Vol. 682 No. 2
65 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to provide high speed broadband services in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18650/09]
The provision of broadband is generally a matter for the service providers. The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, is responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector. ComReg is charged with promoting competition, encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure and promoting innovation.
Urban areas, because of the density of population, residential homes and commercial businesses, tend to be well served by competing service providers. While no specific data is available on broadband services in urban areas, the combination of policy, investment and regulatory interventions has helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 62% of Irish households and 83% of Irish SMEs now have a broadband connection.
It can be assumed that these penetration levels are higher in urban areas. According to ComReg's fourth quarter key data report, 68% of business subscriptions in Ireland are in the 2–10 mbps range while 25% are in the 1–2 mbps range. Some 60% of residential subscriptions in Ireland are in the 2–10 mbps range while 35% are in the 1–2 mbps range. Higher speeds, in some cases up to 50 mbps, are also available to residential and SME customers in urban areas. For example, speeds of up to 24 mbps are available from DSL providers, 50 mbps products are available from fibre operators and 20 mbps products are available from cable operators.
The competition that currently exists in urban areas has been facilitated by a series of policy, investment and regulatory interventions. In addition, the Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to improve broadband coverage nationwide, with particular focus on the provision of high speed broadband in urban areas by way of the metropolitan area networks, MANs, programme. Phase 1 of the MANs programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country. All 27 networks are operational and open for business.
Under phase II of the MANs programme, 59 of 60 MANs which provide open access networks to 65 towns across the country are now completed. It is hoped that the final network of the phase II programme will be completed in early 2010. The phase II MANs, which are now complete, are available to service operators under an interim management arrangement. A contract for a full management services agreement for the phase II MANs towns is expected to be signed shortly. This will further enhance the potential for high-speed broadband in urban areas.
More generally, the Government is committed to universal access to broadband by 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in comparator EU regions.
I thank the Minister for his response. I concede that the number of people accessing broadband in Ireland has continued to increase. However, we face a huge challenge in terms of providing the next generation speeds required by companies, first and foremost in urban centres, if we are to be competitive with other countries.
I have a number of questions for the Minister. Is the management contract in place yet for MANs phase II? If not, why not? We have been waiting for almost a year now, since the preferred tender was chosen, E-Net. The Minister made a number of commitments last year following his consultation paper on next generation networks and their delivery. He said there would be open access fibre connections in place for all new buildings in Ireland. Is that happening? It was to happen by the end of last year. The Minister said there would be open access to all State-owned ducting infrastructure to lay fibre and that this would be available at an affordable price for companies. Is that happening? I am not aware it is. He said the target for schools was 100 mbps. What progress has been made on that since and how much State money is being spent on it? These questions relate to announcements the Minister has made, but on which he has not followed through. Perhaps he will give us an update on the situation now.
I appreciate the Deputy's earlier comments and agree with him on the need for high-speed broadband, which will be crucial infrastructure for the development of our economy. It is important to remember that 70% of houses have a computer and this is one of our difficulties. We need to expand not just our broadband but the whole digitalisation of our economy and society and to continue to ramp up speeds.
I expect the management service contract to which the Deputy referred to be signed and concluded within a short number of weeks. The reason for the delay is simple, namely to ensure we get value for money for the taxpayer. It is an extensive, detailed and lengthy 15-year contract and——
In the meantime some €80 million of investment money lies unused. How does that represents good value for money?
The contracts will be signed with an eye to the taxpayer's interest to ensure good value for money. The only reason for the delay is to get it right for the taxpayer.
In terms of next generation networks, the Department is working at full stretch in terms of how to deliver open access fibre in our planning regulations. It is working with the National Roads Authority, the rail companies and other State bodies to map out our State ducting and is working with the telecommunications industry to see how best we can provide these networks on a local access basis. We are committed to that and working towards it.
The situation is similar with regard to schools' broadband. I see this as one of the most crucial developments. We are renegotiating and re-entering into contracts catering for the 4,000 schools that have broadband. We will return with improved broadband and are looking at specific schools where we intend to ramp up immediately — this year — to 100 mbps. I hope to announce details of that shortly.
The Minister did not reply on Deputy Coveney's question on the MANs II project, which is crucially important in my constituency.
Currently, backhaul speeds are appallingly slow and getting slower daily. This is a major challenge for small businesses throughout the country. The State owns a web of broadband fibre throughout the country. In my parish there are three separate broadband cables owned by the State within 500 yards of each other, but none of them are connected up. We still do not have a map of where these networks are — unless the Minister has such a map — or information on the connectivity or lack of it between the State agencies that own this fibre. I cannot get my hands on such a map. The Minister has spoken about going a step further with regard to State-owned ducting, but we do not have a national map available of the State-owned fibre. If we had, we could at least see what the challenge was in that regard. When will we see open access and connectivity to the fibre network that is already in State control and when will we see an improvement in the backhaul speeds?
In terms of backhaul, there is State-owned infrastructure in use that is effective and offers very fast backhaul speed, for example, the like of the ESB or CIE networks being used to provide backhaul.
Much of that is dark fibre.
Existing State infrastructure is being used in that fashion. In terms of developments since we published the paper last year, I should have mentioned earlier some of the real developments on the ground. We have a ship steaming towards Ireland currently to lay a cable connecting Ireland to North America, Project Kevlin, which will run from the north west around to the east coast and provide further high speed international connectivity and backhaul connectivity in this country. Therefore, real investments are being made. Multi-million significant investment will continue to provide high speed backhaul services, but we need to go further. The volume of traffic and the needs and demands as we go on YouTube, mobile phones and use ever more data at home and view television and other materials on-line mean we will see significant increased ramping up. That will bring into use our metropolitan area networks. It will require us to use the National Roads Authority network, the An Bord Gáis and RPA networks and other State ducting, be it in sewers, waste pipelines or whatever infrastructure.
We do not have a map of the fibre we currently own.
We are doing that and it will be part of the process. We will publish that map and then work with the telecommunications industry to get it together in the most effective manner.
When will we see MANs II?
When the Minister was in opposition, he was very critical of the MANs project. I presume he is now very familiar with how it has worked out in different parts of the country. With regard to the MANs project in Wexford, will the Minister indicate the extent of the take-up among customers? Is the Minister aware there has been a very low level of customer take-up and that the charges on these customers is very high? Taking Wexford as an example, will the Minister tell us what the experience has been with regard to take-up and costs for individual customers?
I expressed concern for technical reasons. There was real difficulty about how to provide the last mile access and the backhaul. I always acknowledged that these were long-term investments and that the fibre on open access would be widely used and that is starting to happen. I do not want to refer to any particular commercial contract because there are a series of new customers going onto the MANs but one of our largest mobile telephone companies is making a statement for the future by entering into a detailed contract with a management service company on those first phase MANs to start providing that last mile access and link into the MANs. These are long-term investments and such is the speed and increase in data traffic volumes ahead of what anyone expected that the fibre network will be a major long-term asset. That is starting to happen.
There are still difficulties.
There are 59 MANs unlit.
We should acknowledge that it is still difficult to get the volume of business to provide access and backhaul in the smaller MANs where the population is small but I believe they are the right valuable long-term investment.
There are still no MANs.
A series of questions on broadband have been tabled but not grouped. Is the Department considering State intervention to purchase Eircom or Eircom infrastructure to try to improve State involvement in wholesale broadband provision? A "Yes" or "No" answer will do.
I cannot answer that question with a brief "Yes" or "No" because this is of major significance.
Is the Minister considering it?
If the Leas-Chean Comhairle gives us time we could have a proper debate on it.
That is more waffle.
We do not have time on this question.
All I want to know is whether the Minister is considering the option.
People underestimate the strength of our companies. I am much more confident now, despite its difficult economic situation and the challenging environment, that Eircom is a robust, sound company that will be able to make the investments.
It has said it is not.
It will be able to make the investments in the new faster broadband infrastructure that we will need.
That is a "No".
It is not a "No".
Is it a "Yes"?
I do not know if it is a "Yes".
The Minister does not know.
66 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects to bring forward legislation to merge the central and regional fisheries boards into a single national fisheries board; if he will clarify the person under whose remit these areas fall; the position in respect of decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18705/09]
108 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 12 March 2009, the progress he has made in the drafting of the inland fisheries sector Bill; if he is on target to have the new fisheries authority operational by the end of 2009; the number of submissions he has received since the publication of the draft heads of Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18658/09]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 108 together.
Following the 2009 budget day announcement on 14 October 2008 on the rationalisation of State agencies, the Government has now formally approved proposals for the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector, which include the creation of a single strengthened national inland fisheries authority to be known as inland fisheries Ireland. This authority will replace the existing central and seven regional fisheries boards. Given the nature of its work the new authority will of course continue to have a strong regional presence.
A restructuring implementation group, which includes representatives of the central and regional fisheries boards, has been established and is developing the key features and structures of the model. Primary legislation is required to bring about this restructuring and in this regard a draft heads of Bill has recently been approved by Government. It is expected that the legislation will be published in late summer, be progressed through the Oireachtas later this year and that the new authority will be in place before the end of 2009.
The Department has recently circulated, through the fisheries boards, details of the draft heads of Bill and proposals for the restructuring of the sector to board members, management and staff of the central and regional fisheries boards and to other interested stakeholders. This information is also available on the Department's website. There has been no response to date to the documents circulated.
I am confident that the restructuring will result in an organisation better equipped to serve the needs of the inland fisheries sector.
I presume that because the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has replied to this question, he is the person responsible for this, although his title did not include inland fisheries when his new appointment was announced whereas it was in the title of the lamented former Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. I welcome the fact that there is somebody in charge.
The Minister of State is well used to the River Shannon.
That it was not included in his title, however, showed the low status of the issue in the Department. The Minister of State must be aware that this is the second time that the heads of the Bill have been presented to Cabinet. Is he saying that although the legislation will not be taken until the autumn session it is realistic to presume that the new structure will be in place before the end of the year? There was nobody more critical of the deferral of elections than the Minister in 2007 when he spoke harshly about a predecessor, yet he is presiding over ongoing postponements of elections.
How much money will this restructuring save? What are the staffing requirements of this new structure? Will there be a voluntary redundancy scheme and what does it mean for senior staff within the existing regional boards? What are the savings in respect of accommodation? There was a proposal to decentralise to Carrick-on-Shannon and a history of serious waste of money on accommodation for the Central Fisheries Board. Will the Minister of State outline exactly the financial benefits of this proposal and how it will streamline the structures and accommodation needs?
Much of the structure and architecture of this area originated in the rod licence dispute which raged across the country for a long time and was resolved by the late and much lamented John Wilson. We are rationalising the boards because we are under a standing instruction from the Department of Finance to consider State agencies. The Fine Gael Party has made much of this push to remove or reduce the numbers of quangos or boards of one kind or another. This is my Department's contribution to the process. I am confident that we will put this new authority in place and that it will be up and running before the end of the year. That does not mean that people will lose their jobs. The heads of the Bill give specific statutory protection to some of the people working in the sector and for these boards. It is sensible and timely to remove the regional authorities and centralise them in one particular board. The board's membership will be reduced from 160 to ten. That is one saving that can be achieved. Having a proliferation of boards and agencies organising board meetings at seven regional locations throughout the country uses up a lot of the time of fisheries management officials. The change will save €300,000.
I have never heard such waffle. I asked a specific question and while I appreciate that the Minister of State is new in the job, that is a disgraceful answer. If he is serious about streamlining Government and getting value for money the Minister of State needs to do better than that. Has nothing been learned from the setting up of the Health Service Executive? It started from the same base of amalgamating all the health boards to provide better value for money but we ended up with more money being wasted and a monster that does not seem to be able to manage its affairs in any way conceivable as good government. How much will be saved and what is the situation as regards staffing and accommodation and what will happen to the savings?
It has been agreed that Ballina and Galway will stay open because of the range, size and scale of activity in those locations. We have identified a saving of at least €300,000 in respect of the reduced board membership. Further savings will follow and I will be delighted to update the Deputy on them as they accrue. The move to Carrick-on-Shannon is on hold in line with the decision to put all of the decentralisation project on hold.
How many staff are in the existing boards and how many will there be when the process is concluded? There has been some resistance to the new authority. From where is it coming? What is the Minister of State doing to allay the fears expressed? How much responsibility will the new board have in formulating policy? Will it report directly to the Minister?
It is important to remember that staffing will be managed carefully and that there will be the same number, or a similar number, of staff working in our fisheries resource at the end of this year. We are trying to streamline it by creating one single authority. The intention is that it will report to me, as Minister of State.
We had a heated discussion at the end of last year when the Minister brought forward a proposal to postpone again the elections for the positions on the fisheries boards. We were told at the time there was an absolute commitment that the new legislation and the new board structure would be in place by August this year. The Minister of State is now telling us he hopes to have the legislation in place by the end of the year.
I said "the new authority".
Sorry, the new authority. Is it the case that the Minister of State is hoping to have the new authority in place by the end of the year in order that there will be no need to further postpone the elections to the current boards?
I hardly think it worthwhile going ahead with elections for regional boards which are to cease to exist.
Are the existing positions to be extended?
I am not clear why or how one would encourage such elections to take place.
Perhaps the Minister of State is not clear on the history of the matter.
I hope they will not go ahead but I will revert to the Deputy in detail on the matter.
The Minister of State should inform himself because it is not up to the boards to make the decisions; it is he who must postpone the elections. It is part of secondary legislation and it is important that the Minister of State appreciate this. Does he not accept that there is disappointment about this matter? There are claims that the Government will streamline the system and ensure better value for money, yet, at the same time, the Minister of State is saying there will not be any reduction in staff and that the offices will remain open. I presume there will have to be new offices to accommodate the new structures and that new staff may have to be taken on. That is the experience for which the Minister of State has been partially responsible in setting up the HSE. It proved to be a very costly exercise in so-called restructuring. Perhaps the Minister of State will take this on board.
I would not be in favour of elections to bodies which are about to disappear or reach the end of their natural lifespan. Clearly, it would not be desirable to have elections to the bodies in question. The new authority, the remit of which will be to manage the inland fisheries resource, will be in place by the end of the year. To answer Deputy Stanton's question on industrial relations issues which I did not answer in full, such issues will naturally arise in respect of regional boards which are being abolished, given that the chief executives and other members of staff will be mindful of their positions being extinguished. It iin this area that the industrial relations difficulties will arise.
Does the Minister of State believe he will be here at the end of the year?
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
