Written Answers Nos. 612-632
612. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is in receipt of correspondence from a company (details supplied) in County Cork dated 5 December 2014; if he will arrange a meeting between Irish Water and the person; if he is supportive of the efforts to keep the jobs referred to here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48195/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group (now Ervia) and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. In common with meters for other utility services, the meters will be the property of Irish Water which will also be responsible for meter repair and maintenance. While it is a matter for Irish Water to comply with all national and European legislation in the discharge of its functions, the company has confirmed to my Department that it is satisfied that the selection and fitting of the boundary water meter boxes fully complies with international standards. For a Grade B cover and frame, the metering project tender documents for supply of boundary boxes set out the required conformance in relation to both loading classification and loading tests. The essential requirement was compliance with Grade B test loading for Grade B tendered boxes.
Grade B boundary boxes are used where deemed necessary by Irish Water designers. They are fitted in accordance with the boundary box manufacturer’s recommendations and procedures , which Irish Water designers have also incorporated into their designs. Furthermore, Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that the four main framework contractors engaged on the metering programme have IS EN ISO 9001:2008 certification.
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.
613. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person responsible for funding the provision of outdoor gym equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48239/14]
View answerMy Department has no responsibility for the provision of outdoor gym equipment as such. However, my Department has previously funded outdoor gym equipment under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. Funding under that programme is now fully committed but I expect the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme to commence during 2015 and there is potential under this Programme to fund such facilities if identified as a priority in the Local Development Strategy for the area.
614. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application to Mayo north east Leader partnership by a committee (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48254/14]
View answerMy Department has been in contact with Mayo North East LEADER Partnership and I understand that they have not received any application in the name of the promoter referred to in the Question.
615. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application to Mayo north east Leader partnership in respect of an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48257/14]
View answerI understand that Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP) did receive an application for funding for a project from the promoter referred to in the Question. However, this project was deemed to be ineligible for funding under the Rural Development Programme and the promoter was notified of this decision by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership on 21 November 2014.
616. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the group sewerage schemes which were sanctioned to proceed in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and to date in 2014 outlining on a county basis their location, the funding awarded, the numbers of houses benefiting and the current position of the individual scheme; when he anticipates the next call for applications will be made in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48283/14]
View answerResponsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. An increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser, was announced in December 2012. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost, whichever was the lesser.
It was proposed, in the first instance, to carry out a number of pilot schemes based on the increased grant level. Following an examination of the proposals received from the local authorities, the schemes listed in the following tables were approved for grants by my Department in 2013 and 2014. Details of schemes approved for grants by local authorities from 2010 to 2012 under the devolved procedures, along with details relating to the numbers of houses benefiting and the current position on all individual schemes, would be available from the local authorities. My Department has asked local authorities to submit their requests for funding under the 2015 Rural Water Programme.
Group Sewerage Schemes Approved Grants under the 2013 Rural Water Programme
|
County |
Scheme Name/Location |
Grant |
|
Clare |
Woodview, Ennis |
€90,000 |
|
Cork |
Freemount Road, Kanturk |
€78,000 |
|
Kildare |
Boston Cottages |
€60,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
Massford |
€15,750 |
|
Kilkenny |
Lower Kilmacow |
€45,000 |
|
Laois |
Derrymoyle |
€35,301 |
|
Leitrim |
Jamestown Rue |
€93,000 |
|
Offaly |
Military Road, Birr |
€39,000 |
|
Westmeath |
Ballykeeran Big |
€84,500 |
|
Westmeath |
Fore |
€94,950 |
|
Wexford |
Coolbawn / Ferns |
€14,083 |
|
Wexford |
Clochan |
€44,907 |
Group Sewerage Schemes Approved Grants under the 2014 Rural Water Programme
|
County |
Scheme Name/Location |
Grant |
|
Carlow |
Craanluskey |
€45,000 |
|
Blackbog Road |
€41,250 |
|
|
Cavan |
Cavan Road, Stradone |
€234,000 |
|
Clare |
Woodview, Ennis |
€3,000 |
|
Loughville/Woodlawn, Ennis |
€71,250 |
|
|
Carrigaholt (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
|
Acres, Ballyvaughan |
€60,000 |
|
|
Ballybeg, Ennis. |
€147,000 |
|
|
Cork |
Cloonbane, Doneraile |
€10,500 |
|
Curragh Road, Kanturk |
€8,625 |
|
|
Freemount Road, Kanturk |
€78,000 |
|
|
Quarterstown, Mallow |
€7,500 |
|
|
Kerry |
Tullig, Castleisland |
€187,500 |
|
Killeen Road, Tralee |
€45,000 |
|
|
Alderwood Road, Tralee (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
|
High Road, Dingle |
39,000 |
|
|
Kildare |
Boston Cottages |
€22,500 |
|
Barrogstown & Kilmacreadock (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
Clover Gowran |
€39,000 |
|
Drakelands |
€9,000 |
|
|
Dungarvan |
€48,750 |
|
|
Shellumsrath |
€152,000 |
|
|
Laois |
Derrymoyle |
€10,200 |
|
Crossneen |
€104,000 |
|
County |
Scheme Name/Location |
Grant |
|
Leitrim |
Lisduff |
€142,500 |
|
Ballinagleragh |
€22,500 |
|
|
Drumshambo Corlough |
€91,000 |
|
|
Limerick |
Garrienderk |
€58,500 |
|
Longford |
Legan No. 1 |
€16,500 |
|
Legan No. 2 |
€61,875 |
|
|
Ballinalee |
€71,500 |
|
|
Keenagh No. 1 |
€26,000 |
|
|
Louth |
Waterunder |
€26,250 |
|
South End |
€26,250 |
|
|
Meath |
Smithstown |
€39,000 |
|
Monaghan |
Milltown, Monaghan |
€150,000 |
|
Rafeeran, Ballinode |
€65,000 |
|
|
Offaly |
Ballydaly, Tullamore (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
Arden Lane, Tullamore |
€112,500 |
|
|
Kincora, Ferbane |
€12,750 |
|
|
Brocca Road, Mucklagh |
€58,500 |
|
|
Waterford |
The Hill, Carrick Beg |
€15,000 |
|
Shanakill, Ring |
€75,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Fore |
€94,950 |
|
Ballykeeran Big |
€84,500 |
|
|
Wexford |
Crosstown |
€123,500 |
|
Orchard Lane |
€97,500 |
|
|
Wicklow |
Ballynerrin |
€63,844 |
617. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta fós ar na poist agus na réimsí oibre ina mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge ag teastáil, de réir mar a thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe treoir don Roinn a dhéanamh; má tá an t-iniúchadh déanta, cad é líon agus cad iad céimeanna na bpost atá i gceist; cén líon de na poist sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla ann cheana féin; cén plean atá ann chun na poist eile a líonadh le daoine a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48373/14]
View answerMar chuid dá Phleanáil d’Fhórsa Saothair, rinne mo Roinn imscrúdú ar líon na bpost ina bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil. Fuarthas nach bhfuil poist den chineál sin sa Roinn, ag an am seo, agus dá bhrí sin níl aon phoist faoi leith ainmnithe le riachtanas dátheangach. Tá é seo tugtha le fios don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Mar chuid de phleanáil leanúnach d’fhórsa saothair, déantar monatóireacht agus athbhreithniú ar an gcás ar bhonn rialta Tá thart ar 27 ball foirne faoi láthair i mo Roinn atá inniúil ar a chuid nó a cuid oibre a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge agus is féidir na baill seo a dhíriú chuig réimsí oibre faoi leith ina bhfuil gá le Gaeilge agus / nó Béarla nuair is gá. Leanfaidh mo Roinn ag soláthar deiseanna do bhaill foirne a gcuid scileanna Gaeilge a fheabhsú trí oiliúint teanga ag leibhéil éagsúla a chur ar fáil.
619. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a statutory or indicative timescale for notification to a landlord of any problem in a tenancy supported by the housing assistance payment, whether through differential rent being unpaid or any other problem; the rationale in the legislation for the housing assistance payment to be paid in arrears, rather than in advance, as is normal in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48415/14]
View answerThe Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides the statutory framework for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, the social housing tenant sources the accommodation, the housing authority pays the landlord directly and the HAP household pays a rental contribution to the housing authority.
Under section 36 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, tenancies supported under HAP are generally subject to the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. In that context, any issues in respect of a tenancy being supported under HAP are a matter for resolution between the landlord and tenant concerned.
The 2014 Act provides for contact between a housing authority and the landlord of a dwelling supported under HAP in relation to, inter alia, tax compliance, payment of assistance and in relation to inspections for the purposes of compliance of dwellings with private rented accommodation standards. There is no requirement on a housing authority in Part 4 of the 2014 Act to notify a landlord about other issues relating to eligibility for HAP that are properly dealt with between the authority and the HAP beneficiary concerned.
To date, HAP has been rolled out in seven local authority areas, as part of a statutory pilot phase of the scheme. There are now 382 households in receipt of HAP across the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot. Limerick City and County Council is providing a transactional shared service to the local authorities participating in this phase and HAP households are generally required to enter into automatic electronic payment arrangements, through An Post’s Household Budget scheme. Limerick City and County Council reports that rent collection levels in the pilot are good.
In common with standard practice in other schemes of financial support for social housing, local authorities are paying housing assistance to landlords monthly in arrears in the pilot phase of the HAP scheme. A full review of the statutory pilot phase of the scheme will be carried out in advance of full roll out HAP in 2015. This review will include data and learning from the pilot authorities in relation to the implementation of the statutory scheme.
There has been ongoing contact and information sharing with landlord representative bodies as HAP has been developed and rolled out and this will continue.
620. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address concerns of participants of the shared ownership schemes, as operated by the local authorities, in regard to the lump sum payment applicants must address when the loan has been completed in regard to term payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48420/14]
View answerI am aware of the issues facing some shared ownership households.
In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While an initial draft of the review was received from the Agency, a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local authority finances of possible mitigating measures. For example, full information on the status of each local authority’s loan book is required in order to accurately determine the implications of any possible solutions to shared ownership issues for local authority debt management generally. This substantial data collection project involving my Department, the Local Government Management Agency and the local authorities themselves is under way. It will be a number of months before sufficient data has been collected in order to complete the requisite analysis to finalise the review.
Pending full conclusion of this review, my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities setting out some of the options and interim actions that might be explored to alleviate the difficulties of those in shared ownership distress, such as allowing use of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and room rental for Shared Ownership mortgage holders. It is accepted that these proposals are not a complete solution to the issues that arise for such mortgage holders but are intended as an interim measure pending the outcome of the review.
621. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the shared services projects commenced across the public service since 2011; the costs associated with these projects for each year; when these projects will generate an overall net saving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48799/14]
View answerShared services have been identified in the Local Government Efficiency Review and the Public Service Reform Plans as an important opportunity to make further savings in administrative costs, through streamlining and improving service delivery without impacting on front line services. This builds on practical experience , over many years, in the local government sector of local authorities co-operating in the performance of functions and the delivery of services, including on a regional basis.
To drive the reform agenda, and in particular shared service initiatives, in the local government sector, a dedicated Programme Management Office (PMO) has been established which reports to a high-level Oversight Group. The roll out of shared services and process improvements across the sector is supported by the use of shared expertise, a shared technical infrastructure supported by the Local Government Management Agency and a singular local government web portal.
Overall, 31 operational areas have been identified for examination for potential as a shared service or other collaborative approach that may provide efficiencies. The PMO has adopted a comprehensive methodology for the development and evaluation of projects including gathering and analysing baseline data, business case preparation and peer review of business cases.
Payroll/Superannuation, Building Control, Treasury Management, Procurement and Accounts Payable have been prioritised in the shared services programme in the short to medium term and the programme is being progressed using a lead authority model. A number of other shared services are currently under development including services in debt management, veterinary services, road management systems and the register of electors.
Following a competitive bidding process in 2013, Laois County Council was selected to provide Shared Payroll and Superannuation services on behalf of all local authorities and has established a shared services centre for that purpose in Portlaoise. This shared service commenced in January 2014 and all local authorities will transition to it in waves in the period to 2016.
In relation to procurement, the local authority sector is working closely with the Office of Government Procurement to deliver significant savings over the coming years. The following table shows the costs associated with each project to date, as well as the anticipated benefits. No costs were incurred for these projects prior to 2013.
|
Project |
Costs |
- |
Benefits |
|
2013 |
2014 |
||
|
MyPay (shared payroll and superannuation) |
€1,345,606 |
€ 1,784,549 |
- €4.3M savings per annum anticipated. - Project Net Present Value ( NPV ) €27,839,444 and Pay Back 7 years. - Creation of a Centre Of Excellence for Payroll and Superannuation to service Local Government staff and pensioners. - In order to realise the savings from the Shared Service Centre, surplus staff will need to be redeployed. An effective redeployment programme exists to support this. |
|
Building Control Management System |
- |
€240,000 |
- Reduction in over-the-counter transactions and correlating efficiencies in allocation of staff resources; - Improved system for public - Standardisation across the sector in approach to Building to Certificates - Improved compliance in building standards |
|
Local Government Strategic Procurement Centre and Local Government Operational Procurement Centre |
€692,902 |
- Estimates savings of €4.25 million in 2014 from procurement efficiencies - Forecast savings of €15.1 million for 2015 as a result of procurement efficiencies to be made by the Local Government Operational Procurement Centre for all Minor Works and Plant Hire for the entire public service, including Health, Education and Government Departments. |
|
|
Treasury Management |
€ 14,950 |
€124,036 |
Local authority and sectoral savings and efficiencies through: - Aggregated approach to banking sector to deliver savings and efficiencies in treasury management - best practice treasury management systems |
Outside of the Local Government Efficiency Review, collaborative arrangements for service delivery are also being progressed in a number of sectoral areas, including in the fire and library services.
622. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who have been approved for inter or intradepartmental or agency work transfers, both to and from County Waterford, in each of the past five years. [48806/14]
View answerThe information requested in respect of my Department is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Transfers to Co . Waterford |
Transfers from Co . Waterford |
|
2010 |
2 |
5 |
|
2011 |
1 |
1 |
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
1 |
1 |
|
2014 |
1 |
1 |
My Department does not have offices in County Waterford. A number of staff transfers have been facilitated between my Department office in Wexford and other Departments in Waterford, mainly in the context of decentralisation and head to head transfers. My Department does not hold the information requested in respect of the Agencies/Bodies under its aegis.
623. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent National Competitiveness Council’s report, which warned against the State's over-support of wind turbines and recommended a full cost benefit analysis of wind energy, the steps he will take to implement these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47848/14]
View answerThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure, sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. As a State we have ambitious targets for 16% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020 through meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, with 10% renewables in transport and 12% in heat. The National Competitiveness Council report correctly states that in the event of a shortfall against our 2020 targets, the Exchequer would incur significant costs in order to comply with our obligations under EU law.
Analysis undertaken by my Department, the SEAI, EirGrid and the Commission for Energy Regulation assessed the costs and value of choosing the path towards 40% renewable electricity generation in 2020, compared to a scenario where renewable electricity remained at 2013 levels. This analysis informed a report which is expected to be published shortly.
The REFIT schemes underpin the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies. The current REFIT 2 and 3 schemes remain open for applications until the end of 2015. To date, onshore wind energy has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. My response to Question No. 7 on 23 October 2014 further reinforces the value of wind energy to our economy.
The cost effectiveness of support for renewables is a central concern in the work now underway in my Department to consider the appropriateness and design of a new support scheme for renewable electricity, to be available from 2016. Any scheme would be subject to the new EU rules on State Aid adopted by the European Commission earlier this year. The commercial success of onshore wind means that we are now at the point where a gradual move to a more market based support for the technology is appropriate. Taking account of developments in EU electricity market integration, my Department will be engaging with stakeholders in this work, a key component of which will be consideration of the available technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of any support required.
624. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 26 November 2014, the reason his Department failed to mention management advisory committee meetings held on a weekly basis with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47855/14]
View answer625. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department held meetings separate to the management advisory committee meetings which were attended by either him or the Minister of State and the management advisory committee; if so, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of such meetings that occurred in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47859/14]
View answer626. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings which were held for each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings that were attended by him, the Minister of State, the political adviser, the Secretary General and all other titles of attendees in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47875/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 624 to 626, inclusive, together.
The Question posed by the Deputy which was the subject of a reply on 26 November 2014 related to meetings of the Department’s Management Advisory Committee (MAC), which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department, and the reply dealt with that matter accordingly. The reply also stated that there are monthly meetings between the MAC and the Minister and Minister of State to review Departmental business priorities.
Information in relation to the number of meetings of the MAC for the period set out in the Question is detailed in the following table:
Management Advisory Committee Meetings
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
33 |
37 |
37 |
27 |
Information in relation to the number of meetings between the MAC and the Minister and Minister of State is detailed in the following table:
Meetings between Management Advisory Committee, Minister and Minister of State
Attendees*: Minister; Minister of State; Secretary General; Assistant Secretaries; Political Advisors; Department Press Officer
* Not all attendees would have attended every meeting
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
18 |
30 |
34 |
22 |
I understand that my predecessor met with the MAC generally on a weekly basis.
As stated in my reply to Question No. 570 of 26 November, regular meetings between Ministers and the relevant senior officials on individual business priorities are a common feature of the working arrangements in the Department.
In addition to scheduled meetings, meetings with the Minister and the MAC would generally occur in advance of Oral PQ sessions. Weekly meetings between the Minster and the Secretary General are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of each week but there is also regular contact outside of these scheduled meetings. The Ministers would, of course, on a day-to-day basis, have various formal and informal meetings involving one or more members of the MAC on issues across the range of Departmental responsibilities and it would not be possible to produce a complete statistical return of these.
627. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is the owner of fishing rights on the northern bank of the Gweebarra river in County Donegal pursuant to a deed of conveyance of 6 July 1905 from the Tredennick Estate to the Congested Districts Board, which deed (details supplied) is held by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Cavan town, County Cavan. [47945/14]
View answerI am advised that the document referred to by the Deputy is among a number of matters shortly to be considered before the Supreme Court in relation to an extant legal case. Given that the matter is effectively sub judice I am not in a position to comment at this stage.
628. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has received proposals from the private or public sector to generate energy from wave power in the County Waterford offshore area. [47965/14]
View answerWave and tidal energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally. While promising experimental devices have been developed, much research, development and demonstration is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability. Policy action to develop the wave energy sector in Ireland, and realise the potential of this abundant indigenous resource, is being led by my Department through the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan.
Any proposals for the development of wave energy require consent under the Foreshore Acts. This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. Financial support for the development of wave energy devices is available from the Prototype Fund administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
While the technical appraisal of individual project proposals is a matter for these bodies, my Department engages with interested parties in the context of its ongoing implementation of wave energy policy and its remit to facilitate the development of the sector. No proposals in relation to wave power generation in County Waterford have been received in my Department, nor as I understand matters, have any been received in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government or the SEAI.
629. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48029/14]
View answerNeither I nor the Minister of State have confirmed official travel dates for 2015 as of yet. As a matter of course and where appropriate, we both take the opportunities presented by foreign trips to promote Ireland as a good place for investment and for doing business.
630. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the structures and processes in place that ensure that the conflicting aims, that is maximisation of benefits versus safety and environmental impact, are handled within the petroleum affairs division; the control functions that are in place for the oversight of those same structures and processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48304/14]
View answerIreland has a clear strategy in respect of the offshore oil and gas exploration and development sector, the principal objective being to seek to maximise the benefits to the people of Ireland from its indigenous natural resources while ensuring there is a robust regulatory regime in place so that activities are carried out in a safe manner that do not harm the environment.
The regulatory regime for oil and gas exploration and development has been significantly modernised in recent years, in particular with regard to the regulation of activities from a safety and environmental perspective. Most recently, the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act, 2010 conferred responsibility on the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to set up a petroleum safety framework for the regulation of petroleum activities with regard to safety. The safety framework is now fully operational and this requires that a petroleum undertaking must submit a safety case application to the CER and have been granted a safety permit before any petroleum activities, or operations, can commence.
The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act was introduced in 2006 to consider certain developments which are of strategic, economic, or social importance to the State or to a region. This means that planning applications for certain large scale private developments, generally of a scale requiring environmental impact assessment pursuant to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and appropriate assessment pursuant to the Birds and Natural Habitats Directive, will be made directly to An Bord Pleanála. Previously such applications were the remit of the relevant Local Authority, with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Oil and gas development projects come within the remit of An Bord Pleanála under the 2006 Act.
My Department continues to have a role in relation to the consideration of the potential environmental impacts of certain activities that are subject to Ministerial decision. Such decisions are informed by expert advice provided by other State bodies, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, along with the advice of expert external environmental consultants engaged by my Department. Details of approvals granted, together with supporting documentation, including applications for approval, expert environmental advices and decision submissions, are all published on my Department’s website in the interest of transparency.
631. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a strategic environmental assessment was carried out prior to the granting of petroleum options licences for onshore basins here in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/14]
View answerThree onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned.
The licensing option work programmes permitted the companies to evaluate the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data. Exploration drilling, or the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling, was not proposed by the companies concerned, nor was it permitted under the licensing options.
As the award process and nature of the authorisations awarded did not constitute a plan or programme under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive a strategic environmental assessment was not required. Projects on the scale of such authorisations fall within the ambit of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Birds and Natural Habitats Directive.
Two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted applications for a follow-on exploration licence.
Successive Minsters and Ministers of State at the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources have confirmed, however, that they will make no decision on such an application pending the outcome of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Research Programme into the use of hydraulic fracturing. This research has recently commenced and is expected to conclude in 2016. It has been made clear that no decisions will be taken on any application that proposed the use of hydraulic fracking in exploration drilling until the EPA Research Programme is complete and there has been time for the Government and other interested parties to consider its findings. The appropriate time for decision-making on the issue of hydraulic fracturing will be after there has been an adequate opportunity to reflect on the findings of the EPA research.
632. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta fós ar na poist agus na réimsí oibre ina mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge ag teastáil, de réir mar a thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe treoir don Roinn a dhéanamh; má tá an t-iniúchadh déanta, cad é líon agus cad iad céimeanna na bpost atá i gceist; cén líon de na poist sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla ann cheana féin; cén plean atá ann chun na poist eile a líonadh le daoine a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48370/14]
View answerTar éis an cheist a athbhreithniú, ní ba luaithe i mbliana chuir an Roinn seo in iúl don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe nach bhfuil aon phost faoi láthair i mo Roinn inar gá duine atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge araon. Tá an scéal seo á choinneáil faoi athbhreithniú, áfach, i bhfianaise athruithe ar riachtanais ghnó. Thairis sin, tá roinnt ball foirne ag an Roinn a bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge acu ar féidir leas a bhaint astu de réir mar is gá.
