Written Answers Nos. 465 - 483
465. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which north-south and east-west interconnectors are likely to become a reality, with a view to ensuring continuity and security of supply of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16784/15]
View answerOn 27 March 2015 Eirgrid published, for public comment, a discussion paper on Ireland's grid development strategy - "Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow." The paper, which reviews, inter alia, the Grid Link, Grid West, and North South Transmission Line projects, confirms that Ireland’s overall energy transmission needs may be met with less new infrastructure build than previously anticipated because of new technological developments and updated projections of future electricity demand.
The discussion paper, which was subject to an independent peer review, confirms the need to reinforce the transmission system in the South East. It suggests an additional option to the original Grid Link options. The original options would require either (i) the construction of significant amounts of new overhead lines or (ii) the laying of significant amounts of underground cable. The additional option contained in the recently published discussion document would involve an underwater cable in the Shannon estuary and upgrading existing transmission lines rather than building new lines.
The discussion paper also puts forward options for Grid West. The options include underground cabling, a 400kV overhead line option, and a 220kV overhead line with some of the line placed underground.
The discussion paper reaffirms the need for the North South Transmission Line project and that the existing proposal for a 400kV overhead line remains the most appropriate solution for the project.
The Deputy will be aware of the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) that is overseeing the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The EirGrid reports are required to be comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for the projects. They must also be complete, comparable (overhead line comparable against underground cable) and objective and include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. In due course, after consideration of the reports, the IEP will provide an opinion to me on both of them. Thereafter, EirGrid will publicly consult on each project. I expect to receive the IEP's opinion on the Grid West project over the coming days and the opinion on the Grid Link project in quarter three, 2015.
Once these steps have been completed, it will then be a matter for EirGrid, in consultation with the Commission for Energy Regulation, to make a decision on which option to pursue on each of the Grid Link and Grid West projects.
Each of these 3 major projects will be the subject of a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in due course.
466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which exploration licences continue to be taken up on and offshore; if promising or commercial discoveries have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16785/15]
View answerAs I stated in reply to Question No. [11051/15] on the 12th March 2015, details of all authorisations granted by the Department are published 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 report was in respect of the period ending 31 December, 2014. These details and reports are also available on my Department’s website at www.dcenr.gov.ie.
While there have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in recent years there has been a positive upswing in the level of petroleum exploration activity in recent years, in particular acquisition of new seismic data. We need to see this translate into an increased level of exploration drilling in the coming years, if Ireland’s true petroleum potential is to be realised.
In a similar manner, while the number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the prevailing state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in recent years, although there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. It is too early to determine however whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits.
469. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of the Energy (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1995, No. 35 of 1995, if he is aware that the Electricity Supply Board has failed to comply with its statutory obligations outlined under said Act, which in essence makes its defined benefit pension a typical balance-of-cost scheme and requires the Electricity Supply Board to be solely responsible for any deficit that may arise from time to time in said fund; if he is aware that said legislation was put in place in order to underpin that the guarantee in respect of the pension was part of a tripartite agreement concluded in 1996 between the then Government, the Electricity Supply Board management and the Electricity Supply Board group of trade unions; if he will take steps to ensure that same is honoured in full, particularly in the context of pensioners and deferred pensioners, who appear to be bearing the brunt of all losses visited upon them in respect of their pensions, by way of legislative interventions or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16839/15]
View answerThe ESB defined benefit scheme is a contributory pension scheme through which pensions for the majority of employees in the electricity business are funded. The fund is vested in trustees nominated by ESB and its members for the sole benefit of employees and their dependents. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme and is registered as such with the Pensions Authority (formerly the Pensions Board).
My Department has been advised by the ESB that it rejects claims that it has failed to comply with any obligations in respect of the scheme under the Energy (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1995 (No. 35 of 1995) or otherwise. The Department has been further advised by ESB that it has honoured, and continues to honour, the terms of the 1996 Cost and Competitiveness Review tripartite agreement referred to by the Deputy. The administration of the scheme is a matter for the scheme trustees.
470. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the sports capital applications that have been received from Dublin City Council in the past year; if they were successful; and if those not successful will be reconsidered for funding, if moneys not drawn down in 2014 are redistributed to existing applications. [16228/15]
View answerDetails of all applications and allocations under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are published on the Department’s website www.dttas.ie. When these grants were announced all organisations were informed, as part of the terms and conditions of the Programme, that they had to have completed a substantial amount of progress on their projects to facilitate the drawdown of the grant by 31 July 2016. The issue of withdrawing these grants will not arise until after that date at the earliest. It is not the Department's policy to reallocate funding to new grantees where the existing grantees are experiencing difficulties in the drawdown of their grants.
471. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that were taken by either the Sports Council of Ireland or its subsidiary body, the Athletics Association of Ireland, to ensure compliance with the code of ethics with regard to the expulsion of six athletes, three of whom were children, from Donore Harriers Club in Chapelizod, Dublin 20, since 2013. [16229/15]
View answerThe Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the development of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport.
As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to the Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
472. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an audit of compliance and adherence by national sporting bodies and their funded organisations has been completed regarding the code of ethics and good practice for children in sports; and if it is a mandatory factor in being grant-aided that they must be in full compliance and are addressing outstanding cases which arise year on year. [16230/15]
View answerThe Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the development of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport and for the allocation of funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport.
As the matters raised in the Deputy's question are the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council, I have referred the question to the Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
473. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding national car tests for taxis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16250/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle standards, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
474. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding the renewal of driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16265/15]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
475. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the level of local and regional roads funding provided to a local authority (details supplied) in respect of 2015 will be reviewed and supplemented; if he will clarify how the amount provided compares with the amount provided to all local authorities over the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16297/15]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in County Kerry is the statutory responsibility of Kerry County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
Comparatively, funding for the regional and local road network has been reduced significantly across the board in recent years - in 2010 funding was €411 million while funding this year is around €294 million. Regional and local road allocations in 2015 have seen an overall reduction of 11% on the 2014 start of year figure (this 2014 figure included €50 million in one-off stimulus funding).
On 3 February, I announced the 2015 allocations, of which Kerry County Council was allocated a total of €12.7m. All funding for 2015 has now been allocated and no further funding is available.
When the one-off €50 million start of year stimulus boost in 2014 is excluded, the 2015 regional and local road allocation to Kerry, sees a 22% increase on the 2014 allocation across the three main grant categories (Restoration Maintenance, Restoration Improvement and Discretionary Grant). These three main regional and local road grants are allocated based on the length of regional and local roads within the county.
Details of allocations and payments to all local authorities in recent years are included in the grant booklets available in the Dáil library.
476. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) concerning the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16302/15]
View answerWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
The Deputy should be aware that the route of the Wild Atlantic Way was developed using a collaborative approach; regional steering groups were convened to inform route development. The steering groups comprised Fáilte Ireland, Local Authorities, local LEADER and Development companies and other key agencies such as Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and others as relevant to each particular region.
For those communities that are not on the specific route it is important to note that the Wild Atlantic Way is not simply a touring route but is rather a means to guide and attract visitors, and that all villages, businesses and geographic areas within close proximity of the route, such as Cromane, are in essence part of the geography of the Wild Atlantic Way. The purpose of the Way is to give guidance to visitors as to what there is to see on our western coast, and provide easy access to a range of experiences along and near the route and so enable local businesses to take full advantage of the benefits of the route.
477. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff working in the Road Safety Authority over the past five years; the number of vehicle inspection check points carried out on a county basis over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16306/15]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not be received within 10 days.
478. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the pass rate per county of the small public service vehicles entry test for the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16359/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including administering the SPSV Entry Test, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
479. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number and percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet that are aged over ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16423/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
480. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will visit County Louth and meet with tourism interests; if he will ask Fáilte Ireland to address its omissions regarding County Louth in the recent Fáilte Ireland ancient Ireland east map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16478/15]
View answerThe role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of Ireland's Ancient East is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. The Department is not directly involved in its development or promotion. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to reply to the Deputy directly in this regard. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
I do note that Ireland's Ancient East is a promotional and developmental proposition and not a specifically defined geographical area - although equally I observed at its recent launch that the illustrative map used in initial promotional material clearly includes the whole of County Louth, from the Boyne to the Cooley Peninsula. It is my hope to visit County Louth, along with many other parts of the country, but you will appreciate that there are many demands on my diary over the coming months and I cannot make a formal commitment at this time.
481. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of the operational subvention paid, on an annual basis, to each airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16526/15]
View answer482. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legal basis for public service obligation contracts for air services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16527/15]
View answer483. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual amount paid under public service obligation contracts for air services, broken down by airport, airline and route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16528/15]
View answer485. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of moneys paid from the Exchequer, including public service obligation levies and any other financial supports, to all airports over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16538/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 481 to 483, inclusive, and 485 together.
The level of Exchequer supports paid to the regional airports under the Core Airport Management Operational Expenditure Subvention (OPEX) and the Capital Expenditure Grant (CAPEX) Schemes, along with the payments made directly to airline operators on the routes under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Air Services Scheme for the years 2011 to 2014 is set out in tables.
|
OPEX |
2011 - € |
2012 - € |
2013 - € |
2014 - € |
|
Donegal |
42,630 |
111,417 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway |
2,309,191 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
950,000 |
550,000 |
436,918 |
507,224 |
|
IWA Knock |
431,907 |
589,644 |
654,576 |
548,600 |
|
Sligo |
386,535 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
1,272,071 |
1,232,964 |
1,121,399 |
1,038,784 |
|
CAPEX |
2011 - € |
2012 - € |
2013 - € |
2014 - € |
|
Donegal |
2,111,313 |
0 |
339,474 |
431,759 |
|
Galway |
222,944 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
399,348 |
1,633,946 |
740,958 |
133,156 |
|
IWA Knock |
233,282 |
699,007 |
2,013,023 |
1,925,413 |
|
Sligo |
237,531 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
795,582 |
1,333,830 |
361,686 |
533,220 |
|
PSO |
2011 - € |
2012 - € |
2013 - € |
2014 - € |
|
Loganair/ Aer Arann (Donegal/Dublin) |
4,719,428 |
3,451,683 |
3,598,803 |
3,701,291 |
|
Stobart / Aer Arann (Kerry/Dublin) |
359,721 |
€,917,964 |
4,021,261 |
4,061,373 |
|
Loganair/ Aer Arann (Derry/Dublin) |
2,857,753 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aer Arann (Galway/Dublin) |
2,190,078 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The legal basis for the PPSO Air Services contracts is Council Regulation (EU) No. 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community.
