Written Answers Nos. 675-692
675. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15804/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra676. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the decline of Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra680. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to implement the Irish Postmasters' Union six point action plan to sustain the post office network and support local communities which was published recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15648/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra685. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the decline of the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 676, 680, 684 and 685 together.
Issues relating to the commercial activities of An Post, including the provision of postal services, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function.
I note the recent publication of the 6-point plan by the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU). It aligns with this Government’s consistent message that a strong, modern and commercially viable post office network, that is responsive to changing consumer choices, is essential for urban and rural communities alike.
I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group earlier this year. The IPU is a member of the Group. The Terms of Reference for the Group are to
- examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network;
- identify the new business opportunities for the post office network, taking account of international experience;
- engage as necessary with the public sector, commercial bodies and other interested parties in pursuit of the above objectives;
- prepare an interim and final report for the Minister in accordance with an agreed timetable.
The work of the Business Development Group will be of strategic importance to the future of the post office network and I look forward to the Group concluding its deliberations later this year.
677. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a waiver of the television licence fee and deferral of legal proceedings will be considered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if payment plans will be arranged in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe sale of TV licences and the associated inspection process is an operational matter for An Post as the Minister's statutorily appointed Agent under the Broadcasting Act 2009.
I have asked my officials to bring the circumstances of the case as presented by the Deputy to the attention of An Post.
678. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the provision of broadband services to residents in Allenwood in County Kildare and surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.
Based on information provided by commercial operators, 61% of Allenwood Middle and 78% of Allenwood North, Co Kildare will be covered by the commercial sector. The remaining 39% of Allenwood Middle and 22% of Allenwood North Co Kildare will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the process followed for the recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's compliance committee; if the positions were publicly advertised in the interests of openness and transparency; the criteria used for selecting the successful candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15544/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 244 and 245 of 26 February 2015.
681. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if consideration will be given to, and if he will address the issues raised in, correspondence regarding lack of broadband coverage in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15649/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER.
The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers plan to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016.
The AMBER area on the map shows the target areas for the State intervention and includes Cherryville Co Kildare. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
682. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to deal with the broadband problem in an area (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when will it be rectified. [15663/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.
Based on information provided by commercial operators, 75% of Frenchpark Demesne will be covered by the commercial sector by the end of 2016 at the latest. The remaining 25% of Frenchpark Demesne will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.
683. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has engaged with the ESB in terms of the organisation's expansion into broadband provision by way of the electricity network; the type and level of engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high speed broadband to every premises in Ireland, putting us to the forefront internationally in terms of ubiquitous reliable broadband. This is being achieved through a partnership approach between the Government and the commercial telecommunications sector.
A key element of the National Broadband Plan is the creation of a policy and regulatory environment that helps stimulate commercial investment. In 2014, the Oireachtas passed legislation introduced by my Department, which has enabled ESB to enter the telecommunications market using its extensive electricity distribution network. Following the enactment of the legilsation, the two shareholding Ministers - the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - consented to ESB entering into a Joint Venture with Vodafone Ireland. The two companies have since announced plans to deliver fibre-to-the-home services to 500,000 homes and businesses in 50 towns across Ireland, with the possibility of a further expansion of this €450m investment programme.
This commercial development is bringing competition in the provision of high speed services to rural towns across Ireland. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades, and particularly in the provision of high speed broadband. In the space of just over two years, commercial operators have rolled out services to 1.1m of Ireland's 2.3m premises and within the next year and a half, 1.6m premises will be able to access these services. This represents 70% of the premises in Ireland.
Working closely with industry, last November I published a national high speed coverage map which provides detail of every premises that will have access to high speed broadband from commercial operators by the end of 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The areas marked BLUE represent the 70% of premises that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.
Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
In delivering this combination of commercial and State-led investment in high speed broadband, I and my Department are engaging intensively with all commercial operators, including ESB/Vodafone. Consultation in relation to the mapping exercise continues, and we have also met with operators who may be interested in the bidding process for the State-led intervention, including ESB/Vodafone. The Department has also visited two pilot high speed broadband projects, which include an eircom rural fibre-to-the-home pilot in Belcarra Co Mayo, and ESB / Vodafone fibre-to-the-home trial in Cavan town.
Details of our engagement with industry are provided in monthly updates on the Department's mapping website www.broadband.gov.ie
686. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra687. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16060/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 686 and 687 together.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding pension payments made by bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the relevant bodies to provide the information directly to the Deputy.
688. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount, in total, which remains undrawn down from consecutive sports capital grants; and if he will release those funds to other unsuccessful applicants. [15319/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €75m remains outstanding from previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme and from special allocations. As it can take grantees several years to draw down grants it is expected that the bulk of this funding will be drawn down in due course. It is not the Department's policy to reallocate funding to new grantees where the existing grantees are experiencing difficulties in the drawdown of their grants.
I intend to allocate €40m later this year under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme.
689. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a time frame for the start of a bus service through Castledermot, Ballytore and south County Kildare. [15370/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
690. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of LUAS users at the Lehaunstown, County Dublin stop, on a daily and weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15406/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RPA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
691. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Irish Aviation Authority pays rent to landowners where Doppler very high frequency omnidirectional radio range, DVOR, devices are erected. [15407/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe subject matter of this particular question is the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority, and I have referred the question to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days
692. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the reasons the Salthill Handball and Racquetball Club was unsuccessful in its application for a grant from the sports capital programme in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15419/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application under the Sports Capital Programme 2014 in respect of the organisation referred to by the Deputy was found to be invalid. The reasons why the application was invalid were communicated by email to the club contact on 9 July 2014. I do not consider it appropriate to publish details of why individual applications were deemed invalid. If any further clarification is required the designated club contact should contact the Department's Sports Capital Programme Division in Killarney.
