Written Answers Nos. 139-46
139. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to choose a permanent date for the commemoration of the Famine every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3496/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring on behalf of the Government that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine.
Although the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony retains a degree of continuity in its format, the date and artistic and cultural elements of the commemoration may change from year to year. It is not possible to fix the same date each year due to the particular circumstances that may arise around the arrangements for the commemoration in that year. However, in 2009, 2010 and 2012, the circumstances surrounding the commemorations facilitated the choice of the second Sunday in May.
The Deputy may be aware that the National Famine Commemoration Committee has agreed that this year's National Famine Commemoration will take place in Kilrush, County Clare. My Department is currently engaging with all of the relevant stakeholders and I can advise the Deputy that I expect to announce the date of this year's National Famine Commemoration very shortly.
140. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consultations that took place between his Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the potential threat of environmental damage posed to the special area of conservation from Rockabill to the Dalkey Island reefs by the greater Dublin drainage project; his views that such a threat exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3607/13]
View answerMy Department has had consultations with Fingal County Council in relation to this proposed project, which, I understand, would fall to be considered by An Bord Pleanála. The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government may also have a function if a foreshore consent is required (a function previously exercised by the former Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries), but no consultations have taken place between the Departments in relation to this project at this stage.
Public authorities, when considering applications for consent, must consider potential impacts on sites proposed for designation, or designated, as Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas. This is required under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, as transposed through the Planning and Development Acts, for planning consents and through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations for all other consents. There is a legal obligation on the relevant authority to screen for, and subsequently carry out, where required, an appropriate assessment.
Following the appropriate assessment, it may be determined that the proposed works are acceptable, if they do not adversely affect the integrity of the site. The undertaking of an appropriate assessment can also serve to inform consent authorities of suitable mitigation measures that can be applied to consents in order to remove any danger to protected sites.
141. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he or his officials met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3614/13]
View answerI would like to advise the Deputy that neither I nor any of the officials from my Department have met with representatives from the tobacco industry in the last six months.
142. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the evidence for oil and gas on the Porcupine Bank, west of County Galway. [3526/13]
View answerThe level of exploration offshore Ireland is low and as a result Ireland’s petroleum potential is largely unproven with only four commercial gas discoveries since exploration began in the early 1970s; namely the Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads producing gas fields off the coast of Cork and the Corrib gas field off the Mayo coast, which is currently being developed. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date.
Despite the low level of exploration activity to date, working petroleum systems are known to exist in many of Ireland’s offshore basins, as demonstrated by a number of non-commercial discoveries as well as other oil and gas indicators such as hydrocarbon shows in wells. The following table details the seventeen discoveries offshore Ireland to date, including three non-commercial discoveries in the Porcupine Basin.
Commercial Discoveries - Offshore Ireland
|
Discovery Name |
Discovery Year |
Hydrocarbon Type |
Area |
|
Kinsale Head |
1971 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Ballycotton |
1989 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Seven Heads |
1973 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Corrib |
1996 |
Gas |
Slyne Basin |
Non-Commercial Discoveries - Offshore Ireland
|
Discovery Name |
Discovery Year |
Hydrocarbon Type |
Area |
|
Barryroe |
*1973 |
Oil |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Ardmore |
1974 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Burren |
1978 |
Oil |
Porcupine Basin |
|
Connemara |
1979 |
Oil |
Porcupine Basin |
|
Spanish Point |
1981 |
Gas Condensate |
Porcupine Basin |
|
Helvick |
1983 |
Oil |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Dunmore |
1985 |
Oil |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Galley Head |
1985 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Dooish |
2002 |
Gas Condensate |
Rockall Basin |
|
Old Head of Kinsale |
2006 |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Hook Head |
2007 (Initially identified 1971) |
Oil |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Schull |
2007 (Initially identified 1987) |
Gas |
North Celtic Sea Basin |
|
Bandon |
2009 |
Oil |
Slyne Basin |
*Oil the Barryroe structure identified in 1973. Primary Barryroe reservoir (Basal Wealden Sands) initially tested in 1990. Providence Resources successfully drilled, appraised and improved oil flow rates from the Basal Wealden Sands in 2012.
143. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has been taken to introduce post codes; the progress that has been made to date; if a target date has been set for their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3533/13]
View answerIt is Government policy to implement postcodes. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System began in 2011 with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on www.etenders.gov.ie. That process is still ongoing, and it is expected to conclude in the first half of 2013. The final decision to proceed with implementation of a national postcode will be one for Government and will be based on appropriate financial, technical and operational considerations.
144. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are any schemes in his Department under which a primary school may apply for funding for attic and cavity wall insulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3534/13]
View answerOverall education policy, including capital spending on schools, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Communities on behalf of my Department. Under the Better Energy Programme, Better Energy Communities supports sustainable energy upgrades to existing buildings, services, facilities and processes, in the community sector. The Communities scheme is aimed at achieving on-going and lasting energy savings. Projects like the one mentioned, where funding is sought for thermal efficiency upgrades to a primary school, are eligible for consideration. The scheme will be advertised on the SEAI website at (www.seai/grants ) once it opens in 2013.
The Energy in Education programme may also be of interest to the school as it provides support for energy management in schools and helps them to reduce their energy bills. Further information is available at (www.energyineducation.ie).
145. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his officials met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3616/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither I, nor officials in my Department, have met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months.
146. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the blocking of Skype and similar communications software by cellular telephone providers in the context of EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3683/13]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications network services, including Skype services, is a matter in the first instance for service providers operating in a fully liberalised telecommunications market. It is a requirement of EU telecommunications law that market regulation is undertaken by an independent market regulator. I am advised by the Commission for Communications Regulation, the independent market regulator, that it has received a small number of consumer complaints in respect of one operator blocking Skype, which it is currently investigating.
