Written Answers Nos 95-101
96. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 28 January 2014, if a pensionable service tapered table dealing with service and recognising different contributions will be implemented in calculating pension benefits; and if she will acknowledge that this would not constitute age discrimination as applying different criteria to different age groups has been found to be justified. [5870/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principle underlying a service tapered approach would be that those who have contributed for longest should get the most out of the scheme in the event of the wind up of scheme. As I indicated in my previous response, this was one of the many options considered during the deliberation phase which preceded the publication of the Social Welfare and Pension (No. 2) Bill 2013. It was acknowledged at that time that the present approach to the calculation of pension benefits essentially adopts a service based approach to the calculation of such benefits.
For example, consider two members of a scheme, one with 30 years’ service completed and one with 15 years’ service completed. Assume the pension formula is 1/60th of pensionable salary per year of service, both have the same pensionable salary of €30,000 and both are aged 55. The accrued pension of the first member is 30/60th of €30,000, which is €15,000. The accrued pension of the second member is half this amount, which is €7,500.
Overlaying a service related scale could be regarded as overweighting the priority order in favour of service and in this regard may be considered inequitable. A further potential drawback identified in relation to a service related scale was it may suffer from practical implementation difficulties due to data issues in respect of former employees, especially those who left many years ago. I am satisfied that the approach adopted in the legislation is the most appropriate and fulfils the objectives of ensuring that service in the scheme is fully recognised.
97. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider funding or co-funding a statue in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin city centre on the 30th anniversary of their death. [5761/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received an application for the project referred to by the Deputy. However, I should inform the Deputy that my Department does not have a dedicated budget for projects of this nature.
98. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will agree to compensate those with turbary rights over sites which were designated SACs and who complied with his Department's direction not to cut turf while other bog owners continued to do so in breach of his Department's directions and the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5819/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011, the Government announced a comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme consists of a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, over 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of cut turf while relocation sites are identified, investigated and prepared. The cost of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State.
The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
Establishing ownership rights is particularly complex and my Department is working with owners of land and turbary right holders to assist them in this regard while at the same time working to ensure that only those who are entitled to compensation receive it. For example, my Department has put in place a process of accepting affidavits where it is difficult to prove ownership or turbary rights.
If the Deputy has any particular case in mind, my Department will be happy to examine it.
99. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of electricity consumed in Ireland that was generated from renewable sources since 2007; if he will provide a breakdown of these sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5731/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the highest percentage use of renewable energy sources on any given day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5732/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of 16% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources of generation by 2020. Figures for 2012 show that 19.6% of electricity demand was met by renewable generation in 2012. The table below gives the normalised percentage of gross final electricity consumption that was generated by renewable source.
To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity. In 2013 15.3% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2013 the total amount of renewable electricity generation connected to the grid was 2,300 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 MW and 4,000 MW will be required to allow Ireland meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Currently, around 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.
The table below shows the contribution made by each renewable generation technology as a percentage of total electricity demand for each year since 2007:
|
Year |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Renewables % of Gross Electricity |
9.9% |
11.1% |
13.7% |
14.9% |
17.6% |
19.6% |
|
Hydro (normalised) |
2.5% |
2.5% |
2.6% |
2.6% |
2.7% |
2.7% |
|
Wind (normalised) |
6.8% |
7.9% |
10.2% |
11.2% |
13.7% |
15.3% |
|
Biomass |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
0.5% |
0.9% |
|
Landfill Gas |
0.5% |
0.5% |
0.6% |
0.6% |
0.6% |
0.6% |
|
Biogas |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
The highest level of renewable generation exported to the grid to date is 1,866 MW, on 17 December 2013.
101. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects his Green Paper on energy to be published; if he is willing to take submissions on this paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5733/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe energy policy landscape has undergone considerable change since the Energy Policy White Paper was published in 2007. Having regard to this, my Department is currently preparing an Energy Green Paper identifying issues that need to be considered in the development of Ireland’s energy policy to meet current and future challenges. Those issues include:
- EU legislative and policy developments as well as initiatives proposed by the EU institutions;
- the growing prominence of renewable energy and the advent of new technologies facilitating development of cleaner fuels;
- the consequences of transitioning to a low carbon economy and society to counter the threat of climate change;
- the unconventional oil and gas revolution,
- global and domestic financial crises and their impacts on society and the economy.
These issues have necessitated adjustments in the energy policy response, so as to ensure that the energy sector plays a key role in enabling future growth.
Competitiveness, security of supply, and sustainability, as well as energy policy’s potential to support economic growth and job creation, will be the key objectives of the Green Paper which I expect to publish by the middle of this year.
I expect to formally launch a consultation process on the Paper and to invite written submissions from the general public and interested parties on their views, observations and suggestions on the shape of Ireland’s future energy policy. The purpose of the Green Paper will be to stimulate debate on these key energy policy objectives and how they may be achieved.
On completion of the public consultation process, the views expressed in all submissions received will be considered and policy options developed with a view to the publication of a new Energy Policy Framework in the form of a White Paper. The public consultation process, along with the relevant stakeholder engagement, will contribute significantly to the development of the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of 2014.
