Written Answers Nos. 403-417
403. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); if he will meet the group involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38426/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA detailed response to the correspondence referred to was issued to the Deputy on 10 August last.
404. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has achieved an annual rate of energy-efficient renovation for Government buildings of 3% as required by EU Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency; his plans to extend this to schools, libraries and community facilities, municipal or other public buildings; if the national energy efficiency targets have been set for local or central Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38441/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the cost of achieving an annual rate of energy-efficient renovation for Government buildings of 6%, as guided by the principles of EU Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38442/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
The EU Energy Efficiency Directive sets out measures Member States must take for the EU to meet its target of improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. Article 5 of the Directive provides for the exemplary role of public bodies buildings and includes achieving an annual rate of energy efficient renovation for Government buildings of 3%. The directive allows for this to be achieved either through renovation or by “alternative measures”. Ireland has chosen the alternative approach which entails a mix of energy management and efficiency upgrade measures.
Ireland has however set a more ambitious energy efficiency objective for our public sector. When Government set our national 20% target the public sector (which includes schools and local authorities) was given a more ambitious target of 33% which goes beyond the 3% renovation requirement in the EU directive. Progress has been good with a 20% improvement in energy efficiency achieved across the public sector by end 2016. The cumulative savings from 2009 to 2016 amount to 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reduction and €737m in energy spend avoided.
In the case of my own Department we achieved approximately 20% energy efficiency improvement by end 2016 with a 31% efficiency improvement over the same period for our group. I am confident this performance will be further enhanced when the next performance report issues late this year. Details of efficiencies achieved by all public bodies are available online in the Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance available on the SEAI website.
To further drive the effort required to achieve the 33% target, I published the first Government approved Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy in 2017. The Strategy introduces new governance structures and enhanced support measures, and provided clarity on the retention of financial savings achieved by public sector bodies from the energy efficiency measures they implement.
Since we launched the Strategy all government departments have appointed a designated Energy Performance Officer (EPO) to drive the Strategy and provide the necessary strategic leadership to the bodies within their groups. My Department, along with the SEAI, and the OPW have been engaging pro-actively with Departments and their EPO’s through workshops and individual advisory sessions. The main focus is to support EPO's to work with the bodies in their sector to identify and develop energy efficiency projects and avail of the advice and supports available.
Since 2017, I have provided €14m in funding to the SEAI to engage and work with the OPW and the Department of Education & Skills on two pilot projects. These are delivering energy retrofit upgrades, and crucially, informing and developing replicable and scalable models for energy retrofit investment that can be more widely deployed. In parallel the SEAI is working with the higher education and healthcare sectors to develop significant projects and continues, along with my Department, to support the City & County Management Association in developing the National Public Lighting Upgrade Programme, which has the potential to more than halve local authority electricity use.
406. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Cumminstown area is included in the broadband roll-out proposed for the Ballynacargy area of County Westmeath. [38451/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to my Departments High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, there are 19 premises in the townland of Cumminstown in the Ballynacarrigy area, Co Westmeath.
Of these premises 2 are in the AMBER area of the map, and 17 are in the LIGHT BLUE area.
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. My Department received the Final Tender submission from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.
LIGHT BLUE areas of the map 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. 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. Further information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. A copy of the Commitment Agreement underpinning eir's rural deployment plan is also 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 .
407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expenditure savings earmarked for his Department for 2019 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2019. [38481/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report (MYER) sets out the starting baseline in relation to the gross voted expenditure for 2019. As outlined in the MYER, the technical pre-Budget position for 2019 current expenditure is the current expenditure allocation for this year, as set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV). This pre-Budget position will be adjusted to reflect the allocation to the Department of a central provision in relation to the Public Service Stability Agreement.
The capital ceiling set out in the MYER is consistent with the ceiling for 2019 which was published in the National Development Plan.
The figures set out in the MYER do not include expenditure savings targets specifically earmarked for my Department. However, as part of the Estimates process, my Department will be examining the allocations across its programme areas, including taking into account expenditure trends in 2018, to identify how services can be delivered within the overall fiscal parameters for 2019.
408. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when homes in County Mayo can expect to have broadband; the roll-out, plan and timeline of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website 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).
There are approximately 83,200 premises in Co Mayo. Approximately 36,700 fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Some 35,300 premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers. Just over 11,200 premises are in the Light BLUE area and remain to be covered under eir’s 300,000 planned rural deployment.
Information on categories of specific premises can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map. A copy of the Commitment Agreement underpinning eir's rural deployment plan is also available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. I can confirm that data for Q2 2018 submitted by eir to my Department indicates that the company has passed some 175,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment, including more than 5,000 premises in Co Mayo.
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, and is now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.
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.
409. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the overall cost of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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, and is now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.
The level of subsidy required to bring high speed broadband services to citizens and businesses in the NBP State intervention area will be determined through the procurement process. I cannot comment any further on the procurement process at this stage.
410. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the roll-out of the national broadband plan will be completed; the timeline within which households and businesses, specifically in north County Kildare, can expect to receive a broadband upgrade, in view of the existing quality of service and the fact that current connection speeds are not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38631/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website 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.
There are approximately 91,000 premises in Kildare. Approximately 13,500 fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Some 76,500 premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers. Just over 1,000 premises are in the Light BLUE area and remain to be covered under eir’s 300,000 planned rural deployment.
I can confirm that data for Q2 2018 submitted by eir to my Department indicates that the company has passed some 175,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment including over 8,000 premises in Co. Kildare.
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, and is now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.
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.
411. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the independent report on the North-South interconnector will be published (details supplied). [38698/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017 I commissioned two studies designed to address the main points of the motions passed in Dáil and Seanad Éireann as well as key concerns expressed by those opposed to the development of the North South Interconnector as an overhead line.
The first is an independent study to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the interconnector. Three international experts in the field of electricity infrastructure development carried out a comprehensive analysis of international developments in undergrounding technologies since the publication of the International Expert Commission report in 2012. This was a key request of the representatives of the communities concerned about the proposed overhead line development.
The North South Interconnector is critical to ensuring a safe, secure supply of electricity throughout the island of Ireland. It also supports the core objectives of European and national energy policy – namely sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness.
The second study is focused on the levels of compensation provided to land and property owners in proximity to high-voltage transmission lines in a European context. This study was undertaken to consider a separate concern raised by public representatives at meetings with me - the impact of transmission lines on land and property values and the level of compensation paid in lieu of such impacts. Levels of compensation provided to land and property owners are considered to be a reflection of the impact of transmission lines on land and property values, so this study, undertaken by KHSK Economic Consultants, analysed the compensation regimes in other European and selected international countries.
Both studies are now completed and have been submitted to me.
In order to have the most up-to-date assessment of implications of Brexit on the energy sector before bringing the reports to Government, I sought views of the energy regulator and electricity and gas transmission system operators on the implications for the electricity market in Ireland in the event of a hard "Brexit", including for the SEM, for timelines for the delivery of programmes such as DS3 and the NSIC and for continued secure cross-border electricity trading across interconnectors. The outcome of this analysis was submitted to my Department recently and is being considered.
It has always been my intention to bring the relevant reports to Government for consideration prior to their publication and I expect to do this shortly.
412. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the specific details of the request from the European Commission on the commissioning of a study into the implications of a hard Brexit for the single electricity market; when the Commission made this request; when the study was commissioned; the terms of reference of the study; the person or body that undertook the work; the Department or agencies that were consulted on same; when it is planned to publish this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, like all Government Departments, has been undertaking Brexit preparedness planning since the UK Government called the Brexit referendum. My Department has published on its website analysis of Brexit issues and hosted public and industry meetings and events. In line with efforts across Government to further intensify preparedness, I sought the views of the energy regulator, CRU, and the electricity and gas transmission system operators, EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland respectively, on the implications of various Brexit scenarios for the electricity and gas markets in Ireland. These reports have been received and are currently under consideration. The reports identify market challenges absent an agreement between the EU and the UK on energy trading post Brexit, as trade with UK will become a market that straddles a EU Member State and a Third Country. From the outset we have identified continued secure energy trade with the UK as a priority and the detailed material now received will input to our engagement with the EU as it progresses negotiation. This material also addresses an issue raised by EU officials in June this year when further details on how a range of Brexit scenarios would impact Irish energy policy were sought by the Commission. This included how a 'hard Brexit' may impact the Single Electricity Market. Our Brexit contingency and preparedness planning is well advanced.
Last week Minister Coveney, on behalf of the Government, announced details of the 'Getting Ireland Brexit Ready' public information campaign. This campaign includes whole-of-Government public outreach events and will provide information on the latest preparedness and support measures being taken by Government.
413. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 18 September 2018, if there are references in the agreement to the fact that premises can be assessed on a case-by-case basis; and the way in which property owners can put forward a case for inclusion when supply runs close to their properties. [38826/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commitment Agreement I signed with eir commits the company to deploy a high speed broadband network to the 300k premises identified in that agreement. Any decision by the company to provide a service to premises not covered by the commitment agreement would be a matter for the company and not a matter in which I have any role.
414. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if speed calming measures will be implemented at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in relation to national roads.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
415. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to introduce primary legislation to amend an error in the Road Traffic Act 2016 whereby drivers who fail a roadside impairment test conducted by An Garda Síochána cannot be required to provide a blood or urine sample due to an error in the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst of all, I would like to clarify what is evidently a misunderstanding of the situation. While there is an error in the legislation, it is not that suggested in the question.
Drivers who fail an impairment test will be arrested under section 4 or section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. These sections deal respectively with intoxication offences related to driving and being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle.
The actual error in the legislation relates to the substitution of section 11 of the 2010 Act - the section which is the basis for impairment testing - in the Road Traffic Act 2016. Section 11 empowers Gardaí to conduct impairment tests and makes it an offence if a person, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement to undergo an impairment test. The section empowers Gardaí to arrest without warrant a person guilty of failing to comply with such a request.
The difficulty arises because the 2016 revision of section 11 changed the internal numbering of subsections. The power of arrest for someone who failed to comply with a request to conduct an impairment test was originally in section 11(5) and is now in section 11(6). References elsewhere in the legislation to procedure following arrest under section 11(5) should now refer to procedure following arrest under section 11(6).
References in sections 13A and 13B to section 11(5) were corrected to refer to section 11(6) by section 2(a) and (b) of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, which will be commenced on 26 October. These will allow Gardaí to conduct preliminary oral fluid tests for drugs and evidential blood tests for drugs where people have been arrested under section 11(6).
Subsequently, it has been noted that similar changes will be required to references in section 12 - obligation to provide blood, breath or urine specimens following arrest - and section 16 - power to detain people after arrest where they might pose a danger to themselves or others. These will be corrected in the forthcoming Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
In the meantime, it is important to note that a person convicted under section 11 for failure to comply with a request to undergo and impairment test is liable to a fine up to a maximum of €5,000 and/or up to six months in prison. They will also be subject to a consequential disqualification of at least 1 year. It is not therefore the case that people in this position can evade the consequences of their actions.
416. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the development of the Sligo to Enniskillen greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways last July and there is currently an open funding call for Greenways projects which closes on 30th November 2018. Applications must be made by the appropriate Local Authority or State Agency.
€53m in funding has been allocated under the NDP for Greenways for 2019 to 2021. Following an assessment of the applications received, I plan to award funding to the successful projects. The Strategy, the application form and other relevant documents can be found on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/tourism/english/greenways.
The current status regarding planning and land ownership is a matter for the local authorities concerned.
417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure savings earmarked for his Department for 2019 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2019. [38494/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report (MYER) set out the starting baseline in relation to the gross voted expenditure for 2019. As outlined in the MYER, the technical pre-Budget position for current expenditure is the current expenditure allocation for this year set out in REV. This pre-Budget position will be adjusted to reflect the allocation to the Department of a central provision in relation to the Public Service Stability Agreement.
The capital ceiling set out in the MYER is consistent with the ceiling for 2019 published in the National Development Plan.
The figures set out in the MYER do not include expenditure savings targets specifically earmarked for my Department. However, as usual as part of the Estimates process my Department will be examining the allocations across its programme areas, including taking into account expenditure trends in 2018, to identify how services can be delivered within the overall fiscal parameters for 2019.
