Written Answers Nos. 128-142
128. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if firms like wind farms operators and others, who receive State grants are required to refund the grants to the taxpayer if they are taken over by a multinational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46857/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no grants provided to wind farm operators.
129. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when works will commence under the warmer homes scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46927/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. My Department is advised that a contractor has been allocated to the home referred to recently and it is expected that works will be scheduled and completed within the coming weeks. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
130. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the warmer home scheme application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46928/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage.
I am informed by the SEAI that the house in question was surveyed for suitability for attic and cavity wall insulation, at which time it was identified as a dormer bungalow. The practice of insulating dormer roofs through the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was recently reviewed in respect of value for money, the overall effectiveness of the additional insulation which can only be undertaken in part of the roof space, and the significant costs associated with achieving appropriate ventilation in the roof space to avoid condensation problems. All of this is in the context of endeavouring to address the maximum number of vulnerable fuel poor homes from within available resources. On balance it has been decided that the significant costs are not generally justified by the marginal insulation gains. Therefore insulation of dormer roofs is not currently implemented under the scheme. However, I am advised that SEAI will continue to keep the matter under review with my officials for feasible cost effective alternatives, particularly where the homes are in extreme fuel poverty, at which time affected houses may be revisited. Separately it was noted during the survey that this home should receive cavity wall insulation. However, the homeowner has declined this service as they do not wish to have the additional wall vents installed, which are deemed essential for a safe and healthy air quality.
I am informed that the SEAI have no record of an email from you to the Oireachtas line as indicated and if you would like to contact them again on this matter they would be happy to answer any further queries you may have. The SEAI dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204 and the SEAI specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
131. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [47072/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011 are set out in tabular form below. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its responsibilities in the areas concerned. The reports listed as follows formed subsidiary elements of those services in a number of instances.
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost € |
Date Of Publication |
|
Camp Dresser McKee CDM |
Silvermines Remediation Project: Analysis of soil and vegetation |
13,890 |
To be published by end November 2012. |
|
Purvin & Gertz |
Strategic Case for Oil Refining requirements |
193,997 |
Not yet published, commissioned in August 2011. |
|
PA Consulting Group |
National Digital Research Centre |
29,040 |
Not for publication, report was commissioned in November 2011. |
|
OHH Energy Ltd |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
41,120 |
January 2012. |
|
Elimark |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
38,786 |
January 2012. |
|
2B Energy |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
32,284 |
January 2012. |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Economic/Socio-Economic Analysis of options for rollout of next generation broadband |
28,167 |
Commissioned in May 2012, although completed, report is not for publication. |
|
SLR Consulting |
Core Library Holdings Review |
39,688 |
November 2011. |
|
Jenny Deakin |
Preparation for the Graigue Group Water Scheme Report |
1,750 |
March 2012. |
|
Xodus Group Ltd |
Scientific environmental assessment of the Irish and Celtic Seas (SEA) |
88,463 |
November 2011. |
|
Analysys Mason |
Analysis of options for potential State intervention in the rollout of next generation broadband |
30,522 |
Commissioned in May 2012, although completed, report is not for publication. |
|
Thorntons Chartered Surveyors |
Provision of land valuation and negotiations services |
3,690 |
Commissioned July 2012, although completed, report is not for publication. |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Study to establish the value of the exploration and mining sector to the national economy |
53,690 |
Commissioned September 2012 |
132. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that in 2011 TV users paid some €134 million for public service TV through the mandatory TV licence, his views on whether it is an affront to the 1 million plus persons who paid the licence to describe the Saorview service as free; in view of the fact that there remain 200,000 homes that have not yet converted from analogue, this number does not seem to have changed much over the course of the extensive advertising campaign, his views on the reason for same; the reason specific financial support has not been provided to the disadvantaged such as the elderly who may incur not insignificant costs in terms of the purchase of new equipment such as set-top boxes, or new external aerials; if there is anyway that his Department can ensure that those that can receive a signal receive a high quality signal without disruptions; and the action that will be taken to assist the thousands of persons who will be cut off on 24 October 2012. [47119/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the number of people who have not made the switch to digital, I refer the Deputy to my reply to him on October 11th. From the reply, he will see that there has been a significant reduction in the number of people affected. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, we have not and do not propose to introduce grant schemes for digital switchover. Experience from other European countries indicates that the cost of set top boxes and other digital receivers reduces as the date for digital switchover approaches, and there is increased competition in the market. There is clear evidence that happened in Ireland with affordable set top boxes that meet the SAORVIEW standard on the market, as well as a range of suitable digital televisions. In addition, experience from other European countries also shows that the availability of accurate and reliable information and the provision of practical assistance is the most effective approach towards assisting people in making the switch to digital television.
In this regard, a substantial information campaign has been delivered which resulted in 99% awareness of digital switch over. The campaign will run up to the end of 2012. In conjunction with this, on 10 January 2012, I signed an agreement with a national voluntary organisation, the Wheel, to develop and operate a nationwide community outreach digital switchover programme (Outreach Programme). This programme has been very successful and will run for a number of weeks after digital switchover on 24th October to ensure that assistance continues to be available to any vulnerable households who have not switched over.
133. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the full cost to the Exchequer in the previous 12 months for his Department staff attending conferences including registration fees and travel. [47145/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.
134. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff members of his Department that have been awarded internal promotions and or additional acting up or temporary allowances to perform more senior roles since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades involved; the pre-promotion temporary acting and post promotion temporaryacting pay scales; the total increase in salary payments to each staff member involved; the duration of assignments; the area to which each person was assigned; the business reasons supporting any such decision; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47160/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to positions at Assistant Principal Officer level and higher. My Department promoted one Assistant Principal to Principal Officer in the Oil Security & Energy Corporate Governance Division during this period. This resulted in the staff member moving from €75,934 on the Assistant Principal PPC scale to €87,595 on the Principal Officer PPC scale, an increase of €11,661 in annual salary. The Personnel Officer made a case to fill this critical vacancy to the Management Committee, following consideration that 26 Senior Managers had retired since 2009. Sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 15th March 2012.
135. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff members from his Department that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales of same; the total amount of savings achieved in salary payments in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47176/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff members that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to his Department from other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales involved; the total increase in salary payments for his Department in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the area to which each person was assigned; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47191/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
I understand that the Deputy’s Question relates only to staff at Assistant Principal level and above. Since 27th March 2009, one Assistant Principal was permanently redeployed from my Department to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of a shared services initiative whereby that Department provides core IT services to my Department. This initiative was provided for in my Department’s Action Plan under the Croke Park Agreement. The salary cost saving achieved in this case was €74,514. From 27th March 2009 to date there has been no redeployment of staff at Assistant Principal grade or above from other Departments to my Department.
137. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of all the Gaeltacht allowance payable to civil and public servants; the level of each allowance payable to each category and the monetary level of each allowance together with the total amount payable in 2009, 2010 and 2011. [47472/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that no such allowances were payable by my Department during the time period specified.
138. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if rates are formally introduced if both the household charge and the second residence charge will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46856/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of a system of local government funding which is fair, stable and effective and brings greater local responsibility in relation to financial matters is an essential feature in the reform programme for local government. The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland contains a commitment to introduce a property tax for 2012. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally-delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services wit h the demand for such services. It was considered that, in light of the complex issues involved, a Local Property Tax would take time to introduce and accordingly to meet the requirements in the EU/IMF Programme, the Government decided to introduce a Household Charge in 2012 as an interim measure. This was done via the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011.
An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable Local Property Tax to replace the household charge. The Expert Group’s terms of reference were to consider the design of a Local Property Tax to be approved by Government, which is equitable and is informed by previous work and international experience. The Group submitted its report to me and proposals will be brought to Government as soon as possible. It would not be appropriate to comment on the content of the Expert Group’s report at this point, pending Government’s consideration of the report and the associated issues. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the exact details of implementation, including considerations related to the Non Principal Private Residences Charge, taking into account the modalities involved. The Government has decided that the Local Property Tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
139. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the shortage in frontline outdoor local authority staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46846/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe local government sector has been at the forefront in driving greater efficiencies and securing financial savings during the financial crisis. In this regard, payroll savings have been delivered mainly through staff reductions of almost 8,600 (23%) from 37,243 (June 2008) to 28,652 (September 2012). The departure of 8,600 staff from the sector since 2008 has inevitably impacted in different ways upon individual local authorities. My Department and local authorities have prioritised the examination of the present and future workforce demographic in the context of service delivery, organisational diversity, knowledge transfer, up-skilling/re-skilling and succession planning.
To support the sector in effectively managing the combination of staff reductions and the reform/change programme a Workforce Study has been undertaken jointly by local authorities and my Department. In particular, the study assesses the management requirements of local authorities bearing in mind the potential impacts of shared services and other reform initiatives underway. Each local authority is in turn preparing a detailed workforce plan outlining how it will implement the study’s recommendations. The individual local authority work force studies will examine all categories of local authority staff including outdoor staffing requirements.
140. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to add water blending equipment to the River Barrow extraction scheme at Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46963/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Srowland water treatment plant, which is currently under construction, will utilise water from the River Barrow. Due to the nature of the water supply from the Barrow, Kildare County Council has submitted a proposal to my Department to provide an additional level of treatment in order to maximise the potable water output from the Srowland plant. This application is under examination and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
141. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline on a county basis the level of revenue collected each year under the non principal private residence charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46993/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides, as of 22 October 2012, Non Principal Private Residence Charge revenue collected from 2009 to 2012, per local authority.
|
City / County |
€ 2009 |
€ 2010 |
€ 2011 |
€ 2012 (22 October) |
€ Total |
|
Dublin City |
14,116,860 |
13,928,420 |
13,329,680 |
12,487,340 |
53,862,300 |
|
Cork County |
6,196,940 |
6,064,800 |
5,835,460 |
5,461,540 |
23,558,740 |
|
Fingal |
3,797,720 |
3,733,780 |
3,636,840 |
3,375,240 |
14,543,580 |
|
Donegal |
3,549,640 |
3,494,680 |
3,204,100 |
2,993,380 |
13,241,800 |
|
Kerry |
3,408,880 |
3,333,040 |
3,184,820 |
3,076,700 |
13,003,440 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
3,297,780 |
3,315,400 |
3,214,960 |
3,046,260 |
12,874,400 |
|
Wexford |
2,915,800 |
2,824,900 |
2,732,360 |
2,603,260 |
11,076,320 |
|
Cork City |
2,808,300 |
2,784,060 |
2,622,380 |
2,498,300 |
10,713,040 |
|
South Dublin |
2,642,680 |
2,682,160 |
2,571,580 |
2,442,220 |
10,338,640 |
|
Galway City |
2,528,540 |
2,512,380 |
2,425,040 |
2,295,880 |
9,761,840 |
|
Mayo |
2,439,400 |
2,360,380 |
2,269,780 |
2,118,260 |
9,187,820 |
|
Kildare |
2,289,400 |
2,264,600 |
2,165,560 |
2,105,300 |
8,824,860 |
|
Clare |
2,358,400 |
2,245,120 |
2,188,060 |
2,055,040 |
8,846,620 |
|
Galway County |
2,308,320 |
2,288,200 |
2,173,920 |
1,984,540 |
8,754,980 |
|
Limerick County |
1,597,080 |
1,571,180 |
1,513,420 |
1,457,840 |
6,139,520 |
|
Wicklow |
1,636,500 |
1,594,800 |
1,535,320 |
1,439,460 |
6,206,080 |
|
Meath |
1,538,260 |
1,563,380 |
1,510,560 |
1,438,760 |
6,050,960 |
|
Limerick City |
1,388,740 |
1,361,080 |
1,262,280 |
1,233,800 |
5,245,900 |
|
Westmeath |
1,331,340 |
1,319,220 |
1,279,740 |
1,193,660 |
5,123,960 |
|
Louth |
1,343,600 |
1,321,780 |
1,235,720 |
1,154,020 |
5,055,120 |
|
Sligo |
1,291,200 |
1,294,220 |
1,228,580 |
1,161,260 |
4,975,260 |
|
South Tipperary |
1,074,380 |
1,040,520 |
972,520 |
948,460 |
4,035,880 |
|
Kilkenny |
975,540 |
977,420 |
950,440 |
909,320 |
3,812,720 |
|
Waterford City |
1,004,440 |
988,440 |
919,280 |
893,720 |
3,805,880 |
|
Waterford County |
985,060 |
969,220 |
922,700 |
856,140 |
3,733,120 |
|
Cavan |
906,900 |
902,460 |
887,680 |
829,160 |
3,526,200 |
|
Roscommon |
917,360 |
893,460 |
858,820 |
828,940 |
3,498,580 |
|
North Tipperary |
882,360 |
879,220 |
842,240 |
790,200 |
3,394,020 |
|
Carlow |
741,080 |
739,420 |
717,960 |
688,660 |
2,887,120 |
|
Laois |
720,760 |
746,680 |
703,220 |
648,620 |
2,819,280 |
|
Offaly |
700,920 |
730,840 |
684,460 |
641,660 |
2,757,880 |
|
Leitrim |
704,480 |
682,280 |
649,580 |
623,240 |
2,659,580 |
|
Longford |
636,020 |
623,780 |
564,780 |
544,200 |
2,368,780 |
|
Monaghan |
566,320 |
565,720 |
537,820 |
509,800 |
2,179,660 |
|
Total |
75,601,000 |
74,597,040 |
71,331,660 |
67,334,180 |
288,863,880 |
142. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will publish the current property stock levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46999/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent information relating to the current property stock levels can be found in the 2011 census data which are available on the Central Statistics Office’s website www.cso.ie.
