Written Answers Nos. 236-243
236. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes that are administrated by his Department and that are available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27778/15]
View answerThere are a number of grant schemes administered either directly by my Department or on behalf of my Department by the agencies under its aegis, for which funding can be applied for by community groups and projects. I have set out in the following table details of the programmes and the web address where further information may be obtained.
|
Amount of Funding Paid |
|||||
|
Name of Grant Scheme |
Overview of Scheme |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
BenefIT 4 |
The BenefIT Programme, which is administered directly by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is a key mechanism under the National Digital Strategy to raise awareness and drive digital adoption among citizens. It provides funding to community and voluntary organisations for the delivery of digital skills training to citizens in over 700 locations nationwide. www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/knowledge+society/benefit/benefit+digital+skills+training+grant+scheme/ |
- |
- |
€1.52m |
€1.189m |
|
Better Energy Communities Programme |
This Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. It aims to encourage partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the building stock and energy poor homes and community facilities. The programme also incorporates an area based element, that targets clusters of energy poverty. www.seai.ie/grants/better_energy_communities |
- |
€ 5.9m |
€17.6m |
€23.65m |
|
Salmon Conservation Scheme* |
Salmon Conservation Funds are generated from the sale of salmon angling and commercial fishing licences which represents a major contribution by licence holders to wild salmon conservation. The revenue generated from the Salmon Conservation Fund is reinvested to promote the recovery of our salmon stocks and habitats taking into account project feasibility, funding availability and value for money considerations The fund is being managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Fishery Owners, Angling Clubs, Commercial Fishers, and IFI are implementing projects throughout Ireland. Projects are assessed based on the river’s conservation limit status, its water quality (Q-value) and the maximum potential project benefits to the river with funding prioritised for those rivers in most need of rehabilitation. Full details of the scheme are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Salmon-Management/salmon-conservation-fund-application.html |
€0.2m |
€0.202m |
€0.231m |
€0.216m |
|
Midland Fisheries Fund* |
Angling clubs and organisations can access funding to undertake sustainable development works in the Midland Fisheries Group permit area. The fund has been created through angler contributions from the Permit Income received by IFI in the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area. Full details of the area and criteria are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/midland-fisheries-fund.html |
- |
- |
€0.05m |
€0.05m |
|
Co-op (Trout and Coarse Fisheries Development) Funds** |
On the formation of IFI, the Coarse and Trout Fisheries Development Societies (known as Co-ops) were abolished and funds remaining in these bodies were transferred to IFI. IFI have developed a scheme to redistribute the available funds to the areas from which the funds originated. Full details of the area and criteria are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/midland-fisheries-fund.html |
- |
- |
- |
€0.162m |
|
IFI Sponsorship Scheme*** |
The IFI Sponsorship Programme aims to increase awareness of IFI, its work, recreational angling and the inland fisheries resource. IFI may support events on the basis of: - Location and nature of the Event; - Potential of the Event to introduce new users to angling in an active capacity, i.e. not just as spectators; - Educate/Inform stakeholders of angling /environmental/commercial salmon fisheries/habitat issues; - Development of non-established Events. www.fisheriesireland.ie/Notices/inland-fisheries-ireland-2015-sponsorship-programme.html |
€0.015m |
€0.046m |
€0.076m |
€0.110m |
*The amounts above represent the funds awarded for the calendar years in question. Payment is dependent upon works being completed and may take a number of years due to reasons such as weather, access, etc.
**All funds were awarded and some funding remains to be paid out pending completion and claims for the project.
***The figures represent amounts awarded in the particular year. Payments occur over a number of years.
237. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Comptroller and Auditor General has, in recent years, made reports to his Department regarding the long-term cost effectiveness and viability of the investment of public funds in renewable wind energy projects promoted by State bodies, including Coillte, Bord na Móna and the Electricity Supply Board; the financial effectiveness of such bodies as renewable energy promoters; the general level of State and governmental oversight and transparency in respect of such capital expenditure, including from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27851/15]
View answerThe Comptroller and Auditor General has made no reports to my Department in relation to renewable energy projects undertaken by Bord na Móna or the ESB. Coillte is under the aegis of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I do not have any role in its governance.
Where appropriate, specific investment plans are referred to NewERA for financial and/or commercial analysis. Capital investment plans of Bord na Móna and the ESB are ultimately subject to my consent as Minister.
238. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if any other company associated or previously associated with Capita plc within the Eircode consortium, such as Bearing Point, Tico or Autoaddress, or if any personnel previously or currently on the payroll or board of any of the aforementioned companies, have developed, modified or otherwise planned to launch or relaunch a second private general practitioners enabled code in the event that Eircode is not a success. [27897/15]
View answerCapita Business Support Services Ireland Limited were awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System. My Department has been advised by Capita that they have no plans to launch an alternative code along the lines outlined in the Question.
The carrying out of business by Capita, its former employees or its sub-contractors is a matter solely for them so long as it does not infringe any of the terms of the contract between the Department and Capita for the National Postcode System.
240. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes that are administrated by his Department and are available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27789/15]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. Any organisation, including a community group, interested in applying for a grant under the next round of the Sports Capital Programme should register on OSCAR at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie (if not already registered). The 2015 round of the SCP closed for applications on 24 April 2105 and the applications are currently being assessed. I expect to announce allocations later this year. The total amount paid out from the SCP subhead in each of the past four years is €23.4m, €19.8m, €13.6m and €20.9m in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
While the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) closed for applications in 2000, I did launch an initiative in 2011 to provide grants to enable local authorities to improve energy efficiency and to enhance disabled access in respect of swimming pools. Community pools not owned by the local authorities could be sponsored by the local authorities for the purposes of these grants. The total amount paid out in respect of the allocations made on foot of that initiative in each of the past four years is €7.4m, €3.6m, €1.2m and €98,931 in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
I recently launched another initiative to provide grants to improve energy efficiency and to enhance disabled access to swimming pools. The closing date for applications has passed and the applications are currently being assessed in the Department. I expect to also announce allocations on foot of this initiative later this year.
In addition, the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) administers relatively small grants to community based volunteer organisations i.e. Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) and their parent organisation MRI (Mountain Rescue Ireland which is an all island organisation), the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO), and Community Rescue Boats of Ireland (CRBI). In all some 22 individual teams are in receipt of grants. The objective of this funding is to assist in increasing the effectiveness of the voluntary rescue services, provide an operational and/or administrative quality improvement and to improve the overall national response structure. The amount paid out in each of the past four years is €205,678, €248,754, €247,322 and €250,531 in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
241. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the new measures he announced on 2 July 2015 pertaining to on-the-spot fines for cyclists will also apply to rickshaws in Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27816/15]
View answer242. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations that exist pertaining to rickshaws in Dublin city centre. [27817/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.
Currently, rickshaws are not specifically defined in law, nor is there any legislation to regulate carriage of passengers by these vehicles. However, they are bound by road traffic legislation and must obey the rules of the road.
The recent Fixed Charge Notices introduced for cycling offences apply to rickshaws that fall under the legal definition of pedal cycles. Rickshaws that are powered solely by the physical exertions of the driver fall under the definition of pedal cycles for legal purposes. Any rickshaw which is mechanically propelled on the other hand falls subject to the provisions of road traffic law relating to mechanically propelled vehicles.
Dublin City Council has written to me regarding the need to regulate rickshaws from a number of perspectives but primarily health and safety. However its legal advisors have advised that the type and extent of regulation proposed would appear to go beyond what a local authority would usually wish to regulate by bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001. The Council sought that provision be made through primary legislation to regulate the operation of rickshaws.
As it is a requirement that a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) be prepared in respect of any proposal to Government seeking permission to regulate through primary legislation and given that rickshaws are a local matter, I have responded to the Council that it would be appropriate that the Council prepare a RIA. The purpose of the RIA is to establish more clearly the issues that need to be addressed and the kind of regulatory initiative that is most appropriate to deal with those issues. The RIA would include, amongst other things, an assessment of the measures that could be adopted within the existing bye-law making powers of local authorities and also help determine whether any proposal for primary legislation should be dealt with as a matter of road traffic legislation or local government legislation.
Any questions about progress in that regard might be directed to the Council.
243. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who commute to Dublin from locations to the north west of Pace, that is, counties Meath and Cavan; the projected figures for the next five years; the annual cost of the subsidy paid by the State to the owners of the toll at Black Bull Cross in County Meath; the volume of vehicles necessary for the subsidy to cease; the projected cost of the Pace-to-Navan extension; and the type of passenger numbers necessary in order for the extension and service to become feasible. [27855/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
As regards M3 traffic patterns I have referred the Deputy's question on this matter to the NRA for direct reply. However, while the NRA monitors traffic flows on the national route network and should be able to provide information derived from its traffic counters in the vicinity, the specific origin and destination information the Deputy is seeking may not be available.
Separately, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). As the contracts for the privately operated toll schemes are commercial agreements between the NRA and the PPP concessionaires concerned I have also referred the Deputy's question regarding the operation of the M3 toll to the NRA. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
