Written Answers Nos. 275 - 293
275. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail in tabular form, the names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by his Department since 9 March 2011; the details of the services supplied by each; the expenditure on each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28807/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information which the Deputy requested is outlined in tabular format below for the years 2011 to date in 2013.
|
Company |
Amount Spent on Public Relations |
Purpose of Consultancy |
|
Morrow Communications Ltd |
€72,050 (excl VAT) |
Provision of services in relation to outreach in rural communities with respect to low flying geophysical survey and soil geochemical survey. |
|
Murray Consultants |
€8,349.00 |
Media Services to the Department. |
|
McConnells Advertising Agency |
€119,602 |
Public information campaign on the Digital Switchover moving from analogue TV to Digital TV. |
|
Communications Consultants Ireland |
€1,797 |
Management of two Public Information Meetings on new Inland Fisheries Legislation |
276. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the maximum amount of kw hours that a commercial building including farm building is allowed to produce from photovoltaic panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28954/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no legal or regulatory limit on the amount of electricity that may be generated within a commercial or farm building from solar photovoltaic panels. However, if electricity is to be exported to the electricity network, the installation must export power in accordance with the conditions set out in the premises connection agreement with either the Distribution System Operator (DSO), ESB Networks, or the Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, as appropriate.
277. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the current rate being paid by Electric Ireland to photovoltaic energy producers is adequate to encourage further production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28955/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectric Ireland has been offering a 9c/kwh feed in tariff, on a commercial basis, to domestic microgenerators (including in the solar photovoltaic category) since February 2009. No other electricity supply company has to date chosen to enter the domestic market and to offer a microgeneration feed-in-tariff on a commercial basis, although the Commission for Energy Regulation invited them to do so. In addition, no company has opted to offer, on a commercial basis, a feed-in-tariff for microgeneration of solar photovoltaic to the commercial and industrial sectors. Previously, a joint ESB/Electric Ireland microgeneration support scheme for the domestic sector offering a total of 19c/kwh (comprising €10c/kwh from ESB Networks combined with the 9c/kwh from ESB Customer Supply (now Electric Ireland)) ran for 3 years from February 2009 to February 2012, and had a take up of between 500 and 600 installations.
In view of falling technology costs, my Department has recently asked the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to update analysis on the costs of varying levels of support for microgeneration technologies, with a view to considering how the sector could be supported in the future. This analysis will also cover non-tariff support mechanisms, the cost of which is not funded from the Public Service Obligation. Financial tax incentives, introduced in 2008, are also available for a wide range of energy efficient equipment through the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme. The scheme enables companies to claim 100% of the capital cost of certain energy efficient plant and machinery against corporation tax in year of purchase. The range of technologies covered by the ACA scheme has been expanded to cover electricity provision, including photovoltaic systems.
278. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of appointments made to State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011; the number of positions that have been advertised; the number of applications to the boards; the number of appointments to the boards that were drawn from the applications; the current number of vacancies on each board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28972/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have, for the past three 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. Thirty-one applications were received in 2011, thirty-seven applications were received in 2012 and eighty-eight applications have been received to date in 2013, following the advertisements for Expressions of Interest. It should be noted that such invitations are designed to extend the range of suitable persons from which a Minister might make appointments – not to constrain that range.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been 72 appointments made to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period March 2011 to date and details of these are set out in the table below. All of the appointments have been made in light of the objectives of the organisation and on the basis of appointees having the necessary competencies, expertise and experience to contribute effectively to the work of the particular boards, whilst also taking into consideration the legislative requirements where applicable. Applicants who expressed an interest in applying for a board are marked with an asterisk.
There are currently 12 vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department, however, 6 of these vacancies are on the Board of the Digital Hub Development Agency and, in light of the proposed merger of that agency with Dublin City Council, it is not proposed to make further appointments at this time. There are 2 vacancies on the Board of An Post, 1 vacancy on the Board of TG4, 1 vacancy on Bord na Móna, 1 vacancy on Bord Gáis Éireann and 1 vacancy on the Board of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
|
Body |
Appointee |
Date Appointed |
|
An Post |
Mr Donal Connell CEO (ex officio) Mr James Wrynn Mr Paul Henry Mr Noel Adamson (worker director) Mr Patrick Compton (worker director reappointed) Mr Thomas Devlin (worker director reappointed) Mr William Mooney (worker director) Ms Martina O’Connell (worker director) Mr William Scally Ms Lorraine Tormey Mr Christoph Mueller (Chairperson) |
14/08/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 01/11/2012 01/11/2012 01/11/2012 01/11/2012 01/11/2012 11/12/2012 01/01/2013 26/03/2013 |
|
Bord na Móna |
Ms Denise Cronin *Mr. John Horgan (Chairperson) Mr Gerard O’Donoghue Ms Elaine Treacy Mr Barry Walsh |
15/09/2011 24/04/2012 (as a Director) 27/09/2012 (as Chairperson) 02/10/2012 17/07/2012 16/10/2012 |
|
Bord Gáis Éireann |
Mr Finbarr Kennelly Mr Michael McNicholas CEO (ex officio) |
11/12/2012 07/05/2013 |
|
EirGrid |
Dr Gary Healy *Ms Regina Moran *Mr Liam O’Halloran Ms Bride Rosney Ms Doireann Barry |
15/09/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 22/12/2011 |
|
ESB |
Mr Lochlann Quinn (Chairman – reappointed) Mr Pat O’Doherty (CEO ex officio) Ms Noreen Wright Mr Seamus Mallon (reappointed) Ms Anne Butler Ms Noreen O’Kelly |
21/01/2013 09/01/2013 28/06/2011 03/05/2011 13/11/2012 23/04/2013 |
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) |
Mr Sean Fitzgerald (reappointed) Mr Vincent Caffrey (reappointed) Ms Aoife MacEvilly (reappointed)** Mr Aidan Donnelly – Chairperson (reappointed) |
01/06/2011 01/06/2011 18/07/2012 18/07/2012 |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) |
Ms Aoife MacEvilly ** Mr Pat Meehan CEO (ex officio) (reappointed) |
11/04/2011 01/01/2013 |
|
TG4 |
Mr. Micheál Seoighe Ms. Mairad Ní Cheoinín *Mr. Joe Connolly *Mr. Des Geraghty Ms. Andra Ní alaithe Ms Mairead Nic Suibhne Ms. Michelle Ní Chróinín Siún Ní Raghallaigh (Chairperson) |
17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) |
*Ms Julie O’Neill (reappointed) Mr. Edgar Morgenroth Mr. Michael Conlon Ms. Anne Farrell Mr. Declan Waugh Ms. Michelle Green Mr. Brian Carroll (reappointed)** Mr. Brendan Halligan (re-appointed) (Chairperson) Dr Brian Motherway CEO (ex officio) Ms Anne Connolly Mr Pat Gilroy Mr Michael McGarry |
01/05/2013 24/04/2012 15/09/2011 (but resigned on 21/08/2012) 24/04/2012 29/05/2012 29/05/2012 26/06/2012 01/10/2012 01/05/2012 02/05/2013 14/05/2013 14/05/2013 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
*Mr. Paul Holden Mr. Seamus Ratigan Mr Leonard Donnelly (Chairperson - reappointed) Ms Alice Davis Mr Brendan McDonagh |
29/05/2012 29/05/2012 24/11/12012 24/10/2012 09/04/2013 |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) |
Mr. Ronan O’Reilly (Chairperson) Ms. Anne Butler Mr. Robin Simpson Dr. Enda Howley Dr. Denis Kelliher Ms. Marion Coy Mr. Justin Gleeson Ms Sandra Ryan *Mr. Padraic Jordan Mr. Oliver Hickey Mr Noel Ward |
22/05/2012 22/05/2012 (but resigned on 25/10/2012) 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 19/06/2012 21/12/2012 |
|
The Mining Board |
Mr Michael Neary (reappointed) |
17/11/2011 |
*Expression of Interest received
** Official in my Department
It should also be noted that 25 of the appointments in the table were either ex-officio appointments, reappointments, the appointment of worker directors chosen by election, or appointments made from nominations made by an Oireachtas Committee.
279. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to the EU Telecoms Council held in Luxembourg on 6 June 2013, if he will provide further details regarding the early agreement on the re-use of public sector information which will improve the availability of publicly held information by removing barriers to its access which will facilitate the development of new services and innovative products; the measure this would entail here; the public sector information he will intend this to involve in an Irish context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29051/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA wide variety of information is held by Public bodies in all Member States ranging from demographic and economic data to historical documents. The Irish Presidency reached agreement with the Parliament on this proposal on 25 March. The agreement on Public Sector Information (PSI) will facilitate access to, and re-use by the private sector of data held by public sector bodies, including, for the first time, museums, libraries (except university libraries) and archives, at low or no cost.
This will allow for the development of innovative products and services, supporting the Presidency’s growth and jobs agenda and strengthening the knowledge based economy. There is specific provision that all re-use of information has to be fully compliant with the principles of the Data Protection Directive. The precise modalities of how this will work in an Irish context are not within my policy remit. The Deputy is no doubt aware that the recently published Action Plan for Jobs contains specific proposals in this regard and relevant Departments, agencies and bodies will now need to consider how best to implement the new measures.
280. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 11 June 2013, if he will provide details of the rate of tax applicable to profits generated by energy companies in general and those generating renewable energies in particular and if tax can be written off against previous investments. [29138/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll companies in Ireland pay the standard 12.5% rate of corporation tax on their trading profits arising in Ireland. A higher 25% rate applies in respect of investment, rental and other non-trading profits, and profits from certain petroleum, mining and other activities. Chargeable capital gains are taxable at the capital gains tax rate of 33%.
In terms of reliefs, Section 62 of the Finance Act 1998 as amended provides for a scheme of tax relief for corporate investments in certain renewable energy projects. It was inserted as Section 486B of the Tax Consolidation Act 1997, with effect from 18 March 1999. Since then, the scheme has been periodically extended to 31 December 2014. The relief applies to corporate equity investments in certain renewable energy generation projects, and is given in the form of a deduction from a company’s profits for its direct investment in new ordinary shares in a qualifying renewable energy company. To qualify for this relief, the energy project must be in the solar, wind, hydro or biomass technology categories, and must be approved by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The relief is capped at the lesser rate of 50% of all capital expenditure (excluding lands) net of grants, or €9.525 million for a single project. Investment by a company or group is capped at €12.7 million per annum, and unless the shares are held for at least 5 years by the corporate investor, the relief shall be withdrawn.
Financial tax incentives, introduced in 2008, are also available for a wide range of energy efficient equipment through the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme. The scheme enables companies to claim 100% of the capital cost of certain energy efficient plant and machinery against corporation tax in the year of purchase. The range of technologies covered by the ACA scheme has been expanded to cover electricity provision technologies.
281. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline any and all State subsidies available to private companies developing wind energies in particular and renewable energies in general. [29139/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary support mechanisms for renewable electricity are the REFIT (Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff) schemes, which are designed to provide certainty to renewable electricity generators by providing them with a minimum floor price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a 15 year period. Using a fixed feed in tariff mechanism, the certainty afforded by a guaranteed minimum price allows developers to access finance for renewable developments. The REFIT schemes are funded by the Public Service Obligation (PSO) which is paid for by all electricity consumers. The REFIT schemes have been designed to incentivise the development of renewable electricity generation in order to ensure Ireland meets the legally binding target of 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020.
In the second round of REFIT – REFIT 2 – a total of 4,000 MW can be supported. The scheme is open to renewable generation constructed between the start of 2010 and the end of 2017. The current reference prices per megawatt hour for REFIT 2 is €69.23 for installations above 5 MW (large wind), €71.66 for installations equal to, or below, 5MW (small wind), €87.46 for hydroelectric projects and €85.03 for biomass/landfill gas projects.
The REFIT 3 scheme aims to incentivise the addition of 310MW of renewable electricity biomass capacity to the Irish grid, with a total of 200MW of this being new capacity in the anaerobic digestion and solid biomass areas. Of this, 150MW will be high efficiency combined heat and power (CHP), using both anaerobic digestion and the thermochemical conversion of solid Biomass. REFIT 3 also provide supports for up to 160MW from the co-firing of biomass with peat at Edenderry power station and potentially in future, subject to technical acceptance, at Lanesborough and Shannonbridge power stations.
The 2013 REFIT 3 reference prices per kilowatt hour (kWH) are as follows:
AD CHP less than or equal to 500 kW - 15.6c/kWh
AD CHP >500 kW - 13.5c/kWh
AD (non CHP less than or equal to 500 kW - 11.4c/kWh
AD (non CHP) >500kW - 10.4c/kWh
Biomass CHP less than or equal to 1500kW - 14.6c/kWh
Biomass CHP >1500kW (1.5MW) - 12.5c/kWh
Biomass Combustion (including co firing in existing plant):
For using energy crops - 9.9c/kWh
For all other biomass - 8.8c/kWh
In terms of reliefs, Section 62 of the Finance Act 1998 as amended provides for a scheme of tax relief for corporate investments in certain renewable energy projects. It was inserted as Section 486B of the Tax Consolidation Act 1997, with effect from 18 March 1999. Since then, the scheme has been periodically extended to 31 December 2014. The relief applies to corporate equity investments in certain renewable energy generation projects, and is given in the form of a deduction from a company’s profits for its direct investment in new ordinary shares in a qualifying renewable energy company. To qualify for this relief, the energy project must be in the solar, wind, hydro or biomass technology categories, and must be approved by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The relief is capped at the lesser of 50% of all capital expenditure (excluding lands) net of grants, or €9.525 million for a single project. Investment by a company or group is capped at €12.7 million per annum, and unless the shares are held for at least 5 years by the corporate investor, the relief shall be withdrawn.
Financial tax incentives, introduced in 2008, are also available for a wide range of energy efficient equipment through the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme. The scheme enables companies to claim 100% of the capital cost of certain energy efficient plant and machinery against corporation tax in the year of purchase. The range of technologies covered by the ACA scheme has been expanded to cover electricity provision technologies.
282. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regards to the 40% target for renewable energies by 2020, if renewable energy is produced here offshore or onshore but is subsequently exported for use in another country if the production of this energy counts towards Ireland's targets for renewable energy use or those of the country to which it is exported. [29140/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s 40% target for 2020 relates to renewable electricity. Expert advice suggests that Ireland has the capability to achieve this national target from onshore renewable generation alone, with capacity to spare. This means that there is potential for projects of scale onshore that are aimed at export markets. It also means that our offshore wind resource can be developed as an export opportunity.
The Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation that UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey and I signed in January of this year, will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This will determine whether it is beneficial for both countries to enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement under the Renewable Energy Directive to provide for renewable energy trading.
The EU Directive provides a mechanism whereby renewable energy produced in one country can not only be exported to another but can also be counted towards meeting that other country’s national target. The electricity so exported is subtracted from the renewable output of the exporting state. The amount of energy to be procured by the United Kingdom and the mechanisms for sharing the resultant economic benefits, including the possibility of Ireland counting some of the export production towards meeting its own target, which is also allowed for under the Directive, are matters to be addressed in the coming year, and ahead of signing a potential Inter-Governmental Agreement, which would have to ensure no financial cost or risk to the Irish State or consumer.
283. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of parliamentary replies issued by him or Ministers of State from his Department to this Deputy on a yearly basis from 2011 to date in 2013; the number of these replies that contained an undertaking to provide information or extra information requested either from his Department or a body under the aegis of his Department; if he intends to begin replying to Parliamentary Questions on the record of Dáil Éireann with answers from bodies under the aegis of his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other Government Departments with bodies under their aegis provide written answers on the record of Dáil Éireann without having the bodies reply to the matter directly in private to Deputies; if he intends to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29255/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise that the number of Parliamentary Questions which my Department has responded to the Deputy on during the period 2011 to date in 2013 is set out in tabular format below. Comprehensive responses were given to all of these questions at the time they were answered and no undertaking was given to provide any additional information.
|
Year |
Number of PQs Answered |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
2 |
|
To date in 2013 |
7 |
The total number of Commercial State bodies and Non-Commercial State bodies, including 3 Regulators, under the aegis of my Department, is 18. All of these Bodies have been established on a statutory basis, in most cases have independent Boards, and operate independently in the exercise of their functions. In view of the number of bodies under the aegis of my Department and the importance of respecting their mandate and the operational freedom conferred on them by the Oireachtas, I consider it more appropriate if the bodies respond directly to any questions put down by members of the Oireachtas, especially in relation to operational matters. There may be occasions depending on the nature of the question where it would be more appropriate for me to respond directly in the matter.
284. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in his Department; the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; and the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [29268/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables below.
Total Uncertified Sick Days Taken
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Uncertified Sick Days Taken |
271 |
268 |
274 |
184 |
|
Average per Employee* in the Department |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Total Certified Sick Days Taken
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Certified Sick Days Taken |
3,301 |
3,088 |
2,109 |
2,181 |
|
Average per Employee* in the Department |
11 |
11 |
7 |
8 |
*Includes all persons including those on atypical working patterns
Total Sick Days Taken
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Sick Days Taken |
3,572 |
3,356 |
2,383 |
2365 |
|
Average per Employee* in the Department |
12 |
12 |
8 |
9 |
*Includes all persons including those on atypical working patterns
Median Number of Sick Days Taken
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
** Median |
3 |
5.5 |
5 |
6 |
Since 2010 there has been a reduction of 30% in the total number of sick days taken in My Department and a 27% reduction in cost. This is due to the implementation of an Attendance Management Policy in my Department in 2011. The Policy incorporates a stronger approach to the management and reduction of sick leave in the Department.
** The Median is the midpoint separating the higher half of the data average from the lower.
285. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block a website (details supplied) conflicts with the stated opinion (details further supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29326/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra286. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following the High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block a website (details supplied), his views on whether internet service providers need to install and operate technology such as deep packet inspection; if so, the safeguards that are in place to ensure that they are only used for the purpose defined by the court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29327/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following a High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block a website (details supplied), the process and the way in which websites or destinations can be added to this court order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29328/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 287, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources I have overall responsibility for electronic communications policy, but I have no responsibility in relation to the actions of persons conducting illegal downloading of copyright music and other material over electronic communications networks. The issue of alleged illegal downloading of music or other material raises issues relating to copyright infringement, data protection and the issue of freedom of expression. I understand that the legislation introduced by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2012 sought, in line with the requirements of EU copyright legislation, to provide legal certainty to ensure the ability to seek injunctive relief before the Courts in the event that copyright material was allegedly being infringed in the online environment.
288. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the future EU plans in relation to biofuels for cars and tractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29331/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, all member states in the European Union have each been set binding targets of 10% of the energy in transport to come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland will meet this target mainly by achieving significant increases in the use of biofuels with the increased use of electric vehicles also contributing a small percentage to the target.
The Renewable Energy Directive specifies a set of sustainability criteria that must be applied to biofuels, before they can be counted towards a member state's renewable energy in transport (RES-T) target. Under these criteria biofuels may not be made from raw materials originating from tropical forests or recently deforested areas, drained peatland, wetland or highly biodiverse areas. However, the Directive currently does not account for Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), where the growing of crops for biofuels may impact on land use change elsewhere. A draft directive proposing amendments to a number of existing Directives including the Renewable Energy Directive to counteract the possible effects of ILUC is currently being progressed.
One of the proposals of the draft Directive involves placing a limit of 5%, in energy terms, from biofuels produced from certain feedstocks that Member States could use in meeting the 10% target. Another proposal is to incentivise the production and use of certain other biofuels produced from feedstocks such as wastes, residues and non-food materials by allowing these biofuels to be counted more than once towards the 10% target. It should be noted that, in 2012, around 55% of the biofuel placed on the market in Ireland was produced from wastes such as used cooking oil and tallow.
289. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that the Chinese have flooded much of the European market with photovoltaic solar panels, the reason solar panels are nearly three times more expensive here than in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29396/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn view of falling technology costs, my Department recently asked the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to update existing analysis on the costs of varying levels of support for microgeneration technologies, including solar, with a view to considering how the sector could be supported in the future. It is not clear on what data the Deputy is relying in suggesting a threefold differential on the cost of photovoltaic panels as between Ireland and the United Kingdom. Preliminary indications from the SEAI’s ongoing work suggest that prices of photovoltaic installations in Ireland are generally consistent with and, in many cases lower than, the prices reported for installations within the UK.
290. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 447 of 28 May 2013, if he will provide details of the public tender process referred to in the reply, with details of the manner of advertising of the process; the time limits that applied; the number of inquires received; the number of tenders received; if he will further provide details of the principals involved in the successful tender and the legal status and address of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29409/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 477 on 28 May 2013, matters in relation to the sale of premises are a day to day operational matter for the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) subject to Public Financial Procedures. Details as regards public tendering and the transaction referred to by the Deputy are included on files held by the Board and not the Department. In this regard, I have asked IFI to contact the Deputy directly to address her queries.
291. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will list the regulators which are accountable to his Department; the administrative cost of operating each regulator in 2012; the accommodation costs and the number of staff employed; the total income and expenditure in 2012 for each regulator; his plans to amalgamate some regulatory offices and to amalgamate some regulatory processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29419/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that there are 3 Regulators, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which come under the aegis of my Department. All of the regulators have been established on a statutory basis and are independent in the exercise of their respective functions, including functions that are necessary to ensure compliance with EU directives. The 3 Regulators are required to submit their annual accounts to my Department, after they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, for laying before each House of the Oireachtas. The accounts for previous years, which are published on the Regulators’ websites, www.bai.ie, www.comreg.ie and www.cer.ie, set out details of income and operating costs including accommodation costs and average numbers of staff employed in the period of the accounts.
The accounts for the Regulators for 2012 have not yet been received by my Department in a final form for transmission to the Oireachtas and to the wider public. The staff and functions of Regtel, the previous regulator of premium rate telephone services, were incorporated into ComReg in the previous financial year. No decision has been made to amalgamate ComReg, BAI or CER with any other entity. ComReg is in consultations with the BAI to identify opportunities for mutually beneficial costs saving opportunities.
292. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline in tabular form the number of semi-State organisations currently in operation under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29810/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the number of new semi-State organisations under his aegis which have been established since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of Commercial State bodies and non-commercial State bodies, including regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department, is 18. Ordnance Survey Ireland is part of a merger process with the Property Registration Office and the Valuation Office and which will see it transfer in time to the Department of Justice and Equality and the Digital Hub Development Agency is being merged with Dublin City Council.
Name of Body: An Post; Bord Gáis Éireann; Bord na Móna; EirGrid; Electricity Supply Board (ESB); Raidió Teilifís Éireann; TG4; Inland Fisheries Ireland; Digital Hub Development Agency; Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency); National Oil Reserves Agency; Irish National Petroleum Corporation; Mining Board; Ordnance Survey Ireland; Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; Commission for Energy Regulation; Commission for Communications Regulation.
I have not set up any State Bodies since taking office on 9 March 2011.
