Clare Daly
Question:696. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasons dormer housing is not eligible for attic insulation under the Sustainable Energy Ireland free scheme [34736/13]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 696-712
696. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasons dormer housing is not eligible for attic insulation under the Sustainable Energy Ireland free scheme [34736/13]
View answer697. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date the decision to exclude dormer housing from attic insulation was reached under the free scheme. [34737/13]
View answer698. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a private contractor would be in a position to conduct attic insulation and a contractor under the Sustainable Energy Ireland scheme is not in a position to do so under the policy change regarding dormer attic insulation. [34738/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 696 to 698, inclusive, together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage, and via an area based approach. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation and are free of charge to the eligible homeowners. To date the programme has addressed almost 100,000 fuel poor homes, 5,500 of those in 2013.
Dormer roofs present particular technical challenges meaning that traditional insulation, as used under the scheme, can only be installed in certain parts of the roof space resulting in only partial insulation coverage. A full insulation solution would only be possible with recourse to expensive internal dry-lining, not provided under the scheme due to budgetary constraints. Furthermore, the provision of adequate ventilation in an attic space to mitigate the risks of harmful condensation increases costs significantly. The practice of insulating dormer roofs through the scheme was reviewed in mid-2012, in the context of trying to address the maximum number of energy poor homes from within available resources. On balance it was decided that the significant additional costs are not generally justified relative to the marginal insulation gains. Therefore insulation of dormer roofs has not been implemented under the scheme since July 2012.
Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hotline 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.
699. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the Government supported International Energy Research Centre and the involvement of University College Cork and the Cork Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34188/13]
View answerThe International Energy Research Centre (IERC) is a joint initiative between industry, Government Departments and Agencies. Established in 2010-11, it is supported by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation working with a coordinated agency project team drawn from IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
It is hosted by the Tyndall National Institute, based in Cork and part of University College Cork. To date, six major industrial partners are formally signed up and actively engaged: Alcatel-Lucent, Bord Gáis Éireann, GM, HSG Zander, IBM and United Technologies Research Centre (UTRC). The IERC strategy is to position Ireland as a leading edge location for developing integrated energy solutions where knowledge-intensive international and Irish companies along with leading research partners will develop innovative energy solutions for global markets. Its focus is thus on turning research ideas into businesses and jobs.
Within this initiative over €5 million of research activity is underway across a number of research establishments in Ireland’s Higher Education Institutions – in NUI Galway, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, University College Dublin, Dublin Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology. These activities include development of new technology solutions, such as wireless sensors for commercial buildings, home area networks and smart factories, and are linked to international research expertise in the USA, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Apart from its host role through the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork is part of the research team on two projects, investigating wireless sensor technology, energy diagnostic tools for buildings and thermal storage materials. Cork Institute of Technology is part of the research team on two projects, investigating wireless sensor technology and energy diagnostic tools for buildings.
701. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on discussions with the UK Government on the export of wind generated renewable energy and the associated proposed wind farm projects in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34214/13]
View answer719. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commit to an immediate full and independent cost/benefit analysis to the State of its current wind energy strategy taking into account energy supply to both the Irish grid and for export, in view of the scale of current and planned wind farm developments; if he will ensure that such a study will examine all aspects of wind farm development, including actual carbon saved, the carbon footprint of production/construction, fossil fuel saved, allowing for spinning reserve, increased grid capital costs, the number of energy jobs created, the number of energy jobs displaced, the effect on energy prices and the resulting impact on national competitiveness, net jobs displaced solely because of reduced competitiveness, environmental damage, tourism impact and social impact; if he will ensure that the study will be carried out by competent consultants who are completely independent of his Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the wind companies and any other vested interest to ensure objectivity and credibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34968/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 701 and 719 together.
In 2012 I published the Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012-2020. This strategy reiterates the Government’s firm view that “the development of Ireland’s abundant indigenous renewable energy resources, both onshore and offshore, clearly stands on its own merits in terms of contribution to the economy, to the jobs and growth agenda, to environmental sustainability and to diversity of energy supply”. It is this position that informs Ireland’s commitment to delivering on its binding EU obligations under the Renewable Energy Directive, which assigned 2020 renewable targets to each Member State in 2009.
On the basis of expert advice, the Strategy for Renewable Energy also identified Ireland has the capability to achieve our national targets for renewable electricity from onshore renewable generation alone. In addition, it also recognised that Ireland has an excellent and abundant renewable energy resource, which has the potential to produce amounts of renewable electricity significantly in excess of the amounts required to meet our 2020 target. It is in this context that the opportunity to harness this resource for the export market, and realise its potential for investment, job creation and economic growth has been identified.
To this end, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation with my UK counterpart, Mr. Edward Davey, on 24 January this year. This MoU clearly signals the joint interest of Ireland and the UK in developing the opportunity for trading in renewable energy to our mutual benefit.
Detailed consideration of how Ireland’s onshore and offshore wind resources might be developed for export to the UK is now under way, with a view to determining if it is beneficial for both countries to enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
There are very complex issues to be considered, such as, the actual scale of the export generation capacity required by the UK, the approach to be taken to grid development, the job creation potential and other economic benefits for Ireland, and the sharing of potential benefits between both States. The mechanism for remunerating any wind farms that may in the future export renewable energy to the UK has yet to be decided, but will not involve any subsidy costs being imposed on the Irish State. Any IGA would also have to ensure an adequate return to the Irish Exchequer.
Though it is ambitious, the target for completion of this work is early 2014, with a view to electricity being exported to the UK by 2020 in order to be counted towards the UK’s national target under the Renewables Directive.
Should an IGA be entered into, the development of any new wind farms for the export market would be underpinned by a clear policy framework. Such developments would also be subject to a selection process and to the Planning and Development Acts, including their requirements for public consultation. Based on principles yet to be established in an IGA, the need for further analysis to identify in more detail, the upper levels of Ireland’s capacity to develop generation and transmission infrastructure for large scale export of renewable energy, taking into account environmental and planning considerations, has been identified.
702. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the schools where high-speed broadband has been installed under the scheme funded by his Department since 1 January 2013, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34390/13]
View answerAll post-primary schools will have a 100Mbps broadband connection installed by the end of 2014, through a project jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills (DES).
In March last, I announced that all post-primary schools in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath will be provided with a 100Mbps broadband connection in 2013 under the phased national programme. The breakdown on a county basis is set out in the following table:
County |
No. of Schools |
Dublin |
185 |
Kildare |
24 |
Meath |
20 |
Total |
229 |
Additionally, all new schools scheduled to open during the year as well as those located in Counties completed under the national programme last year will also be connected in 2013. The breakdown of this category of schools on a county basis is set out in the following table:
County |
No of Schools |
Cavan |
1 |
Galway |
2 |
Leitrim |
1 |
The procurement process to establish a framework agreement for service providers to connect the remaining schools in the programme is currently being undertaken. These schools are scheduled to have their connections installed by the end of 2013.
I will forward shortly to the Deputy a copy of the list of schools scheduled for connection in 2013.
703. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to set up a forum, made up of third level institutions, oil and gas companies, trade unions, Government nominees and environmental and community representatives, and if ongoing contact can be pursued with other countries such as Norway and Portugal to exchange ideas on best practice regarding offshore oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34395/13]
View answerThe issues raised by the Deputy are two of the eleven recommendations made by the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture in its report of May 2012 on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration.
As the Deputy will be aware the debate on the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee concluded last week. In the context of the outcome of the debate I propose to reflect on the Report’s recommendations.
In respect of the specific recommendation to establish a stakeholders forum, whilst I have no immediate plans to establish such a forum, both I and my Departmental officials meet with stakeholders and consider their views. In respect of the specific recommendation that my Department should pursue on-going contact with other countries, I should point out that officials from my Department, in the context of international petroleum exploration related fora, regularly meet with senior officials from other European administrations and exchange ideas on best practice on various aspects of petroleum exploration and production.
704. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [34399/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form as follows. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned.
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost - € |
Date of commission |
Date or expected date of publication |
Dr Michael Johnson |
Silvermines Vegetation Study |
5,848 |
August 2011 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
Camp Dresser McKee CDM |
Sampling of Gortmore and Silvermines Vegetation |
13,890 |
July 2011 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
Purvin & Gertz |
Strategic Case for Oil Refining requirements |
193,997 |
August 2011 |
July 2013 |
PA Consulting Group |
National Digital Research Centre |
29,040 |
July 2011 |
This report was not published. The report is commercially sensitive as it is a Strategic Review of the NDRC to inform decisions about the future of the NDRC after the Concession Agreement expires in 2013. |
OHH Energy Ltd |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
41,120 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
Elimark |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
38,786 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
2B Energy |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
32,284 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Economic/Socio-Economic Analysis of options for rollout of next generation broadband |
28,167 |
May 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
SLR Consulting |
Core Library Holdings Review |
39,688 |
Sept 2011 – Dec 2011 |
Jan 2012 |
Jenny Deakin |
Preparation for the Graigue Group Water Scheme Report |
1,750 |
April 2011 – Sept 2011 |
Sept 2011 |
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost - € |
Date of commission |
Date or expected date of publication |
Analysys Mason |
Analysis of options for potential State intervention in the rollout of next generation broadband |
30,522 |
May 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
CDM Smith Ireland Limited |
Environmental Monitoring at former mining areas of Silvermines, Co. Tipperary and Avoca, Co. Wicklow |
153,000 |
December 2012 |
On completion of scheduled reports |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Assessment of Economic Contribution of Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland |
53,690 |
October 2012 |
Q3 2013 |
Thornton’s Chartered Surveyors |
Provision of land valuation and negotiation services |
3,690 |
July 2012 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost - € |
Date of commission |
Date or expected date of publication |
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector |
€10,000 |
Dec 2011 – Feb 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive. |
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector |
€10,000 |
March 2013 – June 2013 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive. |
Pricewaterhouse Coopers Ltd |
Scheduled review of INFOMAR Project |
€59,505 |
Dec 2012 – May 2013 |
publication due in September 2013 |
AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Ltd |
Expert Services to Monitor Mining Activities and Compliance with terms of State Mining Leases/Licences. |
41,000 |
December 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive |
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost - € |
Date of commission |
Date or expected date of publication |
Indecon (Ireland) |
Provision of a Macro-Economic Research Exercise under the National Digital Strategy to Determine the Value of Internet/Digital to the Irish Economy |
€72,474 |
November 2012 |
July 2013 |
Environ UK Ltd |
Corrib gasfield project – monitoring compliance with the Conditions of the Department’s Letter of Consent dated 25 February 2011 |
€355,796 |
June 2011 |
End 2014 |
Norcontel (Ireland) Ltd |
Market analysis of backhaul infrastructure in Mayo and Galway |
€10,500 |
May 2013 |
June 2013 |
705. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a ban on fracking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/13]
View answerThree onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right, to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned. I can confirm that two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted applications for a follow-on exploration licence.
I have made it clear on a number of occasions that any application for an exploration licence that proposed the use of hydraulic fracturing as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme would be subject to an environmental impact assessment. I have also made clear that such an environmental impact assessment would be informed by the findings of further research to be commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and that no decision would be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling in Ireland until there has been time to consider the outcome of this further EPA research.
In relation to the two applications received, my Department will shortly commence its evaluation, focusing on the technical rationale underpinning the applications, along with the corporate information provided. Where the outcome of this stage of the evaluation is positive, further consideration of the application will then be put on hold until after the findings of the new EPA research have been published.
I would also like to confirm that I do not propose to consider applications for exploration authorisations in respect of other onshore areas until the EPA research has concluded.
706. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34509/13]
View answer732. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual saving to the Exchequer if all State agency board fees were reduced by 25% under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35796/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 732 together.
The information which the Deputy requested is set out in tabular form. The Deputy will be aware that the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides that serving public sector employees are not eligible to receive remuneration in relation to their membership of boards of State bodies. The Deputy will also be aware that non-public sector board members may choose to voluntarily waive their fees as a matter of personal choice in recognition of the current difficult economic circumstances. Both of these policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have been brought to the attention of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. The payment of board members’ expenses is an operational matter for each State body. In the case of Commercial State Bodies, any fees payable are not funded by the Exchequer.
In the case of public bodies established by Statute, the maximum, and sometimes minimum, number of persons that may be appointed to the Board is generally set out in the relevant legislation. I have set out in the table below the maximum number of persons that could be appointed to these bodies together with the fee level that may be paid in each case.
Body/Regulator |
Number of Members |
Board Fee Applicable |
Fee if there was a 25% reduction |
An Post |
15 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
Category 1 Chair: €23,625 Director: €11,812.50 |
Bord Gáis Éireann |
9 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
Category 1 Chair: €23,625 Director: €11,812.50 |
Bord na Móna |
12 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
Category 2 Chair: €16,200 Director: €9,450 |
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
9 |
Category 4 Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
Category 4 Chair: €6,733.50 Director: €4,488.75 |
Digital Hub Development Authority |
**14 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
Category 3 Chair: €8,977.50 Director: €5,771.25 |
EirGrid |
10 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
Category 2 Chair: €16,200 Director: €9,450 |
ESB |
12 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
Category 1 Chair: €23,625 Director: €11,812.50 |
Body/Regulator |
Number of Members |
Board Fee Applicable |
Fee if there was a 25% reduction |
Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) |
12 |
*Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
Category 3 Chair: €8,977.50 Director: €5,771.25 |
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
10 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
Category 3 Chair: €8,977.50 Director: €5,771.25 |
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd |
**5 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
Category 2 Chair: €16,200 Director: €9,450 |
Mining Board |
3 |
Fees per day/sitting |
Fees per day/sitting |
National Oil Reserves Agency |
**6 |
Category 4 Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
Category 4 Chair: €6,733.50 Director: €4,488.75 |
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
10 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
Category 3 Chair: €8,977.50 Director: €5,771.25 |
RTÉ |
12 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
Category 1 Chair: €23,625 Director: €11,812.50 |
TG4 |
12 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
Category 2 Chair: €16,200 Director: €9,450 |
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
**12 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
Category 3 Chair: €8,977.50 Director: €5,771.25 |
*The Irish Exchequer pays half of the cost of Loughs Agency board fees
** Staff in my Department are on the Board and no fee is applicable to them.
707. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department is compiling the information she has requested and I will write to her with the information sought as a matter of urgency. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in non-commercial Semi State Companies, including reductions arising from the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies.
708. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34541/13]
View answer710. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34573/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 710 together.
The followng table outlines details of fees paid for professional services as defined by the deduction of witholding tax by my Department between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013.
My Department administers a very diverse, complex and extremely technical brief. It has a total complement of around 250 full-time equivalent staff, of whom a limited number are technical personnel. This reality necessarily requires my Department to procure specialist external professional advice notably in legal, financial and technical areas to enable it to discharge its very wide brief. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these professional services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence based policy making. Furthermore, in relation to the competitive tendering for contracts my Department adheres to the relevant EU Regulations and Department of Finance Guidelines on the procurement of goods and services. I would also point out that many of the consultancies relate to individual time limited projects where it is more sensible from a value for money perspective to engage consultants rather than permanent staff. In a number of cases, e.g. Tellus Border Project, the cost is either fully or partially funded by the EU.
Applying a unilateral 20% reduction in professional fees would reduce the amount paid by approximately €1 million. This figure is however a mathematical exercise, as the competitive tendering process ensures a market rate is obtained for the professional services being delivered.
Professional fees paid by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resource
Name |
Description of Service |
Amount (€) |
Mason Communications (Irl) Ltd |
Communications Consultancy on digital projects |
65,812 |
David Fox Associates |
Petroleum Engineering |
124,675 |
Deloitte & Touche |
Procurement advice on specialist communications projects |
10,094 |
ESRI Ireland |
Software licensing, maintenance and development |
230,137 |
Mason Hayes + Curran |
Assistance in implementation of National Postcode System |
17,454 |
Natural Environment Research Council |
TELLUS Border Project |
986,404 |
Version 1 Software |
Software licensing |
8,344 |
Morgan Geophysics |
Geophysical Consultancy |
89,888 |
Dr. Robert Meehan |
National Quaternary Mapping |
22,001 |
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Financial Advisory Service |
164,827 |
Bearingpoint Ireland Ltd |
IT licensing & systems maintenance and development |
23,231 |
Name |
Description of Service |
Amount (€) |
Compass Informatics Ltd |
ICT input into Marine and geophysics projects |
111,646 |
Murphy Surveys Ltd |
INFOMAR Project |
7,545 |
Keane Offshore Integrity Ltd |
Corrib Gas Consultancy |
106,944 |
John Deasy |
Marine Geoscience & Hydrographic Services |
36,668 |
Maria Judge |
Marine Geoscience Services |
48,129 |
Niall Finn |
Marine Geological Services |
42,859 |
Ms. Mairead Glennon |
Geological Project Management Consultancy, TELLUS Border Project, GSI |
51,150 |
Indecon |
National Broadband Plan, eInclsion & the contribution of mining sector on economy |
114,227 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
Geoscience Initiatives on groundwater |
213,210 |
Grainne O'Shea |
Geographic Information Systems Services |
69,459 |
Mr. Phelim Lally |
Specialist for National Aggregate potential Mapping |
59,729 |
Client Solutions Limited |
Software Maintenance |
110,220 |
Aurum Exploration Ltd |
Geoscience Initiatives on bedrock |
43,267 |
Geo Marine Survey Systems BV |
Offshore Data Acquisition, |
3,046 |
CDM Smith Ireland Ltd T/A CDM |
Mine safety and environmental monitoring of Avoca and Silvermines, EMD |
43,558 |
Ronan O'Toole |
Marine Geoscience & Hydrographic Services, INFOMAR |
56,938 |
W1 Design |
Information Society and eInclusion |
13,447 |
PA Consulting Group |
Assistance in implementation of National Postcode System |
209,133 |
Mouchel Parkman Ireland Ltd |
Landslide Susceptibility Mapping |
43,290 |
VBF Technologies |
Information Society and eInclusion |
31,396 |
Construction Consultancy Svs |
Geoscience Initiatives |
35,246 |
Jenny Deakin |
Hydrogeological Services, Groundwater Source Protection |
7,350 |
Janine Guinan |
Marine Geoscience Services |
52,181 |
Reidy Brophy Limited |
Emergency Exercise for Oil Supply Disruption |
5,680 |
Peter Conroy |
Hydrogeological Services, Groundwater Source Protection Work |
7,067 |
Tom Browne |
Survey Vessel Master Services, INFOMAR |
41,474 |
Shane Carey |
Geographic Information Systems Services, TELLUS Border Project |
59,089 |
Environ uk ltd |
Monitoring consent conditions for Corrib Gas Consultancy |
166,412 |
Dúlra Iorrais Teoranta |
Marine Geoscience Services, INFOMAR |
4,371 |
Eoin Mc Craith |
Marine Geoscience Services, INFOMAR |
41,349 |
Brian Smith |
Survey vessel master services |
23,856 |
Atlas Services Group |
Hydrographic Data Processing-INFOMAR |
116,512 |
Versata FZ - LLC |
Software Licensing |
72,180 |
Waterwise Environmental |
Water Sample Analyses, TELLUS Border Project |
68,156 |
Katherine Knights |
Geochemical Consultancy, TELLUS Border Project |
61,370 |
Beta Analytic Limited |
INFOMAR Operations |
2,041 |
Morrow Communications |
Community and Landowner Outreach Consultancy, TELLUS Border Project |
9,688 |
Gill Scott |
Marine Geoscience Services, INFOMAR |
22,289 |
Latinollo Limited |
National Analogue Switch Off Campaign |
767,472 |
OConnell Agri-Enviromental Consultants (OCAE) |
Geochemical Data Acquisition, TELLUS Border Project |
68,588 |
Peter Cooney |
Geographic Information Systems Services, National Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping |
46,327 |
Ronan Tierney (Tierney & Associates ) |
Internal Audit Consultancy |
66,819 |
OHH Energy |
Consultancy –Meath Tyrone Power Lines |
4,198 |
2B Energy |
Consultancy –Meath Tyrone Power Lines |
1,342 |
Elimark AB |
Consultancy –Meath Tyrone Power Lines |
2,849 |
Jim Duffy |
Exemplar Networks |
4,139 |
Neary Marketing + Communications |
Data management and presentation |
1,600 |
Cloda Ryan |
Pensions Advisor |
160 |
Irish Observer Network Ltd |
Survey Vessel Master Services, INFOMAR |
5,953 |
Mostop Ltd |
Geoscience Initiatives |
55,729 |
LHM Casey McGrath |
Geoscience Initiatives |
670 |
Capital Business Svs Ltd T/A Capita Consulting |
Internal audit services |
24,080 |
Seighin Lennon |
Marine and Geophysics, INFOMAR |
1,920 |
Botanical Environmental Consultants (BEC) |
Environmental Impacts Assessments |
7,668 |
Communications Consultants Ireland |
Public and stakeholder consultation meetings |
1,505 |
5,016,054 |
709. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of all third level courses, training programmes and courses and accompanying cost for the 2012/13 academic year, 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013, provided for employees of his Department. [34557/13]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is seeking information on courses of third level study, funded by my Department and pursued by staff outside of working hours. Each year my Department invites staff to make an application for funding within the terms of the Refund of Fees Programme (Post-Entry Education) under Department of Finance Circular 23/07. Applications are prioritised with reference to the relevance of the course to the applicant's role and to the work of their Division and the Department.
In the interests of value for money, the level of funding my Department provides for new applications is determined following assessment of the number of applications approved for the academic year. Funding for staff in the second or subsequent year of a relevant third level course is also provided.
Funding is provided on the basis that a portion is made available at the start of the academic year with the balance payable on successful completion of the academic year including any prescribed examinations, verified by the relevant college or institution.
The following table sets out details on courses supported under this scheme for the academic year 2012-13:
Refund of Fees – Academic Year 2012-2013
Course |
Total Cost |
Bachelor of Business Studies Accounting |
€2,980.00 |
BSC (Hons) Computing IT & Mathematics |
€1,137.21 |
MBA |
€6,025 |
Doctorate in Governance |
€10,000 |
Doctorate in Governance |
€10,000 |
PHD in Physics |
€3,800 |
MSc Forensic Computing & Cybercrime Investigation |
€3,370 |
Bridging course for Economics Degree |
€125 |
Environmental Science |
€1,767.10 |
Total |
€39,204.31 |
711. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for his Department. [34589/13]
View answer712. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department. [34605/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together.
The Revised Estimates Volume 2013 provides for an allocation of €135,000 to training and development for the staff of my Department and an allocation of €582,000 for travel and subsistence.
The following table applies the percentages to the estimated allocations. Such figures are a mathematical exercise and can provide no measure of the consequence of reduction in travel necessarily involved in fieldwork and other domestic travel, or the impact that would arise in terms of participation in and advocacy in European Union, International Energy Agency and other international bodies. I can assure the Deputy that the sums provided are the minimum necessary in light of work requirements and available resources.
% reduction |
Training and Development (2013 allocation - €135,000) |
Travel and Subsistence (2013 allocation - €582,000) |
1% |
- |
€5,820 |
5% |
€6,750 |
€29,100 |
7% |
€9,450 |
€40,740 |
10% |
€13,500 |
€58,200 |
12% |
€16,200 |
€69,840 |
15% |
€20,250 |
€87,300 |
17% |
€22,950 |
€98,940 |
20% |
€27,000 |
€116,400 |