Written Answers Nos. 210-220
210. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in implementing the Eircode system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17941/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to introducing Eircodes, the national postcode system for Ireland. The Eircode project is currently in the implementation phase and is on target to be launched this summer. Every Irish address, residential and business, will be sent a notification by post this summer with the eircode enclosed.
Eircode is a major new development for Ireland and priority has been placed on ensuring that there is widespread public understanding of how Eircodes will work – and of the benefits they will bring to households and businesses – before and during the introduction of the codes.
I will be announcing the actual launch date for Eircodes in the next few weeks. For further information and updates you may wish to visit the website www.eircode.ie.
211. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the position being adopted by the management of Bord na Móna, whereby it is attempting to impose unilateral changes to employees' conditions of employment; his views that if current talks with management at the Labour Relations Commission do not deliver a workable agreement, there would be an immediate ballot for industrial action across all sections of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17967/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the energy market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas. I understand that in order to ensure its continued success, the company is implementing a programme to transform all areas of its operations and structure, the key objective of which is to improve business effectiveness and efficiency.
I have been advised that management and union representatives are currently involved in discussions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission on a range of issues relating to business transformation in the company. These discussions include areas related to the terms and conditions of employees. There has been a brief pause in the talks but they are due to resume shortly. Both sides have agreed that items not agreed during the talks process will be referred to the Labour Court. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter while these discussions are in progress.
As a matter of routine, I regularly meet with the Chair and management of the company on a range of policy issues but I have not had discussions with them regarding the specific matter referred to by the Deputy.
212. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that he has no statutory function on post office locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17979/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to the post office network are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function.
213. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the broadband coverage in Ballymore, County Westmeath; the percentage of residents who have full coverage; and the number who have access to broadband and high speed broadband. [18019/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies.
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. I understand that commercial high speed broadband service is already available to over 20,000 premises in Co Westmeath (45% of county premises). When commercial roll-out of high speed services in the county is complete by the end of next year, a further 6,500 premises in Westmeath (15% of county premises) will have access to such services.
The AMBER area on the map shows the target areas for the State intervention and includes Ballymore, Co Westmeath. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention. The proposed State intervention will include some 17,814 premises in Westmeath (40% of the county's 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 challenges in Ireland.
214. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is considering a shift in public policy to incentivise other renewable energy sources, including solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18053/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overarching objective of the Government’s energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. In the context of the forthcoming energy policy paper, my Department is considering the optimal fuel mix, including the role of renewable energy, for Ireland. The Green Paper on Energy Policy, inter alia, sought feedback on the role that alternative technologies, such as solar, could play in delivering our renewable energy ambitions. Views received will be taken into consideration in the preparation of the White Paper on Energy which will be published in September.
The Renewable Electricity Feed in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewables sources including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes.
Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar (including photovoltaic) and small scale hydro, has been carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration.
Given the emerging policy context and the requirements of the EU target market for electricity, my Department is beginning the process of developing a new support scheme for electricity, to be available from 2016 onwards. A key component of this will be consideration of all available technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of support required. The scheme will be subject to State Aid clearance and the initial public consultation on the new scheme will commence shortly.
215. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the White Paper on Renewable Energy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18085/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was published in May 2014 and sets out six energy policy priorities as follows: empowering energy citizens; markets and regulation; planning and implementing essential energy infrastructure; ensuring a balanced and secure energy mix; putting the energy system on a sustainable pathway; and driving economic opportunity.
The publication of the Green Paper commenced a period of public consultation under which 1,240 written submissions were made. The process of developing a definitive Energy Policy has continued with further engagement at stakeholder events at various regional locations around the country. My Department is now focussed on the detailed work required to develop the White Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland which I expect to publish in September 2015.
216. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost to the Exchequer of the payment of increments to all public sector staff under his remit per year since 2008. [18329/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the relevant bodies to supply the information directly to the Deputy.
217. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the current laws on the use of drones, noting the increase in the use of personally owned drones and having due regard for privacy laws for the greater public. [17969/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe increase in the operation and use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), also known as drones, is not a phenomenon exclusive to Ireland; it is on a global scale and it is appropriate that rules be developed internationally to regulate their operation and use.
In March of this year under the Riga Declaration, the European Commission, in concert with the European Union Aviation Community, established the principles to guide the regulatory framework for RPAS in Europe. Central to these principles is the consideration of citizen's fundamental rights – the right to privacy and the use of personal data. The aim is for a European regulatory system which ensures the responsibility and accountability of operators so as to facilitate the enforcement of the regulations by the Authorities.
The Irish Aviation Authority, which is responsible for the safety of airspace operators in Ireland, published its policy for the regulation of the safe use of RPAS in Ireland in April 2012. The IAA is a member of the International grouping of Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), which is engaged in furthering the development of international standards in personnel licensing and competency towards the safe operation of RPAS.
218. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed upgrading of the N20 route, Cork to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17910/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Given the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years. The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work which could be undertaken. For this reason it has not been possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects and the main focus has to be on the maintenance and repair of roads and this will remain the position in the coming years. The scope for progressing new major road improvement projects will be very much dependent on the availability of funding in the future as the economy recovers further.
In 2011 my predecessor indicated to the NRA that it should withdraw its application to An Bord Pleanála for the M20 Cork to Limerick route. I understand Minister Varadkar was concerned that to proceed any further with the scheme to build the M20 would have exposed the NRA to significant costs arising from a consequent requirement to purchase the CPO'd land within a limited timeframe. This would have had to be done without the reasonable prospect of proceeding to the construction stage quickly.
Given continuing budget constraints and the need to focus on road maintenance and renewal, I do not currently plan to review this decision.
219. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who are employed by the National Roads Authority. [17948/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the day-to-day running of the National Roads Authority. [17950/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
As these are matters in the first instance for the National Roads Authority (NRA), I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
