Written Answers Nos. 169-173
169. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason petrol prices in recent months have not properly decreased, in line with the drop in the price of fuel oil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15880/15]
View answerThe Irish oil sector is completely privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. I have no function in the setting of petrol and diesel prices. The Consumer and Competition Commission (under the aegis of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) has a role in ensuring that the market is functioning correctly and that consumers are not being disadvantaged. Previous investigations and surveys into oil prices, have been undertaken by the National Consumer Agency (now the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission), and these are available at www.ccpc.ie . The research indicates that the price paid by consumers is largely determined by taxation levels, the internationally traded price of crude oil and the consequent price at which refined product is traded in Europe, along with the level of competition in the retail market. As oil is traded in US dollars the recent weakness of the euro has also impacted on oil prices in the euro area.
The European Commission maintains a Statistics and Market Observatory, which presents consumer prices and net prices (excluding duties and taxes) of petroleum products in EU Member States (known as the Oil Bulletin) on a weekly basis. The Oil Bulletin is designed to improve the transparency of oil prices and to strengthen the internal market. The relevant link is:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/observatory/oil/bulletin_en.htm. The latest bulletin from 19 April 2015 shows that petrol prices (including taxes) in Ireland were €1.39 per litre while diesel prices (including taxes) were €1.29 per litre. The average petrol price in the EU in the same period is €1.43 while the average diesel price is €1.27. It is worth noting that Ireland is around mid point on the table. At the same time last year petrol prices in Ireland were €1.53 and diesel prices were €1.47 so Irish consumers are getting the benefit of falling prices at the pumps.
170. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of capped oil and gas wells currently in Irish waters; the timeframe a prospecting licence holder is entitled to hold on to these wells; and if there is any charge levied on licence holders for capped wells. [15869/15]
View answerA total of 182 petroleum exploration, appraisal and development/production wells have been drilled in Irish waters. These wells comprise three categories: (i) those that are producing or that have been completed and are ready for production; (ii) those that have been permanently plugged and abandoned, i.e. permanently closed with the setting of cement plugs in relevant sections of the wellbore and all surface equipment removed, in accordance with best industry practice; and (iii) those that have been temporarily abandoned (suspended).
Of the 182 wells a total of 14 wells are suspended. All of these wells are in areas that are under current Licences. While revenue from these wells includes an annual rental fee, the greater part of the value of these Licences is generated through the delivery of specific activities under agreed work programmes between the Licensee and the Minister. Such work programmes include phased obligations with respect to the acquisition of data and the submission of geological and geophysical data accompanied by comprehensive technical analysis together with obligations to drill wells within agreed timeframes.
These activities are fundamental to progressing the petroleum industry in Ireland and are of considerable importance in their benefits to the State.
171. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the proposed postal codes; and what this will mean for rural Ireland. [15932/15]
View answerCapita Business Support Services Ireland were awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System. The design for the System was approved by Government in April, 2014 and the ‘Eircode’ brand was also launched at that stage. The project is currently in the implementation phase and due to go live this summer. The Eircode website, www.eircode.ie, was launched in April 2014. This website has information on Eircodes for both residents and businesses. The Eircode team has briefed businesses through a series of seminars and are continuing to work with them to prepare for Eircodes. In order to support dissemination of Eircodes, the databases of key public sector bodies are being encoded with eircodes.
A national information campaign will commence shortly to inform the public about Eircodes and promote their usage. The campaign will include a community outreach programme to provide information and assistance to the vulnerable and hard to reach groups within the community.
The dissemination phase will commence in the next few months with the delivery by post of a unique postcode to every address in Ireland.
The introduction of Eircodes will help to solve two significant problems associated with addressing in Ireland. The first is that the address for any given premises can have a number of different forms. The second and more significant problem is that over 35% of the addresses in Ireland are non-unique. This is where a property has the same address as at least one other property in the area. Applying a unique eircode to every address will be of particular benefit to the residents of rural Ireland as the majority of non-unique addresses are found in rural communities. It will make addresses easier to locate and make it easier and more efficient for rural dwellers to receive deliveries and obtain other services including access to the emergency services whenever required.
172. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address concerns surrounding the future of the post office network and the overall impact this will have on rural Ireland. [15948/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 680 of 21 April 2015. The position remains unchanged.
173. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has for renewables and, in particular, solar renewable energy, in the next 12 months; his views on solar energy on greenfield sites; if any such sites are currently being developed; the proposed policy direction of solar energy production on greenfield sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15977/15]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. The schemes operate by guaranteeing a minimum price for renewable energy generation over a 15 year period. The technologies supported include onshore wind energy, hydroelectricity, landfill gas, waste-to-energy and biomass technologies, including anaerobic digestion. Solar PV is not one of the qualifying technologies for this scheme. Further information is available on my Department's website, www.dcenr.ie. I am aware of recent reports in the media concerning the development of solar farms. The development of a solar farm requires planning permission from the local planning authority and is therefore a matter between the developer and the relevant planning authority.
The Green Paper on Energy Policy, inter alia , sought feedback on the role that alternative technologies, such as solar, could play in delivering our renewable energy ambitions. Views received will be taken into consideration in the preparation of the White Paper on Energy which will be published in September.
Given the emerging policy context and the requirements of the EU internal market for electricity, my Department will be considering the appropriateness of a new support scheme for renewable electricity, from 2016 onwards. A key component of this will be consideration of the available technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of support required. The scheme will be subject to State Aid clearance and the initial public consultation on a new scheme will commence in the coming weeks.
