Written Answers Nos. 494-515
494. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was deemed to be a producer when issued with a pig number; if he will re-examine this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35837/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant in question has applied for grant aid under the Pig and Poultry Specialised Investment measure in TAMS II. Correspondence has been received from the applicant and this will be used to review this application. A response will issue to the applicant in due course.
495. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35853/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application in respect of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 10 November 2015 thus incurring 100% late penalty. A postage receipt was included with the application with date of postage as 26 May 2015. However, when checked this receipt was already associated with another application and consequently could not be accepted by my Department.
The person named was notified on 5 July 2016 that the appeal was unsuccessful and advised of her right to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Unit.
496. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding fishing rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35854/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, under the Common Fisheries Policy, it maintains equal access to waters and resources in all Union waters.
I presume therefore that the Deputy’s query regarding fishing rights refers to the recent Supreme Court judgment related to fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0-6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State.
In light of the judgment, delivered on 27 October 2016, all fishing by Northern Irish fishing vessels in the 0-6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State relying on the Voisinage arrangements is unlawful.
It is important to note that the Supreme Court did not find that the Voisinage arrangements were unlawful but that, as it stands, there is insufficient legal provision for them.
Fishing activities which have a legal basis are not affected, such as those reliant on the access arrangements to Ireland’s 6-12 nautical mile zone set out in Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
I have notified the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Michelle McIlveen MLA, and my Department is remaining in close contact with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on the issue.
My Department also is working closely with the Attorney General’s Office in examining the Supreme Court judgment, with a view to finding an urgent way forward on the matter.
497. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35871/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for grant aid under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS 11, Tranche 4 on 20 September 2016. The application concerned has passed all administrative checks. All the applications in a given tranche are examined and then go through the ranking and selection process. Following that step the application will be forwarded to the local office and checked for technical issues before approval can issue.
498. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35893/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2016 Transfer of entitlements application to my Department seeking the transfer of entitlements by lease. The application is now processed and payment is due to issue to the person named under the Basic Payment Scheme in the coming days.
499. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and value of basic payment scheme entitlements transferred in 2016 in a number of categories (details supplied), by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35902/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought is not readily available. It is currently being compiled by my Department and it will be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
500. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for an ex gratia payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35914/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2016, my Department invited applications from animal welfare bodies that wish to be considered for ex-gratia funding in the current year. In excess of 140 applications have been received, including an application from the organisation in question. These are currently being processed and successful applicants will be notified next month.
501. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to effect a ban on the use of animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35921/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conditions under which circus animals 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 and requires a person having an animal under his or her control to safeguard and not endanger the health and welfare of the animal. 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.
502. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps required in submitting a successful application for the GLAS traditional farm buildings scheme; if the employment of specialist contractors such as builders is a condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35941/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GLAS traditional farm building scheme is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Union and is administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of the Department.
Grants awarded will not exceed 75% of the cost of the works with a maximum grant of €25,000 and a minimum grant of €4,000 being made. The first tranche closed in May 2016. Further applications will be invited at regular intervals throughout the Programming period to end December 2020.
The application form and all other documents on the new GLAS Traditional Farm Building Scheme can be downloaded from the Heritage Council website www.heritagecouncil.ie or by contacting the Heritage Council directly at Church Lane, Kilkenny. Phone +353(0)56 777 0777.
Applicants must submit a fully completed application form, including photographs, a map and a quotation for the proposed works, by the closing date for the Tranche in order to ensure that their application can be examined by the Assessment Panel. This is a very competitive grant scheme and applications are reviewed and scored against the agreed, published, selection criteria. The highest ranking projects are then selected for grant aid.
All farmers who are approved for grant assistance must employ a conservation consultant to provide advice, oversee the works and certify on completion. However, successful grantees need not necessarily employ specialist contractors to carry out the work. Up-skilling for the farmers themselves is an important objective of the scheme, as is supporting farmers’ own labour in carrying out any works wherever possible.
503. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35957/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s examination of the matter referred to by the Deputy which is nearing completion, is detailed and involves all engineering, scientific, environmental and technical matters associated with the incident. In addition, the incident to which the report relates is also the subject of legal proceedings which have not yet concluded.
The draft report will need to be the subject of final examination by my Department, and possibly further consultation with relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, before consideration can be given to publication.
In view of the ongoing nature of the examination, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
504. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications that have been refused for injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts since 1995 in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35978/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of my Department, there is no instance of an injury warrant application under the Superannuation Acts being refused since 1995.
505. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine the introduction of a system whereby every farmer would get 70% of the basic payment scheme payment due on the payment date and, if there is a penalty, this would be deducted from the remaining 30% of the balance due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36107/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdvance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) commenced in Ireland on 17 October 2016 in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors. This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations.
To date payments in excess of €785m have issued to over 119,400 applicants. Regular payment runs are being made in respect of all applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors.
The processing of applications under the Basic Payment Scheme is a complex administrative task and one that remains a top priority for my Department. The scheme is fully funded by the European Union and the relevant Competent Authorities in each Member State are obliged to ensure that the requirements of the governing EU Regulations are observed and that only valid applications that fully comply with the requirements are paid. The administration of the scheme in each Member State is subjected to close scrutiny by officials of the EU Commission and the EU Court of Auditors to ensure that the regulatory requirements are met and that the Schemes are applied in a uniform manner across the European Union.
All applications under the Scheme are subject to administrative checks, with a further 5% also subject to land eligibility inspections in compliance with EU legislation.
Where issues preventing payment are identified contact is immediately made with the applicant concerned in order to resolve the query. Work is well underway in resolving the queries that have arisen following these checks and farmers are being contacted as necessary.
I am keenly aware that the advance payment of the BPS is a vital support to farmers across sectors in maximising cash flow and my Department will continue to prioritise the processing of all outstanding cases.
506. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1036 of 17 May 2016 if he will re-examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36149/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes which was received in my Department on 19 May 2015. These applications have been fully processed and payments in respect of both schemes have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
My Department had received further information regarding the submission of a 2015 amendment form. This was examined and, as stated in my reply to Question No. 1036 of 17 May 2016, a formal decision issued on 29 June 2016. Subsequently, further proof of postage documentation was received. On foot of this, the case was further reviewed and it has been decided to accept the amendment form for processing. Any monies due to the person named on foot of this decision will issue in due course.
507. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a second cattle tag is on the verge of being approved for use here under his Department's tag approval process; the changes that have been made to this tag to allow it to pass on security grounds, considering that it failed to get his Department's approval on a number of occasions in the past after having been closely examined by his Department's experts; if the same security standards will apply in the current tag approval process as applied to the previous tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36161/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department introduced new arrangements earlier this year to move from the supply of bovine ear tags by a single supplier based on a competitive tender to an arrangement under which all tag suppliers who meet the standards and conditions set down by the Department in the Tag Approval document published last September will be approved to supply tags in Ireland. The new arrangements came into effect on 1 November 2016.
Unlike the previous arrangements, which involved the selection of a suite of ear tags submitted by a single supplier based on the “most economically advantageous tender”, the new approval arrangements provide for the approval all ear tags which meet the standards set out in the Tag Approval document. The fact that an applicant may have not been successful in a previous public procurement competition is not relevant in an approval process seeking multiple suppliers.
As indicated my reply to Question No. 511 of 25 October, the standards required in respect of security for identification and traceability purposes are the same as heretofore. Applications for approval from tag suppliers are assessed against the requirements of EU regulations relating to bovine identification, as well as the necessary ancillary service requirements, such as secure premises, ability to interact with the Department's IT system, data security, etc. The suitability of the tags is objectively assessed by independent experts and applications are evaluated by an Evaluation Committee.
The Department has received 3 applications to date under the approval process. One applicant has been approved. The Department has decided to grant approval to a second applicant for the supply of official bovine identification tags to herd keepers, subject to completion of the IT system in a manner that meets the Department’s requirements. The third application is currently being assessed by my Department.
508. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a Brexit sub-committee has been established in his Department; if so, when the sub-committee was convened; the number of times the sub-committee has met; the number of members on the sub-committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36197/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe work of my Department in relation to Brexit is comprised of a number of components.
Following the UK vote I established a Brexit unit in the Department and this unit has been assessing the implications of the exit vote and working on contingency planning. It will deepen further the Department's analysis as the notification and negotiation processes unfold over the coming period. It is supported in this work by input from the relevant Divisions of the Department and it draws regularly on the expertise of the Department's Trade Team.
The Brexit unit is also co-ordinating the work of the Consultative Committee of stakeholders - which has met on two occasions, and will continue to convene as required - as well as the bilateral contacts that are now well established with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in London.
My Department is also feeding in to the overall Brexit response being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach, and is chairing an agrifood sub-group that has been tasked with identifying the implications for the agrifood sector and the potential actions that will be required to address these issues.
Brexit has also been added as a standing item to the agenda of every meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee of Food Wise 2025, the current 10-year strategy for the agrifood sector. The Food Wise Implementation Plan includes a series of actions on market development, innovation and competitiveness which are informing our response to the challenges posed by the UK vote.
509. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of vacant sites, properties and land owned by his Department, or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department, in the Dublin City Council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36214/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no vacant sites, properties or land, in the Dublin City Council area. In relation to State Agencies this issue is an operational matter for the Agencies.
510. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of food imports and exports to and from Britain in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36261/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the trade between the UK and Ireland from 2013 to date are outlined in the following table.
Ireland has a positive trade balance with Great Britain, with exports increasing from just over €3.89bn in 2013 to €4.36bn in 2015. The main increase was in the beef sector, which increased from €798m in 2013 to just under €1bn in 2015. Exports of dairy products saw a reduction from the €1bn posted in 2013 to €892m in 2015. Exports of pigmeat and poultry amounted to over €378m and €251m, respectively.
Imports from Great Britain to Ireland were valued at €3.25bn in 2015, increasing from €2.81bn in 2013. The main sectors in this regard are cereals, which came to €581m, and fruit & vegetables, where the value of imports came to €330m.
Ireland also has a positive trade balance with Northern Ireland, with exports of agri-food products in 2015 amounting to €749m compared with €567m worth of product coming in from Northern Ireland.
|
Exports |
Imports |
|||||||||||||||
|
Great Britain |
Jan-Dec 2013 |
Jan-Dec 2014 |
Jan-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Sep 2016 |
Jan-Dec 2013 |
Jan-Dec 2014 |
Jan-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Sep 2016 |
||||||||
|
Ind |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
|
Animal Foodstuffs |
134,426 |
152,813 |
133,761 |
136,123 |
157,396 |
167,203 |
111,792 |
114,960 |
144,360 |
235,478 |
145,345 |
245,980 |
167,876 |
253,673 |
121,598 |
205,561 |
|
Animal Oils & Fats |
15,314 |
18,883 |
9,740 |
13,595 |
10,390 |
16,527 |
7,852 |
11,845 |
6,340 |
2,564 |
4,230 |
1,858 |
5,228 |
2,894 |
4,757 |
3,614 |
|
Animal Skins & Furs |
45,026 |
21,907 |
44,178 |
19,544 |
37,817 |
18,712 |
24,408 |
14,009 |
90 |
56 |
261 |
58 |
161 |
158 |
13 |
3 |
|
Beef |
797,891 |
189,658 |
862,169 |
204,240 |
999,192 |
211,897 |
724,893 |
167,821 |
77,504 |
18,630 |
72,655 |
16,850 |
90,952 |
20,435 |
58,902 |
14,817 |
|
Beverages |
229,809 |
322,335 |
228,069 |
372,041 |
223,776 |
378,511 |
157,747 |
285,194 |
241,237 |
331,021 |
273,201 |
361,765 |
273,111 |
387,419 |
223,006 |
308,407 |
|
Cereal & cereal preparation |
201,206 |
117,174 |
247,117 |
140,985 |
268,925 |
153,280 |
192,138 |
110,684 |
510,384 |
344,371 |
514,287 |
372,699 |
581,176 |
407,956 |
430,648 |
384,152 |
|
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa & Spices |
179,125 |
33,314 |
200,578 |
34,825 |
240,210 |
40,937 |
170,884 |
32,078 |
228,012 |
47,214 |
239,360 |
47,065 |
285,584 |
53,958 |
201,351 |
41,254 |
|
Cotton |
109 |
35 |
5 |
1 |
41 |
11 |
78 |
33 |
61 |
18 |
33 |
9 |
||||
|
Crude Animal & Vegetable Material |
31,164 |
30,127 |
33,795 |
25,990 |
31,904 |
20,788 |
18,942 |
11,174 |
41,497 |
16,924 |
41,619 |
16,309 |
50,439 |
20,593 |
41,759 |
18,386 |
|
Dairy Produce |
1,036,176 |
438,789 |
923,564 |
276,327 |
892,249 |
269,911 |
581,708 |
200,910 |
283,052 |
133,133 |
317,620 |
182,150 |
295,966 |
169,920 |
204,796 |
118,784 |
|
Egg |
10,064 |
3,989 |
11,590 |
3,511 |
11,849 |
3,507 |
6,120 |
2,646 |
9,697 |
7,943 |
8,480 |
8,058 |
9,229 |
5,340 |
5,172 |
3,652 |
|
Fish |
47,213 |
18,463 |
48,228 |
18,105 |
48,605 |
19,072 |
42,196 |
14,251 |
108,504 |
22,042 |
128,994 |
26,125 |
149,557 |
28,885 |
111,793 |
22,666 |
|
Flax, Wool & Animal Hair |
4,065 |
3,078 |
5,893 |
3,530 |
9,313 |
5,265 |
4,186 |
3,087 |
4,563 |
3,495 |
4,966 |
3,051 |
3,734 |
2,462 |
1,247 |
656 |
|
Forestry |
90,103 |
377,550 |
115,244 |
371,383 |
115,649 |
375,688 |
97,945 |
326,025 |
26,899 |
192,277 |
28,973 |
163,415 |
37,463 |
193,524 |
25,723 |
160,887 |
|
Fruit & Vegetables |
171,871 |
91,410 |
186,824 |
102,948 |
193,270 |
103,423 |
142,092 |
85,673 |
311,861 |
263,920 |
305,841 |
251,713 |
330,533 |
284,563 |
251,495 |
225,482 |
|
Live Animals |
196,654 |
7,611 |
186,115 |
12,774 |
239,642 |
10,982 |
99,024 |
6,250 |
169,412 |
4,152 |
186,529 |
2,799 |
228,632 |
1,803 |
75,570 |
1,938 |
|
Miscellaneous Edible Products & Preparations |
101,656 |
62,888 |
97,872 |
68,305 |
110,800 |
71,281 |
76,746 |
47,747 |
206,852 |
92,070 |
212,670 |
97,353 |
245,284 |
117,691 |
172,492 |
76,367 |
|
Oilseeds & Oleaginous Fruit |
2,684 |
4,236 |
5,475 |
703 |
8,456 |
4,352 |
6,935 |
6,117 |
4,280 |
3,883 |
4,123 |
2,539 |
7,676 |
10,621 |
5,072 |
4,974 |
|
Other Meat & Meat Produce |
34,246 |
17,502 |
36,000 |
20,346 |
42,018 |
20,415 |
32,486 |
17,891 |
18,393 |
5,796 |
10,564 |
3,571 |
10,651 |
3,721 |
13,201 |
4,522 |
|
Pigmeat |
291,227 |
72,285 |
315,745 |
79,232 |
378,699 |
91,813 |
287,529 |
72,682 |
94,754 |
37,602 |
109,045 |
34,485 |
116,966 |
34,037 |
83,602 |
26,582 |
|
Poultry |
198,930 |
67,136 |
257,016 |
78,672 |
251,331 |
82,207 |
139,234 |
53,922 |
109,658 |
27,986 |
129,989 |
37,750 |
149,821 |
41,355 |
114,137 |
30,942 |
|
Sheepmeat |
29,913 |
9,660 |
28,364 |
8,897 |
49,475 |
12,456 |
37,837 |
9,644 |
18,928 |
4,074 |
18,718 |
4,270 |
21,794 |
4,526 |
14,630 |
2,867 |
|
Sugar, Sugar Preparation & Honey |
41,530 |
32,677 |
38,949 |
33,210 |
42,885 |
35,544 |
28,401 |
25,884 |
157,867 |
140,877 |
147,831 |
138,360 |
155,529 |
168,593 |
104,284 |
113,147 |
|
Vegetable Oils & Fats |
835 |
691 |
1,899 |
1,738 |
1,292 |
1,240 |
756 |
429 |
36,836 |
37,174 |
35,854 |
38,462 |
40,235 |
53,975 |
27,567 |
36,755 |
|
Grand Total |
3,891,128 |
2,094,176 |
4,018,184 |
2,027,023 |
4,365,253 |
2,115,044 |
2,991,856 |
1,620,927 |
2,811,021 |
1,972,694 |
2,941,232 |
2,056,716 |
3,257,658 |
2,268,119 |
2,292,849 |
1,806,426 |
511. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing a decision on an application for incremental credits to a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36285/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department deals with the issuing of decisions on incremental credit which are subject to the examination and consideration of a number of variables. My Department has now issued a decision to the person in question.
513. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the section of the State apparatus that has oversight over a local authority's failure to enforce dumping licences; and the action to be taken in a case where a local authority fails to ensure a licence for dumping is applied for and granted before construction waste is dumped. [35820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe treatment and management of waste material is subject to a registration and permitting system by local authorities or licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as appropriate, and governed by the Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registration) Regulations 2007 or the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004, as appropriate. Environmental standards in relation to the collection of waste, and their enforcement, are the responsibility of local authorities and are governed by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007.
The primary purpose of the registration, permitting, and licensing system is to facilitate appropriate controls on waste facilities and activities so as to ensure good and consistent waste management practice and the implementation of high standards of environmental protection.
The Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the EPA has a mandate to deliver enhanced environmental compliance, both through enforcement of Agency licences issued to waste, industrial and other activities, and also through the supervisory role which it exercises in respect of the environmental protection activities of local authorities.
The OEE may:
- Request information from local authorities on the discharge of their statutory environmental protection functions;
- Carry out broad assessments of their environmental performance, such as environmental audits;
- Provide advice, recommendations, assistance or support;
- Where appropriate, issue a proposed direction to the authority to take specific action within a specified timescale;
- Issue a binding direction where there is a real and imminent risk of significant environmental pollution due to a local authority's failure to carry out its statutory environmental protection functions or to follow advice or recommendations made by the OEE.
Enforcement of conditions attaching to waste collection permits, certificates of registration, waste facility permits or waste licences are matters for the relevant local authority or the EPA as appropriate. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority or the EPA of their statutory functions under the Act.
514. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a system of feed-in tariffs for photoelectric produced power to encourage persons to fit photovoltaic panels to houses, factories and farm sheds. [35867/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra516. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a system of feed-in tariffs for photoelectric produced power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35945/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 516 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation which is under development.
The first Technology Review public consultation on a new renewable support scheme was published in 2015 and following the completion of detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting a range of renewable technologies - including Solar (PV) - a second public consultation will be published in early 2017. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. The new support scheme for renewable electricity is expected to become available in late 2017.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland currently provides supports for the use of solar thermal heating technology to both large industry and SMEs. Households can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations, including solar thermal, under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.
515. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date in rolling out the national broadband plan; when the procurement stage is to be completed; his plans to address the disparity in levels of broadband coverage and line speeds in different areas; his further plans to address providers' headline line speeds and those that are actually delivered to customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35831/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband 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.
A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, 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.
It is estimated that up to 70% of premises in Ireland will have access to commercial high speed broadband services provided by telecommunications operators, while the remaining 30% consisting of just over 750,00 premises will fall within the proposed State led intervention under the National Broadband Plan. Currently, approximately 1.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband from commercial service providers.
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 telecommunications 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. It is intended that premises within this area will have access to services of at least 30 megabits per second when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
There are 1.6 m premises in the BLUE area of which approximately 1.3m premises in Ireland can now get high speed broadband. My Department is actively monitoring the deployment in the BLUE areas to ensure that all premises can get access to services. In this regard, direct feedback from consumers is important and if customers cannot access high speed broadband services, I would encourage them 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 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, 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. In addition, bidders need adequate time to 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 on timelines at this juncture, given that discussions are on-going 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 a 3-5 year timeline to roll out a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP. 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.
