Written Answers Nos. 121-137
130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the outcome of recent discussions he and his Department have had with the Commission for Communications Regulation regarding the need to ensure proper access to telecommunications services nationwide both for mobile telephony and broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40821/21]
View answer131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be implemented to ensure access to high-quality telecommunications connectivity throughout the State, which is essential to support social and economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40822/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
The provision of 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. ComReg is currently managing the next spectrum award process for wireless broadband services and commissioned studies and technical reports to inform its approach to the award process and the 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 https://coveragemap.comreg.ie/map), 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 https://www.comreg.ie/publication/mobile-handset-performance-data). These findings will further allow consumers to make informed decisions based on the handsets which best address their needs.
A combination of commercial investment and State led intervention will ensure access to high speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote. Of the 2.4 million premises across Ireland, 77% of premises now have access to high-speed broadband of more than 30 Mbps. The National Broadband Plan will address the remaining premises and will provide a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. A number of commercial operators have also announced further investment plans in high-speed broadband. Eir has said it will roll out fibre to a further 1.4 million premises, bringing its fibre deployment to some 1.8 million premises. SIRO is currently completing the first phase of its fibre deployment which will see 375,000 premises passed with gigabit services. Virgin Media is offering 250Mbps as a standard offering with higher speeds available to many of its customers across more than 1 million premises. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks.
133. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan for County Monaghan in 2021; the specific measures that will be implemented to offset the delays that have occurred in the roll-out to date of this essential infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40824/21]
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.
There are 33,465 premises in County Monaghan of which 18,133 are in the commercial area and 15,332 premises are within the NBP Intervention Area. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 21 July 2021, over 236,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Monaghan, premises have been surveyed or surveys are ongoing in the areas of Cornacassa, Cortolvin, Ballybay, Stranooden, Drumcru, Stonebridge, Tiernahinch, Clones, Annalore, Kileevan, Drumullan, Newbliss, Cumber, Scotshouse, Clonowla, Clonagore and Clonooney. Surveying is complete in Emyvale, Clones and Carrickmacross. Build is progressing well in the Monaghan area and NBI have informed the Department that circa 1,170 premises will be passed in Monaghan and will be able to place orders for connections in the coming months.
While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays (both nationally and internationally), as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale, up including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. Inevitably, like many other organisations, NBI and contractor staff are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact posing further challenges. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract to address the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic on the project.
Further details are available on specific areas within 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 advised that NBI plan to update their website with further details on the NBP rollout plan for all counties including Monaghan at the end of August.
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 21 July, 336 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible locations and the Department of Education for schools. BCPs installed with high speed publicly accessible broadband include Latton Resource Centre, Carn Resource Centre, Tullycorbet Parish Hall, Ballybay Wetlands, Corduff Community Centre, Corcaghan Community Centre, Saint Alphonsus Community Hall, Mullyash Community Centre, Tannagh Outdoor Education Centre, Latton O'Rahilly Gaelic Football Club, O'Ralaigh Community Centre, Geraldines GAA Club, Monaghan GAA Centre of Excellence and St. Patrick’s Accommodation Centre.
Drumcorrin National School, Drumgossatt National School, Saint Brigids National School, Annalitten National School, Connons National School and Saint Mary's School are installed 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 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/.
134. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it will be ensured that section 15(6)(c) of the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 be observed and that a representative of the local community will be appointed by him with immediate effect to replace the previous representative whose term expired on 2 June 2021 (details supplied). [40883/21]
View answerThe board of the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will have an important role in giving effect to the Government Decision to dissolve the DHDA and to transfer the properties to the Land Development Agency (LDA). It is expected that the orderly wind down of the DHDA could be completed by mid-2022 and the wind down will address, inter alia, the needs of the staff of the DHDA, client companies and communications with the local communities. The term of the Local Community Representative to the Board expired last month and notwithstanding the potentially short period of any future appointment, arrangements will be made to identify suitable candidates from the community to be considered for appointment to the board.
135. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of the total EU contribution to the Energy Charter Treaty secretariat Ireland’s contribution represents. [40893/21]
View answer136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the Energy Charter Treaty. [40894/21]
View answer137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the Energy Charter Treaty. [40896/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together.
The Energy Charter Treaty is a multilateral agreement that provides a framework for trade and investment in the energy area. It was signed in 1994 by nearly 50 countries, including all EU member states, and most countries from eastern Europe, central Asia, and Japan. The key provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty concern the protection of investment, trade in energy materials and products, transit and dispute settlement.
Ireland's annual contribution in 2021 to the Energy Charter Secretariat was €36,441, or approximately 0.93% of the total Energy Charter Secretariat budget. Regarding the EU proportion Ireland pays 1.8% of the overall EU contribution of €2,026,474.
This Department is liaising closely in all matters relating to the Energy Charter Treaty with EU partners, but has not yet conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the treaty. EU governments and the European Commission are negotiating an update to the Energy Charter Treaty’s terms at present and that process is expected to continue for some time yet.
