Clare Daly
Ceist:228. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all the submissions made to the group reviewing aquaculture licensing will be published. [2220/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAquaculture Licences
Ceisteanna (228)
Freagraí scríofa
An independent group was appointed to carry out a review of the aquaculture licensing process on the 20th of December last. The Independent Review Group is currently holding a public consultation inviting submissions on matters relevant to review, which will close on the 10th February next. This Public Consultation was advertised in the Irish Independent on Tuesday, January 10th last and details of the consultation are also hosted on the Fishingnet.ie website. According to these sources, which are publically available: “All submissions may be published”. Any publication carried out will be done in compliance with the relevant legislation and associated procedures, including Freedom of Information, Access to Information on the Environment and Data Protection.
The decision as to the publication of information received during the public consultation is at the sole discretion of the Independent group, who if they decide to do so, will do so in compliance with the relevant legislative obligations.
Departmental Investigations
Ceisteanna (229)
Robert Troy
Ceist:229. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost to the Exchequer of any ongoing investigations or inquiries in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2387/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no on-going investigations or inquiries within my Department.
Gas Networks Ireland
Ceisteanna (230)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide the full remit of Bord Gáis in terms of gas safety, including any responsibility with regard to gas leaks, meter replacement and gas supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2038/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I assume the Deputy is referring to Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), formerly Bord Gáis Éireann, which is a commercial State-sponsored Body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. GNI is the operator of the gas transmission and distribution networks. It does not engage in the sale of gas to customers. Its functions in relation to safety are provided for in the Gas Act 1976, as amended by the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002.
Gas Networks Ireland holds both Asset Owner and Asset Operator Licences for the Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution networks. These licences are granted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), the independent energy regulator. Gas Networks Ireland’s obligations under the licences are extensive and include responsibility, inter alia, for ensuring overall standards and performance of the transmission and distribution systems, managing all connections to the networks, providing metering and data services, adhering to system standards and operating security standards, procuring the management of the customer service code and safety matters.
Responsibility for the regulation of the gas markets including safety, metering and supply is a matter for the CER. The Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 provides for CER’s independence in the performance of its regulatory functions, and for its accountability for the performance of its functions to a Joint Committee of the Oireachtas. Accordingly, I have no function in the areas referred to.
National Broadband Plan
Ceisteanna (231)
Shane Cassells
Ceist:231. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if upgrade works on the national broadband scheme will take place in the Gaeltacht area of Lambay, Cill Bhríd, Trim, County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2062/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 in Broadband 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 €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
Currently, approximately 1.4m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband from commercial service providers and investment by the telecoms sector is continuing to expand this footprint.
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. Investment decisions by the telecommunications networks providers in these areas are taken on commercial grounds by each network operator.
- 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 area referred to by the Deputy falls within an AMBER area and will therefore be included in the State Intervention procurement process under the NBP. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
A formal procurement process is now in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. The Department will also shortly update the High Speed Broadband map and finalise this Intervention Area for bidders, taking into account any industry investments that have not materialised and potential other new investments.
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. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. This provides for a future proofed solution for the 25 years of the contract and beyond. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
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.
In a further positive initiative, last July, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce with my colleague Minister Humphreys to address immediate issues in relation to the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage. The Taskforce report, which was published in December, is available at the following link: www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. I have also secured €8m for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band, to provide enhanced mobile services.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country, including County Meath.
Energy Usage
Ceisteanna (232)
Clare Daly
Ceist:232. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself that the ESB is in compliance with EU Directive 2004/ 22/EC and CER/13/281 (details supplied) in view of information that emerged at the end of December 2016 that 27,000 meters maintained by the ESB contained a fault thought to be caused by deterioration in one of the components which causes the meter to over record; and the steps he will take to ensure compliance by the ESB with these rules. [2117/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have passed the Deputy’s query to the CER for direct reply. I have no function in monitoring the accuracy of electricity meters.
EU Directive 2004/ 22/EC, the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), as amended, is the European law that sets down, inter alia, the essential requirements for electricity meters prior to their placing on the market and putting into use. The Directive was transposed into Irish law by the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment via the Legal Metrology (European Conformity Assessment of Measuring Instruments) Regulations 2007. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the Government-appointed body responsible for overseeing the requirements of these EU Directives.
I understand that the CER’s Metering Code for the Single Electricity Market (CER13/281) sets out the minimum standards for the measurement and recording of metered quantities of electricity for the purposes of electricity trading and transport in Ireland. Included in this Code is the specification of the conditions governing accuracy and calibration of electricity meters. Under this Code ESB Networks (ESBN) is responsible for matters in relation to meter approval, certification and testing. ESBN is also responsible for the installation and maintenance of all electricity meters, meter reading and ensuring the accurate recording of electricity consumption to the standards specified in the Code. The systems whereby ESBN discharges this responsibility are an operational matter for that company under the regulatory oversight of the CER. I have no function in this regard.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Departmental Investigations
Ceisteanna (233)
Robert Troy
Ceist:233. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost to the Exchequer of any ongoing investigations or inquiries in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2389/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are no on going investigations or Commissions of Inquiry in my Department.
Córas Iompair Éireann
Ceisteanna (234)
Robert Troy
Ceist:234. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that was taken as reasonable profit by each of the three CIE constituent companies in each year from 2011 to 2016; the description of the concept of reasonable profit; and the purpose this profit is generally used for in view of the fact that these companies do not pay dividends to shareholders. [2031/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
EU Regulation 1370/2007 is the overarching legal framework governing the award of, and payment for, public transport services. This EU Regulation is supplemented here in Ireland by the statutory powers afforded to the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.
The Annex to the EU Regulation establishes the rules applicable to the compensation paid to what are known as direct award operators. These are operators who have been directly awarded the right to operate public transport services rather than the award of those services having been subject to a tendering process.
These rules state that the compensation paid to operators under direct award contracts may not exceed an amount corresponding to what is known as the net financial effect and provide detail in relation to what comprises the net financial effect. Included within that net financial effect is the concept of "reasonable profit". It is defined as "a rate of return on capital that is normal for the sector in a given Member State and that takes account of the risk, or absence of risk, incurred by the public service operator by virtue of public authority intervention".
Decisions relating to the use of revenues and profits are matters for an individual company and its Board of Directors.
As the issues relating to the detail and award of reasonable profit are statutory functions of the NTA who administer and enforce the PSO contracts with the transport operators, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to it 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.
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (235)
Robert Troy
Ceist:235. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact the result of the UK referendum on exiting the EU will have on TEN-T funding for current road and rail projects including the A5 motorway upgrade. [2032/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The UK will remain a full Member State until it formally exits the EU.
There will be no impact on current projects where applications under TEN-T have been approved by the European Commission.
The planning and implementation of the A5 project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities. The Irish Government's commitment to the A5 is as set out in the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start.