Written Answers Nos. 2080-2099
2080. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34294/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as, print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018 are as follows:
Newspapers and magazines, and other Media electronic subscriptions
2017 - €26,238.69
2018 to date - €20,764.53
Total for 2017 and 2018 to date - €47,003.22.
Photography and other promotional services
2017 - €156,406
2018 - €17,205
Total for 2017 and 2018 to date - €173,611.
2081. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by his Department and by him personally. [34311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has one full-time Press Officer who was appointed through an internal competition process.
In addition there is currently one full-time press and media advisor employed in my Department. Special Advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the 'Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil', which includes the guidelines for appointment of Special Advisers.
2083. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) in each of the past three years; the value of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34355/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department awarded one contract to the company referred to in the Question in the past three years, set out as follows.
|
Details of Contract |
Contract Value (excl. VAT) |
Year Awarded |
|
Review of the Better Energy Communities Scheme |
€23,950 |
2018 |
The company was also contracted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design the first Regional Gathering under the National Dialogue on Climate Action which was held in June 2018. This initiative, led by my Department and the EPA, aims to build awareness, engagement and motivation in relation to the climate change challenge. Details of the contract are an operational matter for the EPA.
2084. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to take fossil fuels out of electricity generation by 2030 as promised in his United Nations speech. [34386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. At its heart is a commitment to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050 and envisages a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy system by 80-95% relative to 1990 levels. The White Paper identifies the importance of diversifying Ireland's energy generation portfolio and largely decarbonising the energy sector by 2050 but also recognises that some fossil fuels will remain significant elements of Ireland’s energy supply in that transition period.
The Government has also adopted a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy including the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. In addition, my Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. I will be bringing proposals to Government on the RESS on July 24th.
The National Mitigation Plan 2017 restates the Government's commitment to move from a fossil fuel based electricity system to a low carbon power system and is an initial step to set Ireland on a pathway to achieve the deep decarbonisation required by 2050. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 speaks plainly to the fact that Ireland’s energy system requires a radical transformation in order to achieve its 2030 and 2050 energy and climate objectives. This means that how we generate energy, and how we use it, has to fundamentally change and that by 2030, peat and coal will no longer have a role in electricity generation in Ireland.
The National Mitigation Plan covers greenhouse gas emissions in the Electricity Generation, Built Environment, Transport, and Agriculture, Forest and Land Use sectors. For each sector, the Plan sets out the sectoral policy context, the greenhouse gas emissions trends for each sector, the opportunities and challenges, mitigation measures currently in place and under development, and specific actions within each sector.
Analysis is also being carried out to examine the potential economic impact of various carbon tax scenarios. A report is due to be published on this in advance of the forthcoming budget. The National Development Plan published earlier this year specifies that €1 in every €5 spent over the next decade in public funding is to be spent on climate related activity.
2085. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the persons he met with from a company (details supplied) in New York on 19 July 2018; the location in which the meeting took place; the matters discussed; and the persons present from his Department. [34389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Channel 4 Dispatches programme I sought an immediate meeting with Facebook management. As I was in New York addressing the United Nations on Sustainable Development issues in my capacity as Climate Action Minister, the Facebook meeting took place in New York on Thursday, 19 July.
The meeting was attended by Niamh Sweeney in person, who is Facebook’s Head of Public Policy and she was joined by her colleagues Gareth Lambe, Head of Facebook Ireland and Siobhan Cummiskey, Head of Content Policy via video conference link from their Dublin HQ office.
Officials that attended from my Department included Assistant Secretary Brian Carroll, my Private Secretary and my two Special Advisors Jean Andrews and Suzanne Coogan.
I expressed my disgust to Facebook management at the revelations contained in the programme and told them that a significant and serious step change was needed in their practices and processes.
Facebook undertook to report back to me and my officials on the actions they’re taking in light of the Dispatches Programme.
2086. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce stronger penalties for illegal dumping as a deterrent. [34567/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2122. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken or proposes to take to assist the EPA and local authorities in being more effective in taking enforcement action against illegal waste handling and dumping in view of the situations revealed by a documentary (details supplied) recently; and his plans to propose legislative changes in that regard. [35187/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2086 and 2122 together.
Since coming into office, illegal dumping is an issue that I have actively dealt with through significant funding increases and supports for local authorities. My Department works to support and assist local authorities in tackling difficult enforcement challenges, alleviating environmental risk and prosecuting cases in the appropriate courts.
Issues concerning the enforcement of waste legislation are statutory matters for local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency as appropriate, who both have significant powers under waste regulations to secure compliance from waste operators. The role of my Department is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework through which the enforcement authorities operate.
My commitment to supporting waste enforcement activities on the ground is demonstrated through the continued annual investment of €7.4 million in the network of 150 local authority waste enforcement officers, increased resources for the Environmental Protection Agency with an allocation of €34.8 million this year and the further development of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA) Offices with an annual budget in excess of €1 million. My Department has also provided €3.3 million to support the national anti-dumping initiative in the past two years.
I regard the introduction of the WERLA model as one of the most significant reforms introduced in the local authority sector in a decade. Through this structure and with the cooperation of local authority waste enforcement personnel, a more co-ordinated and consistent approach to tackling waste crime in Ireland is being achieved. Using a concerted action approach to national waste priorities and with the use of multi-agency operations, the WERLAs, working with local authorities, have secured several important environmental outcomes. Building on an established work plan, the WERLA’s will continue this approach throughout 2018 and will endeavour to build on success and learn from target outcomes to drive improved regulation and enforcement throughout Ireland.
Penalties under the Waste Management Act are already substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €5,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
There have been instances of individuals jailed for offences committed under the Waste Management Act and in 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency secured a record €20 million fine against a company for causing pollution at a former landfill in Co. Kildare.
My Department has previously issued a policy direction to local authorities which remains in force, instructing them to pursue illegal holders of waste in accordance with the maximum potential sanctions available under the law in order to maximise the deterrent factor and aim to eliminate the economic benefit deriving from such illegal activity.
2087. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34586/18]
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, 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 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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the 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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2088. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34587/18]
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, 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.
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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the 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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2089. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34588/18]
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, 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 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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the 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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2090. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34589/18]
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, 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 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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the 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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2091. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34590/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2095. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34594/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2096. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34595/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2097. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34596/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2091 and 2095 to 2097, 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. Today, 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 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.
The following table details the number of premises which fall into each of these categories in the townlands identified by in the Question.
|
Townland |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
Premises within eir planned rural deployment |
|
Coolanagh |
17% (8) |
|
83% (38) |
|
Dunisky |
100% (76) |
|
|
|
Teergay |
100% (24) |
|
|
|
Garranenagappul (Clondrohid) |
15% (15) |
85% (87) |
|
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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2092. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34591/18]
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, 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 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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in a BLUE area, where commercial operators are currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their eircode and details of the service providers they have contacted.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2093. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34592/18]
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, 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.
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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the 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.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2094. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed, fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34593/18]
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, 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.
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.
The premises referred to in the Question is in a BLUE area, where commercial operators are currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their eircode and details of the service providers they have contacted.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.
2098. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discretion he has in the imposition of a levy for a broadcaster whose base year qualifying income is more than €250,000 pursuant to section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and S.I. No. 7 of 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2099. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and S.I. No. 7 of 2010, in view of the fact the income on which the levy is calculated is grant income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2098 and 2099 together.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 provided for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the independent regulator responsible for oversight of compliance in relation to broadcasting content in the State.
Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the making of a levy order by the BAI for the purposes of meeting the expenses of the Authority and its Committees in undertaking the performance of its statutory functions. The funding provided through the levy by all relevant commercial, public and community broadcasters is vital to the proper functioning of the Authority. The BAI made the current levy order in 2010.
I recognise the financial difficulty that all broadcasters are facing. As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 including amendment of the provisions of the Act relating to the broadcasting levy to alleviate the burden on broadcasters. The proposals provide that a portion of the licence fee receipts will be paid to BAI to help defray their administrative costs. This will reduce the overall levy to be paid by the sector and would be applied evenly across all broadcasters, with community broadcasters exempted from the levy altogether. The amount of the reduction would be contingent on the overall level of licence fee receipts.
The proposed amendments were considered under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment and I received their report on 8 March. The Bill is currently being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel and I expect to publish it in the Autumn.
