Written Answers Nos. 398-422
398. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive their 2014 compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme; if such payment is being refused, the reason for same; if he will order a re-inspection of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25622/14]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2011), a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012), a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. I understand that officials in my Department have been in contact with the applicant during the last week and have informed him that the payment in respect of Year 4 of 15 (2014) has been approved and that this payment of €1,521 will be made to him shortly. In addition, a once-off payment of €500 has been made to the applicant in respect of the signing of a legal agreement under this scheme with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
399. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of cases before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT involving civil servants taking cases against his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25633/14]
View answerThere are currently three cases before the Employment Appeals Tribunal involving my Department. One of these cases involves a currently employed civil servant whilst the remaining two cases involve former civil servants. My Department is defending all three claims that have been made. Where any disputes arise with staff in relation to employment issues, my Department seeks to resolve these internally, however, it is open to any employee to seek redress through the State’s formal dispute resolution processes.
400. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 19 December 2013, when will the towpath on the Royal Canal be re-opened from Jones Road to Drumcondra Road as it has been closed since July 2013; if he will provide a schedule of the work that remains to be carried out by Waterways Ireland; when it will be carried out due to the importance of this route for leisure and commuting walkers; if it is still intended that it will reopen in summer 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25753/14]
View answerI am informed by Waterways Ireland that the tender for the work is to be advertised in June 2014 and work to commence in September. It is expected that the remedial works will be completed and the towpath reopened by the end of October 2014. I understand that the slippage from the earlier timeline of the reply of 19 December last arises due to changes to the tender and proposed works following discussions with Dublin City Council to accommodate cycle-ways.
401. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, in tabular, form the total amount spent per annum from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of concerns by the Revenue Commissioners over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25809/14]
View answerThe total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and on taxi payments where staff are engaged in official business is set out in the following table:
|
Payments |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 to date |
|
Staff Subsistence Payments |
528,823.93 |
570,528.62 |
522,597.55 |
173,181.80 |
|
Taxi Payments |
18,868.07 |
17,502.61 |
11,489.54 |
5,623.88 |
All travel and subsistence payments were made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters and I am advised that no benefit in kind issues arise. My Department has not been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits in kind. I understand, however, that such matters are kept under active review, in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, as appropriate.
402. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funds that will be made available to local authorities and community projects to participate and initiate 1916 centenary events; the amount that will be available; the date on which it will become available; the procedure to apply for the funding; and who will administer same. [25886/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 9, 17 and 23 of 11 June last when I outlined the Government's capital funding priorities in respect of 1916 commemoration projects. I also explained that the possibility of funding of events and projects at community and local authority level will fall to be examined as part of future budgetary discussions. While I expressed a positive view of the benefits of the availability of funds to local communities, I should stress that there is no formal scheme for funding available from my Department at this time for such projects.
403. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contact he and his Department have had with his Northern Ireland Assembly counterpart, Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, to discuss expanding the planned 1916 centenary events to ensure they are all Ireland in nature; if he intends to have further meetings in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25887/14]
View answerI am very pleased to record my appreciation of the ongoing constructive relationship which we enjoy in respect of cross border issues. Minister Ní Chuilín and I meet on a regular basis to discuss topics of mutual interest. Officials from our respective Departments also maintain channels of contact.
As the Deputy is aware, we are following the historic timeline in relation to the programming of commemorative events. Our interest is also to ensure that commemorative arrangements are inclusive, authentic and proportionate. I intend to continue with this approach, in relation to the 1916 element of the programme.
A recent meeting of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Commemorations expressed the interest that Minister Ní Chuilín might soon attend a meeting of this group, a suggestion which I will be pursuing.
404. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the historic towns initiative, the restrictions on planning permissions; if there any other negative impacts on growing and enlarging a town that has been designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25958/14]
View answerMy Department is currently promoting the role which Ireland’s heritage has to play in making our country an attractive destination for sustainable tourism and inward investment. It is in this context that my Department is developing the heritage-led Historic Towns Initiative in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council. A pilot programme for this initiative in Westport, Youghal and Listowel operated through 2013 and will conclude in 2014. My primary objective with this pilot is to ensure that the participating towns of Westport, Youghal and Listowel have access to, and an understanding of, appropriate guidance to assist them in best conserving their heritage assets and, in so doing, underpin the sustainability of their community and local economy. It is my hope that meeting these goals will also, by extension, significantly enhance the visitor experience in these towns, thus helping to maximise the potential positive contribution of tourism to each of these towns and their respective hinterlands.
Each town has set up a local Historic Towns Initiative working group consisting of representatives of local government, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders. The local groups are responsible for drawing up a vision for their town with specific objectives supported by a clear action plan. Funding was allocated by my Department and by Fáilte Ireland to the towns for projects in 2013 and again by my Department in 2014. Projects funded under the initiative include public realm enhancement works, heritage interpretation works and conservation works to heritage structures.
All projects undertaken on foot of the initiative in the pilot towns are governed by the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The responsibilities under the Act as regards development proposals to planning authorities remain the same and are not affected by the Historic Towns Initiative. There is currently no statutory designation directly associated with the Historic Towns Initiative.
405. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there will be a new position in the Act whereby services are made available in Irish for Gaeltacht communities before the end of 2016 to the same standard as those in English elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/14]
View answerFollowing a review of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department recently published the Heads of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2014. Head 6 of the proposed Bill provides for an amendment to section 13 of the Act. This involves including a new subsection in section 13(2) stating that the posts within public bodies that require an Irish language competency be specified in language schemes. This amendment reflects the Government decision of 30 October 2013 to replace the practice of awarding bonus marks for Irish language proficiency in civil service recruitment and promotion competitions with a new competency-based system. Under this new system, Irish language competency will be a requirement for specified jobs in the civil service. In addition, it should be noted that the workforce plans of Government Departments and Offices will in future specify the posts/areas of work which require staff that can function in both official languages.
I should also point out that, in accordance with section 13(d) of the Official Languages Act 2003, public bodies, when preparing their language schemes, are required to ensure that the particular Irish language requirements associated with the provision of services in Gaeltacht areas are met.
406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will establish a multi-departmental task force to progress the Shannon LNG project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25279/14]
View answerSince 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects like the Shannon LNG project. I and Government colleagues have consistently been supportive of the proposal by Shannon LNG to construct a LNG terminal near Ballylongford, Co Kerry. The LNG facility would provide additional security of supply to Ireland in that it would bring diversity to Ireland's supply sources and would bring connectivity for the first time to the global LNG market. The prospect of such a facility is therefore a potentially positive step for the island of Ireland. The timing of an investment decision by Shannon LNG is a commercial decision for the company. I would add that I have been in recent and regular contact with the company.
In these circumstances I have no proposals to establish a multi-Departmental taskforce to progress the Shannon LNG project.
407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which oil, gas or other mineral exploration licences have been issued in each of the past ten years to date; the legislation applicable in respect of those currently operational, pending or concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25281/14]
View answer409. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of mineral exploration licences awarded annually in each of the past ten years to date; the extent to which they have each been activated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 together.
The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 2004 and 2014 are set out in the following table:
Licences granted during period 2004 - 2014 (to 5 March 2014)
|
Year |
Prospecting Licences (Minerals) |
Petroleum Exploration Licences |
|
2004 |
26 |
3 |
|
2005 |
51 |
7 |
|
2006 |
84 |
4 |
|
2007 |
143 |
5 |
|
2008 |
91 |
5 |
|
2009 |
66 |
1 |
|
2010 |
93 |
0 |
|
2011 |
98 |
2 |
|
2012 |
102 |
0 |
|
2013 |
142 |
5 |
|
2014 |
54 (to June 17th 2014) |
6 (to June 17th 2014) |
All licences granted have been activated and there have been no declared commercial discoveries in respect of these licences in the last ten years.
The principal legislation applicable to these licences is the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960. There is a broad body of other legislation that also applies including environmental legislation, which applies to activities across many sectors, along with the Petroleum Safety Act which applies specifically to designated petroleum exploration and production activities.
Details of all Prospecting Licences (Minerals) and Petroleum Exploration Licences can be found in the six-monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 respectively. The last such reports were in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2013. These reports are also available on my Department’s website at www.dcenr.gov.ie.
408. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the full extent of the requirement of electricity generating capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in the future; the extent to which this will facilitate compliance with EU or other guidelines and or agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25282/14]
View answer416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current total electricity generated from wind energy; the potential still remaining; if standard or high rise turbines are a feature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25291/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 416 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 18 of 12 June 2014. In addition, the scale of the technology to be deployed for specific renewable electricity generation projects is a matter for the individual developer and the relevant planning authority.
410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total alternative electricity generating capacity currently available to the national grid; the number of applications pending, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25284/14]
View answerThe total amount of renewable electricity generation capacity currently connected to the national grid is over 2,300 MW. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has oversight of the process for connecting generators, both renewable and non-renewable, to the national grid.This is generally referred to as the Group Process Approach, which has been implemented to date through a series of gates, with Gate 3 being the most recent. Smaller projects (less than 5 MW) can connect outside of the gate process. All parties applying to connect to the national grid apply to the system operator, either the Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, or the Distribution System Operator (DSO), ESB Networks. Applications are processed in accordance with the terms of the Gate. The relevant System Operator will then issue a Connection Offer to eligible parties. Following the signing of a Connection Agreement, projects are connected to the grid.
The CER expects to publish a public consultation paper on the post Gate 3 scenario later this year. Information regarding renewable energy projects which have applications pending with the TSO and the DSO are operational matters for the companies themselves. I can advise the Deputy that lists of projects currently in the application process are available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites at http://www.eirgrid.com/ and http://www.esb.ie respectively.
411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the need to enhance the role continues to feature in discussions with relevant bodies or agencies with a view to possible increased use of the postal service and its infrastructure as a means of provided increased services to the community nationally in both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25286/14]
View answer412. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of regional or ordinary post offices and including sub-post offices currently in use throughout the country; the extent to which the future of the post office can be enhanced through the use of an adaptable range of services or usage, complementary to existing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25287/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 411 and 412 together.
According to the An Post Annual Report 2013, which is available on the company's website at www.anpost.ie, there are 57 company post offices and 1,090 sub-post offices in the post office network.
Insofar as the issue of expanding the range of services that could be delivered through the post office network is concerned, I refer to the reply to Question No. 111 of 6 May 2014. The position is unchanged.
413. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected that product from the Corrib gas field is likely to become available to the domestic consumer via the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25288/14]
View answerI refer to the replies to Question Nos. 124 and 125 on 30 January 2014 and Question No. 326 on 11 March 2014 in which I indicated that first gas from the Corrib gas field cannot be expected sooner than the first half of 2015.
414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which improvements in quality and speed of broadband is envisaged over the next two years with particular reference to the need to meet the requirements of customers as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25289/14]
View answer419. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when broadband will be available throughout the Ashmount Estates at Silversprings, Tivoli, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25582/14]
View answer424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the assistance that can be given in the case of a company (details supplied) in County Kildare which is experiencing serious issues with the quality of broadband in the area which is having a negative effect on its business and which may result in potential job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25876/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 419 and 424 together.
Since market liberalisation in 1999, the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The market has 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 Counties Cork and Kildare can be found on a number of websites, including the websites of individual commercial operators.
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. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and
- a State-led intervention for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. Commercial operators combined have either invested, or committed to invest, over €2 billion in their Irish networks, delivering high speed broadband to homes and businesses.
As a result of this accelerated investment the addressable area required by the State-led intervention has been reduced by 30% since the National Broadband Plan was launched. While the commercial developments are welcome the acceleration of investment is largely contained to cities and towns. Consequently, the speeds that are available in these areas are demonstrably better than those that are available in more rural areas.
On 25 April last, I signalled the Government's commitment to a major telecommunications network build-out to rural Ireland, with fibre as the foundation of its investment, as part of the State-led intervention under the National Broadband Plan. This commitment is a clear expression of Government’s determination to address the connectivity challenge in rural Ireland in a meaningful and sustainable way.
Central to the strategy will be a fibre build-out to locations in every county in the State identified as having no existing or planned enabling fibre network. It is intended that the fibre will be delivered directly to access points for homes and businesses, where service providers can utilise the fibre to provide high speed services to end users. The fibre build out will be part of an end-to-end strategy that will address all parts of Ireland that cannot access commercial high speed broadband services.
A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department which will identify those areas that will require a State intervention. I have published a county-by-county list of towns and villages which have already been identified for a fibre build-out. This list is available on my Department's website, www.dcenr.gov.ie. Currently, a total of 108 areas in County Cork and 18 areas in County Kildare have been identified as requiring an intervention. This is an indicative list and is subject to the completion of the mapping exercise. Further locations may be identified as this process continues. Similarly, it may be determined that some locations on the list will be addressed by the commercial sector and will therefore not require State intervention. I expect that this mapping exercise will be concluded in the autumn.
I would point out that the EU Commission’s guidelines on State aid for high speed broadband infrastructure preclude Member States from intervening in regions in which private investors have demonstrated plans to roll out their own infrastructure within the following three years. In this regard, I understand that at least one network operator has published a programme to roll out 103 fibre-based broadband networks in County Cork and 39 such networks in County Kildare, including in the area of Maynooth by July 2016.
In tandem with the completion of the mapping exercise, intensive design and planning work is ongoing in my Department with a view to producing a detailed end to end implementation strategy for the State led intervention. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed implementation strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required for the intervention once finalised. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing construction of the fibre network and provision of services in identified areas as quickly as possible.
415. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which discussions are ongoing regarding the use of pylons or alternatives as means of high voltage electricity transmission; the extent to which costs are being evaluated and or considered in the context of other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25290/14]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to EirGrid's Grid25 programme. I have appointed an independent panel of experts, chaired by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The Independent Expert Panel has held five meetings between 10 February 2014 and 10 June 2014. At its meeting on 2 May 2014, the Panel finalised and approved the terms of reference for comprehensive, route specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects, including assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The terms of reference were published on 7 May 2014 and are available on my Department's website. The studies and reports will be undertaken or commissioned by EirGrid in accordance with those terms of reference set by the Panel who will also oversee EirGrid’s study and reporting process. In due course, the Panel will provide an opinion to me on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports undertaken or commissioned by EirGrid and will oversee the publication by EirGrid of the two studies and reports prior to EirGrid proceeding to public consultation on the two projects.
I also asked the Panel to consider what, if anything, it can do with regard to the North South Transmission Line project, and it has considered that issue. Although the North South project was not covered by the Government’s decision, having discussed my request, and in the light of the finalised terms of reference for the studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects, the Panel decided that it would provide an opinion to me on the compatibility of the methodologies to be employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects with what has already been done on the North South Transmission Line project.
I understand that the Panel wrote to EirGrid shortly after its May meeting to convey its requirements in regard to Grid West, Grid Link and the North South project and that EirGrid is attending to those requirements.
I am advised that EirGrid, in response to the Panel's enquiry regarding the compatibility of the methodologies, has provided a detailed submission to the Panel. This submission was discussed by the Panel at its meeting on Tuesday last. I understand Eirgird made a detailed presentation at that meeting and that the Panel requested Eirgrid to provide it with additional written material. The Panel will continue its work at its next meeting which is provisionally scheduled for 30 June 2014.
417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the regulator compares fuel prices in this country with those in other jurisdictions, adjoining and throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25292/14]
View answerWhile the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) does not compare Irish and European fuel prices, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) analyses electricity and natural gas prices published by Eurostat, collected for Ireland and other European countries under the methodology for the EU Gas and Electricity Price Transparency Directive 90/377/EEC as amended by Council Decision 2007/394/EC. Since 2008, comparable data for all EU states is published every six months and the SEAI publishes the Electricity and Gas Prices in Ireland reports biannually. The latest published report covers the second half of 2013 and was published on 11 June 2014. This publication and other SEAI energy statistics publications are available at the SEAI website: www.seai.ie.
418. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of the €80 million designated to his Department for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 is expected to go towards construction-related projects; if he will list the projects; if he will provide an update on any of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25550/14]
View answerThe total capital budget for my Department in 2014 is €118.5 million which includes carryover of €8.5 million and stimulus funding of €30 million. Capital funding of just over €58 million has been allocated to the Better Energy programme in 2014. Virtually all of this expenditure will be on energy efficiency measures which generate substantial economic activity and support approximately 3,100 construction-related jobs. The balance of my Department's capital programmes are in the Energy Research, Natural Resources and ICT areas which are not primarily related to the construction sector.
420. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of cases before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT involving civil servants taking cases against his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25635/14]
View answerMy Department has one ongoing case with the Equality Tribunal.
421. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; the total revenue to be received by the State on the sale of the company; the total legal, consultancy and other costs associated with the sale of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25680/14]
View answerOn 25 March 2014, BGE signed an agreement for the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, which is currently expected to complete on 30 June 2014 subject to receipt of regulatory and merger approvals. The sale of Bord Gáis Éireann's (BGÉ) energy business is for an enterprise value of up to €1.1 billion. Following sale completion, it is expected that BGÉ will commence the payment of special dividends to the Exchequer which will be used to support job creating initiatives in the economy. The final revenues to the State will be known following the restructuring of BGÉ in line with the Gas Regulation Act 2013 and the re-financing of BGÉ's debt, which is required following this major transaction and restructuring process. The final details on fees associated with the sale of Bord Gáis Energy have yet to be finalised and as I previously advised the Deputy, once the fees are finalised, they will be made public.
422. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the percentage of energy supplied by resource within the State currently; the energy producing capacity by power station within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25681/14]
View answerI have no function in the provision of such information. This is an operational responsibility for EirGrid, a commercial state body. This information is publicly available and is published annually, along with an electricity demand forecast, by EirGrid in the All Island Generation Capacity Statement. The latest publication is available on the EirGrid website at:http://www.eirgrid.com/media/Generation%20Capacity%20Statement%202014.pdf
