Written answers

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Departmental Strategy Statements

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his Department's strategy statement and its commitments on delivering key infrastructure including broadband and energy. [6002/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Government has outlined, in a range of policy guidance documents, including the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), the Energy White Paper - “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future, and Ireland’s National Climate Mitigation Plan, a series of policy interventions and measures  for the realisation of Ireland’s energy  infrastructure, including energy networks and interconnection with other countries’ energy systems, and policies for the development of potential offshore renewable energy (wind, wave and tidal) resource to contribute to renewable generation and a strategy to support energy transition.

Key contributors to ensuring a secure and reliable electricity supply in Ireland are on-going investment in our transmission and distribution networks and the exploration of interconnection opportunities with neighbouring countries’ electricity transmission systems. In addition, significant infrastructure investment is currently being undertaken by Gas Networks Ireland to twin a 50km stretch of pipeline of the Southwest Scotland onshore gas system between Cluden and Brighouse Bay, in investment by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) has maximised its storage in all available storage facilities in Ireland, and further  investment will be undertaken by the State owned ESB  when decisions are made on the most appropriate successor to the Moneypoint generation facility. 

In Budget 2018 I secured over €150 million for investment in  a range of energy policy interventions, including the introduction of a new Support Scheme for Renewable Energy, expanded energy efficiency programmes, the introduction of a new grant  to support heat pumps and  new supports for electric vehicles with the introduction of a new home charger  installation grant and support for enhanced charging infrastructure and demonstration projects. 

In relation to broadband, My Department’s Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 outlines as an objective  “To contribute to the on-going growth and development of Irish economy and society by continuing to develop a stable, innovative and secure digital communications and services infrastructure.” 

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, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to a high speed broadband connection.  By the end of this year that number will rise to nearly 8 out of 10 premises and by 2020 will reach 9 out of 10 premises. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.

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 that procurement process is nearing the final stages. Delivering high speed broadband to citizens across Ireland remains a firm commitment for me and for this Government.

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