Written Answers Nos. 350-369
350. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén taighde atá déanta ag a Roinn faoi na deacrachtaí oideachasúla a chruthódh athbhreithniú ar an gCaighdeán gach seacht mbliana. [54423/12]
View answer351. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta maidir lena mholadh i mBille Choimisiúin Thithe an Oireachtais, an eol dó tíortha eile ar domhan a bhfuil réimis seacht mbliana acu idir athbhreithniú ar chaighdeán oifigiúil a dTeanga Náisiúnta, nó cén taighde teangeolaíochta a bhfuil sé ag brath air a léiríonn gur mar sin atá. [54424/12]
View answerFreagróidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 350 agus 351 le chéile.
Mar is eol don Teachta, foilsíodh an Caighdeán Oifigiúil den chéad uair i 1958. Tuigtear dom go ndearna Rannóg an Aistriúcháin i gCoimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais athbhreithniú air thar na blianta agus gur foilsíodh leagan athbhreithnithe den Chaighdeán Oifigiúil níos túisce i mbliana.
Faoin mBille um Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais (Leasú) 2012, déantar foráil maidir le foilsiú agus athbhreithniú tréimhsiúil an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil ag Coimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais uair amháin gach seacht mbliana ar a laghad. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil sé i gceist athbhreithnithe a dhéanamh ar an gCaighdeán Oifigiúil ar an mbonn seo chun soiléiriú a dhéanamh ar na rialacha gramadaí, de réir mar is cuí. Ós rud é go dtuigtear dom nach mbeidh athruithe ó bhonn ar na bunrialacha gramadaí i gceist, ní fheictear dom go mbeidh impleachtaí substaintiúla ag an gcur chuige seo don chóras oideachais.
Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an cur chuige seo bunaithe ar dhea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta agus gur nós é caighdeáin ghramadaí a choimeád faoi athbhreithniú leanúnach ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta. Ag an am céanna, aithnítear nach maith an nós é an iomad athruithe ó bhonn a dhéanamh ar chaighdeáin ghramadaí toisc gur gá seasmhacht a bheith ag baint lena leithéid do lucht úsáidte teangacha. Is ar mhaithe le cothromaíocht a bhaint amach a dhéantar foráil leis an mBille d'athbhreithniú tréimhsiúil an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil.
Ní miste a rá go gceanglaítear leis an mBille ar Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, leis an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, leis an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais, le páirtithe leasmhara eile agus leis an bpobal i gcoitinne le linn athbhreithniú ar an gCaighdeán Oifigiúil.
352. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available for developing cultural links with other countries and more specifically India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54569/12]
View answerThere is a Cultural Agreement in place between Ireland and India, which was signed in January 2006. Under the terms of the Agreement, closer relations and understanding between both countries will be promoted and developed in the fields of art, culture, archaeology, education, including activity in the fields of science and technology, audiovisual matters, tourism and sports. The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide and operates a quarterly grant round under which applications for events are considered from Irish artists and international hosts. My Department has a budget of €3.56m in 2012 for such activities. Ireland regards India as a priority country for cultural cooperation and I remain committed to promoting Irish cultural activity in India.
353. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of the October Exchequer returns, the reason the capital spending for his Department was €19 million below profile for this period; his plans to ensure that the full capital spending is implemented before the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53827/12]
View answerCapital spending is below profile for the period in question due to a combination of timing issues and lower demand than anticipated in relation to certain schemes. My Department has made a number of adjustments over the year to ensure productive spend in certain areas through the transfer of funds from areas where demand has been less than envisaged. Nonetheless savings for the full year are anticipated given the overall lower than expected uptake of certain demand lead schemes.
354. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail the reasons for the refusal of payment of a better energy homes scheme grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the installation of solar heating panels and if he will confirm if it is possible to have the decision reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/12]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides financial assistance to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying BER.
I am informed that the SEAI wrote to the applicant after receipt of the grant forms on the 8 November 2012 to inform the applicant that they were rejected as information regarding the energy yield was omitted from the forms submitted. When the homeowner returned the forms the energy yield was in order of magnitude outside the expected performance range. The SEAI wrote to the applicant on this basis on 23 November 2012 stating that the grant payment could not be paid as the solar heating system did not meet the minimum performance standards of the scheme and is outside the reasonable performance range of a system of its size.
In the letter the SEAI recommended that the applicant review their claim documentation in consultation with their contractor and if, subsequent to this, they remained dissatisfied with the decision, they should re-submit it for review by the SEAI Appeals Panel. To date the applicant has not re-submitted the application for review to the SEAI Appeals Panel. I am informed that if the applicant now wishes to consult with their contractor and submit revised performance details, the SEAI will review the application under their standard appeals process. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
355. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 390, if it is the case that only six of the eighty five sites surveyed are located downstream of Carlow town and if this is the case the way it can be regarded as catchment wide and if he will ask the IFI to address this anomaly. [53926/12]
View answerI am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that catchment wide electro-fishing is undertaken in juvenile salmon habitat close to shallow spawning redds and that this technique can only be undertaken in shallow spawning and nursery areas. No sampling sites are located in the lower reaches of the Barrow main channel as this habitat is not suitable for spawning and salmon fry will not be encountered. The technique is catchment wide throughout the upper Barrow catchment in the spawning and nursery habitat where juvenile salmon may be encountered.
356. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the River Barrow on the list of rivers which are to be fitted with fish counters for escapement monitoring. [53927/12]
View answerI am advised by Inland Fishers Ireland (IFI) that the River Barrow has been identified as a priority river for a fish counter. In this regard IFI has recently secured funding from the Salmon Conservation Fund to undertake preliminary feasibility and planning work to identify the most appropriate site and identifying the necessary works that would be required to install a counter. The feasibility/planning work requires external engineering expertise and this work package is currently at request for tender stage. It would be hoped that this will be progressed in 2013 and the results of this process will assist with identifying the costs for the project and to enable an application for funding to be drawn up.
357. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on delays in building out grid to facilitate the construction of wind farms; his views on whether it is necessary to extend the deadline for the REFIT 2 support scheme beyond 2015; and what will happen to wind farms that do not get grid access early enough to allow them to build within the period of REFIT 2 eligibility. [54074/12]
View answerIreland has a challenging 2020 renewable energy target to meet and the bulk of the target is expected to be met in the electricity sector, given the challenges in transport and heating. Gate 3 and the implementation of Grid 25 (including the North South Interconnector, Grid West and Grid Link) are essential elements in ensuring that we can deliver on our target. Any delays in building out grid reinforcements are therefore very concerning and my Department liaise on an ongoing basis with EirGrid and ESB Networks in this regard.
REFIT 2 opened earlier this year and is for projects connected by end 2015. The Department had initially approached the European Commission with a request to keep the scheme open until 2020, however the Commission considered this to be too long from a state aid perspective. This obviously poses challenges as many of the projects required to meet our 2020 target will not be built by end 2015. A new scheme will be required for the post 2015 period.
With the move to develop a target European electricity market as part of the EU third package, the SEM Committee have a consultation open on how the electricity market on this island will become compliant with the target model. Following this decision being made, consideration will begin in 2013 as to what format a post 2015 renewable support mechanism will take. The European Commission is also due to publish voluntary guidelines on design of renewable energy support schemes in 2013, which the new scheme will take account of. In line with evolving thinking, the new scheme is likely to involve greater market exposure for renewable developers. We would intend to have the new scheme in place by 2014, well before the REFIT 2 scheme ends.
358. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the 3 network in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54081/12]
View answerI wish to advise that my Department’s officials have been engaged in ongoing contact with “3”, the National Broadband Scheme (“NBS”) service provider since it was made aware of recent service performance problems being experienced by some NBS customers in Co. Kerry. I understand that these NBS customers in the Ballyferriter area experienced intermittent service loss and degradation of service over a protracted length of time. “3” have advised my officials that service problems arose last month on two sites, at Ballydavid and Ventry and that these problems have been rectified with the sites being fully operational since 27 November last. “3” continue to monitor these sites very closely. Throughout the period, those customers whose service was affected were advised of the position via text message from 3’s customer care centre.
The contract which my Department has in place with “3” provides for the monitoring of service availability. It provides for the payment of service performance rebates where service performance does not meet the minimum specified service levels and where service restoration is delayed beyond the target 5 working days. My Department operates a dedicated mailbox, nationalbroadbandscheme@dcenr.gov.ie, which NBS customers can contact with relevant details where they consider that their service performance issues have not been resolved to their satisfaction by 3’s customer care centre. I wish to advise the Deputy that service rebates will be applied to the accounts of all those customers whose service has been affected by these site outages.
359. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Questions No. 482 of 14 September 2011, and 414 of 3 July 2012, if his Department has progressed this matter and the reason this person has not been contacted as stated in the reply of 13 July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54139/12]
View answerThe Human Resources Division of my Department has been in contact with this person in an effort to locate a record of his service in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. This information is required in order to establish if he has superannuation entitlements on reaching age 65 in 2 years’ time. Unfortunately, with the limited information supplied by him, it has not been possible to compile a full service record for him. However, we are now exploring another avenue with the assistance of Eircom. My Department will be touch with him directly as soon as we have further information.
360. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline projects which his Department cooperates with the Department of the Environment in the North. [54150/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Geological Survey of Ireland is a project partner in Tellus Border, a geo-environmental mapping project of six counties in the border region of Ireland. This cross-border initiative between the Geological Surveys of Ireland and Northern Ireland will produce detailed geo-environmental data of the border region and join these with data in Northern Ireland to produce the first seamless cross-border maps. The project is funded to the value of £4.1m (c. €5m) by the EU INTERREG IVA programme, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland.
361. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the specific initiatives there are for County Meath in the national renewable energy plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54315/12]
View answerThe National Renewable Energy Action Plan was a requirement under Directive 2009/28/EC and was compiled on the basis of a European Commission template. It sets out at a national level how our legally binding 2020 target under the Directive will be achieved across the transport, heat and electricity sectors. As it is a national plan, it does not go into any specifics at county level. Each county is required to develop a County Development Plan and must have regard to wind energy guidelines. Many counties have developed wind energy strategies and several have incorporated these into their county development plans. Some counties have also developed renewable energy strategies. A methodology to assist Local Authorities in developing Renewable Energy Strategies is available on the Sustainable Energy of Ireland Authority website.
362. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding access to broadband in respect of residents of an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54341/12]
View answerSince market liberalisation in 1999, broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators. The State only becomes involved in the provision of services in instances of clear market failure. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and the more recent Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) are examples of such interventions.
Prior to the launch of the NBS my Department had a full national mapping exercise carried out to determine precisely where the gaps in service provision existed. As a result Camp was one of the areas in the country that was excluded from the scheme as it was deemed to be already served by at least one private operator. Under the RBS my Department received a total of 67 applications from County Kerry and a total of 25 applicants took up an offer of service from one of the commercial operators participating in the scheme.
The recently published National Broadband Plan (NBP) commits industry and the Government to rolling out high speed broadband throughout the country in the next few years. The plan contains specific and ambitious targets, most of which are expected to be delivered by the private sector. The Government is committed to ensuring that high speed broadband will also be available in rural areas which might not be deemed commercially viable for private sector operators to invest in. My Department hopes to commence a national mapping exercise in early 2013 aimed at identifying precisely the areas of the country that the private sector will invest in and those rural parts that will require State intervention to ensure that our NBP and Digital Agenda for Europe targets are fully met.
363. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer by abolishing the off the road facility for motor tax; if he will confirm that if motor tax evasion was reduced to 1% a saving of €40 million could be achieved. [54122/12]
View answerUnder the existing system of making off-the-road declarations, vehicles are declared off the road retrospectively. The use of such declarations is increasing with a consequent loss to the Local Government Fund (LGF), which provides funding to local authorities and the roads programme of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. While in some cases declarations will be genuine, it is suspected that there is widespread abuse. The most recent figures available indicate that the abolition of such abuse would generate an additional income of some €55m annually. The Government approved the drafting of a Bill on 22 May 2012 to replace the current system with a system whereby declarations must be made in advance of the vehicle being taken off the road. Retrospective declarations will no longer be provided for. The Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting in the Office of the Attorney General and is expected to be published shortly.
364. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money paid nationally in motor taxation in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54349/12]
View answerTotal gross motor tax receipts for 2011 were €1.01bn and to the end of October 2012 amounted to €900.5m.
365. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made on an application for funding for the regeneration project (details supplied) in County Carlow. [53742/12]
View answerThere are no proposals with my Department for a regeneration project at the location in question.
366. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Statutory Instrument 291 of 2012, if he will provide a list of existing city and county managers who will still be entitled to special pension privileges on retirement of up to ten added years and a special severance gratuity payment of up to a half year salary as provided for under Article 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation)(Consolidation) Scheme 1998. [53762/12]
View answerLocal Authority Managers who held the office prior to 26 July 2012 are entitled to be considered for superannuation benefits under Article 78 (1) of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 to 2012.
367. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken in relation to a pyrite problem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53774/12]
View answerDiscussions with the stakeholders to provide for a solution to the pyrite problem in private housing have been on-going for some time. They are now at an advanced stage and should conclude very shortly , with outcomes arrived at on the basis of the report by the independent Pyrite Panel. The stakeholders have been invited to make final submissions which they are now doing. These will be evaluated in conjunction with the discussions which have taken place and will inform the next steps in providing a solution for affected homeowners. I am anxious to finalise this phase of the process and provide homeowners with some certainty as to how it is proposed to provide a remediation scheme. I have already announced my decision to proceed with the establishment of a Resolution Board as recommended in the pyrite report and will finalise these arrangements in tandem with the evaluation of the stakeholder’s responses.
368. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if staff in water services will be redeployed, sub-contracted or re-employed amongst councils. [53779/12]
View answerThe Government decided, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government has further decided that Irish Water should be established as an independent subsidiary of the Bord Gáis Group.
The skills within the Bord Gáis Group will be paired with the experience and commitment to service in local authorities and the specific water and wastewater capabilities and expertise that exist in local government to build the new organisation and ensure its successful establishment and operation. In the initial phase, Irish Water will work largely through service level agreements with local authorities, and these arrangements will not end until 2017 at the earliest. This will ensure a smooth transition to the new model and guard against the loss of local expertise. It will also mean that the majority of staff will remain in the direct employment of local authorities for a considerable period. There will be detailed engagement with Staff and Trade Unions in the roll-out of the proposed changes, and structures have been put in place to facilitate this engagement.
369. Deputy Thomas Pringle 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 2011 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. [53812/12]
View answer372. 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 2010 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. [53882/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 372 together.
The day to day operations of the Local Government Management Agency are a matter for the Board and the executive of the Agency. The information sought in the question is not available in my Department.
