Written Answers Nos. 224-233
224. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a ban on wild animal circuses on animal welfare grounds; if his Department has investigated the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35389/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conditions under which all species of animals in circuses are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals, including wild animals in circuses. Section 25 of the Act provides for the adoption of codes of practice in relation to, inter alia, matters concerning the welfare of animals, and this is being kept under review in the context of use of animals in circuses. My Department continues to engage with stakeholders, including circus groups, animal welfare organisations, in relation to the welfare of wild animals in circuses. According to the information available to my Department, there are in fact very few wild animals currently performing in Irish circuses. I have no plans at this juncture to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
225. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 27 October 2016, if the issues have been resolved to allow an application under GLAS 2 to be submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if not, when these issues are likely to be resolved in view of the fact that this person has been trying to submit an application for the past 11 months without success; the reason for the delay in resolving the issues involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35401/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that in the specific case of the person named, the advisor concerned was unable to submit a GLAS 2 application on behalf of the person named. My Department has been working to resolve the issues with this application and has been in direct contact with the person named including by written correspondence dated 15 November 2016.
226. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will review the provisions of sections 24 and 26 of the Air Pollution Act 1987, in view of the fact that local authorities seem to have inadequate powers to prevent the ongoing pollution of the atmosphere by domestic householders arising from the operation of wood burning stoves, despite securing convictions in the courts for breaches of the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35272/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 26 of the Air Pollution Act gives local authorities powers to serve a notice on the occupier of any premises in order to prevent or to limit air pollution from that premises while section 24 applies to non-domestic premises only and is not applicable to domestic households. It is a matter for a local authority to exercise its judgement in any individual case as to whether a nuisance is being caused and if so, what abatement action is required. It should be noted that this section applies equally to all sources of emissions to air including the burning of substances other than wood.
The powers provided are considered adequate and there are no plans to review these provisions of the Air Pollution Act, however my Department is happy to engage with local authorities on any particular problems that arise in implementation.
Regarding wood burning stoves and stoves in general, there are a number of on-going initiatives that are working to improve the emissions from wood burning stoves. The Department of Agriculture Food and Marine has taken steps to raise the standard of wood used through the voluntary Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme, as better quality wood with a low moisture content tends to have lower emissions. In addition the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) has developed standards for solid biofuels, including wood biomass, under Technical Committee (TC) 335 Solid Biofuels, which Ireland has adopted. Although it is not a legal obligation for fuel suppliers to apply this standard, it is strongly recommended that consumers look for fuels meeting the standard when purchasing wood fuels. Also at EU level, Ireland supported the introduction of stringent emission standards from solid fuel space heaters under the Eco Design Directive (2009/125/EC). These standards will apply to all new stoves and must be introduced by 2022 at the very latest, although Member States have the option to introduce them earlier.
227. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of a directive (details supplied); the details of tendering; if works have started in counties Cavan or Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35339/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no specific EU directive that stipulates that public lighting assets must be upgraded. However, there is a directive (347/2010) stating that certain lamps and lamps with magnetic ballasts either cannot be sold, or must, from 2017, meet certain performance criteria. The EU Directive that is most relevant to changes to public lighting is the Energy Efficiency Directive. Under that Directive Ireland has committed to achieving a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and the Government set a more ambitious target of 33% for the public sector. Upgrading of public lighting is central to the achievement of the public sector target.
While some Local authorities have already undertaken some retrofit work the main focus now is on a co-ordinated national effort to retrofit public lighting nationwide. This is being overseen by the National Public Lighting Steering Group. This group is chaired by the City & County Management Association (CCMA) and includes representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and my Department. Preparation for the physical upgrading of public lighting assets is underway across a number of work-streams. The initial focus is on inventory and database refinement. SEAI and TII part funded this activity in 2016. Cavan and Monaghan are drawing down this support and have contractors doing this. This is expected to lead to regional contracts for maintenance and retrofit in 2017/18.
228. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has met formally with a person (details supplied) since their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35255/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a matter of course, as Minister, I meet, from time to time, with the Chairs and CEOs of bodies under the aegis of my Department. I can confirm that I have formally met the individual in question.
229. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will meet with a group (details supplied) regarding the North-South interconnector project. [35313/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am always happy to consider meeting requests from groups on issues of public importance such as the North-South 400kV Interconnector project.
To request a meeting, the group can write to my office either via post to Minister's Office, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin D02 X285 or via email to Ministersdiary@DCCAE.gov.ie.
It should be noted that this project is the subject of a statutory independent planning process currently before An Bord Pleanála. According to their website, the case is due to be decided by 21 December 2016.
As the planning process is still ongoing there may be a limit to what it would be appropriate for me to discuss in a meeting on this topic.
230. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when his Department will extend broadband cover to a location (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35394/16]
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 through a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. 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.
- 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 County Cork.
Based on information provided by commercial operators up to 68% of the townland of Fountainstown will be covered by commercial operators while the remaining 32% of the townland will be part of the State Intervention. Members of the public can view whether their premises in Cork are in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
While I cannot compel any operator to provide services to a particular premises, the NBP aims to ensure that all premises can access high speed broadband. In this regard, my Department continues to actively monitor the deployment plans in the BLUE area and direct feedback from consumers is important. I would encourage customers in the townland of the Fountainstown area who cannot access high speed broadband services to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie, quoting their address and Eircode, and giving details of providers they have contacted with a view to obtaining services. My Department needs this information to keep track of progress in those areas so that high speed broadband solutions can be found in parallel with the State Intervention high speed broadband network roll-out.
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 within the State Intervention Area comprising over 750,000 premises including 85,000 premises in Co Cork, 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 get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but potentially up to 1000 megabits per second with businesses potentially availing of symmetrical upload and download speeds.
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.
231. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital grant application system will be open; the supports that will be put in place to assist clubs with their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35240/16]
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.
Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects. This will meet all existing commitments under previous rounds of the Sports Capital and Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, and also allow for a new round of the of the Sports Capital Programme.
In relation to the supports available for clubs to complete the application, the new Programme will include a revised online portal which will make the process more user-friendly. Other supports will include a comprehensive written guide and video guides. Staff in the relevant section of my Department will also be available to assist clubs by phone and email.
The new round will be open for applications by January at the latest. Based on previous rounds of the programme, the assessment process takes a number of months to complete so I expect that actual grant allocations will be made some time during Summer 2017. I will be announcing more comprehensive details of the new round shortly.
232. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had representations regarding the knowledge test for applicants for taxi licences or if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the fairness of the test and of its administration since it was contracted out to a private company; if his Department will liaise with the National Transport Authority and the Taxi Regulator on this matter to review whether this test and its administration are fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35242/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including administration of the SPSV Entry Test, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I am aware that the NTA recently commenced a public consultation on SPSV driver entry requirements with a closing date for submissions of 30 November.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
233. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new staff recruited by the National Transport Authority, NTA, in each of the years 2013 to date in 2016; the number of staff that left the NTA during this same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35252/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
