Written Answers Nos. 272-284
272. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a breakdown between current and capital expenditure allocated for all State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31426/16]
View answerThe following table provides a breakdown of the 2016 capital and current allocations for the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department:
|
- |
2016 |
- |
|
State Body/Agency |
Current (000) |
Capital (000) |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency |
1,588 |
350 |
|
RTÉ |
185,724 |
- |
|
TG4 |
32,540 |
2,320 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
7,351 |
- |
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
23,430 |
886 |
|
Loughs Agency |
2,270 |
468 |
|
Environmental Protection Agency |
17,809 |
7,123 |
In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers a number of Sustainable Energy and Energy Research schemes on behalf of Department. The amount allocated to these schemes in 2016 is set out in the following table:
|
- |
2016 |
- |
|
|
Current (000) |
Capital (000) |
|
Sustainable Energy and Energy Research schemes administered by SEAI |
7,177 |
69,060 |
The overall allocations for my Department in 2017 and summary details on a programme basis are set out in Estimates for Public Services 2017 which is available at the following link: http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2017/Documents/Part%20III%20-%20Estimates%20for%20Public%20Services%202017.pdf. Full details of the 2017 allocations for my Department’s will be published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services in December.
273. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total number of additional staff to be taken on in his Department and in all individual State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2017, in tabular form; the total cost of hiring additional staff in his Department and in each individual State agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31427/16]
View answerMy Department has recently received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the recruitment of an additional 19 staff. The additional resources were approved to support the Department's management of the National Broadband Plan and the delivery of priorities in the climate action area.
The total cost of these resources is estimated at €1.4m per annum and the additional funding to cover these posts has been provided in the Department's budgetary allocation for 2017.
During the course of 2017, other posts in the Department will arise in the context of business priorities and vacancies. It is not possible to give specific details of these posts at this stage. However, the filling of all posts is subject to the completion of a business case and an evaluation process having regard to the Department's business priorities.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the relevant bodies to provide the information directly to the Deputy.
274. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reported new peak time bill rates to be introduced by the ESB; the impact this will have on domestic electricity prices and usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31429/16]
View answerI believe the question and the statements from ESB that were reported in the media this week are referring to the National Smart Metering Programme and the availability of time of use tariffs as part of this programme. The National Smart Metering Programme, which includes both electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The EU’s Third Energy Package sets out the need to roll out smart meters based on economic assessment and provides that in the case of electricity, “where roll-out of smart meters is assessed positively, at least 80% of consumers shall be equipped with intelligent metering systems by 2020.” In the case of gas, there is no specific target but any roll out is subject to economic assessment.
In Ireland, the key determinant of the scale, scope and timing of the roll-out of smart meters is a cost benefit analysis that is currently being developed by the CER. The results of this CBA are expected in the first half of 2017.
In previous statements, I have indicated that the roll-out of smart meters will commence in late 2018 at the earliest. The ‘go live’ date of smart services will follow once a significant number of smart meters have been rolled out.
The CER commenced a re-planning process of the NSMP in July 2016 with ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland and other relevant stakeholders in order to bring more clarity and certainty regarding the timelines for implementation of the programme. This re-planning process, which will conclude later this year, may lead to the timelines being extended.
Smart meters will make time of use tariffs, which offer a different price for electricity at different times of the day, available to customers. This is similar to the current day/night meters but with the potential for more than two charging periods in each day allowing people to manage their electricity cost by changing when they use electricity.
Following a public consultation, the CER has determined that energy suppliers will be required to offer time of use tariffs to customers within 12 months of receiving a smart meter and smart services going live. It will be the customers’ choice whether to opt-in to use the time of use tariffs or remain on their existing tariff.
Over time, as consumers become informed regarding the potential savings that they can make, time of use tariffs are likely to become the norm. The CER intends to monitor developments in the market with a view to phasing out flat-rate tariffs in the future. However, no date has been decided for such a phase-out.
The CER plans to launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign in the run up to smart meter roll out and educating the public about the benefits of time of use tariffs will form a substantial part of that campaign.
275. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has applied for permission to engage outside public relations companies for the purposes of disseminating Government policy; the cost of each contract entered into; the name of the contractors; the duration of the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31673/16]
View answerSince January 2015 to the present date, my Department has not used any external public relation firms for the purposes of disseminating government policy. My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and address specific issues as they arise. The Department, may, therefore, incur some expenditure on public relations from time to time. In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and to keep expenditure to the minimum necessary.
276. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government with respect to the local improvement scheme and the commitment to have scheme up and running by end 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/16]
View answer281. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on capital budget for local and regional roads and the commitment to increase this budget by approximately 50%; the capital expenditure that has been allocated for 2017 and in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31379/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 281 together.
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place. This Scheme provides funding for private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of which is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. While the LIS does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2016, local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding (15% of the Discretionary Grant) for LIS should they wish to do so.
While 2017 will see a modest increase in funding for roads, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus in 2017 will, therefore, have to continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads. I do, however, expect that local authorities will continue to be able to use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the local improvement scheme.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for regional and local roads, I will be raising the issue of increased funding in the context of the planned Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan.
277. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on €100 million capital investment in the Wild Atlantic Way and greenways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31373/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government provides that the Government will set aside €100 million in additional capital funding to take the Wild Atlantic Way to the next level, including an Atlantic Blueway route, and the Ireland Way, to invest further in developing a nationwide Greenway network, to double the funding available for the Rural Walks Scheme from €2 million to €4 million, and to increase the number of walks covered from 40 to 80. The commitment in the Programme for Government covers a number of funding programmes and Departments. Consideration of how best to allocate funding for these areas will form part of the mid-term review of the Capital Investment Plan that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be commencing in early 2017.
278. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on €10 million in additional funding for regional airports; the capital expenditure that has been allocated in 2017 for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31374/16]
View answerThe capital funding that was allocated in last week's Budget for the regional airports next year is €3.75 million. The Programme for Government commitment is to provide an additional €10 million over the lifetime of the Capital Plan to support the four airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford. This commitment, along with other Programme for Government commitments of a capital nature, will be considered as part of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced last week, will commence shortly.
279. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on the review of the western rail corridor phase two between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31375/16]
View answerI recently received the 'Rail Review' from the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail. The Review is a strategic evaluation of the current role of Irish Rail and the financial resources required to continue to provide services on the heavy rail network on a sustainable basis. I intend to examine the Programme for Government commitment - to provide for an independent costing and review of a proposal to extend the Western Rail Corridor by linking Athenry and Claremorris - in the context of the Rail Review as the Rail Review will be relevant to any future decisions on the Western Rail Corridor. I wish to ensure that the public and all interested parties get an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the future of rail through the publication shortly of the Rail Review and the commencement of a public consultation process on it. I would encourage all interested parties to actively engage with this consultation process.
280. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on TEN-T transport funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31378/16]
View answerA submission has been prepared regarding the commitment under the Programme for a Partnership Government to apply for a revision of the TEN-T Core Network and I expect to submit this to the European Commission shortly.
282. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on rural transport and the commitment that a report will be provided to the relevant Oireachtas committee within six months examining the way existing routes can be made more sustainable and accessible to the public, the potential for new routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31380/16]
View answerSince April 2012 the National Transport Authority (NTA) has been assigned national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme funded by my Department. The NTA is preparing a report for my Department, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, with a view to its submission to the Oireachtas Transport Committee within the required six month timeframe.
283. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the final outcome of the review of national cycling policy framework, NCPF, implementation which was at an interim stage in 2013; his proposals for completing the implementation of the 19 objectives and 109 actions of the NCPF, having regard to the NCPF criteria for success (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31186/16]
View answerThe National Cycle Policy Framework was published in 2009 and included a range of objectives and actions to be achieved and implemented over the period to 2020. Implementation of the various actions falls to a wide range of public bodies including local authorities, transport agencies, my Department and other Government Departments. In 2013 and 2015 the Department asked local authorities and other stakeholders for an update on progress on implementation. The Department now intends that the framework should be reviewed fully and we will be pursuing this over the next year.
284. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Irish Rail's plan to reopen toilet facilities in Newbridge train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31192/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann 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 response within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
