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Da´Il E´Ireann Vol. 665 Wednesday, No. 2 29 October 2008 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 29 October 2008. Ceisteanna–Questions Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Priority Questions …………………………… 207 Other Questions …………………………… 215 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 227 Ceisteanna–Questions (resumed) Taoiseach ………………………………… 233 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 245 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 245 Order of Business ……………………………… 246 Membership of Committees: Motion ………………………… 255 European Council: Statements ………………………… 255 Charities Bill 2007: Order for Report Stage …………………………… 273 Report Stage ……………………………… 273 Private Members’ Business Education Cuts: Motion …………………………… 276 Adjournment Debate Tax Code ………………………………… 306 Mental Health Services …………………………… 309 Boundary Commission …………………………… 311 Water Quality ……………………………… 314 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 317 DA´ IL E´ IREANN ———— De´ Ce´adaoin, 29 Deireadh Fo´mhair 2008. Wednesday, 29 October 2008. ———— Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Ceisteanna — Questions. ———— Priority Questions. ———— Telecommunications Services. 105. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will produce a timetable for the announced plan to provide next generation broadband to secondary schools; the way he plans to roll out this plan; if he will go to tender to employ a single company to do it; the amount allocated to broadband for schools in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/08] Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): A key objective of broadband policy is to develop access to at least 100 megabyte per second high speed broadband in secondary schools. The consultation paper on next generation broadband, published in July, contains a commit- ment to this project and discussions have taken place between officials of my Department and HEAnet to develop the means by which it will be implemented. A steering group, including officials from my Department and the Department of Finance, the Department of Education and Science and HEAnet will be established shortly to agree the terms of reference and the programme schedule for the roll-out of the project. A budget allo- cation has been provided for the roll-out of high speed broadband to some schools in 2009. Details on this first phase of the programme will be available in due course. Deputy Simon Coveney: I sound like a broken record discussing broadband, because every time telecommunications matters are discussed under Priority Questions the matter makes up at least two, if not more, of the questions. It is difficult not to be more sceptical than before about the claim that the Minister and the Government are prioritising broadband expenditure when there is a cut of 25% in the budget allocation for information and telecommunications technologies programmes from \53 million this year to \40 million next year. At the same time the Minister repeatedly announces his commitment to rolling out next generation broadband 207 Priority 29 October 2008. Questions [Deputy Simon Coveney.] in schools throughout the country, despite that fact that he does not know how it will work yet, he cannot say how much money he will allocate to it and we simply have no timeframe. Will the Minister, Deputy Ryan, answer the following specific questions? Is there a timeframe for the roll-out of next generation broadband access to schools for next year? Does the Minister have data available on the extent of broadband availability in secondary schools? How many secondary schools do not have access to acceptable bandwidth? In my view, he does not know the answers to those questions, so I do not know how he expects people to believe he will roll-out next generation broadband to all schools across the country by the end of 2009 or early 2010. Deputy Eamon Ryan: Some 3,901 out of 3,936 schools have their local broadband connectiv- ity installed, which is over 99% of them. Installation has typically been at speeds of up to 2 megabytes per second. My belief is that it is appropriate for us to go to speeds of 100 megabytes per second and eventually to have wireless connectivity within the school, so broadband is available in each classroom and not necessarily in a computer room or in certain locations within the school. That is why I included that strategic aim in the next generation broadband paper. It was published in July and it is fair and proper to have a consultation process, some- thing which is coming to an end. When the process ends, we will publish a final version of the paper and we will go out and deliver. The experience of putting broadband into those 3,900 schools is something on which we can build for future development. I referred to the discussions with HEAnet because this body also has a crucial part to play in achieving the roll-out. We already have a successful backhall network in the educational broadband sector, especially in our third level colleges. HEAnet has real expertise in delivering broadband to educational establishments and in putting in filtering systems. That is why I have confidence in the ability of HEAnet and of my Department to deliver the objective that has been set. However, prior to completing the consultation pro- cess, it is appropriate to get the details of the process worked out and then publish the time- table, budget and other details. Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister has been in charge for 18 months. I agree we need to roll-out next generation broadband facilities to schools. The problem is that people have simply lost patience with him due to a lack of action. We do not need more consultation. We need an action plan for moving forward with clear timetables and a clear financial commitment. What will be the implication for schools of a 25% cut in the capital allocation for broadband expendi- ture next year? Deputy Eamon Ryan: The main reason for that downturn is that we are not progressing with a further stage of investment in the metropolitan area networks. This is a policy with which Fine Gael agreed. That took up some \200 million over recent years. The reason for the reduction in the budget is that the programme is being reviewed. I do not see the budget cuts impacting on our ambitions in broadband development elsewhere. I recognise that our role is to intervene where the market cannot deliver, but the market also has a key role. The industry is spending around \725 million this year on next generation broadband. Deputy Simon Coveney: The market will not deliver that. Deputy Eamon Ryan: No, it will not. That is why the Government will deliver in that area. Fisheries Boards. 106. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural 208 Priority 29 October 2008. Questions Resources the way he will maintain a strong regional structure in the management of the regions with regard to proposals to absorb the regional fisheries boards into a central board; the way the reporting structures to the central board will function in practice; if he will provide delegated powers to regional staff; the cost savings of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/08] Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): As part of the overall process of agency rationalisation that the Minister for Finance announced in this year’s budget, a new national inland fisheries body will be estab- lished, which will replace the eight existing regional fisheries boards and the Central Fisheries Board. Amending legislation will be required to give effect to the decision. I have established a small group, chaired by my Department with representation on behalf of the existing boards, to guide the implementation of this decision. While I do not intend to pre-empt the work of the implementation group, I am confident an effective system can be put in place under the auspices of the new body, which will ensure the important work relating to the inland fishery resource will be implemented efficiently. It is clearly in the nature of inland fisheries work that the new body should be organised with a strong regional presence. The relationship between the new body and its regional offices will be determined in due course by the body itself. With regard to cost savings, the most visible and immediate savings will occur as a result of the reduction in costs of servicing eight separate boards and associated board expenses that are estimated to be in the region of \300,000 per annum. In addition to financial savings, the new model will consolidate and thus ensure the better use of existing resources and deliver improved value for money management of the State’s resource. I have set a deadline of end August 2009 for vesting day of the new body. The existing structures will remain in place until then. Deputy Liz McManus: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Perhaps he is not aware that, in 2006, the Minister sitting beside him, Deputy Eamon Ryan, described the postponement of elections to regional fisheries boards as “a cowardly act” by the then Government and “a serious indictment of Government policy”. Here we are again, in 2008, facing yet further delays in elections to boards and prevarication on any new structures. With all due respect, the Mini- ster of State has not enlightened us on the future of fishery board structures. When he refers to “strong regional structures” what is he talking about? How exactly are these to be developed between policy and management? At the moment, there is a large infrastructure in place.
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