Written Answers Nos. 332-352
332. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to promote the inclusion of greenhouse gas emission reduction as an indicator for successful outcomes within Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14526/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework will guide national development and prioritised investment over the next two decades. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 is a ten year strategy for public capital investment which will support the implementation of the National Planning Framework. Both documents have a shared set of National Strategic Outcomes, including addressing Ireland's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society. The National Development Plan commits funding of €21.8 billion towards climate action investments, including some €14 billion to be invested by Ireland’s semi-state companies and by the private sector. This means that almost €1 in every €5 to be spent in the framework of the National Development Plan over the next decade will be on climate action, with a strong focus on strategic investments in the areas of transport, renewable energy, grid development and interconnection, the built environment, and flood risk management, to address the significant climate change challenges that Ireland faces.
The National Development Plan funding commitments provide a clear opportunity for significant upscaling in our investments to deliver deep emissions reductions in the coming decade and to further develop and implement the National Mitigation Plan. This will be essential both in order to meet Ireland’s targets, under the draft EU Effort Sharing Regulation, for a 30% reduction in non-ETS sector by 2030, relative to 2005 levels, as well as to make significant progress towards Ireland’s National Transition Objective for 2050 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland by at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) and, in parallel, to pursue an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.
The National Mitigation Plan is itself a living document that will be updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectorial mitigation options. The most recent list of measures currently in place in the context of National Mitigation Plan is set out in the 2017 Annual Transition Statement, which I laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 8 December last. This Statement details the key measures in place in the respective sectors, the objective for each measure, estimated mitigation potential and funding information, where appropriate.
In relation to the role of outcome indicators within Project Ireland 2040, I understand that the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 provides a legislative basis for the National Planning Framework, a monitoring process in relation to its implementation and a statutory requirement for regular reviews and updates into the future, together with the proposed establishment of an independent Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR). That National Planning Framework proposes that this new Office will have an independent monitoring role, and its functions will include providing advice to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, to the Government as a whole and to the Oireachtas, on the implementation of the National Planning Framework under the statutory planning process, through new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, local authority statutory planning processes and the decisions of An Bord Pleanála, and using a new set of indicators to be developed to assist effective monitoring.
In relation to the role of greenhouse gas emissions reductions as an indicator of successful outcomes within Project Ireland 2040, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority in Ireland for the preparation and annual publication of official inventories and projections of greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting this data to the European Union and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. A summary of the most recent inventory and projections prepared by the EPA is also included in the Annual Transition Statement as laid before the Houses.
333. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the public will be informed and engaged on climate action as required under the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14527/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland ratified the Aarhus Convention in June 2012 and it entered into force in September 2012. Article 7 of the Aarhus Convention provides for public participation concerning plans, programmes and policies relating to the environment. This requires that each Party "make appropriate practical and/or other provisions for the public to participate during the preparation of plans and programmes relating to the environment, within a transparent and fair framework, having provided the necessary information to the public.” Article 7 further requires that the public be provided with opportunities for early public participation when all options are open; that they are provided with reasonable timeframes for participation and that due account is taken of the outcome of the public participation in any decision taken. The application of Aarhus Convention requirements to public participation in climate action policy development is given expression in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (the 2015 Act). Section 4(8) of that Act requires the Minister to consult on a draft of each national mitigation plan and to have regard to submissions made in response to such consultation. Section 5(3) of the 2015 Act contains equivalent provisions in relation to each draft national adaptation framework.
I held a public consultation on the draft National Mitigation Plan and on the accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment from 15 March to 26 April 2017. 124 submissions were received in response to this consultation and have been published on my Department's website. The final Strategic Environmental Assessment, published with the National Mitigation Plan in July 2017, addresses how the views of consultees and stakeholders influenced the preparation of the final Plan.
A separate public consultation took place on the draft National Adaptation Framework from 15 September to 27 October 2017. 27 submissions were received from a wide range of stakeholders including academics, political parties, public bodies, business representatives and citizens.
In addition to the respective public consultations, the independent Climate Change Advisory Council, in accordance with the provisions of the 2015 Act, submitted its views to me on the drafts of both the National Mitigation Plan and National Adaptation Framework. These submissions are published on my Department’s website and on the Council's website at www.climatecouncil.ie.
In accordance with section 14 of the 2015 Act I have, to date, presented two Annual Transition Statements, in 2016 and 2017, to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Both Statements are also available on my Department's website. Each Statement provides an overview of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy measures adopted to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to adapt to the effects of climate change in order to enable the achievement of the national transition objective, a record of emissions of greenhouse gases and projections of future emissions prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, and a report on compliance with obligations of the State under EU law and relevant international agreements.
In parallel with and in order to inform the on-going development of national policy on climate action, I launched a National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. My Department is currently preparing a series of regional and local events under the auspices of the National Dialogue to engage citizens as participants in mobilising action on the low carbon transition at local and community level. I envisage that this will, in turn, help to further inform policy development at local and national levels. I intend to announce details of a pilot regional event shortly.
334. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which energy security for all will be provided into the future; the way in which this will be managed through State and citizen-owned public private partnership or through private ownership; if firm policies and statutory requirements will be developed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14528/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnergy security is one of the three key pillars of our energy policy, along with sustainability and competitiveness. Ireland's Energy Policy White Paper commits to radically reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We have embarked on a firm course to sustainability, mindful of the need to balance competitiveness and security of supply through the period of transition, as fossil fuels will be curtailed and eventually eliminated in our energy mix through a range of reduction and substitution measures using more sustainable alternatives. Ireland’s energy policy, including security of supply, is fully aligned with the EU’s climate and energy objectives on the transition to decarbonisation. This involves continuous and ongoing review of policies to reduce harmful emissions, improve energy efficiency, incentivise efficient and sustainable infrastructure investment, integrate markets, and promote research and innovation while ensuring our energy security of supply is maintained and enhanced.
The National Mitigation Plan, which I published last July, restates the Government’s commitment to move from a fossil fuel-based electricity system to a low-carbon power system in a secure and sustainable way, including promotion of energy efficiency, and smart operation of the existing grid for maximum benefit. Investment in further renewable generation will be incentivised, as well as in other low or zero-carbon technologies such as pumped storage and battery technology.
The National Development Plan 2018-2027 sets out clear measures towards decarbonisation, including the upgrading of 45,000 homes every year from 2021 to make them energy efficient, up to 4,500MW of renewable electricity generation, roll-out of the support scheme for renewable heat, and commitments on electric vehicles and low-emission public transport.
Reaching our climate objectives while maintaining secure and reliable sources of energy will require a broad range of actions by citizens, businesses and the public sector. I recognise that sufficient flexibility will be needed, including, where necessary, in relation to funding and governance arrangements for actions, so that we achieve the transition that delivers the best outcomes in security of supply, sustainability and competitiveness for our citizens and businesses.
335. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether there should be a statutory requirement to have experts at the decision-making table at national, regional and local level to ensure Ireland meets its obligations under the Paris Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational climate policy development is supported by robust arrangements for the provision of scientific and technical advice which, in turn, supports policy implementation at national, regional and local levels The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority in Ireland for the preparation and annual publication of official inventories and projections of greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting this data to the European Union and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Oireachtas receives a summary of the most recent inventory and projections prepared by the EPA each year in the Annual Transition Statement, which is mandated by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (the 2015 Act). The most recent such statement was laid before the Houses on 8 December last.
The EPA also provides a range of expert scientific and technical advice on climate change to the Government and produces, in accordance with its statutory mandate, a quadrennial State of the Environment Report which provides an integrated assessment of the overall quality of Ireland's environment, the pressures being placed on it and the societal responses to current and emerging environmental issues. The last such report was published in 2016, includes a specific focus on climate change, and is available from the EPA’s website at:
http://epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/stateoftheenvironmentreport.
The Climate Change Advisory Council, an independent body established under Section 8 of the 2015 Act, is mandated to provide advice and recommendations to me, to relevant sectorial Ministers and to the Government in relation to the development and implementation of the National Mitigation Plan and National Adaptation Framework. The Council is also tasked with advising on matters relating to the achievement of Ireland’s objective to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and sustainable economy by 2050. Since November 2016, the Advisory Council has produced three reports which are available from the Council’s website at www.climatecouncil.ie.
Technical capacity for climate action policy development and implementation is provided through the Technical Research and Modelling Group (TRAM), which was established by Government Decision in 2015 and is chaired by my Department. TRAM is a high level cross-departmental technical group, with representation from relevant Government Departments and Agencies, supported by a number of academic institutions. TRAM reports to the Climate Action High Level Steering Group, and to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure as required.
336. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the provisions in place for climate change in the Project Ireland 2040 framework (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14532/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the way in which investments will be prioritised effectively to provide a viable economic future while at the same time honouring global commitments in greenhouse gas emission reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 339 together.
Under the Paris Agreement, the EU has committed, on behalf of its Member States, to a reduction of at least 40% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, to be achieved by reductions in the Emission Trading System (ETS) sector of 43% and in the non-ETS sector of 30%. With regard to Ireland’s contribution, in December 2017, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on a target of a 30% reduction in Ireland’s 2005 emissions by 2030, with a starting point of May 2019, based on average emissions over the period 2016 to 2018. This proposal follows extensive negotiations, during which Ireland emphasised the need to prioritise a successful conclusion which retains a high environmental ambition for the EU, but provides each Member State with the capacity to contribute to that ambition in a cost-effective and fair manner.
The latest Environmental Protection Agency report on greenhouse gas emissions projections, published April 2017, indicates that Ireland is expected to exceed its annual limits from 2017 onwards, and that emissions could be between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels by 2020. The projected shortfall to our targets in 2020 reflects both the constrained investment capacity over the past decade due to the economic crisis, and the extremely challenging nature of the target itself. In fact, it is now accepted that Ireland’s 2020 target was not consistent with what would be achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis.
Considering this, Ireland’s 2030 target will present a very significant challenge, the scale and complexity of which is not underestimated by this Government. As a means to addressing the climate challenge, I published Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan in July 2017. It provides a framework to guide investment decisions by Government in domestic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Plan does not provide a complete roadmap to achieve either Ireland’s proposed 2030 target or the 2050 transition objective. However, it has established the framework for the development and implementation of medium-to-long-term policy options so as to achieve progressive emissions reductions in each of its four key sectors with the most significant contribution to national emissions (Electricity Generation; the Built Environment; Transport; and Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use). The Plan is a living document that will be updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectorial mitigation options.
The most recent list of measures currently in place in the context of the National Mitigation Plan is set out in the 2017 Annual Transition Statement, which I laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 8 December last. This Statement details the key measures in place in the respective sectors, the objective for each measure, estimated mitigation potential and funding information, where appropriate.
Building on the approach set out in the National Mitigation Plan, the recently launched Project Ireland 2040 reaffirms the Government’s commitment to transitioning Ireland to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society. As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework will guide national development and prioritised investment over the next two decades. Implementation of the National Planning Framework at a local and regional level will take place in the context of, inter alia, new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, development plans and local authority statutory planning processes. The Framework does not, therefore, address specific provisions in relation to climate change for individual towns or local authority areas.
Under the new National Development Plan, Exchequer funding of €7.6 billion, together with investment of €14.2 billion by commercial State bodies will ensure a step change in strategic climate action investments. This means that almost €1 in every €5 to be spent in the framework of the National Development Plan over the next decade will be on climate action, with a strong focus on strategic investments in the areas of transport, renewable energy, grid development and interconnection, the built environment, and flood risk management, to address the significant climate change challenges that Ireland faces. Furthermore, a new Climate Action Fund, with an allocation of €500m, has been designed to leverage additional investment by public and private entities in climate action measures.
During the period of the Plan, key capital investments to be overseen by my Department will comprise some:
- €3.8 billion on upgrading the energy efficiency rating to achieve a minimum of BER Rating B in the existing residential, commercial and public building stock. Coupled with this, new buildings will be regulated to the highest standards and the roll-out of digital connectivity will facilitate “smart buildings”;
- €1 billion on rolling out energy-efficient heating technologies under the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat aimed at large heat users, along with support for heat pumps and roof solar in at least 170,000 homes;
- €0.2 billion to incentivise the uptake of 500,000 electric vehicles by 2030, and provide additional charging infrastructure. Related support measures include a ban on new non-zero emission cars being sold in Ireland after 2030 and no NCT certificate for non-zero emission cars after 2045
- €0.1 billion on energy research funding to accelerate diversification away from fossil fuels to green energy.
This funding commitment provides a clear opportunity for significant upscaling in our investments to deliver deep emissions reductions in the coming decade and to further develop and implement the National Mitigation Plan. This will be essential in order to meet Ireland’s 2030 targets, as well as to make significant progress towards Ireland’s National Transition Objective for 2050 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland by at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) and, in parallel, to pursue an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.
337. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount that his Department has spent on social media training and consultancy in each year since 2016. [14563/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department did not incur any expenditure on social media training or social media consultancy in 2016 or 2017. In 2018, €1,900 has been expended on consultancy on the preparation of a social media campaign as part of the ongoing awareness and education campaign on waste and recycling.
338. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if training has been delivered in his Department on the use of social media (details supplied); the frequency and cost of this training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14579/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo training has been delivered to staff in my Department, to date, on the use of social media.
340. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the decision by a company (details supplied) to locate a new plastics recycling facility in the UK instead of here; the measures he plans to take to alleviate the regulatory challenges which the company cited as causing difficulties in locating here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14607/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA specific investment decision by a private company providing services in both Ireland and the United Kingdom is a matter for that company and its board. In my role as Minister, the company, which has grown its operations in Ireland over many years, has not made me aware of regulatory challenges to its further development in Ireland. The Waste Management Act 1996 and the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 govern the process under which waste licence applications can be made to the EPA. This is an open and transparent process and aims to strike a balance between the interests of all stakeholders. I have no function in relation to the assessment of licence applications and under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the EPA, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
Individual planning decisions are a matter for the relevant planning authority. Broader planning issues affecting the development of industry in Ireland are matters for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
341. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the value of contracts for services awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department since 2010 in tabular form; and the type of work undertaken by the company. [14624/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo contracts were awarded by my Department to Acrux Consultants since 2010.
342. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra344. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 342, 343 and 344 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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
In April 2017 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 this year as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April.
The following table details the percentage of premises to be covered by the State Intervention and through commercial investment in the areas identified by the Deputy.
|
Townland |
Total Premises |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
Premises within eir planned rural deployment |
|
Gurteenroe(Millstreet Road) |
614 |
17% (102) |
83% (512) |
0% (0) |
|
Garranenagappul (Clondrohid) |
102 |
15% (15) |
85% (87) |
0% (0) |
|
Coolmucky (Cloughduv) |
85 |
45% (38) |
45% (38) |
0% (0) |
|
Ryecourt (Cloughduv) |
91 |
9% (8) |
87% (79) |
4% (4) |
In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing the roll-out by the end of this year. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at
http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/.
A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Quarterly updates on eir's rural deployment are published on this website. eir has passed a total of 121,000 premises as of December 2017.
Premises where commercial providers are not currently delivering or have indicated no plans to deliver high speed broadband services will be addressed through the National Broadband Plan State led Intervention.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
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.
345. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to publish the report he commissioned on the proposed North South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14855/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Interconnector, as proposed as an overhead line, now has full planning permission in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. Following engagements with representative groups and Oireachtas members in relation to the motions passed in Dáil and Seanad Éireann early last year I commissioned two independent studies into the project. The studies are designed to address the main points of the motions as well as key concerns expressed by those parties opposed to the development of an overhead line.
It is my intention that the two studies will provide some clarity to the concerned residents of the affected areas. The results of both studies are expected shortly and I will publish the reports and ensure they will be made available to all interested parties.
346. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the need to upgrade broadband telecommunications infrastructure throughout counties Cavan and Monaghan; the improvements that will be undertaken in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14856/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. In April 2017 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 following table details the percentage of premises to be covered by the State Intervention and through commercial investment in Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
|
County |
Total Premises |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area (AMBER) |
Premises within Commercial Operators Area (BLUE) |
Premises within eir planned rural deployment (LIGHT BLUE) |
|
Cavan |
41,991 |
16,942 |
19,439 |
5,610 |
|
Monaghan |
32,945 |
15,655 |
14,668 |
2,622 |
Individuals can check which category their premises falls into by going to my Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie and entering their eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing the roll-out by the end of this year. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at
http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/.
A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Quarterly updates on eir's rural deployment are published on this website. As of December 2017 eir has passed nearly 4,500 premises in Cavan and Monaghan as part of its roll-out. A further almost 8,000 are scheduled to be passed before the end of this year.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
Delivering connectivity to the 542,000 premises (including over 32,500 in 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 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.
347. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; the date by which he plans to award the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14883/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. In April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie., which shows those areas that will be served by commercial operators and those that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
There are over 2.3 million premises in the State. Approximately 542,000 fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State Led Intervention. Over 1.6 million premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 180,000 are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered under ongoing rural deployment by eir.
In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide High speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis by the end of this year. eir has passed a total of 121,000 premises as of December 2017.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to engage a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
348. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in each county without access to a broadband connection in tabular form. [14884/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy's question refers to the number of premises in Ireland that do not yet have access to a high speed broadband service. In April 2017 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:
- Premises in the AMBER do not currently have access to a high speed broadband connection. They are to be provided with access by the planned State led Intervention under the NBP, which is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. There are approximately 540,000 AMBER premises nationally.
- Premises in the LIGHT BLUE areas do not currently have access to a high speed broadband connection. They are to be provided with access via commercial investment as part eir's ongoing rural deployment. There are over 180,000 LIGHT BLUE premises nationally.
- Premises in the BLUE area are to be served with a high speed broadband connection by commercial operators and there are over 1.6 Million such premises nationally.
A county by county breakdown for Q4 2017 of premises in the AMBER, BLUE and LIGHT BLUE areas is attached.
350. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent on removing and disposing of illegally dumped waste in 2017; the amount allocated for same in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra351. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of complaints his Department received about illegal dumping in each year since 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14887/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra352. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent on anti-dumping public awareness campaigns since 2011; the main projects and initiatives paid for by the funding; and the amount that he has budgeted for this in 2018, in tabular form. [14888/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 352, inclusive, together.
Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the Local Authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While this Department does not compile statistics in relation to complaints made, information is available through the Local Government Management Agency’s website
http://www.lgma.ie/en/publication-category/service-indicator-reports-2004-2010
and the EPA’s website
http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/enforcement/performanceframework/focusonlocalauthorityenvironmentalenforcement2014-2016performancereport.html.
The total cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.
In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, my Department has developed an Anti-Dumping Initiative to identify high risk or problem areas, develop appropriate enforcement responses and carry out clean-up operations in partnership with local authorities and community organisations. In 2017, funding of €1.3 million was provided to local authorities under this initiative. Further details of the funding provided is available on my Department’s website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/news-and-media/press-releases/Pages/Naugthen-increases-funds-to-.aspx. The initiative was overseen by the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) and each of the 31 local authorities participated. Over 200 projects were funded and included
- clean-up operations - removing over 2,500 tonnes of waste;
- awareness campaigns - social media campaigns, leaflets;
- preventative measures - installation of signage and fencing;
- surveillance operations - CCTV, drone and trail surveillance;
- SMART enforcement equipment and resources for waste enforcement officers.
This year, I am increasing the allocation to €2 million to build on the momentum created. All local authorities have been invited to apply.
