Written Answers Nos. 135-141
135. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the positive reports on the potential to bring oil onshore from the Barryroe and Dalkey fields, his views on the recent report on strategic requirements for oil refining which concluded it is not necessary to retain Whitegate in operation. [49666/13]
View answerWhilst there has been some welcome upturn in the level of interest in exploration off our coast in recent years, the reality is that the only commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons made in the Irish offshore to date are the three producing gas fields in the Kinsale area and the Corrib gas field. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date. Despite the low level of commercial discoveries 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. Nevertheless, the oil and gas potential of the Irish offshore is largely unproven and is likely to remain so until there is a significant and sustained increase in the number of exploration wells being drilled from the current levels of 1 to 2 wells per year.
When I published the “Study of the Strategic Case for Oil Refining Requirements on the Island of Ireland” in July this year, I noted that security of oil supply will continue to be of central importance to the Irish economy and society into the medium term. While the study indicated that the existing oil import facilities on the island of Ireland taken as a whole offer a robust infrastructure, I outlined that the Government’s primary conclusion on the strategic case for oil refining is that the presence of an operational refinery on the island of Ireland provides flexibility enhancing the options available to the State in the event of an oil supply disruption by providing an alternative source of product thus mitigating a complete reliance on product imports. As such, the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis is highly desirable. An operating refinery also adds value to the Irish economy and provides significant employment. I further outlined that in light of the Government’s primary conclusion, we had agreed that my Department should liaise with the Irish oil industry and appropriate public bodies to determine available policy options that might facilitate the commercial future of refining in Ireland. I will revert to Government for further consideration of these options in due course.
136. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the options or remedies available to a small business owner (details supplied) in the Nire valley in County Waterford in view of the fact that this area has very poor broadband connection; the rural broadband provided by 3 is wholly inadequate and is resulting in ongoing problems making it very difficult to run a business; if there are plans to improve services in this area; the options open to businesses and persons in this area who are unsatisfied with the broadband infrastructure; if he will investigate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49762/13]
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. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County Waterford, can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie. The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services, as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). My Department entered into a contract in late 2008 with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (“3”) for the delivery of the NBS to certain designated Electoral Divisions, including the area referred to by the Deputy. The broadband service contracted under NBS is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. 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 Waterford. 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.
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.
137. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of quangos operating under the aegis of his Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in paying the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over the period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49950/13]
View answerMy Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department, is 18. 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 upper fee level that may be paid in each case. I have in all instances brought to the attention of each body the policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure in relation to the payment of Board fees, and 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. I have not established any new State bodies since taking office in March 2011.
The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in Novembers, 2012. In relation to my Department, this provided that Ordnance Survey Ireland will be merged with the Property Registration Office and the Valuation Office which will, in time, see it transfer to the Department of Justice and Equality. The Digital Hub Development Agency will also be merged (initially on an administrative basis) with Dublin City Council (DCC) pending enactment of legislation.
There is also provision for certain back-office administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to be merged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).
|
Body/ Regulator |
Number of Members |
Board Fee Applicable |
|
An Post |
15 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Bord Gáis Éireann |
9 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Bord na Móna |
12 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
9 |
Category 4 Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
|
Digital Hub Development Authority |
**14 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
EirGrid |
10 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
ESB |
12 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) |
12 |
*Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
10 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd |
**5 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Mining Board |
3 |
Fees per day/sitting |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency |
**6 |
Category 4 Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
10 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
RTÉ |
12 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
TG4 |
12 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
**12 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
*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
138. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of moneys accumulated to date in the dormant accounts fund since its inception; the amount available at present; his plans to allocate such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49731/13]
View answerUnder the Dormant Accounts legislation, balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation provides that disbursements from the fund may be made for charitable purposes or for purposes of community benefit.
Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of September 2013, the transfers to the Dormant Accounts Fund have totalled some €724.6m, which includes interest earned of approximately €39.8m. Funds reclaimed in that period by account holders amounted to around €267.6m. €278m of disbursements have been approved, with €251m already spent on projects over the same period, designed to benefit the community. The balance of uncommitted funds at 30 September 2013 is €120.6m.
The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced shortly by a new disbursement scheme in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012. The 2012 Act also provides for the preparation of an action plan, to give effect to the disbursement scheme. The plan will indicate the programmes or types of projects across a number of Government Departments that may apply for disbursement and the maximum funds available. Different amounts may be specified in the plan in relation to a particular class or classes of programme or project.
In 2013, I have allocated €6.385m for Dormant Accounts Measures under the auspices of my Department, which includes €2.835m to be used to support labour force activation measures in local authorities. The corresponding provision for 2014 is €5.456m, made up of €3.45m current and €2.006m capital. This will allow for the continuation of funding to support the labour force activation measures and the implementation of a modest action plan. Further data in relation to Dormant Accounts Funding is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie
139. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department plans to implement a mortgage-to-rent scheme for families who are experiencing severe financial difficulty; the merits of implementing such a scheme in respect of its ability to retain the family home as another measure of dealing with the level of indebtedness that families currently have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49757/13]
View answerOn foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears the Government launched a mortgage to rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme ensures that the family remains in their home, while ownership is transferred to an approved housing body who in turn rent it to the original owners. Eligibility requirements are in line with other forms of social housing support.
To date, over 1,570 cases have been submitted by lenders. Of these, 630 borrowers have been engaged with, or are in the process of being engaged with, by the lender. 20 sales have now been completed with a further 50 sales agreed. A pilot mortgage to rent scheme for the most acute cases of local authority mortgage arrea rs was launched earlier in 2013, in Westmeath County and Dublin City Councils, and has now been completed. It is intended to implement this scheme throughout the local authority sector in the near future.
140. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the amount of funding being allocated to counties Carlow and Kilkenny as part of the housing adaptation programme for 2014; if he will consider removing the monetary figure attached to the funding such as the €6,000 for walk-in shower, €10,500 for housing aid for older people grants, €30,000 for HGDs and instead base each application on its own merit, on a case-by-case basis; if he will consider prioritising cases of elderly couples who are in receipt of the contributory-non-contributory pension only for adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49761/13]
View answerThe Abridged Estimate for my Department, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Expenditure Report 2014, provides some €28.6 million in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The Estimates provision will be supplemented by the recently announced €10 million in additional funding for this measure, giving an overall provision in 2014 of €38.6 million, some €4.3 million more than the initial Exchequer allocation in 2013. The increased allocation will facilitate the payment of more than 7,800 grants to assist older people and people with disabilities to remain at home for longer. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to individual local authorities early in 2014.
My Department is currently reviewing the operation of the grant schemes in consultation with the local authorities and groups representing older people and people with disabilities with the objective of targeting those in most need and ensuring that the maximum numbers of households can benefit from these schemes. My Department will continue to explore all opportunities to stretch the available resources, including through co-operation with the Health Service Executive and other agencies. I intend to announce revised terms and conditions for the grant schemes in the coming weeks.
141. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of commercial rates written off as bad debts over the past six years for each local authority; the total revenue stream lost to local authorities as a result of commercial rates written off as bad debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49772/13]
View answerThe levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures. Details, sourced from audited local authority Annual Financial Statements, in relation to the amount of commercial rates written off in years 2006 to 2011 (the latest year for which audited data is available), are set out in the table below.
Rates Written Off - 2006-2011 (€)
|
Authority Name |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Carlow |
4,247 |
48,659 |
63,701 |
84,558 |
65,201 |
514,264 |
|
Cavan |
95,267 |
106,716 |
78,828 |
150,332 |
767,529 |
1,322,456 |
|
Clare |
343,619 |
301,577 |
419,856 |
396,538 |
205,650 |
269,821 |
|
Cork |
2,907,572 |
3,279,302 |
3,868,254 |
5,041,167 |
6,672,558 |
9,849,863 |
|
Donegal |
2,011,539 |
2,137,878 |
2,302,580 |
1,363,280 |
2,492,414 |
3,432,462 |
|
Fingal |
652,705 |
886,521 |
1,364,689 |
2,141,388 |
3,757,096 |
6,992,569 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
0 |
1,464,053 |
1,161,247 |
1,712,032 |
3,325,110 |
6,864,448 |
|
Galway |
1,746,905 |
1,951,482 |
2,636,068 |
2,727,353 |
4,043,523 |
3,639,288 |
|
Kerry |
1,628,376 |
2,050,403 |
1,719,763 |
2,362,878 |
2,368,421 |
3,443,752 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
507,459 |
498,011 |
1,013,476 |
1,237,416 |
1,699,530 |
1,808,986 |
|
Laois |
158,592 |
119,570 |
172,267 |
271,481 |
659,583 |
535,774 |
|
Leitrim |
250,336 |
339,461 |
439,741 |
545,554 |
696,734 |
882,051 |
|
Limerick |
1,577,716 |
1,720,067 |
1,948,681 |
2,644,874 |
4,028,917 |
4,150,636 |
|
Longford |
278,783 |
272,432 |
410,706 |
204,541 |
117,420 |
813,425 |
|
Louth |
519,162 |
617,097 |
654,051 |
756,462 |
946,116 |
966,060 |
|
Mayo |
1,370,803 |
1,438,372 |
1,649,093 |
2,484,383 |
2,533,929 |
2,958,216 |
|
Meath |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2,610,559 |
|
Monaghan |
290,748 |
211,786 |
274,444 |
602,947 |
1,022,223 |
994,360 |
|
North Tipperary |
38,921 |
44,232 |
77,122 |
188,260 |
316,956 |
409,171 |
|
Offaly |
689,566 |
395,289 |
567,400 |
803,689 |
937,826 |
717,747 |
|
Roscommon |
26,299 |
31,383 |
751,669 |
1,563,232 |
1,688,361 |
2,100,010 |
|
Sligo |
386,217 |
176,004 |
283,838 |
579,355 |
671,143 |
630,018 |
|
South Dublin |
2,453,856 |
2,192,432 |
-188,700 |
1,687,009 |
3,012,133 |
3,559,276 |
|
South Tipperary |
72,961 |
3,716 |
2,380 |
1,760 |
24,720 |
-2 |
|
Waterford |
364,132 |
509,005 |
383,252 |
408,964 |
530,506 |
931,303 |
|
Westmeath |
34,301 |
66,805 |
1,480 |
236,607 |
178,733 |
144,669 |
|
Wexford |
532,622 |
606,820 |
509,989 |
660,644 |
398,791 |
826,444 |
|
Wicklow |
408,539 |
579,045 |
1,260,842 |
1,464,190 |
1,730,389 |
2,300,005 |
|
Cork |
216,922 |
188,362 |
313,373 |
1,852,616 |
3,483,443 |
4,852,617 |
|
Dublin |
19,900,844 |
17,718,465 |
5,616,183 |
6,247,794 |
9,035,651 |
12,882,359 |
|
Galway |
1,358,281 |
1,500,777 |
2,627,132 |
2,435,131 |
4,664,801 |
4,745,866 |
|
Limerick |
2,454,506 |
2,742,128 |
2,079,954 |
1,823,528 |
2,676,147 |
3,570,993 |
|
Waterford |
116,822 |
89,214 |
143,235 |
189,950 |
192,323 |
650,384 |
|
Clonmel |
32,531 |
0 |
0 |
47,189 |
38,886 |
53,726 |
|
Drogheda |
368,612 |
952,938 |
928,391 |
2,149,886 |
2,517,366 |
2,328,721 |
|
Kilkenny |
148,418 |
234,328 |
457,958 |
555,533 |
838,460 |
923,453 |
|
Sligo |
745,744 |
1,322,193 |
661,977 |
890,046 |
1,127,339 |
1,265,723 |
|
Wexford |
292,330 |
303,771 |
209,381 |
467,995 |
714,075 |
693,665 |
|
Arklow |
87,576 |
258,683 |
413,109 |
520,877 |
638,080 |
714,498 |
|
Athlone |
0 |
14,374 |
0 |
0 |
99,142 |
182,549 |
|
Athy |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
610,532 |
|
Ballina |
479,587 |
554,858 |
525,779 |
729,526 |
851,891 |
814,084 |
|
Ballinasloe |
234,974 |
272,079 |
321,894 |
324,172 |
437,460 |
434,160 |
|
Birr |
197,494 |
205,713 |
270,109 |
233,453 |
0 |
306,211 |
|
Bray |
467,251 |
541,561 |
734,883 |
704,429 |
369,999 |
544,012 |
|
Buncrana |
359,229 |
282,927 |
282,303 |
762,828 |
569,131 |
534,954 |
|
Bundoran |
30,008 |
36,039 |
54,630 |
87,232 |
76,240 |
177,139 |
|
Carlow |
62,202 |
58,618 |
161,463 |
110,825 |
116,322 |
362,801 |
|
Carrick on Suir |
69,100 |
14,523 |
3,253 |
4,606 |
0 |
12,762 |
|
Carrickmacross |
44,482 |
36,121 |
51,037 |
88,280 |
78,791 |
132,419 |
|
Cashel |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Castlebar |
374,745 |
424,300 |
537,165 |
682,085 |
800,826 |
861,222 |
|
Castleblayney |
78,488 |
90,093 |
150,298 |
133,134 |
143,966 |
276,944 |
|
Cavan |
85,465 |
259,398 |
213,192 |
300,985 |
271,722 |
422,298 |
|
Clonakility |
20,874 |
12,773 |
12,343 |
52,862 |
159,339 |
118,317 |
|
Clones |
113,373 |
65,752 |
51,175 |
128,492 |
121,380 |
202,715 |
|
Cobh |
88,714 |
64,784 |
125,741 |
146,664 |
303,998 |
226,826 |
|
Dundalk |
816,465 |
874,504 |
409,189 |
966,133 |
1,831,808 |
651,355 |
|
Dungarvan |
372,368 |
434,906 |
276,356 |
311,792 |
478,296 |
575,806 |
|
Ennis |
263,553 |
339,577 |
540,437 |
591,822 |
528,930 |
502,755 |
|
Enniscorthy |
10,588 |
11,661 |
51,780 |
58,316 |
131,649 |
118,904 |
|
Fermoy |
112,936 |
102,313 |
138,402 |
204,826 |
224,882 |
170,099 |
|
Kells |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
199,690 |
|
Killarney |
759,775 |
715,466 |
654,326 |
833,203 |
918,274 |
1,235,852 |
|
Kilrush |
16,304 |
4,793 |
1,970 |
7,777 |
12,820 |
31,854 |
|
Kinsale |
19,041 |
15,216 |
51,171 |
14,472 |
309,488 |
83,553 |
|
Letterkenny |
147,578 |
154,583 |
347,679 |
388,328 |
869,900 |
918,515 |
|
Listowel |
96,957 |
103,557 |
217,702 |
209,707 |
244,837 |
288,105 |
|
Longford |
117,150 |
339,919 |
339,023 |
591,740 |
526,848 |
840,294 |
|
Macroom |
34,395 |
4,899 |
5,855 |
51,661 |
191,450 |
163,677 |
|
Mallow |
54,023 |
56,559 |
135,168 |
171,242 |
246,973 |
546,072 |
|
dleton |
42,296 |
94,332 |
80,524 |
108,601 |
159,674 |
286,832 |
|
Monaghan |
234,785 |
308,221 |
299,864 |
538,040 |
566,891 |
592,916 |
|
Naas |
27,490 |
5,473 |
886 |
0 |
3,828 |
18,520 |
|
Navan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
331,598 |
996,615 |
975,358 |
|
Nenagh |
310,078 |
177,348 |
247,242 |
377,330 |
386,733 |
412,067 |
|
New Ross |
0 |
24,976 |
12,565 |
8,065 |
93,602 |
120,724 |
|
Skibbereen |
89,479 |
118,618 |
133,064 |
161,644 |
168,981 |
160,658 |
|
Templemore |
7,002 |
5,925 |
14,354 |
16,509 |
39,623 |
45,549 |
|
Thurles |
92,734 |
121,320 |
215,490 |
344,008 |
409,940 |
634,846 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
1,278 |
0 |
0 |
39,348 |
7,214 |
|
Tralee |
974,664 |
982,956 |
1,179,870 |
2,912,370 |
2,696,114 |
2,788,085 |
|
Trim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
232,801 |
|
Tullamore |
346,570 |
543,070 |
855,628 |
736,996 |
701,140 |
800,081 |
|
Westport |
89,385 |
164,327 |
121,984 |
149,391 |
282,849 |
269,144 |
|
Wicklow |
207,178 |
191,001 |
230,205 |
291,953 |
256,035 |
300,894 |
|
Youghal |
178,204 |
182,887 |
440,598 |
339,981 |
321,338 |
463,991 |
