Written Answers Nos. 589-610
591. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding available for the refurbishment of buildings recently purchased by a person who intends to use these buildings for commercial use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43024/15]
View answerThere are no funds at my disposal to support the refurbishment of buildings to be used for commercial purposes.
592. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is required for competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who undertake to carry out construction works to be registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland, in order to comply with the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43032/15]
View answer593. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grant assistance available to small firms of competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who are registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland to defray the cost of undertaking annual continuous professional development which is a requirement for registration with the Construction Industry Register Ireland. [43033/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together.
The Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2015 require the owner of a proposed building to sign a statutory form assigning a competent builder to undertake the works. The regulations do not require that the builder so assigned be registered with Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI). CIRI is a voluntary register of builders, contractors and specialist trade persons established by the Construction Industry Federation and I understand that approximately 800 construction entities are currently included on the register which is available online at www.ciri.ie.
Under the Construction 2020 strategy, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing. This is seen as an essential consumer protection measure giving consumers who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. Legislative proposals in this regard are currently being prepared by my Department with a view to their being presented to Government for consideration in the near future.
I have no role or function in relation to the grant assistance of construction firms in relation to ensuring that they or their employees are properly trained. I would encourage those small firms of competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who are registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland to raise any concerns they have in relation to the cost of undertaking annual continuous professional development (CPD) with CIRI who will be in a position to advise on an appropriate approach which is suitable to the needs of their firm.
594. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of legal cases currently ongoing against his Department including State agencies under his aegis; the number of cases that took place during the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive; the cost of those that were contested and what damages were involved; the costs and damages of those that were settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43265/15]
View answerEach year my Department is required to prepare and submit to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General an Appropriation Account of funds expended from the Department’s Vote in the year concerned. Following audit, the Account is published on the Comptroller’s website and includes details of legal costs incurred by my Department, set out by way of a note to the Account. The Department is involved in a number of pending legal proceedings which may generate liabilities, depending on the outcome of the litigation. Any actual amount or the timing of potential liabilities is uncertain but details of costs involved will be published in the relevant Appropriation Account. Data in respect of legal costs incurred in the requisite years are set out in the following table. The table does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal. Payments in respect of legal costs incurred by agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned.
Legal Costs - Vote 25 DECLG - €000s
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
405 |
7,257 |
7,812 |
310 |
595. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of employees under his remit who are classified under a contract of indefinite duration; the number of these who are receiving incremental salary payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43279/15]
View answerThere is one staff member with a contract of indefinite duration in my Department since September 2012 and that person is on an incremental scale. The information collected by my Department in relation to local authorities does not show the number of instances of contracts of indefinite duration at a particular point in time.
The information requested in respect of State Agencies is not collected by my Department.
596. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the chief medical officer will carry out a health impact assessment into hydraulic fracturing. [42657/15]
View answerThe requirement for a Health Impact Assessment into hydraulic fracturing, or otherwise, would only arise if an application to carry out a development proposing the use of this technology were being considered. As I have advised previously, the research programme, which has been commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency into the potential impacts from unconventional gas exploration and extraction (UGEE) on the environment and human health, is ongoing.
No application to engage in UGEE has been received in my Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider its findings.
597. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the penalties Ireland will face if we do not meet our target of 10% of transport energy coming from renewable sources by 2020, under the European Union renewable energy supply directive. [42320/15]
View answerThe 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Member States individual targets for renewable energy in order to attain an overall renewable energy share of 20% by 2020 across the entire European Union. In this regard, Ireland was assigned a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In addition, Member States must ensure that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector is from renewable sources by 2020. The 10% transport target contributes to the overall 16% target, with the additional required contributions coming from renewable electricity (40%) and renewable heat (12%).
While the cost of any shortfall in Ireland's target of 16% has yet to be established, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for each percentage point Ireland falls short of the overall 16% renewable energy target. In arriving at these figures, SEAI used the Irish onshore wind tariff support cost (lower bound) and the UK offshore wind tariff support cost (upper bound) as the cost per megawatt hour (MWh) of purchasing renewable energy credits to meet 2020 targets. Further work commissioned by SEAI suggests the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €70 million to €140 million per percentage point shortfall (equivalent to €50 to €100 per MWh). These estimates are based on the projected marginal cost of the renewable energy being brought to market by the selling Member State, with the cost per MWh based solely on the premium component of the tariff support and the type of technology used, ranging, as with SEAI estimates, from onshore wind (lower bound) to offshore wind (upper bound).
598. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has plans to invest in improvements to the fixed line broadband network in east County Galway, specifically in the Raheen and Catherlistrane areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42393/15]
View answerThe telecommunications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999. Decisions by commercial operators to invest in particular technologies, including fixed line network technologies are taken purely on commercial grounds, having regard to the cost of service provision and the anticipated revenue returns from any such investment. Neither my Department nor the Commission for Communications Regulation, the independent market regulator, have statutory authority to oblige any particular network provider to invest in the provision of upgraded broadband services.
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in cases of clear market failure. In this regard the National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention and includes the area of Raheen, Caherlistrine, Co. Galway. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by the end of 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
Consumers can also consult the websites of the various commercial operators to ascertain details of current and planned future deployment plans.
I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 45,000 premises to date in County Galway with over 26,200 more expected to be served by commercial investment. Approximately 62,500 remaining premises in County Galway will be covered by further commercial investment or be the target for the proposed State intervention under the NBP. The breakdown of premises covered, per townland, is available on the High Speed Broadband Map.
Over 40 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions are being published and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals. I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by end of 2020.
599. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 12 November 2015 and given his statement regarding oral agreements in relation to petroleum prospecting licences, if the companies involved have ever been informed in writing that no such licences were required. [42486/15]
View answer600. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 12 November 2015 and in view of his acknowledgement of agreements being done orally with companies (details supplied) regarding petroleum prospecting licences, and the link with the Environmental Protection Agency research project, if any oral or tacit agreements have also been carried out in relation to the unconventional gas exploration and extraction research project currently under way. [42487/15]
View answer601. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 12 November 2015 and given his statement on oral agreements in relation to petroleum prospecting licences when these deals were made; who made them; and if the companies involved have formally accepted them. [42488/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 to 601, inclusive, together.
Pursuant to Section 9 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960, it is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to determine whether or not to grant a Petroleum Prospecting Licence when an application for such a licence is made. As set out in my response to Question No. 202 on 12 November, the then Minister did not agree to a recommendation to grant such a licence in the instances referred to by the Deputy. Under the legislation the decision is one for the Minister and the agreement of an applicant is not required.
602. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to keep Ireland free of hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42763/15]
View answerA multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from UGEE projects is under way and is being administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee. As has been outlined on a number of occasions, no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of an Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction (UGEE) project, until there has been time to consider the outcome of this major research programme.
The key questions that this research programme, which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years, needs to answer are:
- Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be carried out in the island of Ireland whilst also protecting the environment and human health, and
- What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to such projects and operations?
To this end this scientific Joint Research Programme (JRP) is based on the consideration of existing baseline data with respect to groundwater, air and seismicity and the potential implications and mitigations that are required to be considered in order to understand the possible environmental impacts of using this technology and whether or not it can be undertaken in an environmentally protective manner in accordance with the requirements of environmental law.
I can once again confirm that no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of any UGEE programme, until there has been time to consider the outcome of this Joint Research Programme.
603. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the exploration prospecting licences 3435, 2899, 2900 were issued; the length of these licences; if an option exists for these licences to be renewed; if so, the timeframe; if provision is made for a further renewal after this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42868/15]
View answer604. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that a mining company (details supplied) in County Cork has met all the terms and conditions of the licences issued to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42869/15]
View answer605. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his Department has been informed of changes in the details of ownership or operation of the holder of certain exploration licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42870/15]
View answer606. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the work of the Allihies Parish Co-Operative Society Limited in developing a tourist facility around the old mountain mine entrance and works in Allihies in County Cork; his plans to consider excluding this area from any further licences or renewal of exploratory licences to enable this facility to be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42871/15]
View answer607. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the information and scientific analysis available for public examination for exploratory work in the area surrounding the old mountain mine in Allihies in County Cork for mineral and metal reserves over the past 75 years; when the results of current exploratory work will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 603 to 607, inclusive, together.
The prospecting licences (PL) for areas 3435, 2899 and 2900 were granted to Westcork Copper Mining Co. Ltd (the licensee) for a period of six years from 25 February 2010 until 24 February 2016.
PLs are reviewed by my Department every two years to ensure that the licensee has complied with all licence conditions (i.e. the licensee has carried out an acceptable work and expenditure programme and reported satisfactorily on same). The licences in question were last reviewed in April 2014 and determined to be in good standing. The next licence review is scheduled to be completed in early 2016. All Prospecting Licences contain a conditional guarantee of renewal for licensees who satisfactorily observe the terms and conditions of their existing PLs. The licensee may apply to renew their licences in February 2016 for a further six years (to 24 February 2022). Should such an application be made, it will be evaluated by my officials. PLs that are twelve years old may thereafter be renewed every two years subject to further evaluation by my officials.
To date, the licensee has not advised my Department of any changes in details of ownership or operation.
My Department makes all exploration work reports which are at least six years old available for public release. Reports can be released earlier than six years, should licensees surrender their prospecting licences. In relation to PL Areas 3435, 2899 and 2900, provisional results of the licensee's exploration are due to be made publicly available in late February 2018. Historical work reports relating to the Allihies area are available from the Exploration Report search facility on my Department’s website at http://gis.dcenr.gov.ie/imf/sites/ExplorationCompanyReports/textinputscreen.html.
In addition historical information on the former mining operations at Allihes can be accessed on my Department's website at https://secure.dcenr.gov.ie/goldmine/index.html.
My Department is aware of the work of the Allihies Parish Co-Operative Society Limited in developing a tourist facility around the old Mountain Mine entrance and works in Allihies, County Cork. A tourist mine project can be both beneficial to the local economy and in enhancing the perception of the mining industry in general, so long as it is undertaken with due regard to human health and safety and environmental protection.
However, as Minister of State with responsibility for natural resources, it is my primary statutory obligation to facilitate and regulate the discovery and development of new mineral deposits and as such there are currently no plans to exclude this area from prospecting.
It should be noted that all Prospecting Licences issued are restricted to exploration and do not grant any right to extraction or mining. Any plans to carry out mining will require a separate mining lease from my Department as well as Planning Permission from the Local Authority and an Integrated Pollution Control licence from the EPA.
608. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to ensure the security of Irish oil and gas supplies and the key role being played by Whitegate oil refinery in the maintenance of energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43038/15]
View answerApproximately 96% of gas consumed in Ireland is imported, with approximately 45% of our electricity being generated using gas. EirGrid, together with ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland, have respective emergency plans in place to deal with any unexpected short-term disruption to gas supplies. The security of Ireland’s gas supplies will be significantly strengthened by the coming onstream of the Corrib Gas field which will reduce our dependency on imported gas in the short to medium term.
Ireland has no domestic oil production and all oil consumed is imported, either in the form of crude oil that is refined at Whitegate or in the form of product. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) manages Ireland’s strategic oil reserves. NORA ensures that Ireland meets its EU and International Energy Agency (IEA) obligations to maintain 90 days' oil stocks for use in the event of an oil supply disruption.
Ireland has one refinery in Whitegate, Cork that was privatised as a result of its sale by the State in 2001. The owners of the refinery, Phillips 66, advised my Department in October that they were putting the Whitegate refinery up for sale. A refinery sale would be a commercial matter between Phillips 66 and a potential purchaser. As this process is under way Whitegate will continue to be operated on a business as usual basis.
The Government views the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis as highly desirable from an energy security and economic perspective. Security of supply remains a fundamental tenet of our energy policy. I am in contact with my ministerial colleagues to discuss the importance of continued operations at the facility.
609. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of legal cases currently ongoing against his Department including State agencies under his aegis; the number of cases that took place during the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive; the cost of those that were contested and what damages were involved; the costs and damages of those that were settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43262/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible. The information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request that they reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested.
610. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of employees under his remit who are classified under a contract of indefinite duration; the number of these who are receiving incremental salary payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43276/15]
View answerMy Department does not have any employees on Contracts of Indefinite Duration.
