2018. Following EU State aid approval, the second phase of the scheme, an operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems, opened for applications in June of this year. Under this phase of the scheme, eligible renewable energy technologies will be supported through a multi-annual payment, for a period of up to 15 years, on the basis of prescribed tariffs. Under Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan sets out an allocation of €300 million for the roll-out of the scheme for the period up to 2027. A capital allocation of €5 million was provided for the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat in 2019. As part of Budget 2020, a similar allocation of €5 million has been allocated for 2020.
Applications received are evaluated by SEAI, who administer the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat. To date a total of 53 applications have been received by SEAI. These are broken down as follows: Cork 10, Monaghan 7, Mayo 6, Tipperary 4, Waterford 3 Limerick 3 Donegal 3, Cavan 3, Laois 2 and 1 each for Dublin, Clare, Offaly, Wexford, Sligo, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Meath, Carlow, Kerry, Wicklow and Kildare.
Prior to any projects being formally approved under the second phase of the scheme, an Annual Budget Cap must be set by me with the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This is a financial safeguard that was included in the Government decision approving the scheme. It places an overall limit on the State's annual expenditure in any given year and is one of a number of measures put in place based on lessons learned from similar schemes in other jurisdictions. Following Budget 2020, the Annual Budget Cap was set at €5 million.
The first Letters of Offer under the second phase of the scheme were issued, by SEAI, on 16 October. The process of evaluating and approving applications is now underway and I expect further Letters of Offer to issue from SEAI going forward.
492. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date for each of the 41 action points made in the mobile phone and broadband task force report published in December 2016 in which his Department has lead or joint responsibility for implementing following the third national stakeholder forum; if each such action point has been completed, not completed or is ongoing, respectively; and the revised deadlines for action points not delivered by the original timeframes set out in tabular form. [42989/19]
View answerThe Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, published in December 2016, contained 40 actions aimed at accelerating the delivery of telecommunications infrastructure by commercial operators and also at facilitating the rollout of the State led Intervention under the National Broadband Plan. An Implementation Review Report was published in February 2018 and provides a detailed account of progress made on all 40 of the actions included in the original report. The review shows that 29 of the actions were completed, or substantially completed, by the end of 2017, and 11 actions were carried forward to the 2018 work programme. In addition to the actions carried over from 2017, a number of new actions were identified for inclusion in the 2018 work programme resulting in a total of 34 actions for delivery in 2018.
A further Implementation Review was published on 21 February 2019 which details progress made on the 34 actions identified for delivery throughout 2018. Similarly, the 2018 Implementation Review Report identifies additional actions for inclusion in the 2019 work programme.
In addition to the above mentioned Implementation Review Reports, the Taskforce publishes quarterly progress reports. All reports, including both the 2017 and 2018 Implementation Reviews, can be accessed at www.dccae.gov.ie.
493. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date by which the contract for the State intervention area will be awarded under the national broadband plan; and the approximate project build time from award of tender to construction and completion of all premises. [42992/19]
View answerEvery home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Since the Government decision in May 2019 to appoint NBI as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan contract, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. The network deployment will commence shortly after that.
The Bidder has indicated that the network rollout will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment. A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed.
In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.
The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises by the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
In parallel to the work of finalising the contract, I am considering the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee report, which was published recently. I will bring my deliberations of the report to Government in due course.
My Department has also recently undertaken a mapping consultation to ensure that the State Intervention Area is up to date and reflects operators’ plans and the responses from householders and businesses with the outcome of this consultation informing the State Aid notification to the European Commission in relation to the NBP.
494. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of AMBER premises for the State intervention area under the national broadband plan; the number of BLUE premises to be covered by commercial operators; the number of LIGHT BLUE premises to be covered by county; the number of premises that have been connected under the plan for each such category by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42993/19]
View answerEvery home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same digital opportunities as those in urban areas. 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 or Eircode.
The following table details the percentage of premises to be covered by the State Intervention and through commercial investment by county.
|
Townland |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operators Area |
Premises within eir's 300k FTTH rural deployment |
Total |
|
Carlow |
7,892 |
20,045 |
167 |
28,104 |
|
Cavan |
17,061 |
24,814 |
309 |
42,184 |
|
Clare |
23,409 |
44,108 |
1,280 |
68,797 |
|
Cork |
75,173 |
192,291 |
3,741 |
271,205 |
|
Donegal |
34,180 |
66,800 |
1,085 |
102,065 |
|
Dublin |
11,482 |
597,700 |
278 |
609,460 |
|
Galway |
39,337 |
93,892 |
2,504 |
135,733 |
|
Kerry |
28,795 |
58,969 |
1,921 |
89,685 |
|
Kildare |
14,192 |
78,717 |
517 |
93,426 |
|
Kilkenny |
18,068 |
29,791 |
296 |
48,155 |
|
Laois |
12,799 |
26,061 |
499 |
39,359 |
|
Leitrim |
11,287 |
10,527 |
525 |
22,339 |
|
Limerick |
21,970 |
74,160 |
1,757 |
97,887 |
|
Longford |
8,216 |
13,931 |
221 |
22,368 |
|
Louth |
8,789 |
52,385 |
382 |
61,556 |
|
Mayo |
36,934 |
42,115 |
4,694 |
83,743 |
|
Meath |
20,713 |
65,098 |
1,183 |
86,994 |
|
Monaghan |
15,776 |
17,198 |
210 |
33,184 |
|
Offaly |
12,444 |
24,260 |
347 |
37,051 |
|
Roscommon |
18,517 |
19,898 |
794 |
39,209 |
|
Sligo |
14,356 |
25,327 |
456 |
40,139 |
|
Tipperary |
30,306 |
50,816 |
2,909 |
84,031 |
|
Waterford |
16,676 |
45,006 |
308 |
61,990 |
|
Westmeath |
12,031 |
32,255 |
270 |
44,556 |
|
Wexford |
21,908 |
60,294 |
707 |
82,909 |
|
Wicklow |
14,671 |
50,181 |
578 |
65,430 |
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) publishes a quarterly report which highlight trends in the telecommunications industry. This includes the number of subscriptions in Ireland to high speed broadband services by speed (e.g. download speeds of 30 megabits per second) and by platform (fibre, cable, VDSL etc.). The latest report can be found at www.comreg.ie/publication/quarterly-key-data-report-q2-2019.
495. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of monofill landfill sites in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43011/19]
View answerInformation in relation to the particular types of waste accepted at existing landfill sites, including details of waste accepted at such sites, are available on www.epa.ie.
496. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 2,220 of 23 July 2019, the specific measures under consideration to require on-site segregation of construction and demolition waste and materials under the EU circular economy package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43012/19]
View answer497. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the obligations placed on construction companies to have site waste management plans and their obligations for dealing with construction and demolition waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43013/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.
As previously outlined in the response to the Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy, construction companies are required, under planning legislation, to prepare site Waste Management Plans which, inter alia, outline the manner in which clients, planners, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers can act co-operatively in order to reduce construction and demolition (C&D) waste arisings and to improve the manner in which any waste generated is managed.
Notwithstanding the above, my Department established a Construction Waste Resource Group in June 2018 comprising key Construction and Demolition sector and Waste sector stakeholders, including policy, regulatory and industry representatives to provide a valuable platform to discuss and monitor C&D waste issues, including how the sector can better prevent and recycle C&D waste. Furthermore, Ireland must transpose the EU Circular Economy package by July 2020 and as part of this process my officials will examine the need for further specific measures concerning the on-site segregation of C&D waste / materials and this process will be informed by the work of the Construction Waste Resource Group.
In addition, a full public consultation on Ireland’s Circular Economy strategy will be launched before the end of this year and will seek views on all matters waste related, including those relevant to the construction sector.
498. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for the publication of guidelines pertaining to the supply of energy to the national grid through solar energy and solar farms; and the details of the terms and conditions which prospective suppliers must adhere to. [43091/19]
View answer504. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a specific allocation of 50% of available capacity 3,000 GWh in the first auction to solar PV will be committed. [43354/19]
View answer505. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that solar PV can deliver 5,000 MWac by 2030. [43355/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 504 and 505 together.
In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Climate Action Plan, my Department is developing the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The RESS has been designed within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework and the scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by 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. Globally, the costs of renewable technologies are falling rapidly with Solar PV showing the most rapid falls in prices in recent years.
The Climate Action Plan targets the delivery of indicative volumes of up to 1.5 GW of grid scale solar by 2030. Utility scale Solar energy farms will be critical to diversifying the renewable technology mix and to deliver gains through connecting hybrid renewable technologies. The volume of connected solar in 2030 may well exceed this target if prices continue to fall and solar projects are successful in the RESS auctions.
The terms and conditions of the RESS-1 auction will set out the process by which all competing technologies including solar farms receive support for supplying energy to the national grid.
My Department held an industry briefing in September 2019 at which an overview of the RESS detailed design framework was provided, details of which are also available through my Department's website. It is expected that the RESS 1 terms and conditions will be published in December 2019, subject to state aid approval by the European Commission.
499. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding used for SEAI grants; and the number of persons and households that gained funding or access to grants in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 in categories (details supplied). [43166/19]
View answerMy Department funds a number of schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy performance of their properties. These are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since 2000, over 400,000 homeowners have received direct support under these schemes to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. This year €100 million has been allocated to these schemes.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan sets an ambitious target of 500,000 energy efficiency retrofits by 2030. Achievement of this target will be supported by the Project Ireland 2040 allocation of €3.7 billion as well as the range of measures identified in the Plan.
Budget 2020 has allocated €146 million for retrofitting homes and businesses. This will support the upgrade of up to 24,000 properties in 2020. This record level of investment is an important step towards realising the Government’s Climate Action Plan targets for building retrofits.
The following table below presents the number of grants availed of under each scheme in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (to end Sept) |
||||
|
Better Energy (BE) Programme |
No. of Homes |
Amount |
No. of Homes |
Amount |
No. of Homes |
Amount |
|
BE Homes |
14,619 |
€16.3m |
14,222 |
€17m |
13,232 |
€15.8m |
|
BE Warmer Homes |
6,554 |
€19.7m |
5,222 |
€31.8m |
2,701 |
€28.7m |
|
BE Communities (Homes) |
1,965 |
€22.7m |
1,250 |
€19.9m |
365 |
€6.2m |
|
Warmth & Wellbeing |
360 |
€6.5m |
455 |
€12.26m |
315 |
€6.9m |
|
Deep Retrofit Pilot |
3 |
€861k* |
211 |
€4.72m |
53 |
€1.95m |
*€861,000 spend in 2017relates to 3 completed homes and 37 partially completed.
There is also a wide range of supports available to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles including SEAI grants, tax reliefs, accelerated capital allowances for businesses, low motor tax and discounted tolls.
In August, I announced funding to support the rollout of up to 1,000 on-street public charge points for electric vehicles over the next 5 years. This is to cater mainly for electric vehicle owners who rely on on-street parking as their primary means of parking near their homes.
Budget 2020 will see €36 million allocated next year for these supports. Of this, €6 million will be provided to support charging infrastructure and €30 million allocated towards purchase grants.
The following table presents the number of grants availed of under the purchase grant and home charger schemes in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. To date, there has been no expenditure under the Electric Vehicle Public Charge Point Grant scheme.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (to end Sept) |
||||
|
Electric Vehicles |
No. of Grants |
Amount |
No. of Grants |
Amount |
No. of Grants |
Amount |
|
Purchase Grants |
908 |
€4,262,000 |
1,999 |
€9,133,600 |
3,815 |
€17,344,400 |
|
Home Chargers |
n/a |
n/a |
1,034 |
€621,000 |
1,943 |
€1,116,000 |
500. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he last met with waste providers; the date and location of the meeting; and the matters discussed. [43176/19]
View answerI recently hosted a high level consultative forum on developing a new National Waste strategy and to discuss how this new strategy can deliver the ambitious targets set out in the Climate Action Plan. The forum took place on Monday 16th September 2019.
The forum was attended by a number of representatives from the waste industry, local authorities, waste collectors, household representative groups and NGOs.
At this forum I announced that a new waste strategy which will ban single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks, cotton bud sticks, polystyrene cups and food containers; introduce fees on non-recyclable plastics, like on food packaging in supermarkets; halve food waste; end the use of non-recyclable plastic; double the rate of recycled material used; increase the recycling rate of plastic packaging by 60%; cut dependence on landfill by 60%.
501. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the inclusion of the Shannon LNG project on the PCI list agreed on 4 October 2019 is the finalised list of PCI projects; if the decision for its inclusion on the PCI list has to be finally ratified; if so, when this decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43246/19]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan sets out the actions we need to take to achieve our 2030 targets, to make our homes warmer, our air cleaner and to secure a sustainable, resilient Ireland for future generations. Under the Climate Action Plan we will:
- Fully exit from peat and coal to generate electricity
- Move from 30% renewable electricity today to 70% renewable electricity by 2030.
In making these critical changes, energy sustainability and security must be reviewed.
The European Commission is continuing its preparation of the fourth Union list of projects of common interest in energy in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure.
At the meeting of 4 October 2019 which considered the 4th PCI list, Ireland enquired from the EU Commission whether the implications of importing LNG to the European Union, from conventional and unconventional fracked sources, have been examined in terms of a sustainable, secure and competitive European energy policy. The Commission advised that it had launched a study on methane emissions and agreed with the need to link gas imports to the objective of a climate neutral economy.
Shannon LNG has been designated as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) for 6 years since 2013. While Ireland has continued to support the inclusion of the Shannon LNG Project on the 4th PCI list, I have made it clear that the Government will not consider any application for EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding for any LNG project until a security of supply review has been completed and considered by the Government and the Dáil, and only if the projects in question are consistent with national and EU climate policy objectives.
As I previously advised the House, I have initiated the process of commissioning a comprehensive independent energy security review in the context of the transition to a carbon neutral economy. The review, which will be completed during 2020, will examine the fuel mix necessary, including the role of gas in electricity generation, interconnection and battery storage as back-up for renewables, to ensure security of supply.
502. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the consultancy service providers engaged by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the costs associated with each (details supplied); the reason for each service engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43309/19]
View answer503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43326/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.
My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. The technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access from time to time to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions.
A breakdown of the Admin VII - Consultancy Services, Value for Money and Policy Review subhead costs incurred by my Department in 2018 are shown in the following table. There were no value for money or policy reviews carried out in 2018.
|
Supplier |
Reason for Service Engagement |
2018 Cost € |
|
Quadra |
Advice on the implementation of a health and safety management system for the Department |
5,596 |
|
NTMA |
Financial and commercial advice and assistance |
152,213 |
|
Audit Committee |
Audit Committee - Fees to External Members for meeting attendance |
4,155 |
|
ASM (B) Ltd |
Internal Audit Services |
32,502 |
|
Dept of Rural and Community Development |
Department's contribution towards a shared consultancy with the Department of Rural and Community Development in relation to digital assets/strategies for Local Government |
57,403 |
|
Analysys Mason Ltd |
Provision of Technical Support |
4,570 |
|
Indecon |
Review of the policy underpinning the National Digital Research Centre |
12,779 |
|
ESRI |
Co-funding with the Commission for Communication Regulation for a three year “Programme of Research in Communications” (2016-2018) by the ESRI |
75,000 |
|
Charles River Associates |
Independent economic analysis to support the Department in relation to Judicial Review proceedings 2017/256 |
297,795 |
|
M.CO |
Review of the Better Energy Communities Scheme |
34,594 |
|
William Fry |
Legal advice provided on the position and future of the Energy Efficiency Fund |
12,229 |
|
2B Energy, Elimark AB & Dr. Keith R Bell |
Provision of an Independent Study to Examine the Technical Feasibility and Cost of Undergrounding the North-South Interconnector |
36,334 |
|
Spread Select Ltd |
Study on the Levels of Compensation Provided to Land and Property Owners in Proximity to High-Voltage Transmission Lines |
23,763 |
|
KPMG |
Study and report on the wider costs and benefits of gas network extensions, including possible climate and decarbonisation aspects, as well as regional and rural development benefits |
208,878 |
|
Reidy Brophy Limited |
Provision of Services relating to the facilitation of an Oil Supply Disruption Exercise |
20,754 |
|
Astrid Consulting |
Consultancy services for the establishment of a methodology for assessment of financial indemnity/insurance of petroleum authorisation holders and the subsequent assessment of drilling applications |
23,327 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Environmental assessments of decommissioning applications |
55,138 |
|
Arthur Cox |
Legal advice in respect of Shell’s divestment of interest in Corrib gas field |
124,608 |
|
PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes Limited |
Financial Advice in respect of Shell’s divestment of interest from Corrib Gas Field |
30,135 |
|
Botanical Environmental Consultants (BEC) |
Provision of Consultancy Services in respect of assistance with statutory assessment of Environmental Statements and Natura Impact Statements and Exploration Drilling applications |
15,983 |
|
Ramboll UK Ltd |
Environmental expertise for monitoring of Corrib Gas pipeline Consent Conditions |
72,052 |
|
Arthur Cox Solicitor |
Legal advice in respect Judicial Review of Consent to Operate Corrib pipeline |
7,334 |
|
Selgovia Ltd |
Petroleum engineering consultancy |
104,513 |
|
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis |
Peer review of analysis paper on national smoky coal ban |
5,412 |
In procuring these specialist services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence-based policy making.
506. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the broadband service being provided to persons (details supplied) will be investigated; and when high-speed broadband will be available to the location. [43397/19]
View answer509. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the broadband service being provided to a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and when high-speed broadband will be made available. [43490/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 509 together.
Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same digital opportunities as those in urban areas.
The premises referenced by the Deputy in his questions are in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.
Since the Government decision in May 2019 to appoint NBI as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan contract, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. The network deployment will commence shortly after that.
The Bidder has indicated that the NBP State intervention will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment.
A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed. In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.
The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises at the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
Work continues on finalising the contract and in parallel to this work, I am considering the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee report which was published recently. I will bring my deliberations of the report to Government in due course.
507. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the deadline for the discontinuation of the €3,800 electric vehicle purchase grants for businesses will be extended in view of the fact that there are waiting lists for electric cars that will not be physically delivered until 2020 and some businesses have signed contracts and made applications to the SEAI for grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43406/19]
View answerThe electric vehicle purchase grant provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new battery electric vehicle or new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. From the introduction of the scheme to the end of September 2019, grant support has been provided for the purchase of a total of 8,450 new vehicles to the value of almost €39 million. To date this year, over €17 million has been provided to support the purchase of 3,815 new electric vehicles. Budget 2020 will see €36 million allocated next year for electric vehicles supports. Of this, €6 million will be provided to support charging infrastructure and €30 million allocated towards purchase grants. As the whole life costs of electric vehicles reduce, the targeting of Government grant support must be adjusted to reflect this. Accordingly, the grant of up to €3,800 for businesses purchasing a new electric car will be discontinued. Businesses could continue to apply for this grant until today provided the vehicle is registered in 2019. However, I do not intend to extend this support beyond the end of this year.
Businesses purchasing electric vans can continue to avail of the grant. In addition, there is a generous benefit-in-kind tax relief available to support the purchase of battery electric vehicles by businesses. In Budget 2020, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform announced the Government's intention to extend this relief to 2022.
SEAI issues purchase grant approvals with a maximum four month period of validity. At the start of September SEAI notified dealers, who apply for grants on behalf of the purchaser, that applications would only be accepted for vehicles registered in 2019. All letters of offer issued from that point were valid until the end of 2019 only. Dealers were notified that applications would not open for vehicles to be registered in 2020 until October and no offer letters have been issued that are valid beyond the end of 2019. Purchase grant applications will open for vehicles to be registered in 2020 from tomorrow, 23 October.
510. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ireland has not ratified the protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone which Ireland signed on 1 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43510/19]
View answerThe United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) was signed in 1979 by 32 countries, including Ireland, and entered into force in 1983. It has since been extended by eight protocols that identify specific measures to be taken by Parties to cut their emissions of air pollutants, including the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone, which Ireland signed on 1 December 1999. This Protocol set national emission ceilings for 2010 up to 2020 for four pollutants: sulphur (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia (NH3). It was amended in 2012, when Fine Particulate Matter was added to the list of pollutants, and new targets were set for 2020. The 2020 targets were given effect in EU law by way of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive 2016/2284 (‘the NEC Directive’) which also goes beyond the scope of the Protocol by establishing emissions targets for 2030. Ireland transposed the NEC Directive by the enactment of the European Union (National Emissions Ceilings) Regulations 2018 (SI 232/2018).
Other requirements of the Protocol (for example in relation to combustion plants, and VOC emissions from aerosols and paints) are given effect in EU law by other EU Directives which have all been transposed into Irish law.
Compliance by Ireland with the terms of the Protocol will be achieved, prior to ratification, through compliance with this suite of EU legislation and the respective Irish transposing regulations.
512. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a new access network will impact on the subsidy provided for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43542/19]
View answerUnder EU State Aid guidelines, it is a requirement that Member States thoroughly evaluate commercial plans so as to ensure that State Aid is confined to areas of well-defined market failure, where commercial investment is unlikely to occur in the near future. My Department recently consulted publicly to close the National Broadband Plan ongoing mapping exercise, seeking submissions from operators who wish to have their existing high speed broadband networks, or who have developed plans to invest in high speed broadband networks over the next 7 years, to be included on the Department’s High Speed Broadband Map (available at www.broadband.gov.ie). Over 180 submissions have been received from a variety of stakeholders, including 30 from large and small telecoms operators, with the remainder from local authority broadband officers and members of the public. Operator submissions will be assessed against the Department’s published assessment criteria. Operators submitting planned investments were required to sign a declaration that they would enter into a Commitment Agreement with the Department if their plans satisfied the assessment criteria and were accepted by the Department as being concrete and credible.
The findings of the consultation will ensure that the State Intervention Area is up to date and reflects commercial operators’ plans and the responses from householders and businesses, in advance of a contract being signed later this year. This will be an important element in concluding the State Aid approval process with the EU Commission.
513. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a recent settlement and agreement to consult on the matter of the appropriate level of costs for FTTH connections will impact on the subsidy for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43543/19]
View answerFollowing the settlement reached between the independent regulator ComReg and Sky Ireland Limited (“Sky”) in respect of proceedings related to aspects of ComReg Decision D10/18, I understand that ComReg has confirmed that it plans to publish (Q1 2020) a consultation that will, inter-alia, address the design and costs associated with the provision of fibre access network, and prices for a number of existing access products. According to ComReg, the consultation will consider the appropriate level of costs of FTTH connections and migrations. The requirements relating to the cost to connect premises in the NBP intervention area are governed by the NBP contract. The standard wholesale connection charge that will apply in the case of a connection for a house or business to the NBP network will be a one-off charge of €100 (ex VAT). As is the norm with connection charges for access to wholesale networks such as the NBP network, National Broadband Ireland will charge the retail service provider (such as eir, Vodafone, Sky, Imagine etc) this fee and it will be a matter for the retailer as to whether or not it passes this one-off cost to the consumer.
514. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of e-fibre broadband to a premises (details supplied) which is subject to the provision of the State-led intervention under the national broadband plan; when it is envisaged that e-fibre broadband will be available at this location; the status of the deployment of the national broadband plan in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43590/19]
View answerEvery home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same digital opportunities as those in urban areas. The specific premises referenced by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.
With regard to Co Tipperary the table below sets out, as of Quarter 2 2019, the number of premises in Co Tipperary where access to a high speed broadband connection is, or will be, delivered by commercial operators (BLUE/LIGHT BLUE) and those where access to this vital service will be delivered under the State led intervention (AMBER)
.
|
County |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
Premises within eir planned rural deployment |
Total |
|
Tipperary |
30,306 (36.07%) |
50,816 (60.47%) |
2,909 (3.46%) |
84,031 |
Since the Government decision in May 2019 to appoint NBI as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan contract, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. The network deployment will commence shortly after that.
The Bidder has indicated that the NBP State intervention will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment. A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed. In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.
The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises at the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
Work continues on finalising the contract and in parallel to this work, I am considering the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee report which was published recently. I will bring my deliberations of the report to Government in due course.
515. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the contract for the national broadband plan will be signed to deliver on the commitment to provide high-speed broadband to 550,000 homes and businesses; the timeline for the provision of broadband to all 550,000 homes and businesses from the signing of the contract to completion of roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/19]
View answerSince the Government decision in May to appoint NBI as the Preferred Bidder for the National Broadband Plan contract, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. The Bidder will commence the deployment of the network shortly after that. The Bidder has indicated that the network rollout will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment. A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed.
In the first year of roll out, approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points will be deployed across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 Broadband Connection Points will be deployed in each county. Broadband Connection Points will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.
The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises by the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
In parallel to the work of finalising the contract, I am considering the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee report, which was published recently. I will bring my deliberations of the report to Government in due course.
My Department has also recently undertaken a mapping consultation to ensure that the State Intervention Area is up to date and reflects operators’ plans and the responses from householders and businesses, with the outcome of this consultation informing the State Aid notification to the European Commission in relation to the NBP.
