Written Answers Nos. 239-262
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to further streamline the application process for work permits with particular reference to the issuing of decisions in a quick manner, therefore avoiding unnecessary delays for businesses in hiring the appropriate staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44644/20]
View answerIn March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of my Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate throughout the crisis. Since 30th March, the employment permit system has been operating fully remotely and online.
Operational practices have been adjusted to replace the paper-based elements of the service to allow for a fully online process involving electronic/scanned documents and all decisions/outcomes now issue via e-mail rather than by post. Agreement was reached with the Immigration Service Delivery in the Department of Justice and Equality on arrangements to introduce, on a temporary basis, a type of “e-employment permit” and a similar soft copy process to transition to permanent residence permission.
At the end of November 2020, Employment Permits Section issued 15,296 permits. This figure is only slightly lower than the number of permits issued for the same period during 2019, which was 15,335. The current processing waiting times for trusted partner applications is 1 week and for standard applications 4 weeks, which is within our ambitious customer service targets of 2 and 4 weeks respectively, and is a considerable improvement on the waiting times at the start of March 2020 when they were 6 and 13 weeks respectively.
Full details in relation to the contingency arrangements introduced by the Employment Permits Section in response to the pandemic can be accessed on my Department's website through the following link: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/COVID-19-Employment-Permits-System-Contingency-Arrangements.html.
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he expects the island of Ireland in its entirety to remain an attractive location for foreign direct investment post-Brexit and into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44608/20]
View answerWhile COVID-19 is the most significant challenge to our ongoing efforts to sustain and grow foreign direct investment in Ireland, Brexit remains a significant challenge for our economy.
IDA Ireland has been working hard with its client base, over several years, to help mitigate Brexit-related risks that could impact on foreign direct investment in Ireland and to help their clients here respond to any Brexit-related issues they may have. We want overseas firms that already have a presence here to stay well into the future.
In addition, ever since the UK referendum in June 2016, the Agency has been seeking to realise opportunities to attract further Brexit-related investment to Ireland. These efforts have yielded impressive results and the Agency has won 92 Brexit-related investments with an associated jobs potential of 5,900.
Furthermore, the IDA has taken steps to diversify its source markets for foreign direct investment. The Agency has restructured its European operations to treat the UK as a separate market and will also deploy additional resources in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. The IDA has also opened a new Toronto office, which reflects the strong growth in investment from Canada.
IDA Ireland continues to emphasise the core elements of Ireland’s value proposition for foreign direct investment. Our strengths – including our pro-enterprise policy environment, highly-educated English-speaking workforce and our membership of the European Union – remain attractive to international investors and IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with international clients, from a range of sectors, to attract job-rich investment from overseas firms.
Retaining and strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a first-class destination for foreign direct investment remains fundamentally important to our economic model. I am confident that multinationals will continue to locate or expand further in Ireland in the years ahead.
241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he continues to support and drive the creation of new enterprises in the indigenous sector nationally with particular reference to the need to encourage the generation of employment in all regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44609/20]
View answerThe Enterprise Ireland Regional plan, “Powering the Regions” was developed within the context of the EI Corporate Strategy “Build Scale Expand Reach 2017 – 2020”, and places the regions at the heart of economic growth in Ireland. The Regional plan identifies new “National Initiatives” which are impactful and will develop regions of scale. The overarching plan is underpinned by nine specific regional plans. Each plan incorporates national initiatives to grow and sustain economic growth in every region in Ireland. The Regional Plan together with the implementation of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund will help build productivity and resilience in the regional enterprise base.
Over €20 million was invested in Local Enterprise Office clients and start-ups last year, up from €18.2 million in 2018. The Local Enterprise Offices make a significant contribution to boosting local economies across the country. They are helping to create jobs in every area across Ireland with funding, supports and expert guidance. Year on year my Department has increased our support for the Local Enterprise Offices and we will continue to support them and ensure that training, mentoring and financial support is available to our small businesses and entrepreneurs in all counties helping them to plan, start and grow.
242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the full extent of supports made available to the manufacturing and services sectors, including tourism and events based in County Kildare since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak; the number of jobs protected directly or indirectly in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44610/20]
View answerI am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government offers as much assistance and support as possible. A comprehensive range of measures is in place for manufacturing and service firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. Further listing of supports is available on my Department’s website.
The Employment Wage Support Scheme was announced as part of Budget 2021 to assist employers in keeping their staff on the payroll. This economy-wide support provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers.
The Revenue Commissioners COVID Restrictions Support Scheme offers a targeted, timely and temporary sector-specific support to businesses forced to close or trade at significantly reduced levels due to COVID-19 of up to €5,000 per week. For those businesses that unfortunately have had to stay closed, three double weeks of the CRSS will be paid, in recognition that December is normally the busiest time of the year for many businesses.
As part of Budget 2021, my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD announced details of €1,081,818,000 gross funding allocated to her department for 2021, covering a range of robust new funding streams and measures to ensure the survival and recovery of businesses and operations in sectors overseen by the department.
These measures include a new €55m support fund for strategic tourism businesses, a new €50m support for live entertainment to include a range of supports for live entertainment events to take place in 2021 in venues across the country, other measures to support music, and a new grant scheme for equipment and €130m for the Arts Council.
We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the new €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. We are continuing to see strong take-up of the range of supports available for businesses, in particular of the cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the new €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. There has also been a surge in applications for Enterprise Ireland’s Sustaining Enterprise Fund, the non-repayable grant element of that Scheme is proving particularly attractive to company’s seeking urgent working capital.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Enterprise Ireland has paid €4.5 million to client companies in Kildare to support the implementation of their business plans to improve competitiveness, drive innovation and support internationalisation activity.
Enterprise Ireland, on behalf of my Department, ran two competitive calls for funding for the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme to assist companies to achieve a step change in online capability. This fund was open to retailers who had 10 or more full-time employees and had the potential to sustain or create jobs, generate growth in online transactions and with an ambition to internationalise their business in future. 19 retail companies from Kildare received funding totalling €721k to support the implementation of their plan to optimise their online presence to ensure domestic and international visibility.
Enterprise Ireland’s Centre of Excellence is currently engaging with each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in regard to the 2020 Annual Employment Survey for which data on job numbers will be collected and collated in the new year and published in Q1 2021.
I will continue to work with my colleagues to monitor the schemes of our Departments and to identify practical actions to protect jobs, help businesses and build their resilience through this unprecedented time.
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department have identified the most likely springboard for economic recovery in the wake of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44611/20]
View answerThe National Economic Plan will set out the Government’s policy objectives for economic recovery post Brexit and Covid-19 and a pathway and to shape and build a renewed economy for the future.
A two-pronged approach will be pursued to underpin economic recovery encompassing a renewed focus on domestic SMEs, which is critical to a broad-based jobs-led economic recovery, whilst leveraging the enormous strength and potential of the Foreign Direct Investment sector.
Boosting productivity and international competitiveness in Irish businesses and accelerating the diversification of Irish exports as they adapt to a changed environment after Brexit will be required. Seizing opportunities arising from decarbonisation and technological development will also be paramount. An SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan will be published shortly which will help to inform policy in driving internationalisation, productivity, and digitalisation and employment opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland’s Strategic framework will include a range of actions to strengthen Irish enterprise, including actions to drive transformational change and the pace of innovation and scale and grow the export and start-up base. Similarly, the new forthcoming IDA Ireland Strategy for 2021-2024 and a revised trade strategy, will seek to bolster FDI and trade, with associated economic impacts.
A competitive business environment to underpin Ireland’s attractiveness as a location to do business encompassing a conducive tax environment, cost competitiveness, and availability and diversity of finance options for businesses will play an important part in economic recovery. Investment in R&D to drive enterprise innovation and adoption of digital and other new technologies will also to underpin enterprise goals around productivity, export growth and diversification. Digital transformation of the manufacturing sector and its supply chain will drive national productivity gains and underpin sustainability of high-quality jobs and export-led economic growth.
Education and skills will be central to recovery ensuring that workers, particularly young people and those whose jobs are impacted by structural changes to the economy and labour market and are empowered to prosper in a changing world.
244. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out plan for the national broadband scheme. [44547/20]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie , shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November 2019 with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
I am advised by NBI that, as of 11 December 2020, over 149,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network.
This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area. Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This informs design solutions for provision of the fibre network to each and every premises in the surveyed area and leads to detailed designs. Survey data is also needed to initiate pre-works which pave the way for the deploying of fibre. Pre-works involve construction of new duct routes, erection of poles, building chambers and tree trimming. On completion of these pre-works, the main construction works can commence. This involves deploying fibre overhead on poles and in underground ducts, splicing of fibre, and unblocking of ducts. Once the main construction works are completed and the appropriate level of testing has been undertaken, the fibre network can be commissioned and end users can order their connection.
Further details are available on specific premises through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 14 December, 221 publicly accessible BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. It is expected that some 200 public access BCP sites and 70 primary school BCPs will be connected by the end of Q1 2021.
School BCPs will be provided with high speed broadband, for educational use only, through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Education and Skills. Some 60 schools have been installed with high speed broadband for educational access and 25 of these are now connected and live. My Department will work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
245. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is considering plans to extend the broadband connection points programme to additional primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44576/20]
View answerBroadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 14 December, 221 publicly accessible BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Education for schools. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. The schools BCP initiative applies to primary schools in the intervention area. The intervention area was determined following a mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where State intervention is required to ensure high speed broadband is available.
Some 70 schools across the country in the Intervention Area will become Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) by the end of Q1 2021, receiving 150mb high-speed connectivity for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was recently announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by the end of 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. The connections to high speed broadband will be a mixture of BCP technology and fibre to the premises, depending on the wider deployment plan with the quickest method being utilised. Under the originally-planned rollout, some schools would have had to wait up to seven years for connection - now, all schools will be connected within two years. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
246. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the operation and eligibility criteria of the 2020 trading online voucher scheme; the breakdown of the allocation and number of recipients by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44198/20]
View answerThe Trading Online Voucher Scheme is managed by my Department and delivered nationwide in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Enterprise Ireland, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Scheme offers advice and peer-to-peer support and a grant of up to €2,500 to help small and micro-businesses to develop their ecommerce capability. To be eligible to apply under the Scheme an applicant business must have a limited online trading presence; 10 or less employees; turnover of less than €2m;and must be trading for at least 6 months.
The Scheme was launched nationally in mid-2014. By end 2019, some 6,400 small and micro businesses had completed, or were in the process of completing their trading online projects. In addition, 19,000 or so business owners-managers had benefitted from advice and peer-to-peer support through their participation in the information seminars delivered by the LEOs under the Scheme.
In response to Covid-19, funding for the Scheme in 2020 was increased from €2.3m to €39.8m, and new flexibilities were introduced including reducing the requirement for co-funding and allowing businesses to apply for a second voucher where they have successfully utilised their first one.
The table below outlines the number of applications received and applications approved under the Scheme by the LEOs over the period 1 January to 9 December 2020, and value of such approvals.
Trading Online Voucher Scheme - 1 January 2020 to 9 December 2020
|
LEOs |
Applications received |
Applications Approved |
Value of Approvals € |
|
Carlow |
189 |
155 |
347,190 |
|
Cavan |
189 |
146 |
348,632 |
|
Clare |
395 |
381 |
952,500 |
|
Cork City |
606 |
507 |
1,193,952 |
|
Cork N/W |
494 |
440 |
1,021,564 |
|
South Cork |
622 |
473 |
1,108,844 |
|
Donegal |
508 |
437 |
1,054,242 |
|
Dublin City |
1,227 |
1,051 |
2,545,878 |
|
South Dublin |
1,199 |
594 |
1,485,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
746 |
713 |
1,617,041 |
|
Fingal |
849 |
746 |
1,743,524 |
|
Galway |
1,116 |
608 |
1,520,000 |
|
Kerry |
636 |
451 |
1,041,270 |
|
Kildare |
639 |
592 |
1,387,863 |
|
Kilkenny |
302 |
282 |
655,660 |
|
Laois |
235 |
162 |
377,468 |
|
Leitrim |
175 |
151 |
366,831 |
|
Limerick |
521 |
444 |
1,028,656 |
|
Longford |
131 |
112 |
266,040 |
|
Louth |
408 |
320 |
761,264 |
|
Mayo |
423 |
411 |
932,669 |
|
Meath |
651 |
416 |
991,685 |
|
Monaghan |
147 |
122 |
284,818 |
|
Offaly |
164 |
132 |
314,038 |
|
Roscommon |
226 |
222 |
519,139 |
|
Sligo |
289 |
267 |
623,891 |
|
Tipperary |
401 |
340 |
791,195 |
|
Waterford |
420 |
393 |
916,947 |
|
Westmeath |
305 |
257 |
608,812 |
|
Wexford |
495 |
458 |
1,049,177 |
|
Wicklow |
472 |
400 |
983,761 |
|
Total |
15,180 |
12,183 |
28,839,551 |
Responsibility for the Scheme will transfer from my Department to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at the end of the month.
247. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44325/20]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. Budget 2021 provided €109 million in capital funding to support lower income households to retrofit their homes with €100 million of this funding allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents a €47 million increase on the 2020 allocation and is the highest ever budget for the scheme. There are currently over 7,000 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. 284 of these homes are in County Wexford. This includes homes that are: currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor, or are awaiting the initial survey of their home. Eligible homes are allocated on a first come, first served basis, and the average time between application and allocation to a contractor is now 22 months. The wait time is a result of strong demand for what is an extremely popular scheme. The work programme was also negatively impacted by Covid-19, particularly between March and June when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines.
In addition to the increased budget, capacity by the industry to deliver more activity has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel to provide works which commenced last month. Recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need will also be finalised shortly.
248. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes and premises in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively, that are still awaiting connection to broadband under the national broadband plan. [44372/20]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed in November 2019 to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. In County Laois there are 39,721 premises of which 12,510 (31%) are in the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan. In County Offaly there are 37,255 premises of which 12,194 (33%) are in the intervention area. The NBP deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties, including Laois and Offaly, within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
|
COUNTY |
Total Premises |
No. of premises within the Intervention Area for the NBP |
% |
|
Laois |
39,721 |
12,510 |
31% |
|
Offaly |
37,255 |
12,194 |
33% |
I am advised by NBI that, as of 11 December 2020, over 149,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. Surveys in County Laois have been completed around Portlaoise and in the areas of Rossbaun, Borris-On-Osssary and Coolowley. Surveys in County Offaly have been completed in the areas of Brosna, Shinrone, Mount Heaton and areas close to the county border with Tipperary. The next step is for NBI to develop network designs to deliver the new fibre to the home network to these premises, followed by pre build and build works.
Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This informs design solutions for provision of the fibre network to each and every premises in the surveyed area and leads to detailed designs. The detailed designs are then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with Open eir for the area, where Open eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose and the make ready of other required infrastructure. This step also informs decisions on equipment ordering. Survey data is also needed to initiate pre-works which pave the way for the deploying of fibre. Pre-works involve construction of new duct routes, erection of poles, building chambers, and tree trimming. On completion of these pre-works, the main construction works can commence. This involves deploying fibre overhead on poles and in underground ducts, splicing of fibre, and unblocking of ducts. Once the main construction works are completed and the appropriate level of testing has been undertaken, the fibre network can be commissioned and end users can order their connection.
Further details are available on specific areas within Counties Laois and Offaly through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 14 December, 221 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education for schools. 59 publicly accessible BCPs across the country are now live. BCP locations installed and connected in Co Laois include Emo Community Centre, Vicarstown Community Centre and Oisin House Rossmore. BCPs installed and connected in Co Offaly include Kilclonfert Community Centre Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre, Primo Coaches and Croghan Community Hall. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Killadooley National School and Gaelscoil an Tali Dála in Co. Laois have been installed by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative and St Joseph's National School and Shanganamore National School are now installed and connected. In Co. Offaly, Shinrone National School is now installed and connected. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026.
249. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department developed a comprehensive policy on the use of biomass for generating power. [44373/20]
View answerMy Department has previously supported biomass for generating power through the Renewable Electricity Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) schemes which have been closed for several years. These have since been replaced by the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), which is a series of competitive auctions. The results of the first RESS auction were approved by Government in September 2020, which consisted of 479MW of onshore wind energy projects and 796MW of solar energy projects. The RESS design has taken into consideration sustainability criteria and electricity efficiency standards contained in the revised Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001 EU). As such only High Efficiency Combined Heat and Power (HE-CHP) boilers fuelled by biomass are eligible to enter the auctions.
The Government is committed to the rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector and will take the necessary action to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030.
250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will allow Bord Na Móna to collect and segregate used timber to be used as biomass for power generation as is happening in other jurisdictions. [44374/20]
View answerDecisions regarding the sourcing of biomass are an operational matter for Bord na Móna and not one in which I have any function. It is unclear what is meant by used timber; all biomass would, however, have to meet EU-wide sustainability criteria which have been introduced in the revised Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001 EU).
251. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the issue of the sourcing of peat for the horticulture sector (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44404/20]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 205 of 10 December 2020. As set out in that reply, insofar as the availability of supplies for horticulture use in 2021 is concerned, officials from my Department will engage with their counterparts in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter and on the potential longer term solutions for the sector. However, the sourcing of peat for horticulture use is not a matter in which I have any function.
252. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress expected in rolling out the national broadband plan in 2021 throughout County Cavan; the areas that will benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44411/20]
View answer253. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress expected in rolling out the national broadband plan in 2021 throughout County Monaghan; the areas that will benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44412/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed in November 2019 to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. In County Cavan, there are 42,250 premises of which 16.242 (38%) are within the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan. In County Monaghan, there are 33,404 premises of which 15,282 (46%) are within the intervention area. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
I am advised by NBI that, as of 11 December 2020, over 149,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. Surveys have been completed in County Cavan in the areas of Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles, Caughoo, Belturbet, Killashandra and Butler’s Bridge. Build works have commenced outside Cavan town including at Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles and Caughoo. Surveys have been completed in County Monaghan in the areas of Cornacassa, Cortolvin, Ballybay and Stranooden. Other areas due to commence include Mullinahinch, Bellanode, Drumhilock, Tydavnet, Cloughnart, Scotstown and Killymarley.
I am advised that NBI is targeting the following indicative dates for further surveying in Cavan and Monaghan within the next 18 months.
|
Cavan Deployment Area |
No. of Premises |
Timelines |
Monaghan Deployment Area |
No. of Premises |
Timelines |
|
Kilnaleck |
3,161 |
2021 Q4 |
Emmyvale |
1,551 |
2021 Q2 |
|
Cootehill |
3.709 |
2022 Q2 |
Clones |
1,870 |
2021 Q2 |
|
|
|
|
Carrickmacross |
3,243 |
2021 Q4 |
Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This informs design solutions for provision of the fibre network to each and every premises in the surveyed area and leads to detailed designs. The detailed designs are then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with Open eir for the area, where Open eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose and the make ready of other required infrastructure. This step also informs decisions on equipment ordering. Survey data is also needed to initiate pre-works which pave the way for the deploying of fibre. Pre-works involve construction of new duct routes, erection of poles, building chambers, and tree trimming. On completion of these pre-works, the main construction works can commence. This involves deploying fibre overhead on poles and in underground ducts, splicing of fibre, and unblocking of ducts. Once the main construction works are completed and the appropriate level of testing has been undertaken, the fibre network can be commissioned and end users can order their connection.
Further details are available on specific areas within Cavan and Monaghan through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 14 December, 221 publicly accessible BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Gallonray House Gallonreagh Maudabawn, Kildallan Parish Hall, Killenkere Leisure Centre, Castle Saunderson Scout Centre, Bunnoe Community Centre, Drumavaddy Community Centre, Templeport Community Centre, Cornafean Community Centre, Mullahoran Community Centre and Glengevlin Community Hall are BCPs which are now installed by NBI in Co. Cavan. A further BCP at Castlerahan Community Centre is now installed and connected. Corduff Community Centre, Tannagh Outdoor Education Centre, Corcaghan Community Centre, Carn Resource Centre, Mullyash Community Centre, Monaghan GAA Centre of Excellence are installed by NBI in Co. Monaghan with Saint Alphonsus Community Hall, Ballybay Wetlands and Latton Resource Centre installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Drumgossatt National School in Co Monaghan is connected for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
254. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with telecommunications providers and the communications regulator on the need to improve mobile telephone coverage in different parts of the country, including areas in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44413/20]
View answerProviding telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services and make specific investments in particular locations. In relation to mobile coverage, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at this link), which can help consumers choose the network provider that best meets their needs for where they live, work and travel. ComReg has also published the results of tests carried out on mobile/smartphone handsets currently available in Ireland (available at this link). These findings will further allow consumers to make informed decisions based on the handsets which best address their needs. These actions arose from discussions of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, established in 2016.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. It has completed over 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers, and continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of essential infrastructure in rural areas, including in counties Cavan and Monaghan. The Taskforce will continue its work in the context of its inclusion in the Programme for Government, in ensuring access to high quality telecommunications connectivity across Ireland to support social and economic development.
255. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out an analysis of the impact which current low afforestation rates in 2020 will have on Ireland meeting its climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44420/20]
View answer256. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that afforestation rates for 2020 are only at 2,000 ha; the impact this will have on climate targets for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44421/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
Forestry provides verifiable removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, and will help in meeting our EU commitments over the period 2021 to 2030. The Climate Action Plan 2019 identifies how Ireland will achieve its 2030 targets for carbon emissions, and puts us on a trajectory which would be consistent with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Under the Climate Action Plan, an afforestation target for the decade has been established of 8,000 hectares a year. While contributions from afforestation increase as trees age, the current afforestation rates will need to significantly increase if we are to achieve what is set out in the Climate Action Plan.
The Programme for Government outlines a range of commitments that are aimed at increasing afforestation rates in a manner that is equitable, sustainable and that promotes climate action and environmental protection. As part of this suite of forestry actions, the Government will take a range of measures including:
- Publishing a successor forestry programme to deliver an ambitious afforestation plan reviewing grant and premium rates across all categories in this area, with a particular focus on an increased farmer rate of support.
- Incorporating afforestation into the new Common Agricultural Policy to provide incentives for farmers to plant woodland on their farms, acting as a carbon store, helping to promote wildlife corridors, and providing a future fuel source for the household.
- Embarking on an ambitious programme of afforestation on state-owned lands, building on the Coillte/Bord na Móna initiatives.
- Promoting close to nature-continuous cover forestry systems to ultimately create permanent bio-diverse forests containing trees of all ages.
- Providing increased support for the development of agroforestry/silvopasture on Irish farmlands.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his Department are working urgently to accelerate the pace at which licences are issued through a robust system that meets all of the legal and environmental requirements.
257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an agreement is in place with the UK authorities to ensure there will be no imposition of mobile telephone roaming charges from 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44440/20]
View answerEU "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) came into effect on 15 June 2017 and provides Irish and EU consumers with the ability to use their mobile devices, within other EU countries, at domestic rates, subject to Fair Use Policy. The RLAH regulation covers data services, voice and SMS. ComReg (http://www.comreg.ie), the independent telecoms regulator, is responsible for ensuring that all providers meet relevant obligations in areas such as roaming alerts. ComReg also has information for customers in relation to roaming on their website:(https://www.comreg.ie/consumer-information/roaming).
My Department is in ongoing contact with industry and with ComReg and even in a situation where a Brexit deal was not reached at the end of the transition period, no change in consumers' experience of using their mobile phone on the island of Ireland is anticipated. While this is primarily a commercial matter for industry, telecoms operators have indicated that they do not have any plans to change current arrangements and will continue to apply the current roam like at home regime from January 2021 onwards.
258. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the time frame for enacting policy on fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44490/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government recognises that as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals that import fracked gas. The Programme for Government commits to developing a policy statement to establish that approach. My Department is in the process of developing the policy statement which includes consideration of any necessary legal and regulatory provisions. This includes detailed examination of the European energy and environmental frameworks, in which our national laws operate, to ensure the policy statement will be legally robust. Once finalised, I intend to bring the policy statement to Government for approval, and anticipate this will be in early 2021.
259. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a total ban on smoky coal and make Ireland a smokeless zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44524/20]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question Number 33 of 9 December. The position is unchanged.
260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44559/20]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
Our investigations indicate that eir have now delivered fibre to some of the premises in the estate referred to but have encountered civil issues with underground ducting, leaving some premises unserved. My Department has raised a query with eir to request further clarification on its next steps and associated timeframe to resolve the issue. As soon as a reply is received my Department will revert to the Deputy with a further update.
261. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ensure the Commission for Communications Regulation has adequate powers to ensure a decent standard of care for customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44580/20]
View answerComReg currently has a suite of enforcement and sanction powers available to it in regulating the telecommunications sector. Transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code, a new European regulatory framework will include, inter alia, certain additional provisions relating to strengthening end user rights. In delivering its mandate, ComReg currently has a significant team working on customer facing issues and has a high degree of transparency in relation to its work in this area, including providing information on its website which is available at www.comreg.ie. The regulator continues to actively use its statutory powers to assist affected customers in resolving their complaints, and to exert pressure on any service providers which fail to meet adequate standards of customer care, in order to ensure matters are improved.
I understand that ComReg is also currently considering whether it would be possible to place additional obligations on service providers. This includes consideration of what, if any, further legislative or non-legislative changes that may be necessary and appropriate.
262. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average 4G mobile coverage by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44589/20]
View answerProviding telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Obligations in relation to mobile coverage are set out in licences granted by Comreg to the mobile operators and ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded considerably by all operators. The regulator is currently preparing detailed award proposals for wireless broadband services under the proposed Multiband Spectrum Award process to commence next year and has commissioned studies and technical reports to inform its approach and its consideration of appropriate coverage and rollout obligations in that context. These studies are available at www.comreg.ie.
In relation to mobile coverage, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at this link), which can help consumers choose the network provider that best meets their needs for where they live, work and travel. ComReg has also published the results of tests carried out on mobile/smartphone handsets currently available in Ireland (available at this link). These findings will further allow consumers to make informed decisions based on the handsets which best address their needs. These actions arose from discussions of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, established in 2016.
Since 2016, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. It has completed over 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers, and continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of essential infrastructure in rural areas. The Taskforce will continue its work in the context of its inclusion in the Programme for Government, in ensuring access to high quality telecommunications connectivity across Ireland to support social and economic development.
