Vol. 665 No. 2
105 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will produce a timetable for the announced plan to provide next generation broadband to secondary schools; the way he intends to roll out this plan; if he will go to tender to employ a single company to do it; the amount allocated to broadband for schools in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/08]
A key objective of broadband policy is to develop access to at least 100 megabyte per second high speed broadband in secondary schools.
The consultation paper on next generation broadband, published in July, contains a commitment to this project and discussions have taken place between officials of my Department and HEAnet to develop the means by which it will be implemented.
A steering group, including officials from my Department and the Department of Finance, the Department of Education and Science and HEAnet will be established shortly to agree the terms of reference and the programme schedule for the roll-out of the project. A budget allocation has been provided for the roll-out of high speed broadband to some schools in 2009. Details on this first phase of the programme will be available in due course.
I sound like a broken record discussing broadband, because every time telecommunications matters are discussed under Priority Questions the matter makes up at least two, if not more, of the questions. It is difficult not to be more sceptical than before about the claim that the Minister and the Government are prioritising broadband expenditure when there is a cut of 25% in the budget allocation for information and telecommunications technologies programmes from €53 million this year to €40 million next year. At the same time the Minister repeatedly announces his commitment to rolling out next generation broadband in schools throughout the country, despite that fact that he does not know how it will work yet, he cannot say how much money he will allocate to it and we simply have no timeframe. Will the Minister, Deputy Ryan, answer the following specific questions? Is there a timeframe for the roll-out of next generation broadband access to schools for next year? Does the Minister have data available on the extent of broadband availability in secondary schools? How many secondary schools do not have access to acceptable bandwidth? In my view, he does not know the answers to those questions, so I do not know how he expects people to believe he will roll-out next generation broadband to all schools across the country by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
Some 3,901 out of 3,936 schools have their local broadband connectivity installed, which is over 99% of them. Installation has typically been at speeds of up to 2 megabytes per second. My belief is that it is appropriate for us to go to speeds of 100 megabytes per second and eventually to have wireless connectivity within the school, so broadband is available in each classroom and not necessarily in a computer room or in certain locations within the school. That is why I included that strategic aim in the next generation broadband paper. It was published in July and it is fair and proper to have a consultation process, something which is coming to an end. When the process ends, we will publish a final version of the paper and we will go out and deliver.
The experience of putting broadband into those 3,900 schools is something on which we can build for future development. I referred to the discussions with HEAnet because this body also has a crucial part to play in achieving the roll-out. We already have a successful backhall network in the educational broadband sector, especially in our third level colleges. HEAnet has real expertise in delivering broadband to educational establishments and in putting in filtering systems. That is why I have confidence in the ability of HEAnet and of my Department to deliver the objective that has been set. However, prior to completing the consultation process, it is appropriate to get the details of the process worked out and then publish the timetable, budget and other details.
The Minister has been in charge for 18 months. I agree we need to roll out next generation broadband facilities to schools. The problem is that people have simply lost patience with him due to a lack of action. We do not need more consultation. We need an action plan for moving forward with clear timetables and a clear financial commitment. What will be the implication for schools of a 25% cut in the capital allocation for broadband expenditure next year?
The main reason for that downturn is that we are not progressing with a further stage of investment in the metropolitan area networks. This is a policy with which Fine Gael agreed. That took up some €200 million over recent years. The reason for the reduction in the budget is that the programme is being reviewed. I do not see the budget cuts impacting on our ambitions in broadband development elsewhere. I recognise that our role is to intervene where the market cannot deliver, but the market also has a key role. The industry is spending around €725 million this year on next generation broadband.
The market will not deliver that.
No, it will not. That is why the Government will deliver in that area.
106 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will maintain a strong regional structure in the management of the regions with regard to proposals to absorb the regional fisheries boards into a central board; the way the reporting structures to the central board will function in practice; if he will provide delegated powers to regional staff; the cost savings of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/08]
As part of the overall process of agency rationalisation that the Minister for Finance announced in this year's budget, a new national inland fisheries body will be established, which will replace the eight existing regional fisheries boards and the Central Fisheries Board. Amending legislation will be required to give effect to the decision. I have established a small group, chaired by my Department with representation on behalf of the existing boards, to guide the implementation of this decision.
While I do not intend to pre-empt the work of the implementation group, I am confident an effective system can be put in place under the auspices of the new body, which will ensure the important work relating to the inland fishery resource will be implemented efficiently.
It is clearly in the nature of inland fisheries work that the new body should be organised with a strong regional presence. The relationship between the new body and its regional offices will be determined in due course by the body itself.
With regard to cost savings, the most visible and immediate savings will occur as a result of the reduction in costs of servicing eight separate boards and associated board expenses that are estimated to be in the region of €300,000 per annum.
In addition to financial savings, the new model will consolidate and thus ensure the better use of existing resources and deliver improved value for money management of the State's resource.
I have set a deadline of end August 2009 for vesting day of the new body. The existing structures will remain in place until then.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Perhaps he is not aware that, in 2006, the Minister sitting beside him, Deputy Eamon Ryan, described the postponement of elections to regional fisheries boards as "a cowardly act" by the then Government and "a serious indictment of Government policy". Here we are again, in 2008, facing yet further delays in elections to boards and prevarication on any new structures. With all due respect, the Minister of State has not enlightened us on the future of fishery board structures. When he refers to "strong regional structures" what is he talking about? How exactly are these to be developed between policy and management? At the moment, there is a large infrastructure in place. The Minister of State has said he wants stronger regional input, but there is no indication how that will be done. He should clarify that matter.
As regards cost savings, how will the Minister of State avoid the route involved in establishing the HSE? The HSE was supposed to do all these wonderful things the Minister of State says will occur in the fisheries sector, including saving money, but it proved to be extraordinarily costly. What will the Minister of State do that is different? Unless he can tell us, we must presume that he has not learned anything in government and that he will simply make the same mistakes as in the past.
I welcome the fact the Minister of State has now decided that decentralisation is off the agenda, presumably, for the future. I understand, however, that the leasing costs on the premises in Swords amount to something like €1 million a year. What is the Minister of State doing to get value for money in citing this new authority? How will he save money in doing so?
I thank the Deputy for her support for the measure that was announced here on budget day.
I must have missed something here.
The establishment of a new national inland fisheries body will subsume the existing central and regional fisheries boards, thereby reducing the number of boards from eight to one. In addition, the number of board members will be reduced from around 160 at the moment to ten or even fewer. That in itself is a welcome development. We are in the process of putting together an implementation group comprising officials from the Central Fisheries Board and regional fisheries boards, which will be chaired by the Department. Shortly after the announcement on budget day, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I, along with our officials, met with CEOs from the various fisheries boards. We explained to them the decision that had been made by the Government. I appreciate what the Deputy said about the history involved and the difficulties people may have in accepting what we are doing. We are living in changed times, however, and people realise that rationalisation must take place. The meeting we had was constructive and we look forward to the support of the various boards in implementing that decision.
What is the make-up of this implementation group? Last month, there was an advertisement for the CEO of the Northern Regional Fisheries Board, which seems peculiar if the Minister of State is trying to centralise those boards. Will that post be filled?
The implementation group is being established and will comprise of two officials from the Central Fisheries Board, two officials from the Regional Fisheries Board and it will be chaired by my Department.
The Deputy asked a question about the expenses. Savings estimated at approximately €300,000 per annum will be afforded by reduced board membership. The new organisation will consolidate and ensure better use of the existing resources and there may be greater opportunities for efficiencies in the sector and also a more streamlined management of the State's resources.
Is the Minister of State filling the post for the normal regional boards?
As the Deputy said, that post was advertised and the matter is progressing.
So the post will be filled.
I am not saying that. To the best of my knowledge the advertisement was placed in the newspapers before the announcement was made on budget day and that matter is being considered.
107 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the definite measures that he will implement between now and the end of 2008 to promote and support the roll-out of improved broadband infrastructure across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/08]
The policy framework for future broadband development is set out in the consultation paper on next generation broadband which I published last July. A central objective is that Ireland will have universal access to broadband by end 2009 to early 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in other EU regions. That paper also sets out a number of specific actions to be rolled out over the coming period. These include the national broadband scheme, access to State broadband assets, high level broadband connectivity to second level schools and new businesses. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Delivery of broadband investment is primarily a matter for the private sector. Such investment has seen significant improvement in recent years in terms of coverage, speeds, price, competition and platform availability.
Government intervention will be targeted at those areas where the market is not able to deliver and where the State has the opportunity to use its infrastructure and services to improve broadband provision. In the short term the focus is on the national broadband scheme. The NBS is designed to deliver broadband to areas where the market has failed to provide services. It will bridge the digital divide, create greater equality in terms of social and economic inclusion and remove the disadvantage caused by a lack of broadband services. It will also facilitate competition in the broadband market in the regions leading to greater choice, quality and value for money to the consumer.
Two bids, from Eircom Limited and Hutchison 3G Ireland, have been received in response to the NBS invitation to tender. These bids are currently being evaluated and the evaluation process is scheduled for completion shortly. The contract is expected to be signed in November 2008.
Subject to agreement with the chosen service provider, roll-out of services is expected to begin shortly after the contract is signed. The chosen service provider will be required to complete the roll-out of services within 22 months of the contract award. All requests for a broadband service in the areas to be addressed by the NBS will be met.
If contracts are being signed in November and if there is a 22-month roll-out period, can we safely assume that the Government target for universal broadband provision across the country will now be the end of 2010 rather than the end of 2009? My question refers to a lot more than the national broadband scheme although there is significant frustration with that matter.
The Minister's consultation paper published during the summer made a number of commitments which were not related to the national broadband scheme and I ask for an update on a number of those commitments. The Minister said that all new premises will be required to have installed an open access fibre connection, that is, ducting must be provided in each new building to carry broadband fibre. The Minister said this would be in place by the end of this year and I ask where this stands now.
The Minister said that the Government will facilitate access to service providers for all publicly-owned ducting that can carry fibre and that this will be provided at competitive commercial rates. Where does this stand now? He promised a one-stop shop where service providers would be provided with information on broadband and broadband infrastructure which they could use on an open access basis. Where does this stand?
With regard to the management contracts for MANs phase 2, my understanding is that E-Net has been given preferential bidder status or tender status but the contracts have not been signed yet. Why is this the case? We have 66 MANs, metropolitan area networks, surrounding towns all over the country but which are not being used and are not lit up. They have cost the State approximately €50 million to put in place. It will cost a fraction of that amount to run them but we have not put the management contract in place to make that happen. Why is this the case?
The Minister has said repeatedly that he will use the purchasing power of the State to stimulate demand in terms of next generation broadband provision. What is he actually doing in this regard? I am not interested in more consultation at this stage, I am interested in action. Some 18 months of waiting is enough.
I will happily answer each question although a number of them are addressed in further parliamentary questions, which I hope we will reach.
The national broadband scheme has taken slightly longer than we would have liked. My hope is that the detailed work that has gone into the preparation of the contract in advance, whoever the bidder is, will mean we will have swift roll-out and delivery on the commitment within it by mid-2010, which is the rough timeline set out.
With regard to ducting into each building, we have established a working group with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to consider the implementation of regulations. This is in the more immediate delivery timetables and will happen some time in the next number of months.
On the issue of the one-stop shop and its management of access to public infrastructure ducting, this is a more complex project and one that required us to go to consultation. In that consultation process, I wanted to hear from industry and the various people involved as to how it would be best managed. There are a variety of options, including the management of some of our assets, such as metropolitan area networks. It is right and proper for us to get this very significant and important project right, which is what my Department is doing in consultation with State agencies such as the National Roads Authority and other bodies that have a direct interest. This has gone from the consultation phase into the implementation phase. My Department is working with those agencies to set out how we can best do that.
In terms of the management of the existing metropolitan area networks facilities, none of those has been hindered from active use because of the lack of a second phase management contract being signed. All of those facilities are available for use on the basis that an interim management system is in place which is capable of providing fibre availability. The issue of the development and use of metropolitan area networks must be taken into account in the overall context.
108 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is taking to combat fuel poverty; the number of people experiencing fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37474/08]
The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of rising energy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive strategic approach across Government and agencies.
We have established an interdepartmental agency group, led by our two Departments, which includes the Departments of Finance, Taoiseach, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Health and Children, as well as the Commission for Energy Regulation, Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB and Bord Gáis. The group is serving as a key co-ordinating body to ensure cohesiveness of the various actions under way and plans to address the energy efficiency and affordability challenges for vulnerable consumers.
One of the root causes of fuel poverty is the legacy of older housing with poor energy efficiency standards. I have already increased the 2008 allocation for the low income housing programme administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland to €5 million. The programme's primary focus is the warmer homes scheme, which provides energy efficiency equipment and insulation as well as energy efficiency advice at little or no cost to eligible households. The increased allocation will enable SEI to fund insulation upgrades for an additional 2,000 vulnerable homes in 2008, bringing the total to 5,000 homes which will be upgraded this year.
Budget 2009 provides an allocation of €5 million for the warmer homes scheme next year, which will be complemented by additional funds from ESB and Bord Gáis. This will substantially increase the number of poorer homes that benefit from improved energy efficiency in 2009.
Government policy has focused in recent years on increasing primary social welfare rates to ensure that people on social welfare can meet their basic living costs, including heating costs, throughout the year. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs provides a range of supplements and allowances, including the electricity and gas allowance and the national fuel allowance, to assist those most in need with their heating costs. The Department of Social and Family Affairs estimates that expenditure on these packages will be in the region of €340 million this year.
No national statistics are generated on the number of people experiencing fuel poverty. However, the EU survey on income and living conditions, which is carried out by the Central Statistics Office each year, measures the number of households that have gone without heating at least once over the previous year due to lack of money. The most recent figures available from this survey indicate that in 2006 some 5.7% of households went without heat at some stage during the year, a slight reduction on the figure in 2005.
Will the Minister accept that establishing another interdepartmental committee is not reassuring? Will he agree that real change requires resourcing and money? Will he accept that increasing the fuel allowance by €2 and providing it for two extra weeks is marginal in terms of benefits that will be felt by the 60,000 people living in fuel poverty? Is the Minister aware that the Institute of Public Health reckons that up to 2,000 people die prematurely each winter because of fuel poverty? Does he have any understanding of the impact of the savage increases in the cost of electricity, gas and home heating experienced by these households?
The Minister stated something of which I was not aware, namely, that funding for the warmer homes scheme would come from the ESB and Bord Gáis. What exactly does this mean? These organisations are being treated like cash cows by the Government. The amount of money coming in on an annual basis has increased significantly and now the ESB and Bord Gáis customers must pay for the fact that the Government has not provided for people living in fuel poverty. Will the Minister explain how much is involved in the commitment he just made?
With regard to the fuel allowance, while one can never provide enough because on cold mornings such as we had today this is a real crisis issue for people on low incomes, the fuel allowance has doubled since 2005, and it rose by approximately 12.5% this year. While it is never at the level one would want, we should recognise the increase that has occurred. Even in the difficult budgetary circumstances we had this year, to increase the length by two weeks and the amount was an important contribution.
The involvement of the ESB and Bord Gáis in the warmer homes scheme is a perfectly good example of an output one gets from such bodies when one brings people together and they agree to all play a part. As two major supply companies, I felt it was appropriate to involve them in such schemes as the warmer homes scheme so we can help people reduce their energy use and not only solve it by providing further payments. Involvement by such supply companies is right and it is an example of where I want to go in terms of the imposition of obligations on all energy supply companies to invest in such efficiency measures for their customers.
I wish to allow a brief supplementary question.
I am sure the Minister is a man of good intention. However, will he accept that, when the only scheme targeting the poor, namely, the warmer homes scheme, receives only €5 million whereas people who can well afford to install energy saving devices are subvented to the tune of 30% through the greener homes scheme, he has his priorities wrong?
Some 400,000 people are supported by the fuel allowance scheme, which is important and a major component——
The price of coal has doubled.
Investment in the warmer homes scheme has been doubled from what it was in the previous year. With the involvement of the energy supply companies, I see no reason that we should not set a growth pattern to double it again. This is what I am working towards in recognition that helping 5,000 households this year is an important development. The approximately 20,000 households we may be able to address through other schemes are equally welcome.
109 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his strategy to combat mobile phone bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37470/08]
As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources I have overall responsibility for electronic communications policy, but I do not have responsibility with regard to the actions of persons conducting bullying or intimidation activities over electronic communications networks. I am conscious, however, that bullying in any form can be distressing, especially for children.
The Irish Cellular Industry Association has published A Parents Guide to Mobile Phones, which has some key safety tips for parents to help encourage the safe and responsible use of mobile phones by their children. This is useful as an important line of control rests with parents. Their supervisory role is key to safeguarding their children from the perils of abuse of communications technology.
Legislation is already in place to address the sending of indecent or offensive material by telephone and the harassment of people by telephone. Anyone who has information on these matters should bring it immediately to the attention of the Garda Síochána for criminal investigation.
I am disappointed with the Minister's response. He is evading the issue and disclaiming responsibility. A recent Barnardos poll indicated that 82% of parents were concerned about mobile phone bullying. Two out of five young people is affected by it or knows someone who is. It is a matter of great concern. The Minister cannot walk away from the fact that he must take responsibility for mobile phone operators. He should either regulate them or introduce a standard code with which this matter can be dealt. It is a serious concern to people. Will the Minister publish a set of updated anti-bullying guidelines that can be used by mobile phone operators? It is 14 years since they were first drawn up and things have moved on in the communications field since then.
I am concerned about this issue but it is a criminal act. It is an offence under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to harass a person by use of a telephone. It is also an offence under section 13 of the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951, as amended by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, to send by telephone any message or other matter which is grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing character. Given the provisions in legislation regarding such criminal behaviour, it is appropriate for that route to be followed when such incidents take place and to allow for due process under the law.
This is a cop-out on the Minister's part. This matter concerns five to 14 year olds and dealing with it as a criminal manner is not the answer. An Irish-based company, Century, is travelling to Singapore under an Enterprise Ireland grant to install SIM cards that can deal with mobile phone bullying. It is simple to install and is urgently required but the Minister is not following it up. The time has come for him to take action and call in the operators to ensure the technology that is available is implemented and put an end to this growing problem.
This is a serious issue. That is why I believe that as it is a criminal activity the Garda Síochána should be responsible.
When will the Minister do something about it?
