Wednesday, 17 Jan 2018

Written Answers Nos. 152 - 162

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Ceisteanna (152)

John Deasy

Ceist:

152. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the number of applications under the beef data and genomics programme II that have been disqualified from the scheme to date due to not having completed a carbon navigator; if this was as a result of an error by the applicant or the carbon navigator advisor in each case; if his Department will show leniency in cases in which the applicant is not at fault but stands to lose substantial income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2329/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2017 - 2022 provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. As part of the scheme applicants must complete a carbon navigator with an approved advisor thereafter and provide data for an annual update to their carbon navigator. Where this Carbon Navigator is not completed, applicants will be removed from the Programme.

Of the 1,896 herdowners that initially applied to join BDGP II, there were 131 instances where a Carbon Navigator was not completed with an approved advisor. Completion of this involves making an appointment with an advisor and takes roughly 90 minutes to complete. The onus remains with the applicant at all times to ensure that this is completed. Where applicants feel they have grounds to appeal they may do so in writing to my Department.

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Ceisteanna (153)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the timeframe for the roll-out of at least 30mb broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the national broadband plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage will be prioritised during the roll-out phase as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2143/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

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 67% 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 rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April 2017.

There are 42 premises in the townland of Ballybun. 10 (24%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. 32 (76%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers. Individuals can search the Map by eircode/address to ascertain the broadband status for their specific premises.

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. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.

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.

Sustainable Energy Communities Scheme

Ceisteanna (154)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

154. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a grant is available to assist a person (details supplied) to re-establish an independent electricity generating system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2149/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

At present there are a number grants available through the Better Energy Programme, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland  on behalf of my Department, which enable homeowners to choose renewable energy solutions. However, there are no supports or grants currently available to support domestic battery storage systems in Ireland. My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal which compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies at various scales including micro-generation, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply.

Micro generation, which typically involves an element of self-consumption and storing or selling of excess electricity to the grid, was also appraised as part of the RESS economic assessment. The analysis identified a number of challenges that may need to be addressed before a support scheme for micro generation can be developed.

I am committed to further exploring opportunities for supporting micro generation, as I believe that micro-generation could have an important role in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon economy, in assisting Ireland meet its renewable electricity targets, and increasing social acceptance of and promoting renewable energy projects right across the country. In October 2017 my Department and SEAI hosted a workshop on micro generation which discussed a number of these challenges with relevant stakeholders and identified a number of potential options to incentivise greater uptake of micro generation in Ireland, including the linking of supports for micro generation and battery storage. Micro generation support policies will be developed further throughout 2018.

Domestic battery storage technology forms part of on-going research and development funded by the SEAI on behalf of my Department.

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Ceisteanna (155)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the timeframe for the roll-out of at least 30mb broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the national broadband plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage will be prioritised during the roll-out phase as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

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 67% 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 rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April.

The premises referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area.

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. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.

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.

Air Pollution

Ceisteanna (156)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

156. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to geo-engineering activity, for example, stratospheric aerosol geo-engineering, being conducted here; if there are plans to commence such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

There is no stratospheric aerosol geo engineering being conducted here, and I am not aware of any plans to commence such activity, or to examine its feasibility. I would add that there is no credible information or evidence that the trails from aircraft passing over Ireland are anything other than normal contrails, the appearance of which is known to vary according to atmospheric conditions, and which have no observable impact on air quality or human health. These condensation trails (or ‘contrails’) are long thin artificial clouds that form behind aircraft and are visible from the ground.

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Ceisteanna (157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162)

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

157. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to a location (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter [2220/18]

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

158. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to a location (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2221/18]

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

159. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to a location (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2222/18]

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

160. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to locations (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2223/18]

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

161. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to locations (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2224/18]

Frank O'Rourke

Ceist:

162. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan formal procurement process has now been completed in respect of roll-out to locations (details supplied); the timeframe within which a broadband upgrade will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2225/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 162, inclusive, 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 67% 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 rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April.

The following table sets out the number of premises which fall into each category in the various townlands/areas referenced in the Questions. Individuals can themselves check whether their premises are in an AMBER, BLUE or LIGHT BLUE area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their eircode at www.broadband.gov.ie.

Townland	Premises within the NBP Intervention Area: AMBER	Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area:    BLUE	Premises within eir's planned rural deployment: LIGHT BLUE
Bareen/Balraheen	9 (100%)
Turnings			7 (100%)
Knockanally	40 (100%)
Newtown	67 (26%)	187 (74%)
Ballyoulster	2 (2%)	87 (98%)
Killeenlea	5 (21%)	16 (67%)	3 (13%)
Ballycaghan	1 (2%)	1 (2%)	48 (96%)*
Cappagh	56 (86%)	7 (11%)	2 (3%)
Killbrook	17 (40%)	25 (60%)
Kilmore	44 (92%)	3 (6%)	1 (2%)

*The Deputy referenced a particular premises by eircode which is located in this townland. The premises in question is in the LIGHT BLUE area.

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. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.

My Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.

In respect of eir's commitment to provide High speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas by end 2018, my Department confirmed eir had passed 101,000 as of September 2017.  This includes 5,031 premises passed in Kildare alone since the start of the rollout.