Written Answers Nos. 592-616
592. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the review of the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates and Charges) order 2012 (SI No. 214 of 2012) is complete; if it is still intended to introduce a new order in 2017; when statutory consultation is likely to take place; the way in which it will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7452/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department owns, manages and maintains the six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl. The Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates and Charges) Order 2012 (214 of 2012), which came into effect on the 1st July 2012, sets out the fee schedule for the use of the facilities at each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres. Different rates apply according to the type and nature of the vessel, the different use made of the facilities by the vessel, the size of the vessel and the quantity, value and species of fish landed (where applicable).
The Department is currently undertaking a review of the 2012 order and expects to engage in a Public Consultation on the matter, as required by legislation, later this year.
593. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the tyre industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6805/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA report on the regulation of tyres and waste tyres was published by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, for a period of public consultation, in November 2013. Sixteen submissions were received, including one from the Environmental Protection Agency. All submissions were given careful consideration before the tyres report was finalised.
The recommendations contained in the final report are now being implemented. As part of this, the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007 have been reviewed and new regulations will be introduced shortly, which will enable me to put in place a full compliance scheme for tyres. This scheme will be operated, under approval from me, by Repak ELT. Under this approval the scheme will be monitored by and be accountable to me.
There is nothing unusual about the designation of a single compliance scheme for a particular waste stream. Indeed, the above mentioned report examined this aspect and recommended that the tyre market in Ireland is such that only one Producer Organisation would be viable. This single compliance model already works in other waste streams for example, farm plastics and packaging.
The ending of the self-compliance option was also a recommendation of the report. The self-compliance model in the current regulations is difficult to enforce. Its removal will ensure consistency and provide a level playing field for all tyre operators.
Under the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007 anyone, including any operator from the Irish tyre industry, can apply for approval to operate a compliance scheme for tyres. Any such application would have to take account of the reporting structure that is being put in place by the new regulations. All tyre producers, i.e., all operators placing tyres on the Irish market, will be obliged to register and report to a “black box”, which will be operated by Producer Register Limited. An application would also have to indicate how a scheme will meet its members' regulatory obligations.
594. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Kildare County Council can publish the names of those charged and convicted of committing littering offences. [6849/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Litter Pollution Act, 1997, provides for penalties for litter offences. These range from an on-the-spot fine of €150 to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction on indictment. The fines for continuing offences are €600 per day for summary offences and €10,000 per day for indictable offences.
There are no provisions within the Act that provide for publishing the names of those charged and convicted of committing littering offences.
595. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if steps are in place to cease the proliferation of dace fish here. [6852/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the conservation, protection, development and promotion of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.
While Dace is considered a valuable angling species by many anglers in certain freshwaters, it is acknowledged that the species can impact brown trout angling and, to a lesser extent, salmon angling, in waters where it is present.
The primary approach of IFI in regard to Dace is to prevent its spread outside of systems where it is already established in Ireland. In addition, IFI continue to promote the importance of biosecurity to minimise the risk of spreading invasive species, including Dace.
This is conducted through a range of education and awareness and stakeholder engagement initiatives. As part of these initiatives, anglers are informed of the risks associated with transferring Dace and they are advised not to move Dace from systems where it is present to any other waters.
Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (2011), with regard to Dace, a licence is required to breed, reproduce, release or allow or cause to disperse or escape from confinement, or for any person who has in his or her possession for sale, or for the purposes of breeding, reproduction or propagation, or offers or exposes for sale, transportation, distribution, introduction or release of Dace.
596. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the tyre industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refers to tyres which have reached end of life and have been sent for recycling and recovery.
One of the major problems with the current system for tyres is that there is no data available regarding the overall amount of tyres placed on the market in Ireland and some of the tyre industry have been refusing to co-operate and provide such data.
I will shortly be introducing new regulations which will make it mandatory for tyre producers and retailers to be members of a compliance scheme. In addition, tyre producers will be obliged to register with, and provide information to, Producer Register Limited (PRL). PRL will ensure that all commercially sensitive information is protected by a 'black box' structure, as they currently do for the WEEE scheme. By introducing these new structures and making it mandatory to report tyres being placed on the market, there will be full traceability of the movement of tyres within the State for the first time.
In the absence of data in respect of the number of tyres coming onto the market being available, the tonnage of tyres coming off the market means very little. The amount of tyres visibly dumped around the countryside would suggest not all tyres are being managed correctly and convinces me of the need to introduce the new compliance scheme as soon as possible.
597. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRepak End of Life Tyres (ELT) was approved by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to act as a compliance scheme for tyres with effect from 1 November 2015. In accordance with the approval granted to Repak ELT they must submit their Annual Report and Accounts for 2016 to my Department by 31 May 2017. The Annual Report and Accounts will be made available to their members and published on the Repak ELT website (www.repakelt.ie).
598. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on concerns outlined by the tyre industry regarding the establishment of an organisation (details supplied) and the potential problems for the industry when the scheme is introduced; if he will engage with representatives from the industry to address these concerns directly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very aware of the concerns of the tyre industry regarding the new structures which I am introducing for tyres. However, the issue of waste tyres in our country needs to be met head on.
I have already met with three representative bodies of the tyre industry. I listened to their concerns and I have done my best to address as many of them as possible. I have also received a lot of support during the extensive consultation that has taken place with the industry for the introduction of the scheme for operators in the tyre market.
One area of concern to the industry is the issue of market distortion. Tyres will be a priority area for enforcement in 2017 for the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities and I will be asking them to give particular attention to the border regions.
Some of the tyre industry also contend that the formalisation of the existing charge, which consumers pay when purchasing a new tyre, will cause a distortion in the market, with non-compliant operators undercutting compliant ones. The regulations that I am introducing will formalise this fee and ensure that all operators will be required to comply and that the fee will be used correctly to support the sound environmental treatment of waste tyres.
The Compliance Scheme will be operated by Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT) with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited. The scheme will carry out all regulatory functions on behalf of its members. All operators will be obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard. It will be mandatory for anyone placing tyres on the market in Ireland to join the compliance scheme.
I am convinced that the new structures will address the lack of regulation in this market to date and address the occurrences of stockpiles of waste tyres that could have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health.
599. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the impact exploration and seismic vessels undertaking activities in Irish waters are having on the prawn fisheries in the Porcupine basin and on the behaviour of albacore tuna shoals; if his attention has been drawn to the additional costs this has caused to fisherman affected; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra612. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an open and transparent environmental consent process has been put in place prior to consent being granted to exploration and seismic survey companies to operate in Ireland's maritime jurisdiction that takes into account the impact on fish and prawn species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 612 together.
Applications to my Department for conducting seismic surveys are assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive which aims to ensure that plans, programmes and projects likely to have significant effects on the environment are made subject to an environmental assessment, prior to their approval or authorisation.
The assessment of seismic applications considers, inter alia, the effects of seismic sources on adult fish, as well as eggs and larvae based on the information provided in the application and additional scientific sources.
Furthermore, applicants for seismic surveys are required to consult with all fishing representative bodies both domestic and international and the contact names and details within these bodies are advertised on my Department’s Website. Submissions received on foot of this consultation form part of the decision making process.
In addition, it should be noted that all permitted seismic surveys are conditioned to engage a Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) and to maintain an FLO on the seismic vessel for the duration of the survey.
600. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are official salmon counters on the Shannon, Maigue, Mulcair and Fergus rivers; if so, the recording frequency and the results from 2006 to date; and if a salmon surplus has been recorded in any of these years. [7258/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary index for evaluation of likely returning numbers is the recorded rod (harvest or catch and release) and commercial catch (if any) averaged over the previous 5 years. Fish counters are particularly useful in cases where rod or commercial data is not available.
I have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland that there are salmon counters on all four rivers where salmon are counted on a daily basis.
A counter was installed on the River Maigue at the Adare Manor location in 2013 and no salmon surplus has been available since then. The conservation limit (CL) for the Maigue is 4,632, which is not being reached. The counts recorded since 2013 are set out in the following table.
The CL for the River Mulcair is 4,214 and is currently reaching 83% of this conservation limit. The river is, therefore, open under catch and release conditions for 2017, having attained the minimum 65% of CL required. The Mulcair was also open under catch and release conditions for 2015 and 2016 but there was no harvestable surplus available in those years.
A counter was installed on the Fergus in 2013 and the counts since then are set out in the following table. The River Fergus has been closed to Salmon angling since 2006.
There are two salmon counters on the Shannon at Ardnacrusha Dam and at Parteen Weir. These counters are operated by the ESB, as the fishery owners, and not by IFI. The average run for both counters combined over the past five years is approximately 1,858 salmon. No surplus has been available on the Shannon since 2007.
The Standing Scientific Committee for Salmon averages counter data over the most recent 5 years to provide scientific advice to underpin management in the following year. The longest series of counter figures is available on the Mulcair going back to 2007, and the table shows the salmon counter figures and the salmon surplus available since then. The table also provides counter data for 2014-2016 for the Fergus, and for 2013-2016 for the Maigue.
|
|
Mulcair |
Mulcair |
Fergus |
Maigue |
|
|
Counter |
Salmon surplus |
Counter |
Counter |
|
2016 |
7108 |
0 |
785 |
911 |
|
2015 |
2706 |
27 |
1128 |
1267 |
|
2014 |
3279 |
645 |
810 |
728 |
|
2013 |
4665 |
1609 |
|
1821 |
|
2012 |
2328 |
1304 |
|
|
|
2011 |
2308 |
1235 |
|
|
|
2010 |
7090 |
1479 |
|
|
|
2009 |
5233 |
1244 |
|
|
|
2008 |
6888 |
2127 |
|
|
|
2007 |
6891 |
1349 |
|
|
|
2006 |
6615 |
|
|
|
601. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has any extra funding coming onstream to assist Cavan and Monaghan county councils to deal with illegal dumping and fly tipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7411/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1468 of 17 January 2017; the position is unchanged.
602. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the poor mobile telephone coverage provided by a company (details supplied) in County Donegal; if this issue was highlighted in the recently published report of the mobile telephone and broadband task force; the steps his Department will take to ensure service is greatly improved in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will contact a company (details supplied) and request it to make considerable improvements to network coverage in Rathowen, County Westmeath. [6855/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 604 together.
I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Any customer, including those in Counties Donegal and Westmeath, who experiences service difficulties should raise the matter with the service provider in the first instance. If this fails to resolve matters, customers can and should refer a complaint to the independent regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which will investigate the service provider's compliance with its contractual obligations.
The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by ComReg. I do not have a statutory authority to require commercial companies to roll out services to particular locations. However, mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand for data services has, however, increased by 500% in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally.
Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force. In July 2016, I established the Task Force together with Minister Humphreys to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention. The report of the Task Force was published in December and is available on both Departments' websites. In producing this report, the Task Force worked with Departments, local authorities, ComReg, State agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The report contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland and the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access identifies 19 of these actions as areas where immediate and direct action by Departments and State agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers. The work of the Task Force will also assist local authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contracts are in place. In addition, I have signed regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. In my Department's Estimates for 2017, I have secured an €8 million provision for RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to allocate this spectrum to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances. These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland and particularly in rural Ireland. In parallel, the National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high-speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland, through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment plans have not been fully demonstrated.
603. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the possible reduction in the number of jobs in Bord na Móna. [6851/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. While the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational issue for Bord na Móna and not one in which I, as Minister, have any direct function, I have been briefed by the management team at Bord na Móna on the company’s strategy which includes the long term objective of remaining a major employer, especially in the Midlands region.
To achieve this objective, it is clear that Bord na Móna must confront significant business challenges in the context of replacing peat with biomass and also the increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all of its business areas. I have nonetheless been assured by the Company that any restructuring in particular businesses will be carried out in tandem with a comprehensive process of employee engagement.
605. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions his Department is taking to protect against cyber attacks after the NTMA website went down for several hours after a suspected hacking attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6877/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent days, the websites of a number of companies and agencies in Ireland were defaced, apparently by an activist group. The level of technical skill required to do this type of damage is relatively low, with the tools required to do so available on line. In these cases, the best defence is to ensure that the software running the site is up to date, with the latest software patches applied.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), in my Department, was informed of the events concerning the NTMA site shortly after it occurred, and worked with them to identify the nature of the problem. The same day, the NCSC issued an advisory notice to all of its constituent Departments and Agencies, suggesting measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents on their sites. Also, in the same advisory, the NCSC offered a service to constituents, in which the unit would actively scan for similar vulnerabilities on public facing infrastructure, and notify them of same. A number of bodies have taken up this offer, and scans are being instituted on a regular basis.
This service is one of an evolving family of services that the NCSC offers to public sector bodies, and the unit is continuing to develop and broaden its offerings with a view to continually improving the security of the public sector IT infrastructure owned and operated by Departments and Agencies. The NCSC will also be, through the Public Appointments Service, launching a recruitment campaign in the coming weeks, both to enable it to further develop services for public sector bodies and to begin the process of transposing the EU Network and Information Security Directive.
606. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 515 of 22 November 2016, if he will provide an update on the stage the procurement element of the national broadband plan is at; if he will provide a breakdown of the 750,000 premises to be connected, by residential or business and by county, in tabular form; if the county by county roll-out will be carried out by one winning tender or a selection of winning tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6998/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area is in train and is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network, for at least 25 years of contract and beyond. Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and to date there have been over 300 hours of competitive dialogue. 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.
The three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. A fibre-to-the-home solution means speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the commercial roll-out and the State Intervention area. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area where commercial operators have committed to providing services, to ensure that those services are delivered. The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention.
Information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county is available on my Department’s website at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Broadband/Pages/County-and-Townland-Maps.aspx and I will arrange for a single summary table to be included at this link with the total number of premises in each individual county.
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.
When final tenders have been submitted a winning bidder(s) will be selected for the contract which will comprise one or two lots as set out in the NBP Intervention Strategy.
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.
In the short-term I am working to ensure measures are put in place to assist in the roll-out of the NBP State Intervention network once a contract is awarded and to improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland.
In this regard, I and Minister Humphreys established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016. The findings of this Taskforce, published in December, recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representation, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
I have signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 auction of the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, to 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.
In the meantime, my Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks. 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.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
607. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policies his Department is putting in place on the future use of Bord na Móna bogs and facilities at Kilberry, County Kildare, and Coolnamona, County Laois. [7153/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matters raised are operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function.
608. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a property (details supplied) will receive an Internet connection under the national broadband plan or otherwise. [7160/17]
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 €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 on the High Speed Broadband Map 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.
Individuals can check whether their premises are in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
The Eircode referred to by the Deputy falls within an AMBER area and will there be included In the State Intervention procurement process under the NBP.
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 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, I and Minister Humphreys established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016. The findings of this Taskforce recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representation, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
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.
609. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7167/17]
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 €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 on the High Speed Broadband Map 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.
Individuals can check whether their premises are in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
The Map shows that the townland of Knockaroe, Co Laois falls within an AMBER area and will be included In the State Intervention procurement process under the NBP.
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 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, I and Minister Humphreys established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in July 2016. The findings of this Taskforce recommends practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to and improve mobile phone and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce report is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
Minister Humphreys has established two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. Since July, there has been significant progress made in discussions with the key stakeholders including local authority management representation, Government Departments and State agencies, as well as interaction with ComReg and telecoms operators.
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.
610. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to ensure the national broadband scheme will be rolled out in as short and tight a timeframe as possible once awarded; the expected timeframe involved; the penalties that will apply for non-compliance with the timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7169/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to all households, schools and businesses in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a priority. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State Intervention.
Currently, approximately 1.4m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second from commercial service providers and investment by the telecoms sector is continuing to expand this footprint.
The formal procurement process in is train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area and is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network, for at least 25 years of the contract and beyond.
Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and to date there have been over 300 hours of competitive dialogue and a draft contract has been issued. The draft contract makes provision for a series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with delivery and operational performance of the network for the duration of the contract. Non-performance against these KPIs will attract financial penalties. I do not intend to publish any further information relevant to the procurement process at this stage.
My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map and finalise this Intervention Area to give certainty to 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 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.
611. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy of the Government concerning commercial incineration; his views on two recent European Union reports (details supplied) relevant to this issue; the steps the Government plans to take in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7227/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role as Minister is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework through which the relevant regulatory bodies, such as local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, operate.
Taking account of our traditional reliance on landfill and the fact that the National Waste Report from 2012 indicates that almost 58% of our municipal waste recovered is exported for recovery, Government policy, set out in A Resource Opportunity, acknowledges very clearly that Ireland requires an adequate network of quality waste treatment facilities. Over-reliance on the export of waste not only means we forgo exploiting the resource contained in our waste, it also makes the State very vulnerable in terms of our ability to manage our waste, which in turn can lead to landfill capacity issues such as those which arose last year when emergency measures were required to make additional landfill available.
In that context, notwithstanding the progress made and the continued emphasis placed on prevention and recycling, energy recovery, including anaerobic digestion, co-incineration in cement kilns and waste to energy have a role to play both in terms of delivery of the Government’s waste policy objectives and meeting our obligations under the EU Waste Framework, Landfill and Renewable Energy Directives.
In line with the provisions of the Waste Management Act 1996, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including in respect of infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned.
I am aware of the reports referred to in the question and would like to take this opportunity to highlight the fact that the three Waste Management Plans made in May 2015 fully reflect national and EU waste management policy in terms of the application of the waste hierarchy, in exploiting waste as a resource and in reducing the disposal of waste at landfill.
613. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Directive 2013/30/EU on offshore safety has been transposed into law; the way in which this is applied to applications for offshore exploration activity and protection of marine stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7254/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Directive 2013/30/EU on safety of offshore oil and gas operations has been transposed into Irish law via the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act, 2015.
Section 22(2) of this Act inserts a new section 9A into the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960. Section 9A(2) (a)(i) provides that the cost of degradation of the marine environment under the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 249 of 2011) must be considered by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in carrying out an assessment as to whether to grant a petroleum licence.
In accordance with the legislation, this element of the Minister's assessment is required to be carried out in the context of a potential major environmental hazard.
614. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grant aid is available to install solar panels in a local authority estate (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7280/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is primarily responsible for the upgrade of the Local Authority housing stock. Under his Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock.
The Better Energy Communities Programme (BEC), operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department, is also open to applications that include local authority houses. Under this scheme, community based partnerships can apply for funding to upgrade the energy performance of a range of homes, community facilities and businesses in a local community.
As well as standard energy efficiency measures, renewable technologies such as solar panels are supported under this scheme and the scheme has supported some 300 community energy projects over the last five years throughout the country. This has seen more than 15,000 homes and hundreds of community, private and public buildings receive energy upgrades, supporting several hundred jobs each year.
There is €30 million available in grant supports for community energy projects under the 2017 BEC scheme. The closing date for applications is 17th February. For more information on the BEC Scheme and to find a copy of the application form please click here http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_Energy_Communities/.
615. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission on the dissemination of abusive material on social media sites and online abuse; if he proposes to appoint a digital safety commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7417/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Law Reform Commission Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, which was published in September 2016, recommends the reform of Criminal Law in relation to a number of issues that arise in the context of society’s growing use of online communications, include the posting of online intimate images without consent, cyber-bullying, online harassment and stalking, and new types of voyeurism.
In December, the Minister for Justice and Equality announced that her Department would draft the heads of a Bill aimed at dealing with these issues, along the lines of the draft legislation contained in the LRC's report.
The report also proposes the establishment of a Digital Safety Commissioner to promote digital safety and oversee efficient take-down procedures to ensure that harmful communications can be removed as quickly as possible from social media sites.
In this regard, I intend to meet with my colleagues, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to progress the Report's proposal to establish a Digital Safety Commissioner.
616. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to reports that invasive fish species are to be introduced in various rivers and lakes; if this poses a threat to angling; his views on this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7435/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State agency responsible for the conservation, protection, development and promotion of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to a recent post on social media expressing concern about a rumoured deliberate release of a non-native fish species. I have been informed by IFI that they contacted the person who conveyed the concern, and no additional information was provided to corroborate the post or render it a plausible threat. My Department and IFI take any credible reports relating to the introduction of non-native fish species very seriously as the introduction of such fish species could impact our native fish stocks.
IFI personnel based in the Western River Basin District, where the waters referred to in the post are located, continue to be vigilant regarding any identified risk and will respond immediately to any suspicious activity which can be reported on its 24 confidential hotline - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24.
However, in the absence of any credible information to support the assertions in the social media post, it would be premature to take any protection action, outside of increased vigilance, or to request increased security checks at entry points to the State.
I can confirm that the National Parks & Wildlife Service Biodiversity Unit is also aware of the report and has forwarded it to Waterways Ireland to ensure comprehensive distribution by all relevant agencies.
