Written Answers Nos. 161-180
161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of opportunities for dairy exports in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32480/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am well aware of the challenges faced by producers in the dairy sector. The last 18 months have been somewhat challenging particularly in the dairy and pigmeat sectors due to a number of factors. These factors contributing to global price volatility in 2015 and 2016 included the Russian Ban and the softening of Chinese demand on one side, coupled with increased production among key global producers including the EU on the supply side.
The UK Brexit referendum is obviously foremost in our minds too and in Government it is very much our number one priority. It is essential that we retain our national competitiveness as much as we possibly can while mitigating the effects of a possible disruptive exit by Britain from the EU. The effects on our agri-food sector are already been felt by exporters hugely affected by the strengthening sterling rate against the Euro lately. I am listening closely to what exporters have to say and as recently as Thursday last I chaired a meeting of a Stakeholder Forum for the agri-food sector which I established to focus on Brexit related issues. This will continue to be my priority in the immediate future.
One of my priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally. We are after all an exporting nation with 90% of our food produce leaving the island. It is for this reason I led a major trade mission to four Asian Countries in September and why I will be leading another one to Algeria and Morocco next month. It is only through further increasing our footprint internationally that we will help to mitigate the effects of Brexit and develop our agri-food sector to realise its full potential.
There are a number of other initiatives at industry, national and EU level aimed at mitigating market volatility in the dairy sector. The EU Commission has responded to these difficulties through the deployment of support measures provided for under the CAP. Market difficulties continued into the middle of 2016 and the Commission presented a further package of measures at the Agri-Fish Council in July. The main component is a fund of €500 million, which is in turn comprised of two elements.
The first is a €150 million EU-wide measure that will compensate farmers for reducing their milk output in the final quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 (at a rate of 14c/kg). In Phase 1 over 99% of available resources in terms of finances and tonnages were applied for. In Ireland, this amounted to approximately 74.2 million kilos from approaching 4,500 producers. If fully utilised, this will be worth over €10m to Irish dairy producers. Phase 2 of the scheme saw approaching 570 Irish suppliers apply for over 6 million kilos of reduction. At EU level, Phase 2 of the scheme was highly oversubscribed, with approaching 100 million kilos worth of proposed reductions made for the approximate 12 million kilos remaining after Phase 1.
The second element of the EU July 2016 package is a €350 million fund that will be allocated to Member States in the form of national envelopes, which Member States can use in accordance with their domestic circumstances. As part of Budget 2017 I announced a new low cost loan fund for the livestock, including in particular dairy, as well as tillage sectors which will utilise Ireland's €11.1M allocation, in conjunction with national funds, to leverage a greater fund in the region of €150M to provide such a low cost loan model for Irish farmers.
The long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong but there have been significant challenges this year. I am confident that the Irish and EU dairy sector is well placed to gain from the opportunity presented by expanding global demand whilst simultaneously addressing the aforementioned challenges with a particular focus on the challenges of price volatility.
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the margins availability to producers in the pig, poultry, beef and lamb sectors; the extent to which margins have narrowed or are likely to narrow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32481/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proposes any particular initiatives to address appalling returns to producers in the meat and dairy sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32487/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 168 together.
I am well aware of the challenges faced by producers in the Irish meat and dairy sectors. The last 18 months have been somewhat challenging particularly in the dairy and pigmeat sectors due to a number of factors. These factors contributing to global price volatility in 2015 and 2016 included the Russian Ban and the softening of Chinese demand on one side, coupled with increased production among key global producers including the EU on the supply side.
The UK Brexit referendum is obviously foremost in our minds too and in Government it is very much our number one priority. It is essential that we retain our national competitiveness as much as we possibly can while mitigating the effects of a possible disruptive exit by Britain from the EU. The effects on our agri-food sector are already been felt by exporters hugely affected by the strengthening sterling rate against the Euro lately. I am listening closely to what exporters have to say and as recently as Thursday last I chaired a meeting of a Stakeholder Forum for the agri-food sector which I established to focus on Brexit related issues. This will continue to be my priority in the immediate future.
One of my priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally. We are after all an exporting nation with 90% of our food produce leaving the island. It is for this reason I led a major trade mission to four Asian Countries in September and why I will be leading another one to Algeria and Morocco next month. It is only through further increasing our footprint internationally that we will help to mitigate the effects of Brexit and develop our agri-food sector to realise its full potential.
There are a number of other initiatives at industry, national and EU level aimed at mitigating market volatility in the agrifood sector. The EU Commission has responded to these difficulties through the deployment of support measures provided for under the CAP. Market difficulties continued into the middle of 2016 and the Commission presented a further package of measures at the Agri-Fish Council in July. The main component is a fund of €500 million, which in turn comprises two elements:
The first is a €150 million EU-wide measure that will compensate farmers for reducing their milk output in the final quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 (at a rate of 14c/kg). In Phase 1 over 99% of available resources in terms of finances and tonnages were applied for. In Ireland, this amounted to approximately 74.2 million kilos from approaching 4,500 producers. If fully utilised, this will be worth over €10m to Irish dairy producers. Phase 2 of the scheme saw approaching 570 Irish suppliers apply for over 6 million kilos of reduction. At EU level, Phase 2 of the scheme was highly oversubscribed, with approaching 100million kilos worth of proposed reductions made for the approximate 12 million kilos remaining after Phase 1.
The second element of the EU July 2016 package is a €350 million fund that will be allocated to Member States in the form of national envelopes, which Member States can use in accordance with their domestic circumstances. As part of Budget 2017 I announced a new low cost loan fund for the livestock, including in particular dairy, as well as tillage sectors which will utilise Ireland's €11.1M allocation, in conjunction with national funds, to leverage a greater fund in the region of €150M to provide such a low cost loan model for Irish farmers.
The long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong but there have been significant challenges this year. I am confident that the Irish and EU dairy sector is well placed to gain from the opportunity presented by expanding global demand whilst simultaneously addressing the aforementioned challenges with a particular focus on the challenges of price volatility.
On the sheep sector, I am also aware profitability at farm level remains a challenge for all sheep farmers, including hill farmers. My Department already has in place a number of schemes, including the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS which make vital contributions to ensuring the continuing viability of hill farming.
The Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of some €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This new Animal Welfare scheme for sheep, in addition to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS, will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continuing viability and sustainability of the sheep sector in Ireland.
In designing the scheme, I am aware of the different challenges facing sheep farmers in which different areas of sheep farming are carried out in Ireland. I believe that this scheme will provide a lasting benefit to sheep farming and demonstrates and acknowledges the contribution sheep farming makes to the Agri-food sector in this country. This scheme has been submitted to the European Commission for formal approval as part of Ireland's proposed second amendment to the Rural Development Programme.
My role as Minister in relation to the beef sector is to create a policy and support environment that allows it to flourish in line with standard market principles and delivers the best possible returns for all participants in the sector. I am guided in this context by the long-term sectoral development strategies as set out in Food Wise 2025 and I am confident that these initiatives, in conjunction with the Rural Development Programme, will lead to continued growth in terms of profitability and efficiency of the sector as whole. The primary determinant of prices in any market is the relationship between supply and demand. As with any Minister for Agriculture in the EU, I can have no role in beef prices in Ireland.
It is a clear objective of mine to ensure that this sector continues to receive the necessary support to address the challenge of profitability within the sector. In addition to the Basic Payment Scheme, a range of measures introduced under the Rural Development Programme helps to improve efficiency and profitability on farm and to support environmentally sustainable production. This includes programmes such as TAMS, GLAS, Knowledge Transfer Groups and of course the Beef Data and Genomics Programme.
163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department expect to be in a position to pursue and secure new markets for Irish exports, with particular reference to the challenges arising from Brexit; if he expects to utilise a multifaceted approach in this endeavour regardless of deadlines associated with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32482/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish food and drink is sold in more than 175 markets worldwide. The value of these exports increased to €10.8 billion last year, which represented a 3% increase on 2015.
The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry's strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK's decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agri-food sector in particular.
Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region. This is where our efforts will be focused for the foreseeable future, particularly given the need to diversify our markets and to reduce our reliance on traditional destinations such as the UK.
I am following up on this in a very real and practical way through my participation in an ambitious Trade Mission agenda, which is being rolled out in co-operation with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland. For example, I led a very successful Trade Mission to China and Singapore in early September, at around the same time that my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle, was leading another very successful mission to Vietnam and Korea. I will also be visiting Algeria and Morocco next week at the head of another very strong Trade Mission, and this will be followed by a visit to the Gulf region at the end of November. It is also my intention to continue this activity through further strategically targeted visits in 2017, and I am of course also ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.
164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the numbers of checks in respect of traceability that are made to ensure all food products in the market originating here or elsewhere comply with national and-or EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32483/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which food labelling checks and inspections continue in order to verify compliance with Irish and EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32484/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
I attach great importance to the food and drink industries exports and their contribution to our economic recovery. Agri food exports account for 7% of GDP and continue to grow year on year.
My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays a vital role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Currently my Department has assisted our colleagues in the Department of Health on the drafting of a new Statutory Instrument to bring the labelling of loose pigmeat and poultry into line with the origin labelling rules for packaged meat brought in on April the first 2015. This requires businesses who sell meat loose in their premises to clearly identify the country of rearing and slaughter of the animal from which the meat is derived. The draft SI has been finalised and my Department has placed it on the Technical Regulation Information System for notification to all EU Member States and following on from the obligatory three month standstill period I would be confident that the Minister for Health will be in a position to sign the SI, thereby bringing it into force.
Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have what is referred to as the 'one step forward, one step backward' traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.
My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department.
The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (formally the FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Border Inspection Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the Directorate to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety's website.
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment throughout the food industry remains positive, notwithstanding the potential of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32485/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's agri-food sector is one of our most important indigenous sectors. Employment figures in 2015 show that it accounted for 8.4% of total employment, or up to 166,000 people in 2015. In the context of Brexit, it is important to maintain this important sector to ensure that it continues to grow strongly in overall economic terms.
We have seen that the most immediate impact for our agri-food sector as a result of Brexit has arisen from changes to Euro-Sterling exchange rates, and that the mushroom sector has been particularly affected. A number of actions are being taken to try to mitigate these immediate impacts.
Both Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland have been providing practical guidance to SMEs. Bord Bia recently announced a number of measures, covering areas such as managing volatility impacts, providing consumer and market insight, deepening customer engagement and extending market reach, which are aimed at helping companies to maintain their competitiveness. Similar support is being provided by Enterprise Ireland through their 5 point plan for exporters to the UK.
In addition, I announced a number of measures in Budget 2017 that will financially underpin my Department's Brexit mitigation efforts through strategic investment in key areas of the Department, its agencies and in the agri-food sector. In particular, funding for capital investments in the commercial horticulture sector has been increased to €5 million in 2017. The horticulture, livestock and tillage sectors, will also have access to the €150m low interest cash flow support loan fund, providing access to highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000, at an interest rate of 2.95%.
I am keeping the situation under review, including through discussions with the recently-established Consultative Committee on Brexit. This Committee met for the second time last week, and will continue to facilitate an ongoing exchange of dialogue with my Department as the situation in relation to Brexit unfolds.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the future development and expansion of the fishing industry, with particular reference to fishing families who remain dependent on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32486/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Wise 2025 recognises that in common with the broader food sector, the seafood industry will benefit from the projected increasing global demand for food produce over the coming decade. Current FAO estimates are that world consumption of fish will grow by an average annual consumption of 17 kg per person, per annum, resulting in a requirement for an extra 40 million tonnes of seafood by 2030. Seafood will also benefit from the shift in global economic gravity towards the East, where there is a strong cultural preference for seafood.
To avail of this opportunity, Food Wise identifies 6 areas where we need to focus our efforts in the years ahead. We must put sustainability at the heart of everything we do, add value to our raw material, develop scale in our processing sector, upskill our seafood workforce, increase our raw material supply and develop our markets.
In January this year, my predecessor Minister Coveney launched Ireland's new €240 million Operational Programme under the European maritime and Fisheries Fund. This new investment programme will be the source of very significant investment supports for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020. The Programme represents a doubling of previous support levels.
The Programme aims to support the seafood industry in meeting the challenges of the CFP and in sustainably growing production, value and employment in the seafood industry. The Programme will focus on the same 6 areas identified in Food Wise and will be instrumental in our efforts to develop and adapt our seafood industry to take advantage of the economic and employment opportunities to come.
The Programme is providing some €67 million for our fishing sector, €30 million for our aquaculture sector and €30 million for our seafood processing sector. A further €12 million is being made available to significantly grow the Fisheries Local Action Group initiative to foster economic activity in fishing communities and some €10 million is available for blue growth and marine spatial planning initiatives.
The majority of support schemes under the Programme are already underway in 2016, with a small number to follow in early 2017. I expect that in the region of €20 million will be invested under the Programme in 2016 and I have secured a significant increase to €43 million in 2017.
169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money allocated in the budget to Balbriggan Harbour; the nature of the work to be carried out; the timescale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32500/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBalbriggan Harbour is owned by Fingal County Council and responsibility for the maintenance and development of the harbour rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter. I am unaware of the budgets set aside by those bodies for Balbriggan Harbour.
However, under the annual Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has in previous years provided funding to assist Local Authorities for small scale development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
On 13 January 2016, Local Authorities were invited to submit applications under the 2016 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. I can confirm that no application for funding for Balbriggan Harbour was received from Fingal County Council in 2016.
Any application that might be submitted by Fingal County Council in respect of Balbriggan Harbour under future programmes will be considered in the context of available funding and overall priorities.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
170. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has approved a GLAS application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if so, the commencement date of this GLAS plan; when the first payment is due to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32501/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was unable to submit an application for the second tranche of GLAS due to an issue with the designation of a parcel as a natura parcel. My Department has and is continuing to review this case with a view to the person named being able to submit a complete application for GLAS 2. GLAS officials will contact the person named when the issue is resolved to allow an application to be submitted.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to roll out high-speed broadband from Blennerville to Camp, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32406/16]
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 a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. The formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Broadband/Pages/National-Broadband-Plan-Map-.aspx 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.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention which are the subject of the current procurement process.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including Co Kerry.
The maps shows that 44% of Blennerville in the townland of Curragraigue (Trughanacmy) falls within the AMBER area and that the areas between the town of Blennerville and Camp in County Kerry falls largely within the AMBER area and will therefore be included in the State intervention procurement process.
The townland of Camp together with the remaining 56% of Blennerville in the townland of Curraghraigue (Trughanacmy) is included in the BLUE area where commercial providers are either currently delivering or previously indicated that they have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by scrolling through the map online or entering their Eircode.
While I cannot compel any operator to provide services to a particular premises, my Department continues to actively monitor the deployment plans in the BLUE area and direct feedback from consumers is important. In this regard, if customers in Camp or Blennerville cannot access high speed broadband services, I would encourage them to contact my Department directly at broadband@dcenr.gov.ie, quoting their address and Eircode, and giving details of providers they have contacted with a view to obtaining services.
The Department is now in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State Intervention Area comprising over 750,000 premises in Ireland including over 51,000 premises in County Kerry covering 100,000km of road network and 96% of the land area of Ireland. Since bidders were invited to participate in dialogue with the Department, there have been approximately 150 hours of meetings, with considerable more interaction to follow over the coming months.
Earlier this year, before I came into office, the Department announced that it would be June 2017 before contract(s) were awarded under the NBP. The bidders in the process have recently indicated that they may need more time to conclude the procurement process. The timing of each stage of the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team, and bidders, during the procurement process. Bidders need adequate time to prepare detailed proposals and their final formal bids and get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at key stages of the process. It is also important to ensure that risks in this multi-million euro procurement are carefully managed. I do not propose to comment any further at this juncture, given that discussions are ongoing in the procurement process. I can assure the Deputy, however, that the procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The Government considers the NBP to be one of the most significant investments in rural Ireland for decades, and one which will transform society, akin to rural electrification in the last century.
During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated that it could take 3-5 years to rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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.
172. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to provide better broadband and better broadband coverage in Drumeena, Redhills, County Cavan; the timeframe set out for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32421/16]
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 http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Broadband/Pages/National-Broadband-Plan-Map-.aspx 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.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention which are the subject of the current procurement process.
The maps shows that the 50% of the townland of Redhill Demesne, Co Cavan falls within the BLUE area where commercial providers are either currently delivering or previously indicated that they have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The remaining 50% of Redhill and the townland Drumeena Co Cavan falls completely within the AMBER area.
While I cannot compel any operator to provide services to a particular premises, my Department continues to actively monitor the deployment plans in the BLUE area and direct feedback from consumers is important. In this regard, if customers in Redhill cannot access high speed broadband services, I would encourage them to contact my Department directly at broadband@dcenr.gov.ie, quoting their address and Eircode, and giving details of providers they have contacted with a view to obtaining services.
The Department is now in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State Intervention Area comprising over 750,000 premises in Ireland including over 24,000 premises in County Cavan, covering 100,000km of road network and 96% of the land area of Ireland. Since bidders were invited to participate in dialogue with the Department, there have been approximately 150 hours of meetings, with considerable more interaction to follow over the coming months.
Earlier this year, before I came into office, the Department announced that it would be June 2017 before contract(s) were awarded under the NBP. The bidders in the process have recently indicated that they may need more time to conclude the procurement process. The timing of each stage of the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team, and bidders, during the procurement process. Bidders need adequate time to prepare detailed proposals and their final formal bids and get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at key stages of the process. It is also important to ensure that risks in this multi-million euro procurement are carefully managed. I do not propose to comment any further at this juncture, given that discussions are ongoing in the procurement process. I can assure the Deputy however, that the procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The Government considers the NBP to be one of the most significant investments in rural Ireland for decades, and one which will transform society, akin to rural electrification in the last century.
During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated that it could take 3-5 years to rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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.
173. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the grants or assistance available to help small rural businesses in counties Cavan or Monaghan avail of higher-speed broadband connections to make running a business from home a reality. [32422/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State and aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Broadband/Pages/National-Broadband-Plan-Map-.aspx 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.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention which are the subject of the current procurement process.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including Co Meath. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by scrolling through the map online or entering their Eircode. The Department also has a dedicated mailbox and anyone with a query in relation to the Map should email the Department, quoting their Eircode, to broadband@dcenr.gov.ie.
The Department is now in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network to the over 750,000 premises in Ireland, covering 100,000km of road network and 96% of the land area of Ireland. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. Householders and businesses may potentially get speeds not just of 30Mbps but up to 1Gbps with businesses potentially availing of symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Separately, my Department's Trading Online Voucher Scheme is specifically designed to support small and micro enterprises to trade online. Small businesses that remain offline are missing out on a huge opportunity to capture some of the €14,000 worth of business transacted online every minute, up to 70% of which goes overseas.
The scheme is administered by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 (subject to match funding), along with expert training and advice. Over 2,600 small businesses including 30 businesses in County Cavan and 42 businesses in County Monaghan have, to date, successfully applied for a trading online voucher. The scheme is activating small businesses and sole traders from across a wide range of sectors including, retail, manufacturing, professional services, food as well as arts, crafts and design.
In May this year, I published an evaluation of the enterprise impacts of the scheme which shows that it is helping small businesses to grow on average by 21%, increase employment by 35%, and 60% export for the first time. Digital trade is contributing to sustainable regional economic development, with both urban and rural based businesses benefitting equally from the online opportunity.
Rollout of vouchers continues nationwide and further details relating to the scheme can be found on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie/tradingonlinevoucher and on the website of individual Local Enterprise Offices at www.localenterprise.ie.
174. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way he will ensure the national climate dialogue complies with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention. [32494/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to establish a national dialogue on climate change builds on the Energy White Paper commitment for the establishment of a National Energy Forum which would invite a wide range of stakeholders to consider evidence-based inputs and maximise consensus on broad energy policy measures. The national dialogue will encompass the role set out for the National Energy Forum but with a wider focus to include examination of key issues that need to be addressed in our long-term transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy. Options are being assessed as to how best to optimise the processes which will underpin the functioning of the National Dialogue, including with regard to the requirements of the Aarhus convention.
175. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department's prediction in regard to the amount by which Ireland will miss its 2020 EU emissions targets; and, apart from budget 2017, the policy changes being explored to reduce the likely overshoot. [32495/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. This is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated under the ESD and one shared only by Denmark and Luxembourg. The 2013 target is based on the average of emissions for the years 2008-2010. The target for each of the years 2014 through 2019 is on a straight-line trajectory between the targets for 2013 and 2020, and surpluses in one year can be used to cover deficits in any subsequent year. The average incidence of these targets is a 12% reduction relative to 2005.
Regarding my Department's prediction as to the amount by which Ireland will miss its 2020 EU emissions target, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the appropriate body to provide this detail. In this context, in March 2016, the EPA published projected emissions for 2020 which indicate that Ireland's emissions at that stage could be in the range of 6-11% below 2005 levels. On a cumulative basis over the period 2013-2020, Ireland is projected to have a deficit of between 3 and 12 Megatonnes Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MtCO2e).
The extent of this challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU and international commitments, is well understood by the Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and now underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015 which was enacted in December 2015. The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. Statutory authority for the plans is set out in the Act.
In accordance with Section 4 of the Act, and in line with responsibilities assigned to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I intend to make a draft National Mitigation Plan available for public consultation by the end of the year followed by submission of a final plan to Government for approval by June 2017. Work is well underway on the development of the National Mitigation Plan, the primary objective of which will be to track implementation of measures already underway and identify additional measures in the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the overall national low carbon transition agenda to 2050. The first iteration of the National Mitigation Plan will place particular focus on putting the necessary measures in place to address the challenge to 2020 but also in terms of planning ahead to ensure that appropriate policies and measures will be in place beyond that.
The ultimate objective of successive National Mitigation Plans is to incrementally achieve the long-term vision of low carbon transition, set out in the National Policy Position, by 2050. In that context, the National Mitigation Plan will have regard to Ireland's obligations under the current 2009 Effort Sharing Decision, the Paris Agreement and any likely future EU and international obligations that may arise, including new national targets to be agreed under the 2030 climate and energy package.
176. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the efforts being made in relation to bringing to an end the burning of coal and oil and the use of natural gas in our electricity generations stations. [32496/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030, sets out a long-term vision to guide Irish energy policy and actions to be taken in the energy sector from now until 2030, in order to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050 and reduce our fossil fuel dependency. In 2015, the contribution of coal, natural gas and oil to gross electricity generation stood at 16.9%, 43% and 1.4% respectively. The Energy Policy Paper recognises that key decisions on the future of Moneypoint will have to be taken before 2020 as the station comes to the end of its operating life in its current configuration in 2025.
The Programme for Government commits to reducing import dependency while maintaining energy security, affordability and reducing energy-related emissions. As part of the work being done by my Department, a Working Group has been established to look at the overall fuel mix in the energy sector, including the role of coal and possible replacement fuels, and the role Moneypoint plays in relation to the operation and stability of the electricity grid.
The EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand 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 energy sources, with the latter target also being legally binding.
The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and although good progress towards the target has been made to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. In 2015, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has estimated that 25.3% of electricity was generated by renewable sources, of which 22.8% was generated by onshore wind.
Analysis by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland show that 9.1% of Ireland's overall energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources and that this avoided €286 million of fossil fuel imports.
177. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when sports capital funding will be made available in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32367/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
As was confirmed in the 2017 Estimates Statement, a new round of the Sports Capital Programme will be open for applications in the near future with the announcement of allocations expected in 2017. I expect to announce more details in this regard shortly.
178. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding making the IAA the regulatory authority over noise levels at Dublin Airport; the resources his Department would allocated to the IAA to allow it to effectively carry out this function; the measures which would be implemented to allow the IAA to effectively penalise the DAA for any breaches of noise regulations; his views on whether the IAA will be able to effectively monitor noise levels at Dublin Airport, ensure compliance, and protect local residents from undue and unacceptable levels of noise pollution the airport and its activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32384/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with EU Regulation 598/2014 establishing rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports, it is required of all EU Member States to designate a Competent Authority to carry out specific functions prescribed in the Regulations. As the Deputy will be aware from my announcement on the 22nd of September, 2016, I am designating the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) as the Competent Authority in Ireland to carry out those functions.
The new regulatory arrangements for airport noise management in Ireland will be given statutory effect by way of a Statutory Instrument. Officials in my Department are currently engaged with the Office of the Attorney General to settle the precise details of the transposition of this EU Regulation. It is envisaged that resourcing and compliance issues will be addressed in the Statutory Instrument, which it is aimed to complete by the end of this year.
I am satisfied that the arrangements for the new airport noise regulatory regime announced on 22 September last offers the best option for effective implementation of EU Regulation 598/2014 and that the IAA, in its capacity as Competent Authority, will take due account of the interests of local residents. I am also meeting groups of residents to take account of their interests.
179. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a second runway at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32385/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the DAA has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport. In April 2016 DAA announced plans to proceed with a second parallel runway; the North Runway project, with the intention of having the runway operational by the end of 2020.
I have welcomed daa's decision to develop this critical piece of airport infrastructure, which will ensure Ireland's International connectivity into the future.
As the development of the North Runway is a matter for the DAA, I have forwarded your question to them for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy does not hear from the DAA within 10 working days, I ask that he inform my private office.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
180. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the necessary funding and operating costs to maintain the current phase one development at the National Sports Campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32398/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPhase 1 of the National Indoor Arena, which is being developed at the National Sports Campus, is scheduled for completion in December 2016. Phase 1 comprises the development of a National Indoor Athletics Training Centre, a National Indoor Training Centre (which will accommodate numerous sports) and a National Gymnastics Training Centre. The facility is scheduled to be in use from January 2017. My Department is currently engaging with Sport Ireland on the allocation of its budget for 2017.
