Written Answers Nos. 460-478
460. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the resources which have been made available for social farming in 2018; the way in which this may be made more sustainable for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA provisional allocation of €660,000 is being provided for Social Farming in 2018 under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF) which is linked to the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA).
2017 saw the continuation of funding for the design, development and implementation of the national Social Farming Network. The contract with Leitrim Development Company Social Farming Network was extended to October 2018. The National Social Farming Office was established by Leitrim Development Company, with the assistance of funding by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It supports the development of a national social farming network in collaboration with other Local Development Companies.
The ongoing funding for the Social Farming Network project during 2017 provided continuity and stability to Leitrim Development Company for the development of a sustainable network for social farming in Ireland. This maintained support is central to upholding the operation of the project especially given the commitment from farmers and service providers in the development and roll-out of this initiative in rural communities throughout Ireland.
In addition to the national Social Farming Network, funding was provided to develop a number of social farming model projects. The projects funded as part of this included:
- Leitrim Integrated Development Company for a ‘Social Farming Best Practice Model’
- South Kerry Development Partnership for the ‘Kerry Social Farming Project’
- Down Syndrome Ireland Cork Branch for phase 2 of the ‘Fields of Dreams’ project
The contracts awarded under Social Farming for the national Social Farming Network and the development of social farming model projects were for a period of one year. The Department may extend these contracts for a maximum of three such extensions thereby providing continued stability and support to the initiatives.
461. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22508/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named received approval for sheep fencing and mobile sheep handling equipment under the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II. However the applicant has yet to submit an application for payment without which, no payment can be made. My Department has been in direct contact with the applicant to advise them of the position.
462. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the position of an organisation (details supplied) regarding funding to the beef data and genomics programme over a suckler premium. [22589/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the importance of the suckler herd to the Irish economy and agri-food sector in particular. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next six years. I will continue to support fully this programme through the lifetime of the current( RDP) Rural Development Programme.
In 2017 the BDGP was reopened to beef suckler farmers who were not already part of the scheme. We have 24,775 participants between BDGP I and II. BDGP II provides for payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. A total of 42.8 million has been paid to participants for 2017 already.
The BDGP was agreed with the European Commission as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) alongside a number of other schemes such as ANCs, GLAS and TAMS, which also benefit suckler farmers. I am very conscious of the positive effect that the programme is having on the Irish suckler herd. It will help to improve productivity, profitability and carbon efficiency in the national herd.
I agree that in our deliberations on CAP reform post-2020, encouraging generational renewal should be a priority. The current CAP, which was agreed during the Irish Presidency in 2013, allowed for supplementary payments from the National Reserve for young trained farmers and for their prioritisation in the assessment of applications under the Rural Development Programme. In addition, a range of agri-taxation measures are in place to support land mobility, inter-generational transfer and farm partnerships.
463. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to potential breaches of EU regulations regarding animal exports (details supplied) to mainland Europe; the number of inspections carried out at exit ports of animal exports in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22600/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the recent investigation by Eyes on Animals on a number of transporters from different countries leaving Rosslare port. I wish to assure the Deputy that in relation to the Irish trucks involved, a thorough investigation is taking place into the circumstances of the journeys undertaken. This is being done on conjunction with the French authorities.
There were over 760 animal transport control inspections carried out by Department Officials in 2016 and approximately 700 in 2017.
Furthermore, I wish to assure the Deputy that the Irish authorities continue to apply stringent standards in respect of the welfare of animals during transport.
464. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of payments for a person (details supplied); if consideration has been given to this case in respect of the penalty in view of the medical evidence presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22635/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of October 1st 2015 and received all payments in respect of 2015 and 2016.
However it was identified that four parcels containing GLAS actions were no longer being claimed by the applicant. Due to this the application was rejected and the option of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office was provided. I understand the applicant has lodged such an appeal.
465. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of studies on the recovery of salmon fish stocks; and the actions taken to replenish them since 2007. [22114/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State Agency statutorily responsible for the management and conservation of Ireland's Inland fisheries resources including wild Atlantic salmon. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon.
IFI is supported in its management role by the independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks are carried out every year with IFI engaged in extensive stock monitoring which feeds into the SSC's annual reviews. The SSC uses catch returns of individual rivers (rod catch, catch and release and any commercial catch) over the previous five years to estimate the total salmon returns in each of the previous five years. The use of a five year average ensures that a good or bad year does not have a disproportionate impact on the stock assessment in any single year.
Each river has an individual conservation limit which is the number of adult salmon required to maintain a healthy population. Rivers which sufficiently exceed their conservation limit may be opened for harvest fisheries (recreational and/or commercial). Rivers which meet 50% of their conservation limit may be opened for catch and release (C&R) angling which permits enjoyment of angling while having a negligible impact of vulnerable fish stocks and encouraging the shared responsibility to contribute to conservation and the potential rebuilding of these stocks. For 2018, 78 rivers in Ireland were open to harvest or catch and release fishing.
The decline in wild Atlantic Salmon is an international issue manifesting in rivers in all countries around the North Atlantic with scientific analysis from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) estimating that marine survival of migrating salmon has been at or below 5% in the North Atlantic for more than a decade.
Marine survival is considered to have the biggest influence on return, from far North Atlantic feeding grounds, of salmon to all rivers on Atlantic coasts. Climate change in the ocean is considered to be a major factor. There is also evidence that heavy sea-lice infestation from salmon farming has resulted in additional mortality in respect of migratory North Atlantic salmon generally. In freshwater, water quality and a range of pressures such as afforestation, drainage, effluent discharge, siltation and agricultural enrichment can all have an impact on juvenile salmon production.
The protection and conservation of salmon internationally is managed through the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) with which Ireland is aligned through the European Union. Concerted international co-operation has ensured that restrictions in feeding ground in Greenland and Faroese waters have been in place for a number of years via NASCO agreement. In June this year, my officials and those of IFI will join delegates from the EU, USA, Canada, Norway, the Russian Federation, Greenland and the Faroes in seeking to negotiate a continuation of restrictions in these waters.
The Atlantic salmon is a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive with which Ireland’s current salmon management regime complies. In order to align fully with the Directive and the NASCO principles, Ireland closed mixed stock fisheries at sea since 2007. It is considered that river stocks in Ireland would be in a far more perilous state if the closure of mixed stock fisheries had not been implemented.
466. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 499 and 504 of 6 February 2018, the progress made on the introduction of the new household waste collection charging arrangements; the way in which the annual support of €75 for persons with lifelong and long-term medical incontinence to assist with the cost of disposal of incontinence products will be implemented (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22019/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this measure.
It is worth noting that this measure is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or a weight related fee.
As announced in mid-2017, mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging is not being introduced. Allowing for a range of charging options, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste, provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances.
The Price Monitoring Group has considered eight months of data to date. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend is relative price stability. The Price Monitoring Group has reported that there are currently 9 different types of price models on the market. The main price examples include a service charge plus charge per bin lift, with an excess per kg charge, and a service charge plus per kg weight charge. The most popular service offering now is the ‘service charge including weight allowance, plus per kg charge for excess above allowance’.
An annual support of €75 per person is being made available for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence. This will help people meet the average annual cost for the disposal of medical incontinence products. My Department is in discussion with the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the administrative details and arrangements of the support, as well as engaging with the relevant patient stakeholders. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to finalising the details for this support as soon as possible.
467. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will examine the implementation of the national broadband plan in an area (details supplied) to ensure that an additional three homes are connected to the initial phase with the advancement of cabling totalling 150 metres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22086/18]
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. 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 rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April 2017.
There are 11 premises in the townland of Back of the Hill, Longford. 6 (55%) falling within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. 5 (45%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment. In the absence of specific eircodes for the three homes in question, it cannot be discerned which category these premises are in.
However, Information regarding premises categories can be accessed on my Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie, by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
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 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. 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
A county by county breakdown of eir’s data for Q1 2018 will be available shortly on my Department’s website.
With regard to the matter of cabling raised by the Deputy, if these premises are in a LIGHT BLUE area, I have to advise that decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the rollout and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and fully appreciate 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 the six in the townland of Back of the Hill) that fall within the State led intervention area under the NBP remains a priority for me and this Government.
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.
468. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the lack of high-speed broadband at a location (details supplied); and the timeline for high-speed broadband to be connected to same. [22118/18]
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. Since this Government came into office almost 400,000 additional premises have access to high speed broadband. 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.
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
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.
469. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of the training and development and incidental expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22135/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA breakdown of Admin III - Training and Development and Incidental Expenses, totalling €951,616, which were incurred by my Department in 2017 is set out in the following table.
|
Expense Type |
Amount € |
|
Advertising |
70,967 |
|
Bank Charges |
6,403 |
|
Conference/Meeting Expenses |
121,727 |
|
Corporate Memberships and Subscriptions |
11,500 |
|
Exhibitions |
173,467 |
|
Litigation Related Costs |
92,084 |
|
Health Screening/Medical Examinations |
3,640 |
|
Media Services |
32,847 |
|
Miscellaneous |
3,518 |
|
Mining Board Expenses |
940 |
|
Official Entertainment |
2,371 |
|
Publications |
63,531 |
|
Recruitment Costs |
900 |
|
Shared Services Human Resources |
51,206 |
|
Training/Refund of Course Fees |
274,479 |
|
Translation and Interpretation Services |
32,722 |
|
Uniforms/Protective Clothing |
1,245 |
|
Website Related Expenses |
8,067 |
470. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22151/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA breakdown of Admin II Travel and Subsistence expenses, totalling some €1.033m, which were incurred by my Department in 2017 is shown in the following table.
|
Expense Type |
€ |
|
Home Travel |
189,447.98 |
|
Home Subsistence |
214,645.88 |
|
EU Travel |
159,832.61 |
|
EU Subsistence |
252,590.41 |
|
Non EU Travel |
118,304.99 |
|
Non EU Subsistence |
84,554.18 |
|
Sub Total |
1,019,376.05 |
|
Management Fee to Department’s Travel Agent |
13,472.30 |
|
TOTAL |
1,032,848.35 |
471. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22167/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s remit encompasses policy matters relating to a broad range of strategic sectors, oversight of State bodies, as well as the regulation of activities such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity and economic significance of these sectors, there is a requirement from time to time to procure specialised services and advice to address specific issues.
A breakdown of the Admin VII - Consultancy Services, Value for Money and Policy Review expenses incurred by my Department in 2017 are shown in the following table by sectoral area.
|
Programme Area |
Amount € |
|
Governance and Operations |
252,959.33 |
|
Communications |
204,224.38 |
|
Broadcasting |
52,577.16 |
|
Energy |
65,844.73 |
|
Natural Resources |
507,885.70 |
|
Total |
1,083,491.30 |
In procuring external expertise, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keep expenditure to the minimum necessary.
472. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions held between his Department and a company (details supplied) regarding the recent emissions scandal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22232/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing revelations of the existence of so-called 'cheat devices' being used in Volkswagen Group vehicles, officials from the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, along with officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), who have responsibility for vehicle type approval in Ireland, met with representatives of the company in February 2016 to ascertain the extent of the problem in Ireland and learn of the company's proposals for remediation. There have been no further meetings with the company since then.
The use of these devices highlighted a number of regulatory shortcomings in EU legislation, most notably that the current emissions test cycle in the EU is not representative of actual “on road” real driving conditions. To address these issues the EU introduced revisions to the test cycle to be more representative of emissions from the real-world driving experience (RDE). Ireland fully supports this approach and its early implementation. From 1 September 2017, the new RDE tests are compulsory to determine whether a new car model is allowed to be placed on the market.
My Department’s interest in this matter relates primarily to the levels of NOx emitted from the transport sector, and I do not have policy responsibility for the specification or roadworthiness of any vehicles. The EU position in this area is managed by the Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles. The Road Safety Authority, which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is the agency that attends the committee's meetings on behalf of Ireland.
Consumer protection issues are ultimately a matter for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. That Department is also the parent Department of the NSAI which deals with type-approval for road vehicles.
473. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the location where An Post delivery boxes are manufactured; the company that manufactures them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function; however I will ask An Post management to revert to the Deputy directly to supply him with the information requested.
474. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the promised digital safety commissioner; his plans to make the appointment by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that on Thursday 22 February 2018 the Government did not oppose a Private Members Bill introduced by Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire which sought to establish an office of a Digital Safety Commissioner. Following the second stage debate, the Bill was referred by the Dáil to the Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
In order to progress the issue of online safety for children and all citizens I convened a meeting with my colleagues the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on November 21 2017. It was agreed at that meeting that an Open Policy Debate would be the most appropriate way to progress the issue and ensure a coherent cross departmental Government approach.
On 8 March 2018, I hosted this debate at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham which was opened by An Taoiseach. Over 120 representatives from a range of stakeholders participated, including NGOs, industry, parents' groups and young people. The event was supported by five other Ministers and organised in conjunction with the Department of Justice and Equality; Education and Skills; Health; Business Enterprise and Innovation; Children and Youth Affairs.
An Taoiseach announced that the Government would prepare an action plan on online safety. My Department is actively contributing to the preparation of that plan, and a report on the Open Policy Debate will form one of the inputs to the plan.
475. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to control the predation of salmon stocks around the coast by seals, the population of which is increasing rapidly on the west coast; if an estimate has been made of the amount of salmon they consume each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22406/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGrey and harbour seals are protected species under the EU Habitats Directive, under which Special Areas of Conservation have been established. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the statutory authority for the EU Habitats Directive. My Department and its Agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), have no remit in relation to the management of seal species.
In view of IFI's statutory remit for the conservation and protection of wild Atlantic salmon, IFI funded research entitled "A Pilot Study of Seal Predation on Salmon Stocks in Selected Irish Rivers and Estuaries". IFI funding facilitated the 2 year study carried out by the Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC), University College Cork (UCC), in conjunction with partners in the School of Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science (BEES, UCC) and the Marine Institute (MI). The study included the Moy estuary on the West coast.
The study is available on the IFI website, www.fisheriesireland.ie.
476. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the residents of Bower in Balbriggan, County Dublin, will be in a position to access high speed broadband. [22423/18]
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.
The area referred to by the Deputy comprises approximately 1,878 premises and falls within a BLUE area in the townland of Balbriggan on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map (available at www.broadband.gov.ie). The BLUE areas on the Map represent the areas targeted for delivery of high speed broadband by commercial operators. Therefore a high speed broadband service for this area will be realised through commercial operators.
It is important to note that telecommunications companies operate in a liberalised market and while I have no statutory authority to intervene in their day to day operations, my Department is collating information in relation to cases/areas where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises do not materialise. In this regard and where a premises situated in a BLUE is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service I would encourage citizens to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with details, quoting their address, eircode and fixed line telephone number (if available) and details of operators they have contacted with a view to obtaining a broadband service. This information will assist my Department in identifying the areas of concern and will facilitate engagement with telecommunication operators on this issue.
477. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role of his Department in the oversight of the introduction of broadband by commercial operators in rural areas. [22424/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the deployment of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland, are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. The telecommunications market in Ireland is regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, Comreg.
I have no statutory role or function to oversee the commercial decisions of private operators.
That notwithstanding, my Department monitors eir’s ongoing deployment of high speed broadband to rural areas under the terms of the Commitment Agreement signed between myself and the company in April 2017, a copy of which is available on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
In accordance with the Commitment Agreement eir has committed to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. eir’s deployment milestone progress is also published on my Department’s website on a quarterly basis.
In compliance with the obligations of the Commitment Agreement, officials from my Department meet with eir on a monthly basis to review the company’s performance on certain sub-milestones. The purpose of these review meetings is for eir to report progress against sub-milestone tasks and also to identify any deployment related risks or issues and associated risk mitigation plans. These sub-milestones cover the tasks that are required to deliver high speed broadband to premises within the Planned Rural Deployment area. A detailed definition of each sub-milestone is provided in the Commitment Agreement.
Data for Q1 2018 recently submitted by eir to my Department indicates that the company has passed some 145,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. Eir has signalled that there would be likely knock-on effects to the 2018 milestone targets due to the severe weather impacts of both storms Ophelia and Emma.
A county by county breakdown of eir’s data for Q1 2018 will be available shortly on my Department’s website.
478. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans regarding the introduction of a new RHI scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (formerly known at the RHI) was approved by Government in December 2017. The details of the scheme, including the tariffs that will apply, are published on my Department's website. My Department is engaging with the European Commission regarding the necessary State Aid approval for the scheme. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will administer the scheme and are currently developing the detailed Terms and Conditions.
An allocation of €7 million has been provided for the scheme in Budget 2018. In addition, the National Development Plan sets out an indicative resource allocation of €300 million for the rollout of the scheme for the period 2018-2027.
The scheme is planned to commence operation later this year subject to State Aid approval.
