Written Answers Nos. 1-21
1. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider the increased roll-out of the restart grant from local authorities for businesses in the hospitality sector as a result of the continued Covid-19 related closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4787/21]
View answerThe Restart Grant Plus Scheme, which closed to new application on 31st October, was only one part of the wider range of schemes available to firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.
The Revenue Commissioners’ Covid Restrictions Support Scheme, or ‘CRSS’, effectively replaced the Restart Grant Plus as part of Budget 2021. The CRSS 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. Accordingly, there are currently no plans to reopen the Restart Grant Plus Scheme to further applications.
The level of assistance now being provided to businesses across all sectors is unprecedented and ahead of that available in other jurisdictions, and we have sought to ensure that we had an appropriate mix of measures in place to support workers and businesses, so businesses can reopen and restore employment as we suppress the COVID-19 virus.
A regularly updated list of enterprise measures for businesses is available on my Department’s website.
2. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any research or analysis will be made available carried out by his Department or a body working with or on behalf of his Department on the environmental impact of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4962/21]
View answerThe EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, commonly known as CETA, is one of the EU’s new generation of progressive free trade agreements. CETA is designed to benefit EU and Canadian companies through improved trade flows in support of increased employment for our citizens. The elimination of tariffs, reduced trade barriers and simplified customs procedures that flow from CETA all make it easier and cheaper for Irish companies of all sizes to export to Canada and vice versa. Outside of Europe, the US and China, Canada is our largest indigenous export market with more than 400 Enterprise Ireland clients doing business in the Canadian market employing over 6,000 people.
Diversifying trade is an important part of our Brexit response and it will be an important factor in our recovery post-pandemic. To this end, the best way to achieve export growth and market diversification is by improving market access and reducing costs of entering those markets which is what CETA is designed to achieve. Given our historic ties with Canada, Ireland’s enterprises are particularly well placed to benefit from CETA.
At EU level, a Sustainability Impact Assessment relating to the negotiation of CETA was carried out by Development Solutions. This study provided a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of trade liberalisation under CETA. The impact analysis assessed the economic, social and environmental impacts in Canada and the European Union, in three main sectors, sixteen sub-sectors and seven cross-cutting issues. In addition to examining potential gains from removing factors affecting the free flow of goods, services and capital, consideration was given to areas such as labour mobility, government procurement, intellectual property rights, telecommunications services and electronic commerce. Overall the impact assessment found that the sustainability impacts to Canada and the European Union would not be significant. The European Commission published the final report in June 2011 which is available online at https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/september/tradoc_148201.pdf.
As part of the finalising of the Agreement, the EU and Canada also agreed a legally binding Joint Interpretative Instrument (JII) that was added to CETA to provide further assurances in relation to public services, labour rights, environmental protection and investment. CETA does not affect EU rules on food safety or the environment. Neither does it restrict the EU or Canada from passing new laws in areas of public interest such as the environment, and health and safety. Importantly, in CETA both sides also agree that more trade and investment should not be at the expense of environmental protection and labour rights. On the contrary, the EU and Canada are committed to ensuring that CETA helps ensure that economic growth, social development, and environmental protection go hand in hand.
At a national level, my Department has commissioned econometric modelling on the impacts of CETA. On a bilateral basis, Ireland’s exports to Canada are estimated to be 31% higher in 2030 than they would have been in the absence of CETA. The analysis also finds that Ireland’s GDP is estimated be 0.2 percent higher in 2030 than would have been the case in a baseline scenario without CETA. It further finds total global exports from Ireland are expected to be 0.7 percent higher in 2030 as a result of CETA. In addition, the current modelling estimates that, given that existing average tariffs on exports to Canada are relatively low (0.3% weighted average), the main benefits for Irish exporters stemming from CETA arise from a 10 percent reduction in non-tariff barrier costs on Ireland’s exports to Canada.
Furthermore, the EU produces an FTA Annual Implementation Report which identifies progress with FTA deliverables and which can inform further actions if required. Finally, in July 2020 the European Commission appointed a Chief Trade Enforcement Officer who is tasked with overseeing effective implementation and observance of commitments in our EU FTAs, including CETA, which includes strengthening the enforcement of sustainable development commitments, notably in relation to the climate agenda and labour rights.
3. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if special exemptions were given to supermarkets that also sell homeware to allow for click and collect during level 5 given that this seems to be the case in a particular store. [4583/21]
View answerS.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/) clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5. A list of essential services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/ and the list of essential retail outlets at Level 5 can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/.
Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. Further information can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/.
Under the current temporary restrictions click and collect from non-essential retail outlets is no longer permitted. Click or phone and deliver will continue.
Retailers can and have made arrangements, on compassionate grounds, for individual customers to urgently purchase a non-essential item in store. This is only in exceptional circumstances where it is not possible to plan ahead and avail of remote ordering services such as in emergencies, e.g., admission to hospital.
We are asking retailers to fully get behind the spirit of the regulations. In particular, we are asking retailers with mixed retail offering, including supermarkets, which have discrete spaces for essential and non-essential retail to make arrangements for the separation of relevant areas.
An Garda Síochána are engaging with retailers and enforcing the regulations where necessary.
We are asking retailers to operate staggered opening and closing hours, as well as facilitating starting and finishing hours, in order to minimise the impact on public transport and to continue to provide dedicated hours for vulnerable customers.
We are also asking retailers to exercise their best judgement and common sense on a case by case basis, to ensure those requiring urgent access to a non-essential item are accommodated.
Level 5 does not restrict people from purchasing any product, it does however restrict people from physically going into non-essential stores. This is to stop people making unnecessary journeys, congregating and browsing for non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus.
My colleague Minister English is meeting regularly with representatives from the retail, grocery and distribution sector to continuously assess adherence to the public health restrictions, including the segregation of essential and non-essential items. In addition, my Department has issued reminders about this on both twitter and Linkedin
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) ‘The Work Safely Protocol’ incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces. The Protocol is available on www.gov.ie. The HSA is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.
In addition, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) have also produced two guidance documents, one for the retail Sector and one for Shopping Centres. Both documents can be found on www.nsai.ie.
I would like to thank retailers and their customers for their efforts at this difficult time. By each of us following the spirit of these new rules and working together we can hopefully return to a lower level of the Living with COVID-19 framework.
4. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the protections in place to ensure the .ie web domain is protected post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4636/21]
View answer5. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if businesses retain a .ie web domain if they are not based in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4637/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
Now that the UK has formally left the EU single market on 1 January 2021, Irish consumers who are considering making online purchases are advised to exercise additional care.
A website with a .ie domain name, does not necessarily mean that the entity which owns and operates the website is based in Ireland.
My Department has no function in relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy.
In 2000, legislation was enacted giving the then Minister for Public Enterprise the power to make regulations regarding the registration of .ie domain names. In 2007 this power was transferred to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions.
6. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consumers are protected if they order goods from a .ie web domain and then are faced with customs charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4638/21]
View answer10. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the guidance being given to consumers looking to buy from .ie domain names but are then being charged custom duties on items being shipped from the UK. [4822/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 10 together.
Now that the UK has formally left the EU single market on 1 January 2021, Irish consumers who are considering making online purchases are advised to exercise additional care.
A website with a .ie domain name, does not necessarily mean that the entity which owns and operates the website is based in Ireland.
ComReg appointed We Are Ireland Online.ie (www.weare.ie) as the relevant authority to register .ie domain names in accordance with Section 32. (4)(a) of the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007. In order to register a .ie domain name, traders must apply to We Are Ireland Online.ie through their online application process. As part of their registration requirements, applicants must only have a connection to Ireland and be able to provide documentation to prove that connection. Therefore, websites with a .ie registration may not necessarily prove that the trader is based in Ireland.
Irish consumers should check the terms and conditions applying to purchases and verify where the trader is actually based. If an Irish consumer buys from a trader based outside the EU, then their purchases may attract additional taxes and charges when the items are landed in this country.
If Irish consumers purchase goods from UK online retailers, there is the possibility that additional costs above the purchase price of the good displayed by the UK retailer on their website may apply and that this will incur extra costs and perhaps red tape for the Irish consumer. Irish consumers have been advised that:
- only goods of proven UK origin are tariff free;
- goods bought from the UK but not of UK origin that cost more than €150 may be subject to customs duty when landed in Ireland;
- Irish VAT will apply on goods bought in the UK that cost more than €22; and
- where UK VAT has been charged on the purchase of goods, Irish VAT will still apply when the good(s) is imported into Ireland. If an Irish consumer is charged UK VAT on their transaction, they will need to seek a refund of such VAT directly from the supplier.
Concerning consumer rights, Irish consumers should be aware that EU consumer protection legislation that applies to goods bought in the EU single market.
The CCPC, in conjunction with other relevant State bodies, have been conducting information and awareness campaigns to remind Irish consumers of the changes and disruptions that they may encounter when dealing with UK online retailers after 1 January 2021. I would encourage Irish consumers to think ahead before buying and to visit the CCPC’s website (ccpc.ie) which has lots of clear and useful information on charges and consumer rights as well as helpful links to Revenue’s website (revenue.ie) which also provides information to Irish consumers who intend to purchase goods online outside the EU single market.
7. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to roll out a scheme similar to the restart and restart plus grant for rate-paying businesses following the current lockdown to ensure their survival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4673/21]
View answerWe know the serious effects on business of the current Level 5 restrictions. Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. My Department and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the difficulties caused by COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
The COVID-19 Restrictions Scheme was introduced to provide targeted compensation to those businesses directly impacted by the imposition of public health restrictions. It has advantages over the Restart and Restart Plus Grants as the amounts payable under the scheme can be varied depending on the length of time that restrictions are in place. The level of payment also reflects the turnover of the affected businesses under normal trading conditions.
In the recent Budget, the Government allocated significant additional resources to Departments to provide help to different sectors. I would highlight the €395m provided to the Department of Transport and the €222m allocated to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
These additional monies will go towards supporting businesses, including those not in receipt of the COVID-19 Restrictions Scheme, such as through the €30m for private bus operators, €55m for a focused business scheme for strategic tourism businesses along with a €50m scheme for the live entertainment sector.
These are in addition to financial assistance and other schemes provided to businesses via Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices.
I recognise that some businesses are falling between the stools and may not be eligible for CRSS. I have asked my officials to work with other relevant Departments to identify the type and number of businesses that fall outside the scope of the CRSS, and to report back to me with proposals on how we could devise an amended or new scheme.
8. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to ensure business support grants will cover non-rate paying business and the self-employed given that the enterprise support grant was not an adequate or impactful grant for the loss of revenue as a result of previous lockdowns in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4674/21]
View answerThe Enterprise Support Grant, introduced by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection was a one-off grant introduced to reimburse certain non-rate paying businesses who had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for re-opening costs up to a maximum of €1,000. My understanding is that the grant was not intended to replace lost revenues for such businesses, but instead to help those business meet certain costs such as the provision of PPE or similar costs which arose as a result of the pandemic.
At an early stage of this crisis, it became apparent that the impacts on economic activity were going to remain with us for much longer than originally anticipated. It also became clear that many businesses were incurring costs such as rent, rates, insurances, maintenance, security and other utilities, on an ongoing basis without the ability to generate the revenues required to meet these costs.
Most of these costs are associated with the running costs of a premises, while for businesses without a fixed premises, fixed costs will likely be lower as a proportion of their total expenses. That being the case, and in line with the practice in other jurisdictions, Government has designed supports aimed at meeting these fixed costs such as the Restart Grants and the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme, which require that the business operates from a commercial premises.
I acknowledge that many businesses who do not trade from a commercial premises have been severely impacted, and for those individuals and businesses, Government has already moved to provide income supports in the form of the PUP, TWSS and EWSS which are payable regardless of sector and are available to employees, sole traders and proprietary directors. Where gaps have been identified, Government has moved quickly to fill those gaps and to ensure that nobody is left behind. Indeed, amendments now allow self-employed individuals to earn up to €960 over an 8 week period and still remain eligible for the PUP.
The Deputy should also note that in the 2021 Budget, the Government allocated significant additional resources to Departments to provide help to different sectors. I would highlight the €395m provided to the Department of Transport and the €222m allocated to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
These additional monies will go towards helping businesses, including self employed and those that are not rate paying businesses, such as through the €30m for private bus operators, €55m for a focused business scheme for strategic tourism businesses along with a €50m scheme for the live entertainment sector.
These are in addition to financial assistance and other schemes provided to businesses via Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices.
9. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if click and reserve which then facilitates collection from shops is allowed in level 5. [4744/21]
View answerS.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/) clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5. A list of essential services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/ and the list of essential retail outlets at Level 5 can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/.
Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. Further information can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/.
Under the current temporary restrictions click and collect of non-essential retail items is no longer permitted. Click and collect or click and reserve services are only available for essential retail items. Click or phone and deliver will continue.
Retailers can and have made arrangements, on compassionate grounds, for individual customers to urgently purchase a non-essential item in store. This is only in exceptional circumstances where it is not possible to plan ahead and avail of remote ordering services such as in emergencies, e.g., admission to hospital.
We are asking retailers to fully get behind the spirit of the regulations. In particular, we are asking retailers with mixed retail offering, which have discrete spaces for essential and non-essential retail to make arrangements for the separation of relevant areas.
An Garda Síochána are engaging with retailers and enforcing the regulations where necessary.
We are asking retailers to operate staggered opening and closing hours, as well as facilitating starting and finishing hours, in order to minimise the impact on public transport and to continue to provide dedicated hours for vulnerable customers.
We are also asking retailers to exercise their best judgement and common sense on a case by case basis, to ensure those requiring urgent access to a non-essential item are accommodated.
Level 5 does not restrict people from purchasing any product, it does however restrict people from physically going into non-essential stores. This is to stop people making unnecessary journeys, congregating and browsing for non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus.
My colleague Damien English, Minister for Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, is meeting regularly with representatives from the retail, grocery and distribution sector to continuously assess adherence to the public health restrictions.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) ‘The Work Safely Protocol’ incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces. The Protocol is available on www.gov.ie. The HSA is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.
In addition, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) have also produced two guidance documents, one for the retail Sector and one for Shopping Centres. Both documents can be found on www.nsai.ie.
I would like to thank retailers and their customers for their efforts at this difficult time. By each of us following the spirit of these new rules and working together we can hopefully return to a lower level of the Living with COVID-19 framework.
11. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a fibre broadband service will be provided to an area (details supplied) as part of the current roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4574/21]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 22 January 2021, over 166,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. This includes surveys in Co Clare in areas around Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglas, Cloghrea, Kilkishen, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry, Broadford and Clontra with further surveys scheduled in the areas around Feakle and Corofin in the latter half of this year. Further details are available on specific areas within County Clare 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. 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 advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 22 January, 255 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. BCP’s installed and connected in Clare are Cree Community Centre, Michael Cusack Visitor Centre and Loop Head Lighthouse. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools are connected by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise 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 announced in December 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/.
12. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [4578/21]
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. My Department has, however, raised a query regarding the premises with eir, to request their response to when infrastructure is planned to be installed and when the service will be available to order. As soon as a reply is received my Department will revert to the Deputy with a update.
13. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband roll-out will reach Cuffesgrange, County Kilkenny. [4602/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract 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. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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 National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 22 January 2021, over 166,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In Kilkenny, surveys have been completed in the areas of Kilkenny, Grovine, Bennetsbridge and Cuffesgrange. Further details are available on specific areas within County Killkenny 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 advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 22 January, 255 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. BCP’s installed in Kilkenny are Graine Community Hall, Galmoy Community Centre, Ballyouskill Parish Hall and Muckalee Handball Club. Tullaghought Parish Hall and Crosspatrick Parish Hall are BCP sites that are installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Creenkill National School and St Michael's Primary School are installed by NBI and will be connected with high speed broadband for educational use through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Education as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of the schools aspect of the project was announced late last year and 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/.
14. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of inspections that have been carried out regarding compliance with the Air Pollution Act 1987 in 2019 and 2020; the number of samples taken during the period; the percentage of samples that breached the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/21]
View answerEnforcement actions under the Air Pollution Act are a matter for Local Authorities and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to inspections undertaken or enforcement actions initiated. The latest Recommended Criteria for Environmental Inspection data collated by the Environmental Protection Agency with respect to 2019 includes the following air enforcement statistics for Local Authorities:
|
Air Quality Inspections |
Total in 2019 |
|
Inspections of Air Emission Licenced Sites |
89 |
|
Total number of inspections carried out under the solid fuel regulations |
1,033 |
|
Number of multi-agency inspections carried out. |
20 |
|
Total number of fuel samples collected and analysed. |
106 |
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to further strengthen enforcement of air legislation by developing a regional approach to air quality enforcement. A coordinated approach is required given the links between burning of solid fuels and the health effects of air pollution, as well as the potential for market distortion for businesses properly adhering to the rules. Increased multi-agency inspections and enforcement, including the increased use of fixed payment notices, are required and my Department is fully committed to supporting Local Authorities in this regard.
Building on the success of other regional environmental enforcement models, I expect this Programme for Government commitment to be significantly progressed in the coming months.
15. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the public consultation in relation to the regulation of solid fuel burning will be released. [4624/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to extend the Smoky Coal Ban to new towns and, over the term of the Government, to move towards a full nationwide ban.
I have already delivered on the first part of that commitment by creating 13 new Low Smoke Zones with effect from 1 September 2020, and the ban now applies in all towns with populations in excess of 10,000 people.
The next step in the process will be a public consultation to assess views on the development of legislation to regulate the broader use of solid fuels in the residential sector. This is being done with a view to transitioning to lower polluting fuels for residential heating and will:
- assess the merits of a national approach to regulating sold fuel;
- determine which solid fuels should be regulated;
- consider how these fuels should be regulated;and
- set out an appropriate timeline for the implementation of any new regulations.
The consultation will be launched in the coming weeks and the responses received will inform the decisions to be made regarding the broadening, implementation and enforcement of the existing ban on a nationwide basis.
16. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if studies are being carried out focusing on the changes to environmental factors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the way in which Ireland may learn from these to improve policies aimed at tackling climate change. [4657/21]
View answerThe most recent report on Ireland's greenhouse gas emission projections by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in July 2020 did not reflect changes expected due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The EPA are currently undertaking research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions over the year 2020. Results of this research are expected in the coming week. It is anticipated that greenhouse gas emissions will have reduced as a result of the pandemic.
This analysis will be available to my Department in the preparation of the 2021 iteration of the Climate Action Plan. This plan will provide a roadmap of actions, including sectoral actions, to meet the climate ambition set out in the Programme for Government. Actions and measures will be identified and agreed with relevant Departments through a collaborative and cross-sectoral approach to the development of the plan.
The Government is committed to addressing climate change and responding to the Covid-19 challenge as set out in the Programme for Government; I expect these commitments to be further addressed in the upcoming National Economic Plan and the review of the National Development Plan which is currently underway.
17. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4725/21]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises which is located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 22 January 2021, over 166,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Cavan, surveys have been completed in Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles, Caughoo, Belturbet, Killashandra and Butler’s Bridge. Surveys have commenced in Ballylennon, Redhills, Gannons Cross, Derryheelan, Castlesaunderson, Townparks, Foalies Bridge, Riverrun and Erne Hill. Pre-build works have commenced outside Cavan town including in the areas of Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles, and Caughoo, in the south of the county. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cavan 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 advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 22 January, 255 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. BCP’s installed in Cavan are 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. The BCP site at Castlerahan Community Centre is installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Laragh National School will be provided with high speed broadband for educational use through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Education as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of the schools aspect of the project was announced late last year and 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/.
18. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria that National Broadband Ireland is using to determine the order in which it is carrying out their survey work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4741/21]
View answerThe network rollout for the National Broadband Plan is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass.
The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs) managed by Enet. It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to get to every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built.
Each DA creates a ‘fibre ring’ which is essential to ensure reliability, robustness and resilience. Critical to the success of the network, NBI’s fibre rings are built with back-ups, ensuring that in the event of one fibre cable being disrupted, the whole network continues to perform.
Each fibre ring that NBI deploys is designed in a way that is non-discriminatory, meaning that as the rollout progresses, it may pass relatively urban areas at the same time as passing some of the most remote premises within the intervention area. The design will utilise existing infrastructure to a very significant degree.
19. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of fibre broadband for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4747/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November 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. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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 National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 22 January 2021, over 166,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Kerry, surveys have been completed in townlands around Killarney including Muckross, Fossa, Kilcummin, Lissivigeen, Ballycasheen, Faha, Firies and Ballyhar and in townlands around Tralee such as Curraheen, Abbeydorney, Kilflynn, Firies, Castlemaine and Ardfert. Further details are available on specific areas within County Kerry 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 advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 22 January, 255 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. BCP’s installed in Kerry are Gneeveguilla (Tureencahill), Railway Station Heritage Centre and Community Space, Inch Community Centre, Kielduff Community Centre, Cillín Liath. BCPs are connected at Cable Station and Chapeltown. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Boheeshil National School, Dunloe Upper and Coars National School will be provided with high speed broadband for educational use through ‘service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Education as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of the schools aspect of the project was announced late last year and 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/.
20. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4751/21]
View answer21. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [4752/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
The Questions refer to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 22 January 2021, over 166,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Cork, surveys have been completed in Midelton, Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon and Kilpatrick, with surveys underway in Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, Rineen, Cullen, Coolinarna, Millstreet, Hollymount and Caherbarnagh. Pre-build works are underway in Fountainstown, Ballinhassig, Monkstown, and Upper Rochestown. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork 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 advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 22 January, 255 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. BCP’s connected in Cork are Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre and T.O. Park Labbamollaga. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Clogagh and Ballycroneen National School will be provided with high speed broadband for educational use through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Education as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of the schools aspect of the project was announced late last year and 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/.
