Written Answers Nos. 255-264
255. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national broadband strategy will deliver broadband to an area (details supplied); if this will happen in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6328/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra256. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a map of north County Dublin indicating which areas are still without broadband; when those areas will receive a broadband supply under the national broadband strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
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 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.
There has been significant progress in relation to broadband rollout so that today, approximately 1.4m or 61% of premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector, which is continuing to expand this footprint.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the current 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.
Most of North County Dublin falls within a BLUE area and will be provided for commercially, whereas the entire townland of Kilsallaghan 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.
My Department is actively monitoring commercial deployment plans in the BLUE areas to ensure that all households and businesses can get access to the services. My Department is also actively monitoring developments of commercial operators that might impact the Intervention Area. This is being done in accordance with procedures set out by my Department in December 2015.
I should add, however, that the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I do not have a statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services to particular locations.
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map to finalise the Intervention Area for the Procurement process, taking into account industry investments that have not materialised in Blue areas, together with new industry investments within the proposed State Intervention Area, along with concrete and credible commitments by industry for further new investments within the Intervention Area.
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.
The timeframe for 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. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to rollout 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 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 on my Department's website.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band, in early 2017. 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.
257. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of commissions of inquiry or other formal investigations or inquiries being conducted in his Department; the names of these; the dates they were established; the expected dates the work is intended to be completed; the cost incurred to date; the estimated final cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no ongoing investigations or Commissions of Inquiry in my Department.
258. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures being taken to ensure that unlawful discrimination is not being undertaken or facilitated in pre-clearance areas at Dublin and Shannon airports; the mechanisms in place to ensure Ireland's obligations under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU, and the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, in pre-clearance areas at Dublin and Shannon airports; the procedures for withdrawal from the pre-clearance agreement; the bases upon which any withdrawal would be contemplated by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6165/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra261. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures being taken to ensure that unlawful discrimination is not being undertaken or facilitated in pre-clearance areas at Dublin and Shannon airports; the mechanisms in place to ensure Ireland's obligations under the TFEU and the ECHR in pre-clearance areas at Dublin and Shannon airports are met; the procedures for withdrawal from the pre-clearance agreement; the basis upon which any withdrawal would be contemplated by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 261 together.
I strongly disagree with the policy recently announced by President Trump to temporarily ban travel to the US by nationals of certain countries. As you know, there is currently a suspension in place for this Executive Order, which is the subject of an appeal at a US Federal Appeals Court and the outcome of that appeal is awaited.
Notwithstanding this, my officials have already been in contact with the US authorities and have conveyed our concerns about President Trump's Executive Order and its implications for US Preclearance services at Shannon and Dublin Airports.
A meeting of the Preclearance Consultative Group had been arranged for 1 March 2017. In light of recent events, my officials requested that this meeting be brought forward and it is now set for Thursday, 23 February 2017. This is a mechanism outlined in the Preclearance Agreement which allows for representatives from both parties to meet and review any operational issues arising related to the Agreement.
Arising from the clarification issued by the US Embassy in Dublin late last week, Irish citizens travelling to the United States on Irish passports under the ban should not have encountered any difficulties in this regard, as long as they followed the relevant procedures governing the US Visa Waiver Programme.
US Preclearance in Ireland is a service whereby passengers can avail of the option to be precleared (undertaking all imigration, customs and agriculture inspections) in Dublin and Shannon Airports for entry into the United States. The Preclearance service is available to all travellers on a voluntary and non-discriminatory basis. The terms and conditions of the Preclearance arrangements with the US are covered by an International Agreement and by domestic legislation, the Aviation (Preclearance) Act 2009.
The preclearance facility is within Irish jurisdiction and the laws of Ireland apply at all times, enforced by An Garda Síochána. This is expressly confirmed at Article II(5) of the Preclearance Agreement. Given the fact that US law does not apply, provision is made at Article II(6) of the Agreement to confirm that passengers who wish to avail of preclearance do so on condition that they recognise and consent to the right of the US to grant or refuse preclearance in accordance with its laws.
If someone is refused permission to fly to the US at preclearance in either Dublin or Shannon Airports, the passenger then becomes the responsibility of An Garda Síochána who deal with them, in line with Irish law and in accordance with the full human rights protections that apply. A refusal at US Preclearance has no impact on the rights available to refugees or persons wishing to seek asylum in Ireland. If they apply for asylum they will be dealt with in the normal way or if they wish to return to their point of origin they will be facilitated. These are issues for Irish Immigration authorities and US officials have no role in relation to them. It should also be noted that my Department does not have responsibility for policy in relational to international refugees.
The operation of the Ireland-US Preclearance Agreement does not conflict with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, nor does it give rise to any breach of obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Agreement expressly provides that nothing in the Agreement diminishes the rights enjoyed by individuals under the Constitution and laws of Ireland or the US. While the right to travel is recognised under the Irish Constitution, there is no right under the Irish Constitution whereby Ireland could require another sovereign State to allow an individual entry to that State. The right of a passenger to enter the US is a matter for US law.
The Ireland-US Preclearance Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party, by giving one year's written notice to the other party. There is no provision in the Agreement for suspension. Therefore, Ireland has an obligation, under International law, to adhere to the terms of the Agreement unless it is terminated in accordance with the procedure laid down. However, it is important to point out that the US Preclearance facility is a very valuable arrangement for Ireland, as well as being of benefit to the United States, and having discussed the matter last week, the Cabinet was in favour of retaining our Preclearance facilities.
In light of recent events, An Taoiseach has requested that a review of US Preclearance in Ireland be undertaken by the relevant Departments - Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Trade and my own Department. A report will be made to An Taoiseach this week.
259. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinvest in the local improvement scheme, LIS, for improvement of isolated, neglected roads and lanes not taken in charge by the local authority which are often essential in providing access routes for communities in marginal areas by allocating separate funding to local authorities specifically for works under LIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
Maintenance of private laneways/roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the landowners concerned. Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding it was necessary for the Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of LIS. The approved scheme remains intact and local authorities can use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so.
While there is a modest increase in funding for roads this year, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus has to continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads. Local authorities can continue to use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the Local Improvement Scheme in 2017.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.
260. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driving test centres here by location; the cost of running each such centre for each of the past three years, including staff costs, full-time and part-time staff; the owners of the property used and the rent paid; the number of driver testers, by location and if full- or part-time; the total metre-squared area of the centres; the catchment area served by each such centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6143/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
262. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the Members of the Oireachtas who have made submissions to his Department on the sports policy; and the dates on which they were received. [6159/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo members of the Oireachtas have, to date, made submissions to my Department on the National Sports Policy Consultation Document.
263. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to altering the rules of the road to reflect the advice (details supplied) provided to drivers in the Netherlands. [6248/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
264. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to counties Meath and Westmeath for tourism and hospitality skills training by his Department in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6279/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Skills has overall lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channeling funding through its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education.
A limited number of complementary tourism-related business development and training supports are provided by Fáilte Ireland, in line with its responsibility for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy. As this is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question on to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply in regard to the specific funding information sought. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
