Written Answers Nos. 241-248
242. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the area, Barnacullia, Sandyford, County Dublin, is in the schedule for the roll-out of rural broadband and when it is due to be completed. [27680/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. The formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, 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 previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services and includes the townland of Barnacullia, County Dublin. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area to ensure that those services are delivered.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention. Premises within this area will get services of at least 30 mbps when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including Dublin. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by scrolling through the map online or entering their Eircode. Over 750,000 premises are the focus for the procurement process, which formally commenced in December 2015 with the publication of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (‘PQQ’) and Project Information Memorandum. On 5 July, I announced that my Department has also identified that up to an additional 170,000 premises which are currently market BLUE on the High Speed Broadband Map are unlikely to get access to services. My Department is conducting further analysis to identify these additional premises with a view to including them in the formal procurement process. This work will conclude in the coming months and will be reflected in a further update to the High Speed Broadband Map. The Department has a dedicated mailbox (broadband@dcenr.gov.ie) and where a property is in a BLUE area and cannot yet get service, the occupier can email the Department with details of their Eircode and any services providers they have already contacted with a view to getting services.
The Department commenced the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) phase of the procurement process in July and is engaged in the formal dialogue process with the three qualifying bidders. Following the conclusion of the Dialogue Phase and an invitation to bidders to submit detailed draft proposals, the Department will issue final tender documentation to bidders. When final tenders have been submitted a winning bidder(s) will be selected for the contract which will comprise one or two lots as set out in the NBP Intervention Strategy.
The timing of each stage of the procurement is dependent on a number of factors including the number of qualified bidders and the complexities that may be encountered during the procurement process. It must be noted that bidders will need adequate time to prepare detailed proposals and their final formal bids and get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at these stages of the process.
As part of the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated that it could take 3-5 years to roll out a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP. It is however open to bidder(s) to suggest more aggressive timescales as part of their bids. As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network roll-out plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed roll-out plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for Government also commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, Minister Humphreys is leading on the establishment of two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded.
In the meantime, my Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks. The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services. These investments will further improve the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce with my colleague Minister Humphreys in July 2016. The Taskforce will recommend practical actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland, working with Government Departments, Local Authorities, ComReg, State Agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The work of the taskforce will also assist Local Authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contract(s) are in place. I expect that Minister Humphreys and I will bring proposals to Government by the end of 2016, on foot of the Taskforce's report.
243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the outcome of any discussions he has had with the EU Commission or at the Council of Ministers on the non-implementation of the proposed new regime pertaining to mobile phone roaming charges that was announced by the EU Commission some time ago; when the new charging criteria which was originally agreed will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27723/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2015, the European Council and Parliament adopted Regulation 2015/2120, which requires retail roaming surcharges to be abolished in the European Union from June 2017, subject to fair usage. Ireland played an active part in negotiating the Regulation and fully supports the implementation of the principle of “Roam like at Home” (RLAH).
The concept of fair usage was introduced to prevent so-called “permanent roaming”, i.e. living in one EU Member State and permanently using a mobile phone and data service from another. Under the Regulation the European Commission was tasked with reviewing the wholesale roaming markets and making appropriate proposals to enable the abolition of retail roaming surcharges, including defining “fair usage”.
The European Commission published its draft proposals regarding “fair usage” in early September, which included capping usage at 30 consecutive days and 90 days total per year. However, these proposals were subsequently withdrawn by the Commission, to be replaced by new proposals (expected to be published shortly) which, rather than focusing on the amount of days travelled, will link the ability to enjoy RLAH to the residence or frequent and substantial presence in the Member State of the roaming provider. This will aim to prevent systematic, commercial abuses of RLAH, and to balance the ambition for RLAH with the need to ensure continuing investments in networks in individual Member States.
Officials in my Department are now actively engaged in examining these upcoming proposals and will be engaging with industry on the matter. It is expected that the original EU target of June 2017 will be met.
244. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if counties Longford and Westmeath will be excluded from the development of a lakelands tourism strategy by Fáilte Ireland despite being in possession of a prime location and geographical relevance to the brand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27570/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason County Longford would be included in Ireland's Ancient East tourism strategy when it is not in proximity to the east, shares limited cultural traits to the trail and especially at a time when a lakelands strategy is in development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27571/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the county known as the lakeland county would be excluded from a tourism strategy based around the concept and attraction of lakes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27572/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 246, inclusive, together.
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
I understand Fáilte Ireland is undertaking a Destination Development and Feasibility Study to ascertain the potential for growth and the best mechanism to unlock those areas that lie between the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. Any new brand territory would have a shared boundary with both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. In this context, areas of those counties that border the Shannon Waterway on both sides are captured by the study. Depending on the recommendations arrived at by the study, those areas along the Shannon may actually end up benefiting from the work of more than one brand.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for a fuller reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a response within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
247. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commission independent and indigenous research into the effectiveness or otherwise of zebra crossings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy in large part to the answer I gave to Question No. 902 yesterday on the same topic.
The installation of zebra crossings on regional and local roads is a matter for local authorities, and on national roads, in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland. I am not aware of any concerns raised by individual local authorities regarding the safety of such crossings.
Controlled crossings, such as zebra crossings have an important role to play in urban areas. While guidance on their use is set out in both the Traffic Management Guidelines (TMG) and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), the legal requirements for zebra crossings are set out in the Traffic Signs Manual.
Zebra crossings are generally used on roads where a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower applies but they can also be considered in certain cases on roads where a speed limit of 60 km/h applies. When used appropriately as set out in the TMG and DMURS guidance documents they can function very effectively and contribute to road safety as well as being cost effective.
My Department has no proposals at this time to commission an independent review of zebra crossings as they have a proven record in many countries and suitable advice on their use in Ireland is set out in the TMG and DMURS documents.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of road repairs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27642/16]
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 local authorities' 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.
I am very conscious that the substantial cutbacks in grant funding for roads has had a significant impact on road conditions throughout the country. The reality is that based on the figures in the Capital Plan the roads budget will remain below the level needed to adequately maintain the road network for the next number of years. In these circumstances it is essential that local authorities prioritise road maintenance and renewal when allocating their own resources and that they ensure that value for money is achieved when implementing roadworks.
