Written Answers Nos. 110-119
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of State pension payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5032/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State pension (contributory) claim of the person concerned has been reviewed. He is in receipt of the maximum personal weekly rate of €230.30 and an additional €29.80 increase for a qualified child. He also receives a fuel allowance of €20.00 per week. This is his correct overall entitlement.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the level, if any, of entitlements or incentives in the event of return to work in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5033/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned does not have a current claim registered with this Department, and so it is not possible to determine what entitlements he may have upon a return to work. The person concerned should seek information on www.welfare.ie or call to the Employment Services Support office in Maynooth where an officer can discuss the range of opportunities which may be available to him.
112. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4853/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy concerning the current vacancies on the State boards of bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group is set out in the table.
The Deputy may note that the revised governance structures which are part of the Public Service Reform Plan for the National Library, National Gallery, National Museum, Crawford Art Gallery and Irish Museum of Modern Art include reductions in the size of some boards and abolition of other existing board structures. It is for this reason that the vacancies in these boards have not been advertised or filled.
The Deputy may also note that, in relation to the 12 positions on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the local authorities have five nominees and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has 7. As outlined in the table, the current vacancy on the board is for a local authority nominee and there is no public application process. I invited applications via the Public Appointments Service for the seven nominees subsequently appointed by me.
|
State Board |
Total number of positions on the board |
Current vacancies |
Length of time that vacancies have been unfilled |
Have the vacancies been advertised |
Number of applications received to fill such vacancies |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
12 |
1 |
Since November 2012 |
N/A - the candidate that will fill this position has been nominated by Donegal County Council and has yet to be ratified. |
N/A |
|
Irish Film Board |
7 |
7 |
Since January 2013 |
Yes - expressions of interest were sought for future vacancies in June 2011 and October 2012 |
51 in 2011 54 in 2012 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
12 |
1 |
Since May 2012 |
No |
N/A |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
17 |
1 |
Since November 2012 |
No |
N/A |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
16 |
1 |
Since November 2012 |
No |
N/A |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) |
15 |
6 |
1 vacancy since June 2010; 2 since December 2011; 1 since February 2012 and 2 since April 2012. |
Yes - expressions of interest were sought for current and future vacancies in May 2011. |
69 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
16 |
8 |
Since December 2011 |
No |
N/A |
113. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sé míniú ar an meath a tháinig ar fhostaíocht i gcliantchuideachtaí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta i 2012; cad iad na pleananna atá ann chun fostaíocht a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht; cén infheistíocht a dhéanfar chun poist a chruthú i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4919/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs gnáth-chuid den saolré gnó é go gcailltear méid áirithe post go bliantúil de réir mar a athraíonn treochtaí na n-earnálacha agus de réir mar a dhéanann fiontair athstruchtúrú ar a ngnó chun feabhas a chur ar a gcumas iomaíochta. D’ainneoin sin, bhí an líon post a cailleadh in 2012 i gcliant-chomhlachtaí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta ar an ráta caillteanais post is lú le breis agus deich mbliana anuas. Tuigim ón Údarás go bhfuil an bonn fostaíochta i gcomhlachtaí Gaeltachta anois ag leibhéal seasmhach agus go bhfuil na comhlachtaí féin níos iomaíche agus dírithe níos mó ar easpórtáil. Tháinig ardú ar an leibhéal fostaíochta i gcomhlachtaí a bhí ag feidhmiú sna hearnálacha cógaisíochta, feistí leighis, bia agus saindéantúsaíochta le linn na bliana agus lean an leibhéal díolacháin agus fostaíochta ag fás i gcomhlachtaí easpórtála.
De réir ráiteas deireadh bliana Údarás na Gaeltachta a foilsíodh an tseachtain seo caite, cruthaíodh 700 post nua i gcliant-chomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2012. Bhí 7,553 post san iomlán sna cliant-chomhlachtaí ag deireadh na bliana, comhdhéanta de 6,933 post lánaimseartha agus 620 post páirtaimseartha. Tuigim gur ceadaíodh tograí i rith 2012 ina mbeidh suas le 460 post nua measta á gcruthú iontu agus infheistíocht iomlán mheasta de €37 milliún ag baint leo nuair a bheidh siad faoi lán seoil. Beidh go leor de na poist seo ag teacht chun tosaigh in 2013 agus sna blianta beaga ina dhiaidh sin. Is údar dóchais é chomh maith gur cheadaigh an Ghníomhaireacht Forbartha Tionscail tacaíocht do 220 post nua breise do chliant-chomhlacht de chuid an Údaráis atá lonnaithe i gConamara in 2012.
Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach mar sin go mbeadh sé d’acmhainn ag an Údarás tacú le poist nua leis an leibhéal fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht a choinneáil slán agus bunús fáis don todhchaí a chinntiú. Dá bhrí sin, faoi réir na Meastachán Athbhreithnithe 2013 a bheith faofa, tá suim iomlán de €18.6m curtha ar fáil i Vóta mo Roinne d’Údarás na Gaeltachta don bhliain reatha chun cuidiú leis a chuid spriocanna a bhaint amach. Anuas air sin, tá cead ag an Údarás an fáltas a fhaightear ó dhíol maoine a athinfheistiú ina chláir chaipitil. Tuigim go mbeidh fáil ar thuairim is €2m eile i mbliana chun na críche sin.
114. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when it is expected that the scéim na mbóithre áise will be re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn view of the very limited budget available and in the context of the priorities outlined in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 , there are currently no plans to re-open this scheme in the short to medium-term.
115. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha cad iad na pleananna atá aige chun forbairt a dheánamh ar an ngréasán idirlín leathanbhanda sa Ghaeltacht; an leagfaidh sé amach an dul chun cinn atá déanta ar fhorbairt an ghréasáin sin go dtí seo; an dóigh leis go bhfuil tionchar ag an easpa idirlín leathanbhanda ar chruthú post; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4920/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraGné riachtanach is ea lúdracht leathanbhanda, mar infreastruchtúr cumasúcháin d’fhorbairt eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta, i dtaca le fás inmharthana geilleagrach amach anseo agus tá sé práinneach ó thaobh an Rialtais de. Maidir le beartas teileachumarsáide de, tá ról lárnach ag na Roinn maidir le réimse tacaíochta reachtaíochta agus rialála a sholáthar ina bhfuil iomaíocht, agus in ar féidir leis an earnáil phríobháideach infheistíocht a dhéanamh.
Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta le blianta beaga anuas maidir le comharthaí agus luas infreastruchtúr náisiúnta leathanbhanda agus tá comhlachtaí tráchtála éagsúla ag soláthar seirbhísí trí theicneolaíochtaí éagsúla. Chuir an Rialtas tionscnaimh éagsúla i bhfeidhm chun leathanbhanda a chur ar fáil in áiteanna sa tír nach raibh comhlachtaí tráchtála in ann seirbhísí a sholáthar iontu. Idir infheistíocht phríobháideach agus idirghabháil an Rialtais, chomhlíon Éire sprioc Chlár Digiteach Choimisiún an AE don Eoraip, seirbhís bhunúsach leathanbhanda a bheith ar fáil i ngach ceantar roimh 2013.
Tuigeann an Rialtas, tríd an Phlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda a d’fhoilsigh mé ar an 30 Lúnasa anuraidh, gurab í an príomhsprioc anois, leathanbhanda ardluais a chur ar fáil do chách. Tá an Plean dírithe ar leathanbhanda ardluais a chur ar fáil ar fud na tíre trí chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhísí ardluais 30Mbps ar a laghad ar fáil do gach saoránach agus gnó i bhfad roimh spriocdháta an AE, 2020.
Tá ré nua i ndán d’Éirinn mar sin i dtaca le hinfheistíocht ón earnáil phoiblí agus phríobháideach ina mbeidh luas i bhfad níos airde ar fáil ar fud na tíre. Nuair a bhí Plean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda na hÉireann á ullmhú, shonraigh na comhlachtaí tráchtála go raibh súil acu seirbhísí 70Mbps go dtí 100Mbps a chur ar fáil do 50% den daonra roimh 2015. Tá an earnáil thráchtála ag déanamh na n-infheistíochtaí seo i seirbhísí ardluais cheana go háirithe i gceantair uirbeacha agus leathuirbeacha. Tá an Rialtas tiomanta freisin ar Phlean maidir le hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh i gceantair nach mbeadh seirbhísí ardluais inmharthana ar bhonn eacnamaíoch de, agus nach gcuirfidh comhlachtaí tráchtála na seirbhísí ar fáil iontu.
Tá mo Roinn ag ullmhú plean náisiúnta mapála lena fháil amach cá háit a éireoidh leis an mhargadh agus cá háit nach n-éireoidh leis an mhargadh maidir le leathanbhanda ardluais a sholáthar sna blianta romhainn. Léireoidh seo an leibhéal idirghníomhaíochta a bheidh riachtanach ón Rialtas agus na ceantair ina mbeidh sé riachtanach don Rialtas infheistíocht a dhéanamh. Tríd an Phean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda, tá muid tiomanta ar luasanna don chéad ghlúin eile den leathanbhanda a mhéadú go mór, lena chinntiú gur féidir le gach saoránach agus gnó, iad siúd sa Ghaeltacht san áireamh, cumarsáid digiteach a bheith ar fáil acu.
116. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to redress the regional differences in broadband access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4878/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBroadband connectivity, as an enabling infrastructure for economic and social development, is a critical element of future sustainable economic growth throughout the regions and is a priority for Government. Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. The combination of private investment and State interventions such as the National and the Rural Broadband Schemes undertaken to date has resulted in Ireland meeting the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
Notwithstanding the positive developments, there remains an unacceptable digital divide between rural and urban areas. A key commitment in the National Broadband Plan, which I published on 30 August last year, is to decisively tackle this divide. The Plan commits to high speed broadband availability across the country by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020. Ireland is now therefore moving to a new phase of public and private sector investment in broadband which will see significantly improved speeds delivered across all regions.
The commercial sector is already investing in high speed services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The Government is committed in the Plan to investing in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market. Undoubtedly, because of Ireland’s low population density, particularly in rural areas, and the capabilities of different technologies, it will not always be possible for all parts of the country to experience the same speeds. The key, however, is to ensure that citizens and businesses, wherever they are located, have a broadband connection which meets their needs to interact effectively with society and business. The Government’s commitment of 30Mbps availability to all will deliver this.
118. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the case of public bodies established by Statute, the maximum, and sometimes minimum, number of persons that may be appointed to the Board is generally set out in the relevant legislation. Having regard to the number of persons currently serving on the Boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department I have set out in the following table the maximum number of additional persons that could be appointed to these bodies. In relation to the Digital Hub Development Agency, in light of the merger of that agency with Dublin City Council, as decided by the Government, it is not proposed to make further appointments at this time.
I have, for the past two years, on the Department’s website, invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department. In both years, this information has been used to inform decisions for appointments to State Boards. In 2012 there were 37 applications received following the advertisement for Expressions of Interest. I will shortly be advertising on the website for persons interested in such appointments during 2013.
|
Name of Body |
Number of vacancies currently outstanding as of 29/01/201 |
Date when vacancy arose |
|
TG4 |
1 |
31/03/2012 |
|
An Post |
1 |
22/11/2012 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency |
6 |
1 since 27/01/2009 3 since 23/10/2009 1 since 10/11/2009 1 since 30/11/2009 |
|
Bord Gáis Éireann |
1 |
17/12/2012 |
|
Electricity Supply Board |
1 |
05/06/2012 |
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited |
*1 |
14/12/2007 |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency |
1 |
26/09/2012 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
3 |
1 since 30/04/2012 1 since 01/05/2012 1 since 21/08/2012 |
|
The Mining Board |
1 |
01/09/2012 |
*Will not be filled due to limited extent of current and future business
119. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of Ireland's newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the UK for the export of wind generated electricity, the number of wind farm developments that have been granted planning permission, by county, over the past five years; the number of proposed wind farm developments that have been refused planning permission, by county, over the past five years; the number of local authority permissions or refusals for proposed wind farm developments, by county, that have been either overturned or upheld on appeal to An Bord Pleanála in the past five years. [5013/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not track the number of individual wind farm developments granted or refused planning permission or that were subject to appeal on a national or county basis. In addition to planning permission, in order to connect to the electricity grid in Ireland, windfarm developers require a grid connection. The grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). CER issued the Gate 3 direction in December 2008 (CER 08/260 available at www.cer.ie.). This sets out the list of renewable generators entitled to a grid connection offer under the Gate 3 process. The Department monitors the number of windfarms connected to the grid and contracted to connect to the grid (i.e. that have accepted their grid connection offers.) This data is publicly available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites (www.eirgrid.com and www.esb.ie.)
In terms of the MoU signed with the United Kingdom, this is an interim step on the agreement of a programme of work to be taken forward in the coming year, with the objective of reaching a mutually beneficial inter-governmental agreement on renewable trading. No decision has yet been taken on the selection process for projects under a potential intergovernmental agreement.
