Written Answers Nos. 151 - 161
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement of fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50824/12]
View answerIn order to qualify for the national fuel scheme, applicants must satisfy a means assessment and be living alone or only with persons who satisfy specific criteria. The person concerned is currently in receipt of invalidity pension since 15 September 2011. On 24 May 2012, in order to determine entitlement to free fuel allowance, the person in question was requested to furnish further details regarding means and his household composition. While household composition has now been confirmed, to date no response has been received regarding the means enquiry. On receipt of the requested information, entitlement to free fuel allowance can be determined.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will qualify for a special once off payment to alleviate hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50825/12]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not applied for an exceptions needs payment. An application form for an exceptional needs payment issued to the person concerned, and should be returned once completed to this Department for processing.
153. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to the need to maximise support for funding to the Arts Council and to local government (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50585/12]
View answerGovernment policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government . As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office.
Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2012, the Arts Council received an allocation of over €63 million – a curbing of the budgetary decline of previous years.
The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts and culture sectors, within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes.
154. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give a commitment not to reduce current levels of funding given to The Arts Council of Ireland and local authorities in view of the fact that further cuts would result in job losses within the Arts sector here which currently employs 20,755 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50740/12]
View answerGovernment policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government . As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office.
Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2012, the Arts Council received an allocation of over €63 million – a curbing of the budgetary decline of previous years.
The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts and culture sectors, within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes.
155. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50745/12]
View answerAs part of the review of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department engaged in a public consultation process during the early part of 2012. The consultation process involved the completion of an online survey and provision of a template for written submissions.
Furthermore, I can advise the Deputy that, in association with Foras na Gaeilge, my Department established a focus group consisting of representatives from three community-based language promotion organisations. The aim of this focus group was to obtain community input into the development of language planning criteria for Irish Language Networks, to be established in accordance with the terms of the Gaeltacht Act 2012.
For completeness, the Deputy may wish to note that a public consultation is currently being carried out in relation to the Review of the Open Seasons Order for Deer. The closing date for submissions is 16th November 2012. Further information in relation to this matter can be found at: http://www.npws.ie/legislationandconventions/irishlaw/openseasonsorder/
156. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland should install installation measures in dormer houses in cases in which the houses were surveyed; the measures agreed to in advance of the SEAI decision to cease installing installation measures in dormer houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50661/12]
View answerBetter Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households which are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage.
I am informed by the SEAI that when the house in question was surveyed it was identified that the walls were already fully insulated but that it had insufficient attic insulation. The home in question is a dormer bungalow and the practice of insulating dormer roofs through the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was recently reviewed in respect of value for money, the overall effectiveness of the additional insulation which can only be undertaken in part of the roof space, and the significant costs associated with achieving appropriate ventilation in the roof space to avoid condensation problems. All of this is in the context of endeavouring to address the maximum number of vulnerable fuel poor homes from within available resources. On balance it has been decided that the significant costs are not generally justified by the marginal insulation gains. Therefore insulation of dormer roofs is not currently implemented under the scheme. However, I am advised that SEAI will continue to keep the matter under review with my officials for feasible cost effective alternatives, particularly where the homes are in extreme fuel poverty, at which time affected houses may be revisited.
157. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current salary paid to the Commissioner and to the Chairperson of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg); the salary for these positions in 2010 and 2011; the bonuses, or payments or benefits other than the salary, if any, that have been paid to these positions in 2010, 2011, and 2012; if he is currently considering any proposals to review the operation of the Regulator and is he in a position to share any proposals regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50669/12]
View answerThe pay rates for the Commissioners of the Commission for Communications Regulation is €164,464 where the appointee is making a personal pension contribution and €156,241 for an appointee who does not make a personal pension contribution. These rates are applicable from I January 2010 following reductions introduced in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009.
A contribution of €1,000 is paid in respect of each Commissioner in the form of medical insurance paid by the Commission. Commissioners are not eligible for performance related pay.
An annual payment of €16,000 is payable to the Commissioner appointed as Chairman.
The vast majority of regulatory functions vested in ComReg stem from obligations addressed to independent national regulatory authorities in EU Directives applicable to the postal and telecommunications sectors. There are no proposals to review the applicable EU rules at this time and accordingly the role of the Commission in those matters will continue.
158. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that mobile phone companies appear to be restricting access to Skype to customers on their mobile internet products. [50742/12]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications network services, including Skype services, is a matter in the first instance, for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I am advised by ComReg that they have just recently received a small number of consumer complaints in respect of the blocking of Skype and are currently investigating the matter.
159. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the supervision and control exercised either by his Department or by ComReg over the application of roaming charges for mobile Internet products by companies in the Irish telecoms industry in view of the often extortionate level of these charges. [50743/12]
View answerThe telecommunications market in Ireland, including the provision of mobile telephone services, is a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent market regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation in accordance with the provisions of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. In the case of roaming charges, ComReg’s market regulation is also exercised in accordance with applicable provisions of EU Roaming Regulations.
The current EU Roaming Regulation “(EU) No 531/2012 of 13 June 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks”, which commenced on 1st July last, is the third in a series of such EU Regulations, first introduced in 2007. The purpose of these EU Regulations is to provide increasing levels of consumer protection to customers in all EU member states when using mobile roaming services. The reductions in the maximum permitted retail prices for roaming services within the EU required by these Regulations are summarised in the following table (excluding VAT). The Regulations impose binding maximum permitted retail prices but service providers are free to charge lower prices.
|
Maximum price |
Making a call/minute |
Receiving a call/minute |
Sending an SMS |
Receiving an SMS |
Mobile Internet |
|
July 2009 |
43 cents |
19 cents |
11 cents |
free |
- |
|
July 2010 |
39 cents |
15 cents |
11 cents |
free |
- |
|
July 2011 |
35 cents |
11 cents |
11 cents |
free |
- |
|
July 2012 |
29 cents |
8 cents |
9 cents |
free |
70 cents/MB |
The current EU Roaming Regulation also obliges mobile service providers to inform customers of roaming charges and to implement a minimum set of customer protection measures which include the following.
(i) Service provider must advise customers by SMS, on each occasion a customer moves to a roaming service, of the costs of roaming in the EU, including the cost of calls made and received, the cost of sending an SMS/MMS, the cost per Megabyte (MB) of data and provide a freephone number to customers to deal with any additional customer queries.
(ii) In the case of customers who data roam, service providers must automatically impose a data cap of €50 (excluding VAT) in any month in which a customer roams. Customers must be advised when 80% of the data usage cap is reached and at 100% of the data usage cap the service should cease. Customers can then choose to continue to data roam incurring additional charges above the default cap if they wish. The data cap requirement is mandatory within the EU. In the case of customers roaming outside the EU, the data usage alert is required where possible. If the visited network outside the EU area cannot provide a warning alert, the customer should receive an SMS advising that the operator cannot apply the data usage alert in that country.
Any customer who has been charged in excess of the permitted roaming rates or who has incurred significant roaming charges without receiving the customer information required by the EU Regulation should contact ComReg to pursue the matter further. ComReg can be contacted at consumerline@comreg.ie, by phone at (01) 804 9668 or 1890 229668 or at Block DEF, Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1.
160. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50747/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has carried out a number of public consultations to date this year in line with statutory requirements. Details of these public consultations are outlined in tabular form.
|
Description of Consultation |
Date of consultation |
|
Public consultation on the bringing into use of a telecommunications duct infrastructure constructed alongside the gas pipeline between Ballymoneen Co. Galway and Bellanaboy County Mayo with a spur into Castlebar and Westport. |
January 2012 |
|
Two separate public consultations relating to the proposed terms and conditions for REFIT 2 (for onshore wind, hydro and landfill gas technologies) and REFIT 3 (for biomass technologies) (Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff). |
February and March 2012 |
|
Public Consultation relating to the Department’s External Customer Service Charter. |
March 2012 |
|
Public consultation on the Report of the next Generation Broadband Taskforce |
May 2012 |
|
Public consultation on proposal to increase the rate of biofuel obligation under the Biofuel Obligation Scheme. |
July and August 2012 |
|
Public consultation on intention to amend certain aspects of the Terms and Conditions for REFIT (Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff). |
August 2012 |
|
Public consultation relating to the Order required to implement an increase to the biofuel obligation from 1 January 2013 |
October 2012 |
|
Public consultation relating to Statutory Notice of the proposal to revise the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations to apply from 1st January 2013. |
November 2012 |
In addition to the above list I would inform the Deputy that under the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999, I give notice of my intention to award or renew a minerals prospecting licence over certain townlands in counties or parts thereof, by way of public advertisement, inviting objections to the proposal to be made within 21 days of the date of the notice. The following table lists the 47 consultation notices issued to date in 2012 indicating the licence holders, the relevant counties and date of notice.
|
Company |
County |
Date |
|
Westland Exploration Ltd |
Meath |
07/01/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Westmeath |
07/01/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Meath |
14/01/2012 |
|
IMC Exploration Ltd |
Kerry |
11/01/2012 |
|
Gary R. Brown |
Galway |
13/01/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Westmeath |
28/01/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Tipperary |
26/01/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Meath |
14/02/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Meath/Westmeath |
18/02/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Wexford |
07/03/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Longford |
09/03/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Westmeath |
10/03/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Monaghan |
15/03/2012 |
|
IMC Exploration Ltd |
Donegal |
16/03/2012 |
|
Omagh Minerals Ltd |
Donegal |
16/03/2012 |
|
Lundin Mining Ltd |
Limerick |
31/03/2012 |
|
TILZ Minerals Ltd |
Limerick |
13/04/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Clare |
13/04/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Clare |
13/04/2012 |
|
Unicorn Mineral Resources Ltd |
Clare |
20/04/2012 |
|
Tynagh Iron Mines Ltd |
Galway |
27/04/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Limerick |
28/04/2012 |
|
Lundin Mining Ltd |
Longford |
04/05/2012 |
|
Adventus Exploration Ltd |
Louth |
06/06/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Galway |
08/06/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Galway |
07/06/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Galway |
07/06/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Meath/Westmeath /Kildare/Offaly |
13/06/12 & 16/06/12 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Limerick |
16/06/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Cavan/Monaghan |
22/06/2012 |
|
Irish Resource Exploration Ltd |
Galway/Mayo |
01/0612 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Meath/Offaly/Kildare |
10/07/12 & 11/07/12 & 14/07/12 |
|
Unicorn Mineral Resources Ltd |
Galway |
13/07/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Monaghan |
19/07/2012 |
|
Lundin Mining Ltd |
Clare |
20/07/2012 |
|
Belmore Resources Ltd |
Clare |
20/07/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Monaghan |
23/08/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Westmeath |
31/08/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Roscommon |
01/09/2012 |
|
Teck Ireland Ltd |
Tipperary |
30/08/2012 |
|
Belmore Resources Ltd |
Clare |
07/09/2012 |
|
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Ltd |
Monaghan |
06/09/2012 |
|
Hendrick Resources (Ireland) Ltd |
Wexford |
04/09/2012 |
|
Dundalk Mining & Excavation Ltd |
Laois |
14/09/2012 |
|
Hendrick Resources (Ireland) Ltd |
Wexford |
18/09/2012 |
|
Gary R. Brown |
Galway |
12/10/2012 |
|
Boliden Tara Mines Ltd |
Galway |
02/11/2012 |
My Department also published notice of my intention to grant a State Mining Licence at Killoran, County Tipperary to Vedanta Lisheen Mining Ltd and others and invited representations from persons arising out of the proposal by 11 May 2012.
161. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to the Local Government Management Services Board in 2008 such as legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50582/12]
View answerThe information requested is as follows:
|
Name of Firm |
Type of Service |
Fees Paid |
Nature of work carried out |
|
Allen Design Consultants |
Design |
€1,283 |
Design of Brochure |
|
ASA Consulting |
Consultancy |
€11,625 |
Consultancy on Shared Service |
|
ASA Consulting |
Training Consultancy |
€1,440 |
Training of Local Authority Staff |
|
BCM Hanby Wallace |
Legal Advice |
€8,532 |
Advice on; Dignity at Work, Child Protection Policy Guidelines, case before one of the State's employment rights bodies |
|
BCM Hanby Wallace |
Guest Speaker |
€2,178 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Breen HR Consulting |
Consultancy |
€15,246 |
Consultancy on HR Strategy for sector |
|
Clear & Critical Thinking |
Guest Speaker |
€700 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Dilucid Limited |
Guest Speaker |
€908 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Durrow Communications |
Training Consultancy |
€9,680 |
Training of Local Authority Staff |
|
Erwin Mediation |
Guest Speaker |
€684 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Gar Holohan |
Guest Speaker |
€1,000 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Hay Group Ireland Ltd |
Consultancy |
€60,500 |
Review of PMDS in sector |
|
John Cook Video Productions |
Design & Production Services |
€1,816 |
DVD for Local Authorities |
|
John O'Dowd |
Training Consultancy |
€15,000 |
Training of Local Authority Staff |
|
John O'Dowd |
Consultancy |
€15,428 |
Preparation of Sectoral Report for Performance Verification Group |
|
John O'Dowd |
Facilitation |
€12,055 |
Facilitation provided to Local Authority |
|
La Touche Training |
Training Consultancy |
€13,609 |
Training of Local Authority Staff |
|
Mason, Hayes & Curran |
Guest Speaker |
€1,083 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors |
Legal Advice |
€25,112 |
Legal Advice regarding redevelopment |
|
Melior Management |
Professional Services |
€1,815 |
Equality Conference |
|
Michael Collins Associates |
Consultancy |
€23,693 |
Project Management of Ushers Quay Development |
|
Morahan Media |
Guest Speaker |
€4,235 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Nat O'Connor Research Advice |
Consultancy |
€6,500 |
Preparation and Analysis relating to Service Indicators Report |
|
Noone Casey |
Accountancy |
€12,818 |
Preparation of Annual Accounts |
|
Optimum Point Consultancy |
Guest Speaker |
€1,000 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Polaris |
Training Consultancy |
€23,677 |
Design & Provision of training services to Local Authority staff |
|
PS Cahill Solicitors |
Legal Advice |
€15,166 |
Legal Advice sought on behalf of Local Authority regarding Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act |
|
RA Consulting |
Guest Speaker |
€900 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Richard Barnes & Associates |
Guest Speaker |
€7,273 |
Guest Speaker at training conference (includes international travel) |
|
Sean Ruth & Associates |
Guest Speaker |
€900 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
SPSS Ireland |
Consultancy |
€10,164 |
Statistical Analysis of Survey Data |
|
The Farm Media Group |
Design & Production Services |
€51,121 |
Design and Production of Local Authority Video |
|
The Health & Safety Authority |
Design & Production Services |
€23,902 |
Safe System of Work Plan DVD Production for Local Authorities |
|
Trinity College Dublin School of Law |
Consultancy |
€180 |
FOI Update |
|
Trove KM Consulting |
Guest Speaker |
€605 |
Guest Speaker at training conference |
|
Wayoveryonder |
Consultancy |
€9,790 |
Design and Development Equal Status Policy for Local Authority Sector |
|
Willie Soffe |
Facilitation |
€2,250 |
Facilitation of Joint Management Union Group |
|
Yellowstone Communications Design |
Design & Production Services |
€7,859 |
Annual Health & Safety Newsletter |
