Written Answers Nos. 209-217
209. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated gross cost of water services including operating expenses and capital investment in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45758/14]
View answer213. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of the projected capital investment by Irish Water in each year from 2014 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 213 together.
The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change. The establishment of a high performance utility will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment.
Details of Irish Water’s costs are outlined in their revenue and water charges plan which was reviewed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Details of the review and the CER’s decision are available at www.cer.ie.
The CER imposed an annual efficiency challenge of 7% on Irish Water’s costs as submitted and following the Government announcement of 19 November, an adjustment to operational costs will be made to reflect the proposal that water services infrastructure will be exempt from commercial rates. A note on the financing of Irish Water in 2015 and 2016, reflecting this position, has been published on my Department’s website - http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39557,en.pdf.
Irish Water has published its Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf.
The plan identifies where Irish Water considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions, including compliance with Water Framework Directive requirements, improving sewage treatment and collection infrastructure in accordance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, responding to judgments of the European Court of Justice and achieving environmental and public health objectives arising from various regulations and EPA reports dealing with water quality.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
210. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expected Government subvention to Irish Water via the local government fund in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45759/14]
View answerAll decisions in relation to Local Government Fund income and expenditure for 2015 will be finalised as part of the Revised Estimates Volume process. It is envisaged that the subvention to Irish Water in 2015 will be some €399m.
211. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expected revenue to Irish Water from commercial water charges in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45760/14]
View answerNon-domestic users of public water and waste water services are now customers of Irish Water. Local authorities, acting as agents of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements, have continued billing, collections and billing/metering query functions in relation to non-domestic customers. The local authority water tariffs that applied prior to 1 January 2014 still apply to non-domestic customers. Water charges billed to non-domestic customers in 2015 are expected to be some €229m.
212. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to the State of the provision of free water allowances in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45761/14]
View answerIn the case of primary dwellings registered with Irish Water and where a meter is installed, an allowance of 21,000 litres per annum will be provided in respect of each child under the age of 18 ordinarily resident in the dwelling. In the case of unmetered dwellings with children, the capped charge to apply is based on the numbers of adults in the dwelling i.e a single adult dwelling or a multi-adult dwelling; the average expected number of children in these households can however be derived from census data. The estimated total cost to Government of providing 21,000 litres to each child residing in properties that are customers of Irish Water (metered and unmetered) is some €89 million in 2015.
In addition to the free allowance for children water charges are now capped at €160 for single adult households and €260 for multi-adult households.
214. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources while understanding that a company (details supplied) has exercised the right to have first option on an exploration licence over all previously licensed areas, pursuant to articles 40 and 41 of the licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration development and production 2007, namely, changes to authorisation holder and assignments of transfers of interests, if changes have been communicated to him in relation to the options licence and the subsequent application for an exploration licence by the company; if such changes were received by his Department officials; the date they were received; the date which they were approved by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45592/14]
View answerOnshore Licensing Option 11/3 was granted to Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd., for a two year period from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013 over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin.
Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd., submitted an application for a follow-on Exploration Licence prior to the expiry of Onshore Licensing Option 11/3. My Department has written to Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd., informing the company that further assessment of its application must necessarily await the outcome of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Research Programme into the use of hydraulic fracturing.
My Department has not received a section 40 notification of a change to the authorisation holder, or a section 41 application for ministerial consent for an assignment or transfer of interest, under the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007, in respect of Onshore Licensing Option 11/3 and the associated application for a follow-on Exploration Licence.
215. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 1083 of 4 November 2014, the position regarding plans to dredge the River Shannon at Lanesborough, County Longford, to remove the infestation of Asian clam; the implications for the delay in removing this invasive species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45613/14]
View answerSince the initial confirmation of the presence of Asian Clam in the “hot water” stretch of the River Shannon at Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Inland Fisheries Ireland’s (IFI) has co-ordinated actions of a range of State bodies, including the design and build of a disinfection station prototype and four units, funded by ESB, and the fishery has since reopened with strict biosecurity conditions including the prohibition of keep nets at the site.
Alien invasive species are a relative new issue that Irish public bodies have had to address and while IFI does not have a statutory remit as regards such species, it continues co-ordinating the comprehensive multi-agency response to the infestation and has been facilitating and chairing meetings of the Agencies since the infestation was discovered. This group includes the IFI, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Office of Public Works (OPW), Roscommon County Council, Longford County Council, Bord na Mona (BNM), the ESB and Waterways Ireland (WI).
A detailed scientific assessment of the nature and extent of the infestation has been completed and based on this assessment the Agency Group agreed a dredging operation of the “hot water” stretch. The possibility of a dredge operation on the navigation cut to Lough Ree is also being considered by the Group.
The Agency Group has worked on a plan to carry out a trial dredge operation on the “hot water” stretch. This trial is required to inform on the feasibility and success rate of the method(s) to be used in any larger scale operation, the method of disposal of the material collected and the overall funding that will be required to conduct the operation including disposal.
The trial operation has required a number of matters to be resolved, including:
1. Categorisation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the material for disposal to determine where and how it can be disposed of and the cost of disposal. Substrate samples were obtained by IFI with the assistance of the ESB, and BNM. These samples are currently being analysed.
2. Both Longford and Roscommon County Councils are investigating potential disposal locations and BNM is also investigating the suitability of one of their sites.
3. Waterways Ireland has indicated its preparedness to carry out the trial dredge operation with the support of the Agency Group once the disposal requirements are determined by EPA. Progress has also been achieved in finalising the methodology and appropriate screening with WI, NPWS and IFI.
4. The possible onset of deteriorating weather and water conditions is a concern for all agencies but they are confident that the trial dredge will proceed shortly.
IFI, on behalf of the Agency Group, has kept local stakeholders advised of developments as they occur and will provide further update closer to the commencement of the trial operation.
However, as emphasised in the response to Questions Nos. 1082 and 1083 of 4th November last, it is important that all understand that Asian Clam, like many other aquatic invasive species, is extremely pervasive in the environment, and once in a water body it is likely that operations will be focused on managing the infestation rather than eradication.
I visited the site shortly after the outbreak was discovered and met local representatives and community leaders. I would commend them for their proactivity and positive engagement with the State Agencies in relation to this matter.
216. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the details of waiting lists for the national car testing centres in Monaghan, Cavan, Kells, Dundalk and Drogheda; the steps that have been or will be taken to reduce these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45578/14]
View answer217. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position on the issue raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45650/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
It should be noted that it has, for some years, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Currently, this is a 'straight-to-court' offence which attracts 5 penalty points on conviction. The change I will be implementing shortly - by commencing section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 - is to bring this offence within the Fixed Charge Payment System so that persons will have the option of receiving 3 penalty points on payment of the Fixed Charge rather than automatically being required to go to court.
The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight and delivery of the National Car Test and as such, statistics relating to NCT waiting times at any particular test centre is a matter for the Authority. I have therefore referred this aspect of Deputy Ó Caoláin's question to the RSA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
I am advised that, while there is currently a high demand for car tests, the vast majority of car owners will receive an NCT appointment within 28 days. Customers who need an early appointment are put on a priority list and get the test within this timescale.
I also understand, from the RSA, that the availability of appointments on the NCT website is not a reflection of the total number of slots available for customers. Customers are advised that if they cannot obtain a suitable slot online they should contact the NCTS call centre directly on (01) 4135992.
To further facilitate demand, an NCT may now be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is in place to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires. The RSA has run a significant advertising campaign since September to highlight this and informs me that it is in a favourable position to deal with current demand.
