Written Answers Nos. 767 - 784
767. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department have examined any proposals or projects within the remit of his Department which might result in alleviation of youth unemployment with particular reference to historic sites, buildings or locations requiring particular or specific action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38834/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of the research report on the Economic Value of Ireland’s Historic Environment, published in 2012, which establishes that heritage conservation and tourism have very significant economic value and that Ireland’s historic environment supports over 35,000 jobs. The report, commissioned by the Heritage Council and prepared under the direction of a steering committee chaired by my Department, provides comprehensive evidence-based data that supports and enhances our innate understanding of the importance of our built heritage in supporting employment.
Whilst not specifically presenting the data with reference to youth, the report indicates that capital investment in built heritage conservation provides significant employment in the construction industry, while also assisting in developing and maintaining specialised skills among conservation professionals and craftspeople. While funding for investment in heritage is particularly limited at present, my Department will continue to provide funding within available resources for the protection, conservation and development of our built and natural heritage, which will in turn generate employment. In May, for example, I approved offers of funding to thirty-four local authorities under my Department’s Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to forty-five heritage structures from my Department's 2013 Built Heritage Capital Programme. As the Deputy will appreciate, small but targeted heritage grants can incentivise job-rich investment in existing assets, particularly given that built heritage conservation work is labour intensive and uses high-end craft and professional skills.
In addition, my Department has committed to consider initiatives in traditional building skills and energy efficiency in traditionally built structures in conjunction with relevant stakeholders. Whilst not their primary focus, it is anticipated that employment generation would arise from these initiatives.
768. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps his Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of his Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie that is in a clear and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Public Appointments Service already advertises a large number of public service posts on publicjobs.ie. While the filling of sanctioned vacancies in bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group is generally a matter for the individual organisations and boards concerned, my Department's clear policy is to require the use of the publicjobs.ie as part of the recruitment strategy for any such vacancies.
769. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full year saving to the Exchequer if all non-commercial State sponsored bodies CEO salaries under the aegis of his Department were reduced by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39266/13]
View answerI am advised that an estimated pay saving of €105,000 would accrue if the salaries of the CEO's/Directors of non-commercial State bodies/agencies funded from my Department's Vote Group were reduced by 10%. This figure does not take account of the North South Implementation Bodies under the aegis of my Department, where pay and conditions are governed by the North South Ministerial Council.
770. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full year saving to the Exchequer if all State agency board members fees, non-commercial State-sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State companies, under the aegis of his Department were reduced by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39276/13]
View answerBased on the annual fees currently payable to members of the boards of statutory agencies and national cultural institutions funded from my Department's Vote, I am advised that an annual saving of approximately €63,600 would accrue to the Exchequer, if fees were to be reduced by 25%. It should be noted that some members of boards that are also public servants are not entitled to claim fees due to the 'one salary' rule. In addition, some board members have waived their fee on a voluntary basis.
However, the Deputy should also note that, in the context of the Government Public Service Reform Plan, members of boards or councils at a range of bodies/institutions will serve without a fee. Pending the enactment of legislation to enshrine this new approach, I have written to the relevant organisations to request that they implement this approach voluntarily. In addition, the boards of a number of the bodies in question will be scaled back to a maximum number of 9 members each, including the Chair. In line with this approach, I took the opportunity, when appointing the new board of the Irish Film Board earlier this year, to reduce by 100% the fees formerly payable to the Chairperson and ordinary members and that board is now operating pro bono .
771. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the conservation levels of salmon stock in both the Suir and in the Nore have reached acceptable levels and they have therefore been reopened for net snap fishing, if he will confirm that once the conservation levels of the stock of salmon on the Barrow has also been reached and snap net fishing is reopened there, if it will then follow that this will lead to the traditional drift net fishery being reopened on the Suir further down where the three rivers flow together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/13]
View answerThe Salmon Conservation Limit (CL) in any river is the number of spawning salmon required to maintain a sustainable population and is used to indicate the number of salmon in a river system above which a harvestable surplus can be considered. Salmon conservation limits are set similarly for all of Ireland’s 142 salmon rivers. The main criteria used are the size of the river (wetted area) and the latitude. In addition factors specific to each river are used such as the proportion of one sea winter salmon and multi sea winter salmon in the population and the average weight of these salmon. Other inputs to calculating conservation limits nationally are proportions of male and female salmon and the average numbers of eggs per female fish. The Independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) advice for the Suir for 2013 was that the river was meeting its CL and had a surplus of 2,371 salmon. The SSC advice for the Nore for 2013 was that the river was also meeting its CL and had a surplus of 5,548 salmon. On the basis of this advice a Snap net fishery was open on both rivers, although with a restricted season on the River Suir to facilitate rational exploitation for the smaller surplus of Salmon in that river. The SSC advice for the River Barrow for 2013 was that it was significantly below its conservation limit and therefore would remain closed for harvesting of Salmon. The opening of a Snap net fishery on the River Barrow could only be considered if there is a suitable surplus of salmon (in excess of conservation limit) available for harvest. The snap net fisheries, which are a low intensity activity with relatively low exploitation rates, apply to each individual river. IFI have advised that there has never been a drift net fishery on any of the individual rivers and that drift nets previously fished only in the common Waterford Estuary area and not within individual river systems. I am advised that the common estuary is considered those estuarine waters below the confluence of the River Barrow, Nore and Suir and hence is a mixed stock fishery containing Salmon from, at the very least, the three distinct rivers of the Barrow, Nore and Suir.
Prior to any commercial fishing being considered in the estuary it will be necessary for all the rivers entering the estuary to be above their individual conservation limit and generating an individual surplus at the same time and for genetic analysis to have confirmed that no other stocks are mixed in the area. If genetic assessment can prove that the stocks in the area are specific to local rivers only, and that analysis shows that these stocks are all above their conservation limit with a surplus available for exploitation, consideration could be given to the operation of a commercial fishery on the estuary. The estuary would consititute a mixed stock fishery area, with fish originating in each of the tributary rivers. Permitting commercial fishing in such a mixed stock area where one of the genetically unique stocks is below its conservation limit would represent indiscriminate and irresponsible exploitation and would run counter to the conservation imperative.
Any future decision on a fishery can only be taken in the context of all river stocks contributing to the estuary area being above their conservation limit. Ireland must be particularly careful to ensure that all national and international legislation and other obligations are met in any future management regime.
As the Deputy will be aware €25 million has been paid under the Salmion Hardship Scheme to those who ceased mixed stock fisheries and in particular ceased drift net fishing. In all the circumstances the method and intensity of commercial fishing that could be permitted in any future surplus situation would have to be carefully investigated prior to consideration of the potential re-opening of the commercial fishery.
772. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the current proposed limits on the use of crop based biofuels currently being negotiated in the European Union; the effects such limits would have here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38320/13]
View answerThe 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Last year, the EU Commission proposed a new directive, which would include amendments to the Renewable Energy Directive, to take into account the risk of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) occurring as a result of the production of certain biofuels. ILUC is where the growing of crops for energy impacts on land use elsewhere. One of the amendments proposed was to limit to 5%, in energy terms, the contribution that certain crop based biofuels can make towards renewable energy targets for transport in EU Member States.The draft directive is still being discussed at EU Council Working Group level and a final Council position has yet to be agreed. The percentage that crop based biofuels will be allowed to contribute towards targets has proven to be a difficult issue to gain agreement on. I understand that the latest proposal from the Lithuanian Presidency is for a 7% cap on first generation biofuels which could be counted towards renewable energy targets. I also understand that the European Parliament has recently voted for a 6% cap but it appears that it has not yet a mandate to negotiate with Council. I am in agreement that the issue of ILUC needs to be addressed and that that the production of next generation biofuels, which have little or no risk of ILUC, must to be encouraged and supported.
Though the increased deployment of electric vehicles will make some contribution towards Ireland's 2020 transport target, the vast bulk of the target will be met by the use of biofuels. We import most of our biofuel requirements and will continue to do so to 2020. Currently, there is only one biofuel producer of scale in Ireland who produces biodiesel from waste materials, such as used cooking oil and tallow. This producer will not be impacted by the ILUC proposal. The availability of competitively priced sustainable biofuels to 2020 will continue to be monitored by my Department.
773. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by Inland Fisheries Ireland to close its Blackrock office and transfer Blackrock staff to IFI’s new HQ at CityWest and if he will provide a rationale or a business case behind this decision; and if the closure of these offices in Blackrock will provide any savings to the taxpayer. [36799/13]
View answer774. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by Inland Fisheries Ireland to close its Blackrock office and transfer Blackrock staff to IFI HQ; and if he has satisfied himself that meaningful engagement with staff through the proper industrial relations channels has taken place in relation to this decision. [36800/13]
View answer775. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by Inland Fisheries Ireland to close its Blackrock office and transfer Blackrock staff to IFI HQ, Swords; if he Is satisfied that his Department has benefitted from a cost benefit analysis in relation to this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36801/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 773 to 775, inclusive, together.
At the outset, I would emphasise that matters in relation to premises and staffing are day to day operational matters for public bodies, in this instance Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). As the Deputy will appreciate, accommodation and staffing are amongst the most significant cost components of public sector bodies and it is incumbent on all agencies to achieve economy and efficiency. In this context, the Deputy will be pleased to learn that the Board of IFI has commenced a strategic rationalisation of its Dublin based accommodation into one location.
On its establishment, IFI had accommodation at three locations in Swords, including leasing a headquarters building, and premises in Glasnevin and Blackrock. As part of this rationalisation, and in keeping with Government policy to exit from expensive leases wherever possible, IFI exercised the break clause on the Swords Headquarters when it arose and has already disposed of the Glasnevin premises.
A key part of the accommodation strategy is the rationalisation and amalgamation of all Dublin property, including the Blackrock Office. This rationalisation strategy will generate efficiencies and also savings over time in relation to lease rents and in terms of the significantly better energy efficiency of the new Headquarters facility in City West, which will also be consistent with Government commitments as regards reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The rationalisation will also assist in financing the fitting out of the new headquarters and other property rationalisations outside Dublin.
I am advised that the current proposal is to transfer Blackrock staff to the new IFI Headquarters Office in Citywest when it is complete and that there is no proposal to transfer staff currently stationed in Blackrock to the current IFI Headquarters Office in Swords. I am further informed that this rationalisation is being undertaken in conformity with Public Financial Procedures, including capital appraisal, and that IFI has engaged with all staff on these matters and are continuing to do so through the normal Industrial Relations channels.
776. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is any possibility of fast-tracking Eircom's Network for a Nation plans for broadband roll-out to a specific area and or townland which requires a more stable service than the rural broadband scheme, and if so, are there any social or economic criteria which would need to be met to make such fast-tracking viable. [36969/13]
View answer777. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 777. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm his plans regarding high speed rural broadband over the next two years; the number of homes and businesses that can hope to receive the services furing that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37008/13]
View answer816. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date on a plan (details supplied) on the delivery of a connected society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38249/13]
View answer818. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the expected price goal to the end use for high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38251/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 776, 777, 816 and 818 together.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published last Autumn, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all of our citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and
- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
While I do not have statutory authority to direct commercial companies in the rollout of services, the National Broadband Plan aims to facilitate investment in such services. Since the publication of the Plan, eircom has extended its plans for the rollout of high speed services to 1.2m premises, and other fixed line and mobile operators are investing in enhanced product offerings, including 4G mobile and high speed cable services. These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction and regulatory arrangements for next generation access. Publication of the National Digital Strategy, and changes to planning and permitting regimes will also facilitate investment by the commercial sector, in line with the commitments in the National Broadband Plan.
In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained. My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector to identify where the market is expected to deliver high speed broadband services over the coming years. The results of this mapping exercise will inform the level of Government intervention that may be required and the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. All relevant matters, including issues related to pricing, will be considered as the process develops. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
778. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if lo-call and local numbers could be displayed for all Departments and local authorities to provide persons with an option to choose the most economical telephone number based on their current telephone provider and phone packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37059/13]
View answerThe issue of the use and display of lo-call and other contact numbers in Government Departments is an operational matter for individual Departments themselves and my Department has no overall remit in this regard. My Department provides details on its website, in publications and correspondence on the means by which the Department may be contacted, for the information of all, so that they may choose the one most suited to their needs.
My Department uses both 1890 lo-call number and a national number for members of the public. The use of a lo-call number affords considerable savings to people who do not have access to free national call services.
In accordance with best practice there is an accompanying note on the Department’s website and in press notices or other literature advising that the rates charged for the use of the 1890 number may vary between service providers particularly mobile providers.
Those who have an entitlement to free national calls can of course ring the main Department number for free.
779. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his Departments interaction with a company (details supplied) surrounding its decision to cease exploration of offshore oil and gas at the Porcupine basin off the coast of County Kerry in July 2013; his views that its decision will impact of the future of offshore oil and gas exploration in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37097/13]
View answer781. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the petroleum affairs division of his Department has received the offshore oil and gas exploration data from ExxonMobil from its drilling activities off the coast of Ireland, as required by the licence terms when it was initially granted; if such data will be made available to the public or any other exploration company either now or in the future; how available this data will be used or availed of in years to come; if the Eirik Raude rig will stay in place, if it will be moved and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37287/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 779 and 781 together.
ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Ireland (Offshore) Limited is the operator of Frontier Exploration Licence 3/04, and also holds an interest in Frontier Exploration Licence 1/99. Both Frontier Exploration Licences are located in the Porcupine Basin off the Southwest coast.
On 22 April 2013 ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Ireland (Offshore) Limited received approval from my Department to drill a single exploration well (44/23-1) on the Frontier Exploration Licence 3/04 ‘Dunquin’ prospect, utilising the Eirik Raude drilling unit. Drilling operations commenced shortly afterwards and were completed on 30 July 2013. The drilling unit departed Irish waters shortly thereafter as originally planned.
During drilling operations and in accordance with the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production, and associated Rules and Procedures for Offshore Petroleum Exploration and Appraisal Operations, ExxonMobil provided my Department with technical well data which was analysed and interpreted by my Department’s technical specialists. ExxonMobil are also required to furnish a final well evaluation report to my Department in due course.
ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Ireland (Offshore) Limited remains the operator of Frontier Exploration Licence 3/04 and is currently evaluating the outcome of Exploration well 44/23-1.
In order to promote and assist effective petroleum exploration, my Department makes available to exploration companies a range of technical information relating to the Irish offshore, as soon as the confidentiality period in respect of such information has expired. In respect of Exploration well 44/23-1 the confidentiality period is five years from the completion of the well operations.
780. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will discuss the proposed strategic framework for specific wind energy export proposals and their assessment and the overall policy and planning framework that should guide An Bord Pleanála when considering any proposals for wind energy export projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37259/13]
View answerIn January of this year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum sent a strong signal of our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain and will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both countries. An agreed programme of work to this end is underway with the ambition to settle on an Inter-Governmental Agreement in early 2014. A key objective, from an Irish Government perspective, is to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. The amount of energy to be procured by the UK and the mechanisms for sharing the resultant economic benefits, including an appropriate return to the Exchequer, are among the matters to be addressed ahead of signing any Inter-Governmental Agreement. One of the key requirements for proposals of a significant scale for wind energy export will be the achievement of the necessary planning consents in Ireland. Planning permission for major renewable energy projects of significant scale are determined by An Bord Pleanála (ABP). In order to facilitate decisions by ABP on projects specifically for export, a clear national planning policy framework is essential and I have asked my Department to prepare such a framework. The policy framework will provide the opportunity to integrate relevant EU Directive requirements (including Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment), trans-boundary dimensions and stakeholder participation within the context of a national framework. The outcome will be a high level development framework taking its lead from the Inter-Governmental Agreement, EU Directive requirements and relevant national, regional and local planning policy considerations in conjunction with wider policies, objectives and requirements. It will incorporate a vision and strategy coupled with technical parameters and a spatial element.
The development of the framework will be progressed by my Department over the next year or so and will provide confidence and certainty for all stakeholders through an open, fair, balanced and consultative process. It is intended to commence public consultation in the coming weeks by formally inviting all interested parties and members of the public to make written submissions on the export project which will be taken into consideration in preparing the framework. Details on this will be provided through a new dedicated section on my Department’s website, exclusive to the project, and which will be updated as the project progresses.
It is important to note that any wind energy export strategy would also depend on the conclusion of an Inter-Governmental Agreement that would ensure such exports were in the interests of both Ireland and Britain.
782. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the legislative basis that registered electrical contractors must register by 1 October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37293/13]
View answerThe Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent statutory regulator and is tasked with regulating the activities of electrical contractors with respect to safety under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended by the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006 (the 2006 Act). The legislative basis for the requirement to which the Deputy refers is contained in the Statutory Instrument No. 264 of 2013, ELECTRICITY REGULATION ACT 1999 (RESTRICTED ELECTRICAL WORKS) REGULATIONS). This Statutory Instrument, which was promulgated in July, restricts the carrying out of all "Restricted Electrical Works" in a domestic setting to "Registered Electrical Contractors" with no legal exemption for the owner and occupier. The regulations are effective from 1 October 2013.
The primary legislative basis for this Statutory Instrument is Section 9E(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, which allows the CER to make regulations designating a class, or classes, of electrical works to be designed electrical works. The CER subsequently changed the title of such works from designated electrical works to restricted electrical works.
Further information on this matter can be found on the CER website www.cer.ie/en/electricity-safety-overview.aspx and also the www.safeireland.ie website.
783. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter regarding mobile phone charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37314/13]
View answerIssues relating to mobile phone charges are, in the first instance a matter for ComReg, the independent regulator for the telecommunications sector.I assume the Deputy’s question refers to a publication from the EU Commission’s Office in Dublin last month which claimed that Ireland’s mobile phone charges were more expensive than charges in certain other Member States. Aggregate costs per minute do not necessarily indicate the cheapest offer available in the Irish market and there is a significant variation in these costs across all operators. The EU publication also makes no distinction between pre- and post-paid customers.
According to data from Teligen (who compile telecom data and metrics on behalf of ComReg) the cost of mobile post-paid packages in Ireland is below or close to the EU average while the cost of pre-pay packages is above the average. Costs in Ireland are however converging to the EU average.
ComReg’s data also indicates that the costs have been decreasing over the last two years. In its Quarter 2 Report for June 2013 it shows that Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for mobile services in Q2 2013 was €27 per month, down from €29 for the same period in 2012.
This decline in ARPU is likely to be a reflection of a number of factors including reduced consumer spending, lower priced mobile plans, increased sales of bundled products (combining mobile with fixed calls and sometimes broadband) and reductions in roaming and mobile termination rates, among others.
784. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications for sports broadcasting here as a result of a recent court case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37347/13]
View answerAt a European level, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air in this jurisdiction. The recent decision of the Court of Justice, concerning an appeal by UEFA and FIFA over events listed as being of major importance in Belgium and the UK, does not affect the current list of sports events designated for coverage on free-to-air television in Ireland. Under the 2009 Act, I, as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three years and it is my intention to conduct such a review in due course. In line with the current legislative provisions, this would involve a period of public consultation to which interested parties could contribute.
Any proposals to amend the current list of designated events in the course of such a review would be required to take account of the European and national legislative context for designation and judicial decisions in this area, including the recent decision by the ECJ.
