Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

603. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development was not delivered by the timeline committed to; the revised timeline by quarter and year for delivery of this action; if no revised timeline has been set to date, the reason therefore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37121/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Draft Bioenergy Plan established the policy context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector and set out actions to be undertaken to further the demand for and supply of bioenergy in Ireland.

Significant progress has been made in the implementation of these actions including:

- the approval by Government of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat, the opening for applications of the first phase of the scheme (providing installation grants for heat pumps) last week, and the planned opening of the second phase of the scheme (providing multi-annual support to biomass and anaerobic digestion heating systems) by the end of 2018 subject to state aid approval;

- continued support for bioenergy use in the electricity sector including the approval by Government of the high level design of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in July of this year;

- successive increases in the obligation rate to 8% (January 2017), 10% (January 2019) and 11% (planned for January 2020) under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme which increases the use of biofuels and stimulates demand for competitively priced domestic production;

- increases in February of this year in supports under the Forestry for Fibre Scheme for those landowners planting forestry to supply the energy sector;

- the establishment of Bord na Móna Bioenergy in September 2017; and

- the development and publication of research such as the Assessment of Cost and Benefits of Biogas and Biomethane in Ireland published by the SEAI in July 2017.

In addition to progressing the actions set out in the Draft Bioenergy Plan, work has proceeded in updating the plan itself.  This update has taken longer than originally anticipated in order to reflect policy developments – including the National Mitigation Plan, the National Development Plan, and the EU’s Clean Energy Package.

As part of the EU’s Clean Energy Package, the recently agreed Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action stipulates that all Member States must develop a draft National Energy and Climate Plan and submit it to the European Commission by the end of 2018.

The scope of the National Energy and Climate Plan covers the full energy system and requires a high level of detail on all sectors, fuels, policies, and support measures. It will, therefore, encompass the policies and measures that would be set out in any revision of the Draft Bioenergy Plan. My department is currently considering how best to integrate both planning processes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

604. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the timeline for when each premises will be connected to high speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37130/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.Commercial operators have invested over €2.75bn in upgrading and modernising their networks over the past 5 years, and further investments are planned.

Under a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. Approximately 175,000 of the committed premises have been passed as of Q2 2018.

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. That procurement process is in its final stages.

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 www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx.