Written Answers Nos. 127-147
127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2019 area of natural constraints payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41308/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2019 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraints schemes application on 7 March 2019. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including, in some cases, Ground Eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. The outcome of this inspection is currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise, officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2019 area of natural constraints payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41309/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme on the 10 May 2019.
The advance payment under the scheme has issued to the individual in question.
129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in approving applications by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41318/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department places great importance on the careful vetting of all applications for forestry licences to ensure that their potential impact on the surrounding environment is carefully assessed. These impacts may affect habitats, water courses, archaeological monuments etc; the social aspects of the proposal are also considered to ensure the operations meet the required standards.
The two applications submitted on behalf of the person named must be taken together, so the possible effect of the operations is reviewed in combination.
On initial review of the applications, the Forestry District Inspector concluded that the site had a direct hydrological connection to and was within three kilometres upstream of the Blackwater river Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the River Cork/Waterford SAC. These SACs are sensitive for Fresh Water Pearl Mussel.
I understand that the applicant was asked to provide a harvest plan and Natura Impact Statement. The documents have been received and are being prioritised and considered by both the Ecologist and the District Inspector for both applications. The District Inspector will provide recommendations for the application, which will form the decision. That decision will be issued to the applicant and their registered forester when available.
130. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a river (details supplied) has been closed to rod fishermen for over 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41260/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a river (details supplied) has been closed to rod fishermen for over ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41261/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s over 140 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon.
IFI is supported in its management role by scientific advice from Ireland’s independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. IFI also has to have regard to EU legislation, most notably the Habitats Directive under which salmon are protected.
Scientific and management assessments use an average of the 5 years of data to estimate expected returns to ensure that a good or bad year does not have a disproportionate impact on the stock assessment in any single year.
Fisheries are only open to harvest where their individual conservation limit is sufficiently exceeded to safeguard the reproductive capacity of the unique stock. The conservation limit is the number of adult salmon required to maintain a healthy stock. The Owenascaul River is not closed to angling activity and has been open for catch and release angling since 2012. The river has a salmon conservation limit of 181 fish and the latest assessment is that the river is meeting 22% of its conservation limit. Electro-fishing surveys on the river in recent years have revealed a good average juvenile salmon density of 16.9 salmon fry. This is above the management threshold index of 15 salmon fry average where a river may be open for catch and release angling. The river has remained open for catch and release angling since 2012 based on juvenile salmon electro-fishing results. The river will not be open for harvesting of salmon until it meets is salmon conservation limit.
The Ballyseedy River is more commonly known as the River Lee in Kerry. The Scientific Group determined in 2007 that salmon rivers, such as the Lee, where rod catches were less than 10 salmon annually in the preceding 5 year period would remain closed on a precautionary basis until additional information is made available to assess salmon stock status relative to their Conservation Limits. This is consistent with responsibilities under the EU Habitats Directive which identifies salmon as a protected species.
Electro-fishing of juvenile salmon was undertaken most recently on the Lee in 2014 to provide an alternative scientific means of assessing the state of the stock. This recorded an average salmon fry (juvenile) count of 0.7 fry which is considerably below the management threshold index of an average salmon fry of 15 for a river to be open even for catch and release angling. I am advised by IFI that the stock will be kept under review and electro-fishing will be undertaken in 2020 to determine the current juvenile salmon density.
132. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the incidental expenses incurred by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41243/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure on staff training, conferences, advertising, publications and other miscellaneous expenses are charged to Subhead Admin III - Training and Development and Incidental Expenses. Expenditure on this Subhead in 2018 amounted to €1,220,665.
133. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the significant broadband problems in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41300/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEvery home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, 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 and Eircode. The AMBER area represents the parts of the country where commercial operators have no plans to build high speed broadband networks.
- Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high Speed Broadband through a State Intervention.
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
Ballymore Eustace comprises a number of townlands. The table below outlines the number of premises in each of the townlands where access to a high speed broadband connection is, or will be, delivered by commercial operators (BLUE/LIGHT BLUE) and those where access to this vital service will be delivered under the State led intervention (AMBER).
|
Townland Name |
AMBER Premises within the NBP State Intervention Area |
BLUE Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
LIGHT BLUE Premises within eir's commercial rural deployment |
|
Ballymore Eustace East |
18% (48) |
81% (214) |
1% (1) |
|
Ballymore Eustace West |
2% (1) |
98% (65) |
0% (0) |
|
Tinnycross |
0% (0) |
93% (14) |
7% (1) |
|
Bishopslane |
5% (1) |
95% (20) |
0% (0) |
|
Bishopsland (Naas South By) |
11% (6) |
89% (48) |
0% (0) |
|
Broadleas Commons |
36% (53) |
64% (96) |
0% (0) |
|
Total |
19% (109) |
80% (457) |
1% (2) |
Of the 568 premises in Ballymore Eustace, 457 or 80% now have access to high speed broadband. Another 2 will be served by eir under that company’s ongoing rural deployment. The remaining 109 premises in the area will receive access to high speed broadband through the State intervention.
The State intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention network. In May I brought a recommendation to Government to confer Preferred Bidder status on Granahan McCourt, the remaining bidder in the NBP procurement process and Government agreed to this.
The Government Decision of 7 May 2019 means that it is intended to award the State Intervention contract to the Bidder. This award is subject to contract close. The finalisation of financial closure and legal requirements are progressing towards contract award. Deployment of the NBP State Intervention network will commence shortly after that.
The Bidder has indicated that the NBP State intervention will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment.
A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed. In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.
The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises at the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
Work continues on finalising the contract and in parallel to this work, I am considering the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee report which was published recently. I will bring my deliberations of the report to Government in due course.
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 and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
134. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if compensation would be due to the preferred bidder of the national broadband plan if preferred bidder status was withdrawn and another bidder was subsequently given preferred bidder status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41314/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Project Information Memorandum (PIM) published by my Department for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State intervention procurement process, makes it clear that there is no obligation to reimburse any Bidder, regardless of whether or not the procurement results in the award of a contract. The procurement process is ongoing and continues until contract award. The Government Decision of 7 May 2019 means that it is intended to award the State Intervention contract for the NBP to the Bidder. This award is subject to the completion of the final stage of the procurement process, including finalisation of financial and legal documents.
Not proceeding to a contract would involve significant opportunity cost for the State and its citizens. Firstly, it would at best result in a delay of a number of years in the delivery of a future proofed high speed broadband service to the 1.1 million citizens in the intervention Area and would also introduce considerable uncertainty as to whether or not some premises would be left behind. In addition, the analysis carried out suggests that any alternative option may be more costly than that to be delivered under the existing NBP draft contract.
135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding for a project listed on the PCI list of the EU is discretionary; if not, if the State is obliged to provide funding having nominated the project for PCI status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41327/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraProjects of common interest (PCIs) are important cross border infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of EU countries. They are intended to help the EU achieve its energy policy and climate objectives: affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all EU citizens. The majority of PCI projects are electricity or gas interconnection projects but other types of project such as LNG, specific storage and smart grid technologies are also open to apply. The majority of projects are public in nature, i.e. promoted by state bodies such as network operators, but merchant – or private - projects are also open to apply. The selection of PCIs is underpinned by an EU Commission-led evaluation process in accordance with the requirements of EU Regulation 347/2013. Project promoters submit their projects into this process. Member States impacted by those applicant projects, together with the EU Commission, decide whether or not to support them. Projects that are successful in the process will be listed in published PCI lists. The fourth such list is due to be adopted formally in early 2020.
Among the benefits of achieving PCI status is access – subject to successful application - to financial support via the EU Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility. Whilst my Department has provided Member State support to a number of projects during the four PCI selection processes to date, the State is not obliged to provide funding to PCI projects.
136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to amend regulations in order that all supermarket stores over a certain size must have glass and can bring banks on site. [41374/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 38 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, it is a matter for local authorities to arrange for the provision of waste management facilities, including civic amenity sites and bring centres, within their functional area. The Act states that a local authority shall provide and operate, or arrange for the provision and operation of, such facilities as may be necessary for the recovery and disposal of household waste arising within its functional area. I have no plans to amend the current position.
137. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to establish a tourism satellite account to enable transparent and accurate recording of tourism data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41280/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the collection, analysis and publication of statistics about Ireland’s people, society and economy. Effective research is essential to monitor our performance and the impact of tourism on our economy and the CSO publishes data on tourism that is critical in this regard. The production of a tourism satellite account would further develop our understanding of the economic impact of tourism.
The Government’s Tourism Policy Statement recognises the importance of identifying additional sources of data that can be harnessed to provide enhanced understanding of tourism performance and its economic contribution. Therefore, an action has been included in the Tourism Action Plan 2019-2021 to ensure that the development of a tourism satellite account for Ireland will be progressed by the CSO in order to gauge how important tourism is to our economy.
My Department continues to work with the CSO to bring this action to a successful conclusion. I believe that a Tourism Satellite Account for Ireland is the next logical step in the development and progression of tourism statistics.
138. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to grow the Shannon free zone, based beside Shannon Airport in view of the need to boost jobs and investment in the area to help sustain and grow the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41289/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraShannon Group plc was incorporated in August 2014 following enactment of the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014. Shannon Airport Authority DAC and Shannon Commercial Enterprises DAC (trading as Shannon Commercial Properties) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Shannon Group, a commercial State Company with a fully commercial mandate. The principal functions of the Group are set out in Section 10(2) of the 2014 Act and include the operation, management and development of Shannon Airport and the promotion, management and development of the commercial property portfolio held by Shannon Commercial Properties (SCP).
To date, SCP has successfully managed and grown Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) (its property portfolio around Shannon Airport). In the development of the SFZ, SCP has significantly contributed to employment in the Region. During 2018, SCP’s major regeneration programme in the SFZ continued. Since 2015, €41m has been invested in SFZ by SCP which has resulted in the delivery of over 650,000 square feet of new or upgraded office, manufacturing and warehouse facilities with occupancy rates now over 90%. SFZ is now home to 170 companies employing over 8,000 people.
In 2018 the Government published Project 2040. Under Project 2040, Shannon Group has plans to invest in excess of €150 million in its capital programme over the period to 2022. This includes €100m for the continued development of the property portfolio which is designed to deliver high quality advanced manufacturing, warehousing and office space solutions.
Shannon Group’s programme of investment will assist the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in their drive for inward investment and increase employment in the region.
139. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of capital sport grants will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41206/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on Friday 19th October last. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding.
186 of these applications were for projects that were deemed invalid under the 2017 round of the programme that subsequently submitted corrected documents. These applications were assessed first and approximately €7m in allocations to 170 projects were announced on the 17th January.
619 equipment only applications were assessed next and 466 allocations with a value of €9.8m were announced to these organisations in May. Work is now underway in assessing the remaining applications for capital works.
For the first time, applicants who submitted incorrect documentation under this round are being given the opportunity to correct their application during the assessment period. While there will be no undue delay in completing the assessment process, in view of the opportunity to correct documentation, the record number of applications received and the detailed information contained in each application, it is likely to take a further number of weeks to have all applications assessed with allocations announced shortly after that.
140. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the possibility of increasing air travel services between Cork Airport and Germany will be examined in view of the fact no routes exist (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41233/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year approximately 2.4 million passengers used Cork Airport, which represented a 4% increase on 2017 and marked another year of growth at the airport. This growth is attributable to: expansion of capacity on existing routes; extension of the route network; and an increase in the number of airlines providing scheduled air services.
Tourism Ireland, in co-operation with other agencies, engages in case-making activity for the introduction of routes of strategic importance for Ireland and undertakes co-operative marketing activity with airports and airlines to stimulate demand.
Ultimately, the decisions to introduce new air routes are made by the airlines, in consultation with airport companies, based on the commercial viability of the routes in question and other operational factors. As Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have no role in the commercial decisions of the private companies concerned.
141. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme factors will be reinstated as per the commitment given in Dáil Éireann on 6 December 2017 that there would be agreement of the active membership in advance of changes to the discount factors in future (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41234/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues in relation to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) pension schemes are primarily a matter for the Trustees of the pension scheme, the CIÉ Group and their employees.
In a Topical Issues debate in this House on 6 December 2017, I outlined the challenges faced in addressing the solvency of the schemes and the process underway to address the deficit which involves detailed discussion between CIÉ and employee representatives, facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). I said that CIÉ was on record at the WRC that it would not impose any change that it proposes without the agreement of the active members of both schemes, and also that it would continue to contribute to both schemes in accordance with the rules of the schemes. I am informed that this remains CIÉ's position in order to bring about a set of proposals that could form the basis of the trustees' submission to the Pensions Authority and that it continues to engage with the WRC.
Separately, the Deputy is asking about a decision of the Pensions Committee, which consists of four CIÉ Board appointed members and four employee elected members. The legal structure of CIÉ’s Scheme for management and administrative personnel bestows certain trustee powers and responsibilities on the Committee of this Scheme.
I am informed that a notification issued to members across the CIÉ group following the Committee’s decision on 9 May 2017 concerning early retirement discount factors which came into effect on 1 January 2018. This change was made by the Committee under the Scheme’s rules which clearly attribute this power to the Committee alone without the need to refer or seek approval from the Minister.
142. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the incidental expenses incurred by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41256/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncidental expenses incurred by my Department between 1st January 2018 and 1st January 2019 amounted to €8.77m.
143. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to establish a national tourism and hospitality training authority to ensure co-ordination between the relevant tourism and hospitality bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41277/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with provision of training for other sectors across the economy, education and training for the tourism and hospitality sector is primarily funded and delivered through the higher and further education and training bodies, namely, SOLAS, the Institutes of Technology and the Education and Training Boards.
In regard to tourism and hospitality, it is recognised that the best approach to support sustainable employment requires a coordinated and collaborative approach by industry, education, training providers, and other relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, as a successor to the Hospitality Oversight Group which was set up in 2016, a new Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group was established in 2018. The purpose of this group is to coordinate the relevant bodies in the sector to agree and implement a work programme to address current and future labour supply and skills requirements in the tourism and hospitality sector. Accordingly, there are no plans at present to establish a specialised national tourism and hospitality training authority.
144. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made by the Galway Harbour Company in relation to the 2013 strategic infrastructure development planning application concerning the Galway Harbour extension; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41317/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I have no role in relation to the planning process. I have made enquiries in the matter, however, and I understand that Galway Harbour Company lodged a planning application for the Galway Harbour Extension project with An Bórd Pleanala in January 2014. An oral hearing on the application was held in January 2015. On foot of this hearing, work commenced on the identification of compensatory measures for the environmental impact of the project. The final compensatory measures report was submitted to an Bórd Pleanala and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in April of this year.
I have been advised that the measures proposed by Galway Harbour Company are currently being considered by An Bórd Pleanala in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Should the measures set out in the report be deemed acceptable and following the necessary approvals and consultation, then An Bórd Pleanala will prepare a Statement of Case as required under the Habitats Directive. Following completion of the Statement of Case, An Bórd Pleanala will reach a decision on the planning application. There are no statutory timelines applying to this particular planning process and consequently, it is not possible to determine when the final decision will be made.
145. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the incidental expenses incurred by her Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41242/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe incidental expenses incurred by my Department in the timeframe specified totalled €167,947.
This total was comprised of expenses in the following categories;
- Catering
- Conferences
- Subscriptions and professional memberships
- Bank charges
- Official entertainment
- Sundry office expenses
The overall objective is to keep costs of this nature to a minimum, and incidental expenses are only authorised by my officials when deemed necessary in the course of Departmental activity.
146. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she plans to cut the funding for a charity (details supplied); the amount of funding the project receives; the reason for the cut; if similar cuts and or restructuring of similar projects is taking place elsewhere; if she will review the decision with a view to continuing funding either through the schools completion programme or directly via Tusla to the charity to ensure that it continues to provide the vital education support in the north Clondalkin area in the future. [41285/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to in the question is funded by the Department of Employment and Social Protection. Any cuts to the funding for this organisation, explanation for the reasons for any cut and the identification of alternative funding in the event of a cut in funding are a matter for that Department.
147. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of the 134 inspections of early years services that took place in 2018 over multiple two plus days were due to additional days being required to review the information returned on the corrective and preventive action, as opposed to a service being inspected over two or more days due to the size of the service in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41332/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matters to which the Deputy refers are operational, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.
