Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1971

Vol. 255 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Committees.

29.

Dr. O'Connell

asked the Minister for Transport and Power what formal or informal committees are at present in existence in his Department; the terms of reference of such committees; when they were set up; the cost to date; and when it is expected that the reports of such committees will be available.

Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The information is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report. Following is the statement:

Committee	Terms of Reference	Date set up	Cost to date	Reports
1. National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics	To maintain contact with the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and to promote research and study in Ireland in the fields of geodesy and geophysics.	August, 1952	£400 approximately	The Committee does not issue reports.
2. Joint Committee on CIE	To investigate the deterioration in the financial position of CIE and to identify possible corrective measures.	October, 1970	A consultancy firm has been commissioned to aid the Committee in its investigation. The cost of the consultants, including expenses, to date is £43,940.	The consultants' report is expected in July, 1971.
3. Inter Departmental Committee on Financial Assistance for Harbour Works.	To examine and report on applications for State assistance for harbour works.	November, 1945	Nil	No reports are outstanding.
4. Level Crossings Working Group.	To consider and advise on the questions relating to safety at level crossings.	December, 1963	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.
5. Committee on Native Fuel Policy.	(a) To examine and report on measures to maximise the use in the public sector for space heating of native fuels (coal, sod turf and briquettes) having regard to, inter alia:—	April, 1971	£40.50	Expected to furnish report by the end of 1971.
	(i) the capital and operating costs of native fuels as compared with oils, and
	(ii) the implications for the producers of native fuels and for the national economy of the replacement of native fuels by oil.
	(b) In conducting the examinations under (a) to have regard separately to the following cases:—
	(i) the continuance of the use of native fuel in existing installations or when existing installations fall to be renewed; and
	(ii) the choice of fuels for heating installations in new buildings or in extensions to existing installations.
	(c) To examine and report on any other aspects of the use of native fuels as compared with oil, e.g. convenience, nuisance, etc. which the Committee may consider relevant.
	(d) To make recommendations on the foregoing.
6. Airports Construction Committee.	To secure expeditiously Department of Finance sanction for projected works at the State airports, to act as a medium for co-ordinating and reporting progress on the planning and execution of construction projects and for the provision of equipment.	August, 1936	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.
7. Airports Terminals Contracts Committee.	To review the progress of the contracts for the new Terminal Buildings at Dublin and Shannon Airports.	March, 1969	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.
8. Shannon Airport Planning and Progress Committee.	To deal with progress and problems arising locally at Shannon in relation to arrangements for the Boeing 747 aircraft.	October, 1968	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.
9. Technical Aviation Committee.	The main function of the Committee, which serves in a purely advisory capacity, is to provide a forum for the discussion of topics concerning two or more of the technical aviation services. Each of the aviation technical services is represented on the committee. The committee generally discusses matters which are referred to it by the Minister or by the Technical Aviation Services.	1947	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.
10. Working Group on Aircraft Noise Problems.	To co-ordinate the examination of problems caused by aircraft noise.	January, 1970	Nil	The Committee does not issue reports.