Written Answers Nos. 490-507
490. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an explanation for the doubling of the cost of providing temporary homes, modular homes and rapid build homes for those in hotel accommodation. [7792/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra491. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the strategy for moving families from rapid build housing to permanent accommodation, given that there are no plans to build any significant amount of social housing to allow families move on. [7793/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together.
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
In October 2015, the Government approved a programme to deliver 500 units of rapid-delivery housing across the Dublin Region for homeless families currently in commercial hotels. An initial 22 units are being delivered in Poppintree, Ballymun. In November 2015, Dublin City Council entered into a contract for the delivery of the 22 units in Ballymun at a cost of €4.2m excluding VAT. This is the original tender cost and remains the approved cost, equating to approximately €191,000 excluding VAT per unit. While a wide range of possible costs were suggested by various parties outside the tender process , including at the time that a variety of modular-type units were demonstrated in September 2015, it is only through the tender process, on the basis of a clear specification for high quality units, that a definitive project cost is established. The average cost of these units must be considered in the context of their early delivery and the quality involved.
This programme of rapid-delivery housing provision is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless households accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. The units will provide accommodation for those families currently in hotels in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services. The temporary assignment of these units to homeless households, and the duration of occupancy by them, is a matter for housing authorities.
492. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to consult with the fisheries board over plans to close Lough Sheelin near Finea, County Westmeath (details supplied) to course fishermen for a period leading up to trout season. [7597/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised that Inland Fisheries Ireland advertised a public consultation from 17 February to 16 March 2016 to seek views on the introduction of a local by-law on Lough Sheelin (Managed Wild Brown Trout Fishery) to close angling for any species by rod and line from 13 October each year to the end of February of the next following year. This by-law is being sought to regulate a historical fishery management rule that is in place on Lough Sheelin. The fishery management rule currently in place prohibits fishing for any species by rod and line from 13 October to the end of February. There is no change in practice regarding this and regulating this rule under legislation ensures that it can be enforced more effectively. Fishing for all species has always been allowed during the open season from 1 March to 12 October on Lough Sheelin. These regulations have been in place for twenty years during the tenure of the then Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. This has been a widely recognised status for the lake and promoted through the angling guide leaflets and signage erected at Lough Sheelin.
493. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to contact the chief executive officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland (details supplied) to discuss the damage being done by the Asian clams infestation with the angling club. [7599/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest invitation from the Club (Lough Ree Angling Hub) was received by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on 14 April last in relation to a meeting proposed for 25 April in Lanesborough, which the Club advised would be an update on their work. The club also advised that the meeting was proposed on foot of a site visit by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who have statutory responsibility for invasive species, including Asian Clam. The invitation also confirms that NPWS discussed matters with the local group.
I am advised that IFI will be represented at the meeting, from a fisheries perspective, by the Shannon Region Fisheries Inspector who is most familiar with the area.
IFI’s initial intervention in this issue primarily concentrated on its core statutory responsibilities as regards the protection conservation, development and promotion of the inland fisheries resource.
Upon notification, IFI promptly undertook work to reduce the threat of further spread from angling activity and equipment with appropriate bio-security measures put in place for anglers, and the fishery was re-opened. IFI contributed to the organisation of an international angling competition at Lanesborough aimed at showcasing the re-opened fishery. IFI also engaged, as a groundwork measure, in a scientific survey in the Lanesborough area which set out many of the physiognomies of the Asian Clam species.
While IFI has no statutory remit in relation to invasive species, I would be happy to facilitate a detailed briefing for the Deputy from IFI on interventions to date as they relate to matters within their remit.
494. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount to be invested in providing broadband under the Connecting Communities initiative, that is, to areas where it is not commercially viable to provide the service throughout the State; and the years in which the investments will be made. [7449/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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. On 29 September 2015, the Government agreed and published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention and it is expected that further funding will be available over the lifetime of any contract(s).
Funding of €75m is also committed through the European Regional Development Fund which can be drawn down after Exchequer expenditure is first incurred.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched a major Government procurement process for the State intervention to deliver a high quality, high speed broadband infrastructure to over 750,000 premises in Ireland. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire ('PQQ') and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of noon, 31 March 2016.
The five responses are now being assessed in line with the criteria set down by the Department with a view to short listed qualified bidders proceeding to the next stage of procurement.
The second stage in the procurement process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders. The third stage of the procurement process involves the issue of final tender documentation, which follows the ITPD process. Following the submission of final tenders by bidders, a winning bidder or bidders will be selected for the two lots-one lot as set out in the Intervention Strategy document. The Department will then enter into formal contract negotiations with the winning bidder(s).
The Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
Because a competitive procurement process is currently in train, it would be neither advisable nor appropriate to speculate about the potential overall cost of the NBP at this stage. Ultimately, the outcome of the procurement process will determine the final cost of the intervention and will influence the amount of Exchequer funding that will be required for the NBP.
495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or him to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016, by agency and by region (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been 61 appointments to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period 1 January 2015 to date. 16 of these were from among individuals who submitted Expressions of Interest or who applied under the revised arrangements set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards which were published in November 2014. It should be noted that some 72% of the appointments made were either ex-officio appointments, reappointments, the appointment of worker directors chosen by election or appointments made on foot of nominations made by an Oireachtas Committee. A complete list of all current members and vacancies is available to the Deputy and all members of the public on the Stateboards website at www.stateboards.ie.
The table below sets out the State Board and the names of the individuals appointed, the date of appointment and indicates those who submitted Expressions of Interest or who were appointed under the revised arrangements. The following three boards had no appointments made to them during the period – the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA), Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) and the Mining Board. Responsibility for the OSI was transferred to the Department of Justice and Equality from January this year.
|
Board |
Name of appointee |
Date of appointment |
Region – Head Office |
|
An Post |
Ms Lorraine Tormey (Elected postmaster member) |
01/01/2016 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
*Mr Dermot Divilly (Chairman designate) |
01/12/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RTE |
Mr Padraig Ó Céidigh (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Shane Naughton (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Ms Fionnuala Sheehan (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
*Ms Margaret Ward (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
Mr Séamus Martin |
17/02/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Professor Maeve McDonagh (on the nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
*Dr Rosemary Day (on the nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
*Mr Denis Wolinski (on the nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Seán Ó Mórdha (on the nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
17/02/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bord na Móna |
Mr Philip Casey (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Leinster |
|
|
Mr Kevin Healy (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Leinster |
|
|
Mr Seamus Maguire (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Leinster |
|
|
Mr Colm Ó Gógáin (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Leinster |
|
|
Mr Mike Quinn (CEO, ex officio) |
02/01/2015 |
Leinster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ervia |
Mr Sean Hogan |
20/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr James Martin |
20/01/2015 (resigned 27/03/2015) |
Dublin |
|
|
Ms Celine Fitzgerald |
20/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Peter Cross |
20/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
EirGrid |
**Mr Gerry Walsh |
22/07/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Mr Michael Hand |
22/07/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESB |
Ms Noreen Wright |
19/01/2016 with effect from 28/06/2016 (reappointment) |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Dave Byrne (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Sean Kelly (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Tony Merriman (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Peter O’Sullivan (Elected employee member) |
01/01/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Ms Ellvena Graham (Chairperson) |
14/07/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Mr Andrew Hastings |
14/07/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) |
Mr Aidan Donnelly (Chairperson) |
01/08/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Pat Meehan (CEO, ex officio) |
01/08/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Ms Una Dixon (DCENR Rep) |
01/01/2016 (reappointed for 9 months until 30/09/2016) |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) |
Mr Frank O’Flynn |
14/05/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) |
*Ms Julie O’Neill** (Chairperson) |
01/05/2015 (appointed as Chairperson) |
Dublin |
|
|
Dr Brian Motherway (CEO, ex offico) |
01/05/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr. Brian Carroll (DCENR rep) |
06/05/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Ms Anne Connolly |
06/05/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Pat Gilroy |
06/05/2015 (reappointed) |
Dublin |
|
|
**Dr. Peter Brennan |
06/05/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Dr. Lisa Ryan |
06/05/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Mr Michael Wall |
06/05/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
**Mr Paddy Phelan |
06/05/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TG4 |
Mr Diarmuid Ó Ruiséal (staff representative) |
03/03/2015 |
Connacht |
|
|
Ms Bríd Falconer (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
31/03/2015 |
Connacht |
|
|
Mr Francis C Reidy (on nomination of Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
29/09/2015 |
Connacht |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) |
*Mr Fintan Gorman |
01/07/2015 (appointed as chairperson) |
Dublin |
|
|
*Dr Frances Lucy (on nomination of the Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
24/03/2015 |
Dublin |
|
|
Mr Sean Coady |
17/11/2015 (Staff nomination) |
Dublin |
|
|
*Mr Patrick Gibbons (on nomination of the Joint Oireachtas Committee) |
13/01/2016 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loughs Agency |
Mr Alan McCulla |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Andrew Duncan |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Ms Phil Mahon |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Michael McCormick |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Seamus Rodgers |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Ms Theresa McLaverty |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Winston Patterson |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Mick Murphy |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Laurence Ardbuckle |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Donal Tipping |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Joe Miller |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
|
|
Mr Terry McWilliams |
13/12/2015 (reappointed) |
Cross Border |
*Expression of Interest received
**Appointed under revised arrangements set out in November 2014 Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards
496. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regard to his broadband map, if he will confirm that blue areas that are due to receive 30 Mbps by end of 2016 via commercial operators will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7572/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra497. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to measure broadband provision in rural Ireland within either the blue or amber areas of the national broadband plan; the measurement which would be provided; the areas in which this measurement will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7573/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra498. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regard to the national broadband plan map, where there are infill areas of provision of less than 30 Mbps within a blue area, the timeframe for commercial operators to provide 30 Mbps to the users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 498, inclusive, together.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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 has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
The EU State Aid Guidelines for Broadband require Member States to thoroughly evaluate any commercial plans so as to ensure that State Aid is confined to those areas where commercial investment in high speed broadband services is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future.
The Department has had extensive engagement with operators to identify those areas where there are concrete plans to roll out high speed broadband on a commercial basis in line with EU Sate Aid Guidelines for broadband. In October 2015 the Department published the process used for assessing commercial high speed broadband investment plans. Plans received from commercial operators are assessed under technical, deployment and financial criteria, in line with the EU State Aid requirements. This resulted in the publication of the High Speed Broadband Map 2020 in December 2015. No additional commercial plans have been submitted since the 2020 map was launched in December 2015.
The Map shows, based on the plans of commercial operators, that there are some 1.6m premises in the BLUE area, representing 70% of the total premises in Ireland. The remaining 30%, which comprise some 757,000 premises are in the AMBER area and are expected to be served by the State Intervention. The Department is monitoring the commercial rollout plans of operators on an ongoing basis to ensure that all of the 1.6m premises will have access to High Speed Broadband of at least 30Mbps.
The Department has also published a process for managing the high speed broadband map which can be accessed at:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/SiteCollectionDocuments/Broadband/Updated%20Expert%20reports/Managing%20IA%20Map%20-%20Consultation%20Paper%20FINAL%2021-12-15.pdf.
499. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the availability of broadband at Kilmore in Enfield in County Kildare and the projected availability over the next two years, given that a number of rural areas in the vicinity have been upgraded but appear to still be lacking in broadband supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7636/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being 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 has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Map shows that 77% of premises in Kildare are in the BLUE area. The remaining 23% of premises in Kildare (20,536 premises), including the townland of Kilmore, are in the AMBER area and it is intended that these will be served through the State intervention. Consumers can see whether their individual premises is in the BLUE or AMBER area by entering their Eircode on the Map.
The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The procurement process is underway and it is proposed to engage with the winning bidder(s) in due course on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
The Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and communities in developing the Intervention Strategy, conducting four formal consultations and over 100 meetings over the last 18 months in particular. Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
Local communities, and in particular, Local Authorities have an important role to play in facilitating the efficient rollout of infrastructure in their areas. The Department encourages Local Authorities to engage proactively with commercial operators, and the Department has also made several presentations to Local Authorities in relation to the National Broadband Plan., including Kildare County Council.
500. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current position on the timing and rollout of the national broadband plan for an area in (details supplied) County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7641/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being 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 has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Map shows that 77% of premises in Kildare are in the BLUE area. The remaining 23% of premises in Kildare (20,536 premises), including the townlands of Narraghmore and Calverstown, are in the AMBER area and it is intended that these will be served through the State intervention. Consumers can see whether their individual premises is in the BLUE or AMBER area by entering their Eircode on the Map.
The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The procurement process is underway and it is proposed to engage with the winning bidder(s) in due course on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
The Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and communities in developing the Intervention Strategy, conducting four formal consultations and over 100 meetings over the last 18 months in particular. Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
501. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which initiatives are planned to address deficiencies in the telecommunications sector with a view to ensuring that all segments of the sector are up to international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects broadband quality and service to improve on an annual basis over the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which improvements in quality and speed of broadband is envisaged over the next two years with particular reference to County Kildare and the need to meet the requirements of customers therein as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7740/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 503, inclusive, together.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being 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 has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
The 2020 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 are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the proposed State intervention. Members of the public can view whether their premises is in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
The Intervention Strategy sets out a detailed service specification including a requirement that the State-funded network must be capable of delivering high-quality, high speed broadband of at least 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. It must also be capable of catering for higher performance in the future so as to keep pace with consumer demand.
The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
The Department will have a robust governance procedure in place which ensures that the winning bidder(s) deliver their obligations under the contract to the required standards and within the required timeframes. In addition, the Department continues to monitor the rollout of network deployment plans in the commercial areas to ensure that services are delivered in line with commitments made by operators.
I am confident that through the combination of existing commercial investment and the State intervention, that all our citizens will have the same, if not better, access to high speed broadband services available internationally.
In the mobile telephony market, market operators are currently investing in the rollout of 4G networks. These are providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities over previous 3G and 2G technologies. These 4G networks use the same technology as the most modern mobile networks providing public access internationally.
504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress to date towards reaching targets arrived at by the previous administration in respect of renewable energy with a view to meeting international commitments within time and target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7741/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. Figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) show that Ireland is just over halfway in meeting its 2020 targets, with 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements being met from renewable sources in 2014. More specifically, the SEAI has calculated that 22.7% of electricity, 6.6% of heat and 5.2% of transport were met from renewable sources. While the progress to date is encouraging, significant challenges remain, particularly in the heat and transport sectors.
505. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered introducing legislation to require all suppliers of domestic electricity to have the same schedule of charges, including standing charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7768/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent regulator. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It is therefore a function of the CER to regulate the electricity market. The way a supplier presents information on a customer’s bill is a matter for the CER under the regulatory framework.
The Standing charge is a combination of the fixed charges associated with providing electricity network services (e.g. meter reading and network operations/maintenance) and a share of the supply costs in servicing customers’ electricity accounts. Standing charges vary from supplier to supplier and will be presented by the supplier under one of four classes of standing charges: Urban 24hr, Urban Nightsaver, Rural 24hr, Rural Nightsaver. Which class a customer falls under depends on meter type (whether 24hr or Nightsaver) and location, and for the latter, whether the urban or rural class applies depends on the location of the customer’s property.
506. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to restore funding for local improvement schemes in the next budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7300/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for road and laneways that local authorities have not taken in charge, that is, private roads and landways. The maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. The LIS for regional and local roads remains in place but my Department does not provide a separate grant allocation towards this scheme. Instead Councils may use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. It is a matter for the Council to decide on allocations for LIS. Regarding Budget 2017, it will be a matter for the incoming Government when it is formed to determine the Exchequer provision for roads (including regional and local roads) in 2017.
507. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide Elite Martial Arts recognition as a governing body by the Irish Sports Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7247/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport in Ireland. This includes responsibility for the recognition of sporting organisations as National Governing Bodies. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
