Written Answers Nos. 235-241
235. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the savings expected to be generated over the next five years by the reduction in the number of councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2063/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of payments to individual councillors, which are not available in my Department , would be required in order to provide a reasonably accurate estimate of the savings arising on account of the reduction of the number of councillors. Notwithstanding this, it is estimated that the savings involved will amount to approximately €3.7 million per annum. However, this is a very tentative estimate and it is difficult to disaggregate the savings, for example in relation to the annual expenses allowance as there are a number of variables such as varying distances of elected members’ places of residence from local authority head offices. More detailed information could be sought from individual local authorities.
236. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the delay in designating Maynooth, County Kildare, in the smokeless fuel zone, in view of the fact that Kildare County Council sought Maynooth's inclusion two years ago; and if he will now make the regulation to include Maynooth under the Air Pollution Act (Manufacture, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specific Fuels) Regulations. [2115/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main provisions of the ban on the marketing, sale, distribution and burning of bituminous solid fuels (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) were last reviewed in 2012, following a public consultation exercise. Following this review, all towns with populations greater than 15,000 people were added to the smoky coal ban, which aligned the ban more closely with EPA air quality monitoring zones and provided for greater consistency in air quality standards for major urban areas. In addition, the boundaries of most pre-existing ban areas were reviewed to take account of more recent urban development and census data. In County Kildare, the review resulted in amendments to the boundaries of the ban areas in Naas, Celbridge and Leixlip as well as the addition of the town of Newbridge, with effect from May 2013. No change was made to the status of Maynooth then, as the population of the town was below the threshold for compulsory inclusion and no representation was made at that time for the ban to be further extended elsewhere in the county.
Kildare County Council subsequently voted in favour of a motion calling for the extension of the ban to Maynooth and wrote to inform my Department of this in June 2013. This motion was supported by the Health Service Executive. My Department requested that the local authority place a notice of this proposal in local newspapers to allow for a period of consultation. A notice was subsequently placed by the local authority and no objections were received. My Department then agreed to address this proposal as part of the next up date to the Principal Regulations made under the Air Pollution Act.
Having considered this proposal, my Department considers that there is merit in extending the clean air benefits of the ban to the town of Maynooth, given its size, fast-growing population and close proximity to the existing specified ban area of Celbridge-Leixlip. Accordingly, I intend to finalise, shortly, regulations that will extend the ban area of Celbridge–Leixlip to include the Electoral Division of Maynooth with effect from 1 June 2015. This lead-in period will allow time for businesses and households to change over to smokeless fuel as well as for the local authority to raise awareness of the main provisions of the ban at local level in advance of its introduction.
237. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the performance related awards made to chief executives of semi-State companies in 2013 and 2014 under the aegis of his Department. [2322/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe non-commercial semi state agencies under the aegis of my Department do not make bonus payments to the Chief Executives. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. The Managing Director of Irish Water was appointed by the Board of Bord Gáis Éireann, and his remuneration was approved by my predecessor as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and following consultation with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The remuneration of the Managing Director does not provide for a performance related pay award.
238. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the number of television licences that were purchased by county in 2014; the total amount paid to RTE from the moneys collected for television licences in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1894/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra€213.3 million was received in respect of television licence fee sales and ‘free’ licences issued by the Department of Social Protection. As the Deputy will be aware, An Post receives a portion of licence fee revenue to cover the cost of its activities as the Minister's issuing and collecting agent for TV licences.
Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, 7% of net licence fee revenue is distributed to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for onward distribution via the Broadcasting Funding Scheme to assist independent producers and broadcasters in the development of appropriate audiovisual and sound broadcasting programmes, as well as archiving projects. The remaining funds are distributed to the public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4. The total amount of funding allocated from licence fee income in 2014 to RTÉ was €178.8m.
While data on licence sales per county is not available, I can confirm that the total number of direct sales in 2014 was 1,018,370.
239. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will fast-track State investment in improving the rural broadband network, as rural areas are suffering serious disadvantage as a result of not having adequate broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1964/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. The map can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high speed broadband services of at least 30mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises / home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands in every county in Ireland.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. This is a requirement under EU state aid rules. A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) towards the end of 2015. In this regard the Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost to taxpayers as low as possible. It is expected that the physical build of this network will commence from 2016.
This is a large and complex project and we need to get it right. Our aim is to deliver high-quality, high speed broadband infrastructure that will stand the test of time. This requires careful planning. This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of plans for 2015 for a fishery (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1977/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Annascaul River system, also known as the Owenascaul River, in County Kerry is classified, in the Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Catch & Release) Bye-law No. 929 of 2014, as open for fishing on a Catch and Release basis, for the 2015 season, The Byelaw relates to fishing for all salmon and also any sea trout over 40cm in length. A person is allowed to fish for, and take, any sea trout under 40cm in length or any brown trout, subject to national and local bag limits and fishing permissions.
In fishing for any species of fish in this river it is prohibited to use or attempt to use worms as bait and it is prohibited to use or attempt to use any type of hooks except single, barbless hooks. These provisions assist in the Catch and Release classification by minimising impact on the fish ahead of release.
The open season for fishing for salmon runs from 17th March to 30th September inclusive. The open season for fishing for sea trout or brown trout runs from 17th March to 12th October inclusive.
The suite of regulations for the 2015 fishing season are publically available my Department's website at, http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Inland+Fisheries/Legislation/.
241. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his expectations for Ireland’s offshore oil industry in 2015; his plans to generate increased economic activity in this area during 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1978/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a very clear strategy in respect of the Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration sector, key elements of which are: to seek to maximise the benefits to the people of Ireland from its indigenous natural resources; to provide opportunities and encourage private industry to take the risk associated with investing in exploration; to take initiatives to deepen knowledge of the potential of Ireland's offshore, in particular through supporting key research projects; and to seek to have a robust regulatory regime in place to ensure that activities are carried out in a safe manner that does not harm the environment. Recent years have seen an increase in interest in the potential of the Irish Offshore as evidenced by:
- Today, Ireland has the highest number of exploration authorisations in place, since exploration began in our offshore four decades ago; and
- The level of seismic acquisition has risen significantly with more 2D and 3D seismic acquired in the period 2013 to 2014 than in the preceding ten years combined.
Despite the low level of commercial discoveries to date, working petroleum systems are known to exist in many of Ireland's offshore basins. Nevertheless, the oil and gas potential of the Irish offshore is largely unproven and is likely to remain so until there is a significant and sustained increase in the number of exploration wells being drilled from the current levels of 1 or less wells per year.
Ireland competes for exploration investment and there have been significant changes in petroleum markets over the past year, however it is anticipated that drilling levels will increase from a low base over the next two to five years, as drilling commitments now in place are delivered and as new drilling commitments are entered into following on from decisions made by companies currently investing in seismic acquisition.
With regard to production, it is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the Corrib gas field pipeline will shortly be completed, with first gas anticipated in mid-2015. With successful exploration and development, Ireland has potential to benefit from its natural resources of oil and gas in terms of taxation of profits, strengthened energy security of supply and from the economic activity generated through the construction and production phases of any new development. I understand that more than 1,000 jobs have been generated over the past five years in respect of the development of the Corrib field.
What we are witnessing in our offshore is positive and there is a clear forward momentum. The Government’s intention is that momentum should be maintained in 2015.
In that regard my Department will progress a broad range of initiatives during 2015 including:
- Promotion of the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round which closes in September 2015 and includes all of Ireland’s major Atlantic basins.
- Completion of Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment (IOSEA) 5 encompassing the Atlantic Margin basins offshore west of Ireland together with the Fastnet, Celtic Sea and Kish Basins offshore south and east of Ireland. The purpose of IOSEA 5 will be to assess any potential impacts on the marine environment associated with activities conducted under petroleum exploration and production authorisations, including any new authorisations awarded under the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round; and
- Working with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners to give operational effect in the Finance Bill 2015 to revised oil and gas fiscal arrangements arising out of the recommendations of the Wood Mackenzie Report published in June 2014.
