16 May 2012, 17:58
Progress on the National Postcode System, Metropolitan Area Networks, administration of the TV licence fee, the National Broadband Scheme and grant funding for energy research projects are among a number of issues the Public Accounts Committee will examine at its meeting tomorrow, 17th May when it meets with the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Chairman of the Committee, John McGuinness said: “The National Broadband Scheme was established by the State in order to comply with EU competitiveness objectives, which include ensuring that all European citizens have access to basic broadband by 2013. The Committee will be interested to establish how extensive was the feasibility study on this scheme prior to the decision to implement the National Broadband Scheme? How did the experiences of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) scheme feed into this decision and how were the National Broadband Scheme areas defined? What was the final outturn on the MANS 1 and 2 projects? What were the final usage numbers? Are there any towns or areas where there are MANS networks which are not in use? What is the current status of the MANS 3 project?”
Progress on the introduction of the National Postcode System will also feature at tomorrow’s meeting, along with the administration of the television licence fee.
Deputy McGuinness said: “We will want to know if alternatives to An Post have been explored for the television licence fee collection and if this contract has been tendered for recently. Has consideration been given to collecting the television licence fee through electricity providers? What is the current television licence fee evasion rate and of this, how many households are fined?”
Grant-in-aid funding to Sustainable Energy Ireland and grant funding through Sustainable Energy Ireland for a number of sustainable energy programmes will also be examined by the Committee.
Deputy McGuinness said: “We will be interested to find out the uptake rates on these programmes and the payback periods in terms of investment input. In the area of natural resources, the status of mining licences and the Department’s licencing role in fracking will also be examined.”
This meeting with the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will take place at 10am tomorrow, Thursday, 17th May in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
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Dublin 2
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Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Gerald Nash,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross