Written Answers Nos. 397-412
397. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount that his Department has committed to the green climate fund in each year since 2011; and the amount that it will be contributing in 2018. [50987/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland made a commitment at the Paris Climate Change Conference in November 2015 to provide at least €175 million in public funding in support of climate action in developing countries between 2016 and 2020. This support will be provided primarily for bilateral assistance in respect of climate change adaptation goals in developing countries and will come from the Vote of Irish Aid managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In addition, Ireland committed to commencing contributions to the Green Climate Fund in 2016 with a view to building up our support over the coming years. In line with this commitment, which was subsequently reflected in the Programme for Partnership Government, an initial contribution to the Green Climate Fund of €2 million was made from my Department's Vote in 2016. This was part of an overall amount of €52.66 million provided by Ireland in public financial support to address climate change in developing countries in 2016.
At the recent twenty-third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC COP 23), I announced that a further contribution of €2 million would be made by the Government to the Green Climate Fund in 2017. This is part of a package of additional funding by my Department totalling €2.5 million in 2017, which also includes support for the UNFCCC’s Adaptation Fund, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the NDC Partnership.
While no decisions have yet been taken in respect of contributions for 2018, any such decisions will have regard to Ireland’s commitments, referred to above, regarding building up its support to the Green Climate Fund in the coming years.
398. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated first and full-year cost of operating a bottle deposit scheme. [50989/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2014, the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government published a Review of the Producer Responsibility Initiative model in Ireland. As part of this review, a wider examination of issues within the packaging sphere (which includes bottles) was undertaken and consideration was given to the introduction of a deposit and refund scheme. The review report did not recommend the introduction of a deposit and refund scheme and concluded that to establish such a scheme was inappropriate, in view of the operation of the existing successful packaging scheme (operated by Repak). It also pointed to current policies concerning household waste collection and the high administrative costs of introducing such a system.
Notwithstanding this, on foot of a Private Members' Bill tabled by Deputy Ryan recently, I have asked the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to look at the merits of a deposit and refund scheme at a national level in the context of the associated costs and the contribution to the attainment of our national waste targets under EU legislation. I am awaiting the outcome of this before taking any further action.
I am not aware of estimates for the cost of operating a deposit and refund system for any packaging in Ireland. However, a study carried out in Scotland on the subject estimates set-up and annual administration costs to be in the region of £77 million.
401. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount that his Department has spent each year since 2011 on improving mobile phone coverage. [50993/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra406. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount that his Department has spent on the national mobile phone and broadband taskforce in 2016 and to date in 2017. [51001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 406 together.
Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Over the last five years the telecoms industry has invested €3.3bn in Ireland, including €850m invested in acquiring spectrum under the 2012 Multi-Band Spectrum Auction run by ComReg. As a result of this investment 4G data services are available to more than 90pc of the population.
My Department's role in relation to the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce is principally focussed on working with all of the stakeholders to progress the 40 actions. In relation to actual direct spending, my Department incurred no expenditure in 2016. This year to date, spending of €6,572.87 can be directly attributed to the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. This includes €3,834.28 towards the National Stakeholder Forum and €2,738.59 towards the Taskforce stand at the National Ploughing Championships.
404. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding that his Department has allocated to the Digital Hub Development Agency each year since 2011; and the amount that his Department has allocated for 2018. [50999/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) which was established under the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 to support digital entrepreneurship through the creation of a cluster of enterprises focused on digital content and technology. The agency is funded through a combination of Exchequer funding and commercial income. The following table sets out my Department's allocation for the Digital Hub Development Agency in the years 2011-2017 and the proposed allocation for 2018:
|
Year |
Departmental Allocation (Current) |
Departmental Allocation (Capital) |
Total Allocation |
|
2011 |
€2.939m |
€0.556m |
€3.495m |
|
2012 |
€2.157m |
€0.55m |
€2.707m |
|
2013 |
€2.145m |
€0.35m |
€2.495m |
|
2014 |
€1.95m |
€0.35m |
€2.3m |
|
2015 |
€1.75m |
€0.35m |
€2.1m |
|
2016 |
€1.588m |
€0.35m |
€1.938m |
|
2017 |
€1.076m |
€0.6m |
€1.676m |
|
2018 |
€0.872m |
€0.15m |
€1.022m |
407. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the membership of the national mobile phone and broadband task force and the salaries associated with the task force. [51002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016, membership of the Taskforce is set out in the table below:
|
Membership |
- |
|
Denis Naughten, T.D. (Co-Chair) |
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
|
Heather Humphreys, T.D. (Co-Chair) |
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. |
|
Katherine Licken |
Assistant Secretary (Working Co-Chair) Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
|
William Parnell |
Assistant Secretary (Working Co-Chair) Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
|
Mairead McCabe |
Principal Officer Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
|
Stjohn O’Connor |
Principal Officer Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
|
Patrick Neary |
Chief Technology Officer Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
|
Dave Walsh |
Assistant Secretary Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government |
|
Ray O’Leary |
Assistant Secretary Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport |
|
Pat Gallagher |
Chief Executive Chairman CCMA and CE Westmeath County Council |
|
Tommy Ryan |
Chief Executive CE Cavan County Council |
|
Geoffrey Gray |
Policy Analyst Competition and Consumer Protection Commission |
|
Pat Maher |
Director of Network Management Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
|
John Sydenham |
Commissioner Office of Public Works |
|
Martin Bourke |
Principal Officer Office of Public Works |
|
John K Dillon |
Senior Financial Adviser NewERA |
|
Seamus Boland |
CEO Irish Rural Link Ltd |
|
Mary MacNamara |
Irish Country Women’s Association |
|
Linda Doyle |
Director of CTVR (Computer Science) Professor of Engineering and the Arts (Electronic and Electrical Engineering), Trinity College Dublin |
|
John Martin |
Former Principal Planning Adviser Department of Environment, Community and Local Government |
|
Prof. Cathal O’Donoghue |
Teagasc Rural Economy and Development Programme |
|
Paul Madden |
Enterprise Champion - Midlands Action Plan for Jobs |
|
Clodagh Cavanagh |
Abbey Farm Machinery, Business Representative |
|
Observer: Gerry Fahy |
Commissioner Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) |
The members of the Taskforce did not receive salaries for their participation in the Taskforce.
The Taskforce published its final report in December 2016. Arising from this report an implementation group was established charged with overseeing implementation of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce actions. The implementation group comprises of senior officials from the following organisations:
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland
- County and City Management Association
- Local Government Management Agency
- Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland
- Commission for Communications Regulation (which sits on the Group as both the owner of several actions and as an observer in its capacity as the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector).
Officials from other organisations attend as appropriate.
There is no additional remuneration paid for membership of the implementation group; all officials attending do so in the course of their normal duties.
408. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing concerns in relation to poor mobile telephone coverage in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he has discussed with the communications regulator the need for the telecommunications companies to make the necessary investments to ensure that all areas have adequate mobile coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51162/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraProviding telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to roll out services and make specific investments in particular locations. The ComReg consumer helpline is accessible at consumerline@comreg.ie and I would urge consumers who feel they have not received an appropriate response from service providers to make contact with the Regulator. Notwithstanding ComReg’s independence, I recognise the frustration felt by Irish consumers - including in Counties Cavan and Monaghan - where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Accordingly, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In July 2016, I established the Taskforce 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 Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce the December 2016 report available on my Department’s website, which contains 40 actions to alleviate some of the deficits. The Implementation Group I co-chair with Minister Kyne is overseeing implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. This includes ComReg, who attend as both an action owner, and in an observer capacity in their role as the independent Regulator. Three meetings of the Implementation Group have been held so far - on 8 March, 5 July and 22 November.
This week I published the third Taskforce Quarterly Progress Report, which demonstrates that good progress has been made in delivering the actions. These reports show continuing progress and also the sustained level of engagement between actions owners and industry.
This engagement was clear in October at first National Stakeholder Forum in Athlone, which I hosted with Minister Kyne. It arose from the Taskforce’s recognition that, given the rapid technological change and the emergence of new equipment and solutions to deliver telecommunications services, stakeholders needed an opportunity to raise concerns on impediments to the rollout of services. Issues impacting on rollout were discussed at the Forum, and there were also some new recommended actions for the Taskforce to help improve services to consumers and in preparing for roll-out of the National Broadband Plan network, once contracts are in place.
The Taskforce’s achievements to date include:
- Funding of all local authorities to assign a Broadband Officer;
- Close cooperation with local authorities to develop local digital strategies, including Government working closely with local authorities to identify approximately 320 high speed Strategic Community Access Hubs to be connected at an early juncture after award of the NBP contract;
- ComReg’s development of a testing regime to check mobile handset performance which will inform consumers in choosing products and network services. ComReg will also develop a new network coverage map.
- Most local authorities applying waivers in respect of development contributions for telecoms development.
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has constructed 80km of ducting on the M7/M8 corridor and 14km on the N25 in Cork, with more following in the coming months to help expedite infrastructure roll-out. TII is also reviewing the cost of duct access for telecoms.
In tandem with the work of the Taskforce, the release by ComReg of the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, which has been identified at EU level as a primary band suitable for the introduction of 5G, will also contribute to addressing increasing mobile data demands and improve mobile coverage. Mobile operators’ commercial investment has also resulted in improved services, following ComReg's 2012 multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage.
All of these initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services, particularly in rural areas such as Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
409. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to improve broadband telecommunications service throughout County Cavan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that households and many small enterprises have concerns regarding the service that exists at present; if the necessary investment programme will be undertaken to bring this broadband service up to a proper standard; the improvements which can be expected in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to improve broadband telecommunications service throughout County Monaghan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that households and many small enterprises have concerns regarding the service that exists; if the necessary investment programme will be undertaken to bring this broadband service up to a proper standard; the improvements which can be expected in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Parliamentary Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by the end of 2018 and to 90% (2.1m premises) by the end of 2020.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The Light BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of an Agreement signed with me in April.
There are nearly 42,000 premises in Cavan. Approximately 17,000 (40%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. Nearly 19,000 (45%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 6,000 (15%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment.
There are approximately 33,000 premises in Monaghan. Just over 15,600 (47%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. Nearly 14,000 (42%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 3,500 (11%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage. “Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders on 26th September are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. The next stage in the procurement process is the receipt of final tenders followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.
As part of this procurement process, the bidder(s) will be required to submit their strategies, including timescales, for the network build and rollout. My Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and the frustration for communities and businesses that do not currently have access to this level of connectivity. Delivering connectivity to the 542,000 premises (including approximately 75,000 premises in Counties Cavan and Monaghan) that fall within the State led intervention under the NBP remains a Government priority and my Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
411. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated first and full year cost of extending toll waivers to electric and hybrid vehicles. [50964/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated first and full year cost of extending toll waivers to electric and hybrid vehicles. [50988/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together.
The Government is committed to facilitating an increased uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). The Deputy may be aware that my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment (DCCAE), have jointly convened an interdepartmental LEV Task Force to consider the range of measures and options available to Government for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of low carbon technologies, especially electric vehicles (EVs). The wide ranging work of the Taskforce has been divided between three working groups addressing: Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility; Infrastructure, Energy Regulation and Pricing; and Planning Legislation, Building Regulations and Public Leadership. As part of its programme of work, Working Group 1 of the Taskforce, which is chaired by my Department, is assessing options for potential Government and public body leadership initiatives and opportunities, as means of further demonstrating support for LEV uptake. To this end, Working Group 1 considered recently a TII paper on options for incentive toll rates for EV drivers. Although the modalities are still under consideration I have secured funding in Budget 2018 to introduce a toll incentive regime which I hope could be introduced early next year.
In relation to extending the cost of toll waivers to electric and hybrid vehicles, it is estimated based on 2015 figures that the average toll paying motorist pays €100 in tolls per year. At current penetration levels of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road in Ireland and assuming a full toll waiver that would equate to a cost of approximately €230,000 over the course of a full year. This full waiver cost would rise to an estimated €2 million should the target level of 20,000 electric vehicles by 2020 be reached.
