Written Answers Nos. 228-234
228. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of all properties rented by his Department; the annual cost of the leases; the duration of the leases; and the capacity and occupancy of each premises as of 31 January 2015. [9454/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is not involved in any direct rental of buildings. The Department's accommodation needs are provided by the Office of Public Works who allocate space on the basis of working requirements and manage all issues regarding cost and duration of lease.
My Department operates from the following four locations:
- Headquarters, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. Current occupancy 245;
- Geological Survey of Ireland Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. Current occupancy 76;
- Elm House, Earlsvale Road, Cavan. Current occupancy 42;
- Geological Survey of Ireland Core Store, Sandyford, Dublin 18. This is an industrial storage facility and has no permanent staff operating from it.
229. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Greentrees Road, Dublin 12, is in Walkinstown, Terenure or Perrystown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9466/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no statutory function in regard to the issue raised by the Deputy.
230. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will examine and address a matter (details supplied) regarding the public service obligation levy and standing charge which is an excessive and anti-business cost to this and other likewise small electricity consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9482/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for generation constructed for security of supply purposes, including peat generation, and for the development of renewable electricity. It is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by these producers. The PSO levy is also vital to enable Ireland to meet its 2020 40% target for electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020, which in turn is important for the achievement of Ireland's 16% EU 2020 target for renewable energy.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) determines the PSO levy which is a charge on all electricity customers without exception. The legal basis for the PSO levy and its method of calculation are set out in Regulations made under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (S.I. 217 of 2002). The annual PSO levy amount for 2014/2015 is €335.4 million compared with €210.9 million allowed for the 2013/14 PSO period. The 2014/2015 levy for residential customers and small to medium sized business customers (maximum import capacity of less than 30 kVA) is set at fixed amounts of €64.37 and €221.66 per annum respectively. The 2014/2015 levy for medium and large customers (import capacity of equal to or greater than 30 kVA) is calculated at €34.20 per kVA per annum. This compares to €18.47 per kVA per annum for medium and large customers in the 2013/2014 PSO year, an increase of approximately 85%.
The biggest driver for the levy rise for this year is the lower predicted wholesale market electricity price. This results in lower predicted market income for the PSO plants and, consequently, a higher levy is required to cover their allowed costs. The lower wholesale electricity price is currently being driven by lower international gas prices in evidence since mid-2013. This drives up the proposed PSO levy.
However, if lower gas and wholesale prices are sustained, the lower wholesale prices would reduce the wholesale cost of electricity that suppliers pay. In turn, suppliers would be in a position to reduce their retail prices and potentially offset the PSO levy increase. Increased competition in the retail electricity market has led to some suppliers reducing their retail prices. The CER is tasked with retail market monitoring and executes this role vigorously to ensure competition leads to the fairest prices for customers.
231. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of senior civil servants who retired since 2011 in his Department who have been appointed to a State board under his aegis following their retirement; if he will provide in tabular form the names of these persons, the boards to which they were appointed and the appointment process followed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9946/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no Senior Civil Servants, who retired from my Department since 2011, appointed to any State Board under the aegis of my Department.
232. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of all properties rented by his Department; the annual cost of the leases; the duration of the leases; and the capacity and occupancy of each premises as of 31 January 2015. [9465/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the procurement of office (and other) accommodation required for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and accordingly, the arrangement of lease terms, rental levels (and reviews etc.) is a matter for them.
In addition, the OPW undertakes regular monitoring of space allocated to Departments to ensure that it is used to the optimum capacity in line with good principles of property management.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport uses offices in 12 buildings throughout the State, details per the following table.
|
Property |
Status |
|
44, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 |
Leased. |
|
25, Clare Street, Dublin 2 |
State owned |
|
Coastguard Stores, Rosemount Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. |
Leased |
|
Block A, Jamestown Business Park, Finglas, Dublin 11 (file store, part use). |
Leased |
|
93 – 97, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. |
State owned |
|
New Road Killarney |
State owned |
|
Road Transport Licensing Unit, 2nd. floor, Clonfert House, Loughrea, Co. Galway |
Leased |
|
Driver & Vehicle Computer Services Division, Shannon Town Centre, Shannon, Co. Clare |
State owned |
|
Marine Survey Office/Irish Coast Guard, Centre Park House, Centre Park Road, Cork |
Leased |
|
Marine Survey Office, Town Council Buildings, Abbeyview, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. |
Leased |
|
Marine Rescue Coordination Centre, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry |
State owned |
|
Marine Rescue Coordination Centre, Malin Head, Co. Donegal |
State owned |
233. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures in place to ensure that short-term hosting and lodging tourist accommodation being advertised via online exchanges (details supplied) are compliant with public health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9553/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, certain types of accommodation using protected titles, such as hotels and guesthouses, are statutorily obliged to register and comply with approved regulations. These regulations mainly relate to the quality of the product and level of service. In addition to this system of registration, Fáilte Ireland also offers a voluntary quality assurance approval and listing system for other forms of tourist accommodation. Unlisted providers are not marketed and promoted by the tourism agencies nor can they access the various training and business skills initiatives available to the listed sector.
With regard to health and safety standards, regardless of whether or not they are registered or listed with Fáilte Ireland, accommodation providers must comply with the relevant statutory requirements, as enforced by a range of bodies including local authorities and the Health Service Executive. I have no role in this regard. Neither my Department nor the tourism agencies is responsible for legislating for, regulating or enforcing compliance with public health and safety standards.
Further specific queries should be addressed to my colleagues the Ministers for Health and for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
234. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be provided to a motion passed by Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District in relation to the need to provide funding towards the upgrading of the R179 - Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne road, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe R179 Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne Road is a regional and local road, the improvement and maintenance of which is the statutory responsibility of Monaghan County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
I announced the 2015 regional and local road grant allocations last month and Monaghan County Council was allocated €7.1m in regional and local road funding this year. No further funding is available. The three main road grant categories are the Restoration Improvement, Discretionary Grant and the Restoration Maintenance grant programmes. All of these grants are allocated based on the length of regional and local roads within a local authority area.
While Councils could apply in the past for grant funding for certain road improvement projects, budgetary constraints mean that the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme has been curtailed in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work of the road network.
While funding for 2015 has now been allocated it is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Monaghan County Council in their own resources spending in this area.
