Written Answers Nos. 103-109
103. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a full list of outlets that provide heritage funding nationally; the total amount these outlets provide on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47245/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. Information in relation to the functions of my Department, as well as the programmes, schemes and events operated and supported by it, can be found on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie. In addition, my Department funds a number of bodies which support the promotion of Ireland's culture and heritage, details of which may be accessed through my Department's website.
In relation to the Deputy's specific query regarding the funding of heritage outlets, I would like to draw the Deputy's attention to the Heritage Council and the Arts Council, which provide a range of supports nationally to a range of groups, bodies and communities for the promotion and protection of Ireland's natural, built and cultural heritage. In 2013, the Heritage Council received €4.09m funding and the Arts Council received €59.9 million in 2013, with an additional €800,000 on a once-off basis, for the European Union Presidency Cultural Programme. If the Deputy has a specific query regarding any line of funding in my Department, I will be happy to send him the details.
104. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the broadband service for a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who is only 8 km from Cork city, is due to be upgraded; if not, the steps they need to take to receive a proper service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47221/13]
View answerIreland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Commercial decisions by individual private operators in relation to its infrastructure are a matter for the company concerned. Any regulatory issues surrounding the provision of services are the responsibility of ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions.
Details of broadband services available in each County, including County Cork, can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie. The Government's National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in County Cork. 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.
Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. ComReg has put in place a new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and for service bundles, both of which are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by service providers. ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, completed in 2012, is also enabling the rollout of advanced mobile broadband services.
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services. 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 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. 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, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
105. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has reviewed the most recent capacity assessment by the UK energy regulator, Ofgem, published in June 2013, which warned of an increased risk of energy shortages over the coming winters; if his attention has been drawn to proposals by the UK's National Grid that large energy users could be forced to shut down their operations from 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. during peak winter energy usage periods; if, in view of Ireland's almost full dependence on imported energy, including the fact that 96% of our gas comes from the UK, his Department is concerned about these energy issues; what plans, if any, his Department has drawn up to deal with possible energy shortages and significant energy price hikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47293/13]
View answerThe Energy Regulator for Great Britain, Ofgem, published its most recent annual Electricity Capacity Assessment on 27 June, 2013. The assessment analyses security of electricity supply in Great Britain over the forthcoming five winters. It shows that the buffer between peak electricity demand and supply could be lower than previously expected and proposed for consultation certain measures to address this issue.
In contrast, the most recent All-Island Generation Capacity Statement published in January 2013 forecast that the adequacy situation in Ireland is positive for the next 10 years. Indeed, there is considerable generation surplus forecast for the Irish electricity system. These electricity Capacity Statements are required to be published annually by Eirgrid and the Transmission System Operator in Northern Ireland, SONI, and take account of interconnection with Great Britain.
Turning to the issue of gas, it is correct to say that currently Ireland is dependent to a large extent on imported gas from Great Britain. In terms of long term plans for energy security, Ireland's approach is to diversify fuels and supply sources. The use of indigenous gas and access to Liquefied Natural Gas storage will enhance diversity.
Continuing to develop indigenous renewable electricity is also a key strategy in ensuring supply diversity. Currently over 19% of electricity is generated from renewable sources and supports are in place to ensure we attain our target of increasing this to 40% by 2020. In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, funded and assisted by my Department has, over the past decade, been proactive in maximising energy efficiency. Several successful initiatives have been undertaken while new initiatives are also being considered which will further improve the efficiency of energy consumption, thus reducing our consumption (including consumption of imported energy) and contributing to security of supply. As well as enhancing long term energy security, there are detailed operational plans in place to deal with any unexpected short term disruption to energy supplies. In the unlikely event of a major disruption, EirGrid and Gaslink would implement their respective emergency plans to deal with the situation.
On the issue of prices, electricity and gas costs in Ireland are influenced by various drivers, including wholesale gas prices, the cost of capital, exchange rate fluctuations, the small size of the Irish market, geographical location and low population density. Wholesale gas prices are by far the most significant factor with prices rising since 2009 driven by events in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan and the significant growth in demand from China and India. At a national level, the competitive energy market in place helps put downward pressure on prices. There is an ongoing focus on all possible additional actions to mitigate costs for business and domestic customers, including rigorous regulatory scrutiny of the network costs component of retail prices.
106. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how his Department will encourage and attract businesses to commence operations in respect of building wind turbines in the State, either the key elements or the complete structure, to obviate the need to import materials from outside Ireland for the construction of wind turbines. [47308/13]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 628 [PQ 46801/13] of 5 November 2013.
107. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been allocated to a project (details supplied), to include all funding allocated to the community groups involved; the names of these groups; the net amount allocated to each of them; the amount of funding that was spent on consultants for each community project; and the administration costs of each project and-or the total administration cost of all of these projects. [47189/13]
View answerThe project referred to in the question was a strategic initiative under the Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 implemented by Meath Partnership and involving 10 rural villages in Co Meath. A consultant was engaged to work with each village over an 18 month period to produce community-led village development plans. The consultancy fee was €59,129 and was a collective figure for all ten villages.
On foot of these plans, community groups in 8 of the villages submitted applications to Meath Partnership to fund various projects. In excess of €655,000 in LEADER funding was allocated to various community projects in respect of 6 of the groups, with an additional €230,000 on a reserve list in respect of 2 others, should any additional funding become available. The administration of the project cost €12,236 and included room hire, media and promotion, design costs, printing, production of village entry signs and website costs.
Details of the funding allocated, the names of the groups and the net amount allocated to each of them are detailed in the following table.
|
Promoter |
Project |
Allocated Amount |
|
Ballivor Renaissance Working Group |
Ballivor Community Centre |
41,291.06 |
|
Dunshaughlin Renaissance Working Group |
Dunshaughlin Courthouse - Conservation Plan |
14,114.25 |
|
Dunshaughlin Renaissance Working Group |
Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival 2012 |
22,664.40 |
|
Dunshaughlin Renaissance Working Group |
Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival 2013 |
47,428.40 |
|
Dunshaughlin Renaissance Working Group |
Dunshaughlin Scouts Equipment |
8,758.19 |
|
Kilmainhamwood Renaissance Working Group |
McMahons Feasibility Study |
2,435.40 |
|
Kilmainhamwood Renaissance Working Group |
McMahons Capital Project |
18,609.75 |
|
Kilmainhamwood Renaissance Working Group |
Kilmainhamwood River Walk A&D |
3,044.25 |
|
Laytown Renaissance Working Group |
Seafield Recreational Grounds, Laytown |
18,428.61 |
|
Laytown Renaissance Working Group |
Laytown village enhancement Feasibility study |
4,050.00 |
|
Oldcastle Renaissance Working Group |
Oldcastle Showhall |
145,155.28 |
|
Oldcastle Renaissance Working Group |
Le Cheile Festival 2012 |
22,250.33 |
|
Oldcastle Renaissance Working Group |
Laurence Gilson Summer School |
6,601.23 |
|
Oldcastle Renaissance Working Group |
LeCheile Music & Arts Festival 2013 |
9,022.50 |
|
Summerhill Renaissance Working Group |
Summerhill Community Park and Playground |
104,938.50 |
|
Summerhill Renaissance Working Group |
Summerhill Village Green Enhancement |
45,815.28 |
|
Summerhill Renaissance Working Group |
Summerhill Village Green - Conservation Plan |
4,483.35 |
|
Summerhill Renaissance Working Group |
Summerhill Community Centre Upgrade, Access & Extension |
109,559.10 |
|
Summerhill Renaissance Working Group |
Summerhill Community Centre Heating Upgrade |
26,692.78 |
108. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the local government reforms and the proposed increased fiscal responsibilities at a municipal council level, if he will provide a breakdown of local property tax revenues on a municipal council level for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47195/13]
View answerThe local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year. This revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on local authority financing.
The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The establishment of Irish Water presents local government with significant organisational and financial challenges in 2014 and, in this context, it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015. This approach allows maximum flexibility in allocating Local Property Tax in 2014 with the priority to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases.
The 2014 Local Government Fund General Purpose Grants will be announced in due course. In the context of the Local Government Bill 2013 currently before the House, it is proposed that an annual Budget be adopted by each local authority. While the draft legislation provides Municipal District members with statutory functions in relation to the Budgetary process, there will be no requirement to adopt a Budget at the level of the Municipal District. I do not propose therefore to make allocations from the Local Government Fund at Municipal District level.
109. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the home renovation incentive in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47206/13]
View answerOn 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. Through active management of my Department's overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million.
My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to individual applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council. These grants are not connected to the Home Renovation Incentive.
