Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:211. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he had with his colleagues regarding a policy decision (details supplied). [7637/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Wise 2025 Strategy
Ceisteanna (211)
Freagraí scríofa
I refer to the reply to Question No. 209 of 7 February 2019. The position is unchanged.
National Broadband Plan Implementation
Ceisteanna (212, 213)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:212. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 18 December 2018, the timeframe for the completion of the tendering process for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7422/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTimmy Dooley
Ceist:213. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the delays in the completion of the tendering process for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7423/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (214)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:214. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a location (details supplied) will have access to broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7481/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible and I will bring a recommendation to Government in this regard in the coming weeks.
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. 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.
Consultancy Contracts Expenditure
Ceisteanna (215)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:215. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expenditure details for all consultancy or audit services provided to his Department by a company (details supplied) from 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7557/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 396 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence based policy making.
Details of expenditure for consultancy services provided to my Department by the company in question in each year from 2015 to date in 2019 are set out in the table below. The bulk of the studies are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to address specific issues as they arose and enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned.
|
Year |
Amount (Incl Vat) |
|
2015 |
€1,040,441 |
|
2016 |
€143,146 |
|
2017 |
€759,927 |
|
2018 |
€467,508 |
|
2019 to date |
Nil |
North-South Interconnector
Ceisteanna (216)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detailed costs of the North-South interconnector approved overhead line; the reason the published costs in the recent EirGrid ten-year development plan report have increased from €286 million to €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The most recent EirGrid estimates state that the cost of the construction of the section of the project in Ireland will be €180m. According to SONI’s most recent cost estimates - the ten year development plan apparently referenced in the question - the construction of the Northern element of the project will be £109.3m (€125m).
A significant cost element for the project in Northern Ireland is the new 400/275 kV substation required at Turleenan, Co. Tyrone. The substation is required to connect the new 400 kV circuit into the existing 275 kV network. As the connection in Ireland is into the existing 400 kV Woodland substation, less construction work is required and therefore lower costs are incurred.
North-South Interconnector
Ceisteanna (217)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the procurement process for the North-South interconnector will cease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The construction of the North South Interconnector, and all related procurement activities, is an operational matter for EirGrid and ESB Networks and one in which I have no function.
Due to the very long lead times that can arise for a project like the North South Interconnector, EirGrid and its subsidiary counterpart in Northern Ireland, SONI, were given permission from the respective utility regulators to commence the procurement process in September 2017.
There are currently a number of on-going procurements in relation to the project being undertaken and managed by ESB Networks, such as tower design. However no critical procurement contracts such as construction will be concluded until the legal proceedings in Ireland and planning issues in Northern Ireland are resolved. The earliest possible date for construction is early 2020.
National Broadband Plan
Ceisteanna (218)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:218. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his responsibilities with regard to the costs of the national broadband plan. [7649/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My role as Minister is set out in the Public Service Management Act, 1997 which states that a Minister of the Government having charge of a Department shall, in accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 to 2017, be responsible for the performance of functions that are assigned to the Department pursuant to any of those Acts. My Department's management of the expenditure on the NBP is in line with Public Financial Procedures and in compliance with the Public Spending Code.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible and I will bring a recommendation to Government in this regard in the coming weeks, which will include information on cost.
Capital Expenditure Programme
Ceisteanna (219)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:219. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the capital projects completed by his Department since 2011; the initial contract value of same; the final cost of same; and the final cost of the capital projects that have had an ex post review in tabular form. [7845/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy regarding capital projects in excess of €10 million completed by my Department since 2011, is set out in the following Table.
|
Name of Project |
Operational Period |
Initial Contract Value |
Final Cost |
Post Implementation Review (y/n) |
|
National Broadband Scheme (NBS) |
Contract was operational from December 2008 to August 2014 |
€79.8m |
€79.5m |
Yes |
|
Joint project with Department of Education and Skills to roll out 100Mbps broadband connectivity to all second level schools. |
Pilot: 2009 to 2011 National Rollout: 2012 to 2014 |
€14m (estimate of Department’s contribution) |
€13.3m (Department’s contribution) |
No |
|
Phase 1 of INFOMAR, the National Seabed Survey. Delivered by Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), and the Marine Institute. |
Completed between 2006 and 2016 |
€40m estimate |
€35.7m (Phase 1, including the mapping of all 26 Priority Bays and 3 priority Offshore Areas) |
Yes |
|
Develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System “Eircode”. |
10 year contract from December 2013 |
€38m |
Spend to December 2018 €26.1m |
No |
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (220)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on sustainable transport grants from 1 January to 31 December 2018; the way in which this amount matches against the amount available to his Department in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7435/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware I have secured significant improved funding allocations over the period 2018-2021 which will benefit both cyclists and walkers.
These improved allocations over this period include:
- €110 million specifically dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas;
- €135 million for sustainable urban transport measures;
- €750 million approximately towards the BusConnects programme in Dublin which will include the delivery of around 200 kilometres of segregated cycling lanes, where possible; and
- €53 million to support the development of new Greenways.
As the Deputy can see from the above, these are all multi-annual capital infrastructure programmes and annual allocations will vary over the lifetime of the individual programmes, while drawdown requirements within a particular year may also vary depending on various issues such as specific progress on individual projects over the course of a particular year.
I can inform the Deputy that figures currently available indicate the total expenditure outturn by my Department on sustainable transport measures that benefit walking and cycling in 2018 were:
- €18.1 million spent specifically on cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas; and
- €19.3 million spent on smarter travel and sustainable transport measures, which will benefit both cyclists and walkers;
- €3.2m to support the development of Greenways.
Of course the Deputy is aware that these programmes do not represent the totality of Exchequer expenditure on cycling and walking, as funding is also available from other programmes, such as the NDP funds.
Funding under the programmes detailed above will increase again in 2019 with approximately €48 million being allocated across both cycling/walking and smarter travel/ sustainable transport, while €13m is allocated toward Greenways. As mentioned above, annual allocations may vary over the lifetime of the individual programmes, while drawdown requirements within a particular year may vary depending on the time of year and specific progress on individual projects.
Employment Rights
Ceisteanna (221)
Clare Daly
Ceist:221. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the joint declaration by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands regarding the social agenda in aviation towards socially responsible connectivity in view of precarious employment for aviation workers has not been supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7442/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The success of the Single Aviation Market over the past 25 years clearly demonstrates that the innovative approaches that have been adopted by a number of EU airlines have led to significant growth in connectivity and reduction in air fares. It is vital that airlines are afforded the opportunity to employ different business and operational models, depending on the nature and scale of their operations and in response to consumer demand. Indeed, there is a growing trend towards hybrid business models which combine the advantages of the low cost model with elements of the more traditional legacy carrier model.
Irish regulation of employment and social protection is in line with all EU regulations and there is a wide range of Irish and EU law governing employment rights generally, which also apply to employees in the aviation sector in Ireland.
Issues that have been raised by a minority of EU Member States in the "Joint Declaration" in relation to employment models in the Aviation sector are equally valid for other employment sectors far larger than aviation. In order to maintain the integrity of the wider EU Social dimension, the matters raised in the “Joint Declaration” should be addressed through Employment legislation at EU and Member State level, rather than at sectoral level.
In developing proposals in relation to these issues, the interests of consumers and all other aviation stakeholders should be carefully balanced.
Military Aircraft Landings
Ceisteanna (222)
Clare Daly
Ceist:222. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if permission was sought for the transport of munitions of war on an aircraft (details supplied). [7458/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An exemption for the carriage of munitions of war under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989, was sought and granted for this flight.
Brexit Preparations
Ceisteanna (223)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:223. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans to extend alternative routes for businesses in counties Cork and Kerry to prevent travel through the UK and instead provide direct routes to France by air or by sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7465/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am not aware of plans to extend alternative routes for businesses in Cork and Kerry nor am I aware of any plans to prevent travel through the UK.
However, given Ireland’s reliance on the UK as a landbridge for the transport of many of our exports and imports to and from continental markets, I am very concerned that in the context of Brexit this route may face congestion particularly at ports such as Dover and Calais. While such travel would not be prevented, it may become unviable for Irish businesses.
The landbridge is currently our fastest maritime route to continental Europe and is relied upon by many Irish exporters and importers, particularly for the transport of time-sensitive products, such as those in the agri-food/perishable goods sector, just-in-time and high value goods. Delays or congestion on this route as a result of Brexit may result in Irish businesses opting to instead transport goods on direct maritime or air routes to France and indeed to many other countries, if those goods are suitable for transport on such routes.
As the Deputy has referred specifically referred to direct routes to France, I wish to point out that I met my French counterpart, Minister Elisabeth Borne, on Brexit matters in Dublin on 23 November 2018. At the meeting, I highlighted the importance of transport connectivity and Ireland’s concerns in relation to the continued use of the UK landbridge post Brexit. We discussed also the potential implications for ports both in Ireland and in France given the levels of trade that both of our countries have with the UK. Minister Borne shared many of my concerns and said that France, like Ireland, was preparing for all scenarios, including facilitation of EU and Irish traffic at Calais.
However, I want to stress that the UK landbridge will remain a very important route for Irish businesses to access other markets. At official level, the Landbridge Project Group, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and including officials from my own Department, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and others has been working closely with the European Commission and other affected Member States (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden) with a view to preparing EU ports to facilitate the transit of EU products through the UK once it becomes a third country through the use of EU rules on internal transit set out under the Union’s Custom Code.
A cross-departmental delegation of officials including from my Department also travelled to France in November of last year for meetings on Brexit preparedness. The need for French ports to facilitate the movement of Irish trucks transiting the UK was discussed.
Irish officials also met with the European Commission for technical consultations on the landbridge in December 2018.
The Government will continue to work with our French counterparts, other EU Member States and the European Commission in seeking to ensure that the landbridge can continue to be an effective route for our businesses trading with the rest of the EU Single Market.
Separately, a number of representatives from French ports have travelled to Ireland to meet with Irish port representatives on a number of occasions and most recently in January of this year.
My Department has assessed the maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the landbridge. Based on consultations with the shipping sector and wider, the preliminary assessment is that sufficient capacity will be available on direct routes to continental ports from end March 2019 and businesses throughout Ireland will be able to choose to transport goods on these routes. Furthermore, shipping services are market driven and ferry operators have in the past responded to economic developments and increased or decreased capacity in response to these developments.
There have already been responses from the shipping Companies. CLdN launched a new 234m Ro-Ro freight ferry, the M.V. Celine, with a capacity of 8,000 lane metres on the Rotterdam-Zeebrugge-Dublin route in October 2017. The Port of Cork saw the addition of a new route in May 2018 with Brittany Ferries’ commencing the service to Santander and Roscoff with the Connemara. Irish Ferries is deploying its new cruise ferry the W B Yeats on the Dublin-Cherbourg route. The Company has also ordered a second larger ship at the cost of €165m for delivery in 2020 which will further increase its freight capacity.
In relation to air routes, there is existing airfreight capacity from Ireland to other (non-UK) markets, although this means of transport is significantly more costly than transporting goods by sea. Airfreight tends to be used for the transport of high value, low volume goods.
Brexit Preparations
Ceisteanna (224)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:224. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has undertaken a review of alternative routes other than from Dublin and Rosslare for businesses to enter the EU market directly in the event of there being a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7467/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Dublin and Rosslare ports handle almost all of Ireland’s Roll-on / Roll-Off (“RoRo”) traffic destined for the UK market or using the UK landbridge. As such these ports, and shipping services from these ports, will remain of crucial importance to Ireland in the event of a hard Brexit.
My Department has examined the maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the Landbridge. Based on consultations with the shipping sector and wider, the preliminary assessment is that sufficient capacity will be available on direct routes to continental ports from end March 2019.
My Department has also established that there is capacity in ports other than Dublin and Rosslare that could be of some assistance in the event of a hard Brexit. The main spare capacity available in 2019 is in relation to Lift-on/ Lift -off (LO-LO), in particular at the ports of Waterford, Shannon Foynes, and Cork, and for bulk, rather than in respect of Roll-on / Roll-off traffic. However, shipping services are market driven and I believe that ferry operators will respond to economic developments and increase or decrease capacity from particular ports in response to market developments. There have already been responses from the shipping companies adding additional freight capacity on direct sailings to the continent, for example, the Port of Cork saw the addition of a new route in May 2018 with Brittany Ferries’ commencing the service to Santander and Roscoff with the Connemara, whose capacity is 27,414 GT.
Road Toll Data
Ceisteanna (225)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:225. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the income and costs associated with the barrier-free tolling on the M50; the number of vehicles passing the tolling point in each of the past five years by vehicle type; and the number evading the toll. [7497/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads as well as regional and local roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII for national roads under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Noting the above, I am referring the question to TII for direct reply within 10 working days. Please inform my private office if you do not receive the information.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Road Safety
Ceisteanna (226)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:226. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans and timescale for implementing variable speed limits on the M50. [7498/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
However, with regard to the issue of the implementation of Variable Speed Limits (VSL) on motorways, I can advise that my Department is progressing the legislative arrangements that will provide TII with the necessary powers to regulate and operate VSL on motorways. The legislation is included in the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is currently under consideration by the Government. Given the importance and priority status of the Government's Brexit legislation, it is not possible to confirm a specific date for the finalisation of this legislation, at this time. In the meantime I am advised that, in order to progress this important measure, TII is extending the motorway traffic control centre at Dublin Tunnel to cater for the additional workload from the introduction of VSL and is currently procuring the management systems and hardware for the operation and roll-out of VSL for the M50. All the preparatory technical and logistical frameworks will need to be in place, by TII, before VSL can be introduced and become operational and as I have outlined, this work is on-going. It is expected that the enabling works which TII is undertaking will be completed in late 2019 or early 2020.