Written Answers Nos. 37-50
45. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ensure broadband accessibility for all students to facilitate online learning at home throughout the Covid-19 restrictions in view of primary and secondary schools remaining closed for January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1420/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis. Providing telecommunication services is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator.
In April 2020, all major telecommunications providers in Ireland committed to a number of measures to help people stay in touch and work from home during the pandemic. Since then, a number of operators have implemented further supports for consumers, including students in education, who require a high data usage package, by increasing data limits on many existing packages and introducing new packages with very high, or unlimited data offerings. Consequently, the market for mobile packages with very high, or unlimited data offerings, is becoming increasingly competitive, which is a positive development for consumers.
Those commitments were further supported through regulations made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926, for a ComReg framework proposal enabling temporary release of additional radio spectrum rights of use. Ministerial consent was granted for this proposed providing flexibility for mobile network operators to create additional capacity for mobile phone and broadband services and accommodating increased demand arising from Covid 19 related remote working and studying. Three-month licences were issued to three mobile network operators and were renewed on a number of occasions most recently to to 1 April 2021.
In addition, ComReg recently published an alert on its website to help increase awareness of the unlimited data packages entitled: “Looking for mobile unlimited data plans for remote school or college?”
Finally, as of March 3rd, 287 publicly accessible Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) have been delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention. High speed broadband services are being switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
47. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when premises in the intervention areas will receive high speed fibre broadband; if there is a timetable for the roll-out in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13081/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDesign work is complete or ongoing under the National Broadband Plan in target townlands across every county in Ireland with nearly 187,000 premises surveyed as of 3 March 2021.
This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and the first fibre to the home connections have been made in Carrigaline, Co Cork and in Cavan. Technical testing and validation continues prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised by NBI that build works are continuing across the country in 11 Deployment Areas, including a total of 45,000 premises, and "make ready" work is underway in a further 18 Deployment Areas that include a further 64,688 premises.
The Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays both nationally and internationally, as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale up, including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible.
I am advised that NBI are working to provide greater functionality and more detail on their website with a rolling update of network build plans.
48. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) which ranks Ireland last in the environment index and 13th in the climate action index out of 15 high income EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12890/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Progress Index report is a critical reminder that Ireland needs to do more in order to progress climate and environmental goals. I acknowledge that to achieve these objectives will require fundamental changes in how we live our lives. The Programme for Government places climate action and environmental sustainability at the centre of the Government's policy agenda.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill, to be published shortly, will significantly strengthen the statutory climate governance framework to support achieving our climate objectives. I am also currently leading the preparation of the 2021 Climate Action Plan, which will set out actions that must be taken across every sector in order to ensure we deliver on our commitments. To inform the next Plan, I will shortly launch a public consultation, complemented by a strengthened National Dialogue on Climate Action to create enduring structures for citizen engagement and activation on climate change across all of society.
I also recently launched a public consultation on the introduction of a nationwide ban on smoky fuels, which when finalised will improve air quality delivering our environmental targets, but will also provide significant health benefits, improving quality of life and our overall well-being.
The Sustainable Progress Index report highlighted New Zealand’s Wellbeing Budget. I would note that Ireland is also taking concrete steps in this area and work is underway to deliver the Programme for Government commitment to develop new measures of well-being and progress, recognising that in order to achieve a well-rounded policy-making system there is a pressing need to move beyond uniquely economic measures. Work is also progressing across Government to mainstream the approach to equality budgeting, further illustrating the commitment to inform policy beyond economic values. These will be important developments as we move to advance our implementation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, my Department will also lead the development of Ireland’s second SDG National Implementation Plan to further guide implementation and promote awareness of the Goals. It is important to emphasise that meeting Ireland’s commitments under the SDGs will entail ambition across Government and wider society.In this regard, the SDG Stakeholder Forum, established under the first SDG Plan, will continue to provide a further interface between the public bodies and civil society to inform the next Plan and support our collective work to deliver the SDGs.
49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the work of his Department to support households in maintaining warm homes, important for reasons of good health in particular through retrofitting and energy efficiency measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1496/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRetrofitting of homes supports good physical and mental health by creating healthy indoor living environments with healthy air temperatures, humidity levels, noise levels, and improved air quality.
My Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes offer partial grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency improvements for people at risk of energy poverty.
Since 2000, over 400,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.
The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Achieving these targets will allow many more households to reap health benefits associated with warm, energy efficient homes.
SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government's approach to achieving our national retrofit targets. €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for residential and community retrofit programmes. Of this allocation, €109 million is provided to support people vulnerable to energy poverty to retrofit their homes. This allocation will kick-start the first phase of our retrofit plan. A further €65 million has been provided for retrofitting the social housing stock through the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is intended to publish a National Retrofit Framework later this year following publication of the National Development Plan.
