Written Answers Nos. 259 - 270
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount allocated in 2016 for home energy grants; and the number of households projected to be covered by these grants in 2016. [28017/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of energy efficiency schemes under the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme makes a range of grants available to home-owners who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy efficiency upgrades to those in energy poverty, while the Better Energy Communities Scheme funds a range of community activity on energy efficiency.
To date, the Better Energy Programme has supported energy efficiency upgrades in more than 325,000 homes throughout Ireland. It is anticipated that up to 25,000 homes will receive energy efficiency upgrades under the Better Energy Programme in 2016. SEAI estimate that this activity will support approximately 2,300 jobs.
The following table details the numbers of homes that have received grant support so far in 2016, the amount of funding spent to date and the estimated final outturn for each programme (capital and current) in 2016.
|
|
Number of homes completed to 31 August 2016 |
Funding spent up to 31 August 2016 |
Total Anticipated Outturn - 2016 |
|
Better Energy Homes |
10,666 |
€11,151,533 |
€17.18m |
|
Better Energy Warmer Homes (including Warmth & Wellbeing sub-strand) |
5,175 |
€12,230,000 |
€20.69m |
|
Better Energy Communities |
N/A (works underway at the moment, anticipate 2,640 homes completed by end of year) |
€3,915,131 (it should be noted that the bulk of funds under this scheme are drawn down in Q4) |
€19.05m |
|
Total |
|
|
€56.92m |
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the national sports policy. [27915/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI will shortly publish a detailed public consultation paper and invite interested parties, including the sports sector, stakeholders and the general public, to respond to questions and offer perspectives on a wide range of policy issues relevant to sport. This public consultation process, along with the relevant stakeholder engagement, will feed into the development of a National Sports Policy.
261. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current and cumulative costs to the NRA of maintaining a site (details supplied) over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27808/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
262. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the clarification his Department received from the European Commission in June 2016 on the requirement for the Marine Survey Office to accept UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency certificates of proficiency issued outside of the UK in another member state in respect of seafarers' certificates; his current position on the key issue of mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates within the EU in line with the requirements of Directive 2005/45/EC, if he accepts this mutual recognition requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27887/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe mutual recognition of certificates validly issued by other EU Member States is fully supported and accepted by my Department. Particular issues have arisen in relation to certifications under the authority of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the United Kingdom, which have been the subject of correspondence between my Department and inter alia, the UK Authorities. Arising from that correspondence and its consideration in my Department, a further meeting will take place shortly with interested parties at which my officials will fully clarify our position on this issue.
263. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he or his officials have held with Bus Éireann management regarding their plans to change the expressway service since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27906/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, last week Bus Éireann met trade unions in the Workplace Relations Commission to discuss a pay claim. At that meeting Bus Éireann management raised the issue of the loss-making in the company's commercial "Expressway" service and indicated a desire to open discussions with trade unions as regards potential options to address these losses which are significant and impacting upon the Company's overall financial performance. Last year for example the Company lost €5 million and losses this year are expected to reach approximately €6million. Clearly the losses require the Board and management of the Company to examine available options in order to restore financial stability and safeguard the interests of employees, stakeholders and the general public.
The issues facing the Company have obviously informed discussions held between my Department and the Company in recent months. On 12 September, I met the Chair and CEO of Bus Éireann, who gave me a wide ranging overview of the challenges and opportunities faced by the company across all of its business units - school transport services, PSO services and the commercial Expressway service. A number of issues were discussed including an outline for the future of the company and the need to find a reasonable way forward from its present loss-making position. The meeting did not discuss any detailed plan and at no stage did I convey any agreement whatsoever; the meeting was a briefing on relevant issues, and was one of a series of meetings I have been having with the heads of the State entities under my aegis.
I am aware that the Board is concerned to address the level of losses and has been working to find a way to return the company to a sustainable position. In this regard, I welcome the Company's statement earlier this week that it is commissioning an independent review of its plans and hope that through this, combined with open engagement with employees, a way forward can be found which will restore the Company to profitability and allow it move forward in a sustainable manner.
264. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the regional airports will avail of the recent funding due to the EU 75% restrictions on state aid; if he considers the four regional airports will be in a position to raise the necessary 25%; his views on whether a case can be made for 90% funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27907/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced on 14 September last that an allocation of €2.7m in funding support for the four regional airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), Kerry and Waterford, most of which was in respect of safety and security projects at the airports that were approved for funding under the CAPEX Scheme of my Department's Regional Airports Programme.
The maximum level of grant aid that is permitted under the 2014 EU Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines for projects that fall within this Scheme is 75% of the 'funding gap', i.e. the net present value of the difference between the positive and negative cash flows (including investment costs) over the lifetime of the project. The projects that were the subject of my announcement earlier this month were all approved at this maximum 75% aid rate.
As the Deputy has indicated, the EU Guidelines provide that, in certain limited circumstances, an aid rate exceeding 75% may be justified in exceptional circumstances for airports with traffic volume below 1 million passengers per annum. In such a scenario, the EU Commission have indicated that a business case, justifying the proposed higher aid rate, would have to be approved by them.
Clearly, the EU Commission view any support above the 75% level as an exception, rather than the norm.
I believe that having the public purse pick up the tab for three-quarters of the cost of airport investments removes a considerable financial burden from our regional airports and it is not unreasonable that these airport companies should fund the balance from their own resources.
I am aware, however, that IWAK has indicated that, even with the maximum level (75%) of capital support allowed for under the EU Guidelines, they believe that they will be unable to finance their two major upcoming projects – an apron extension and an overlay of the runway. My Department has indicated to IWAK that we will support the making a case to the EU Commission to permit a 90% aid rate for these two planned major projects.
I should also mention that under the Public Policy Remit Capital (PPR-C) Scheme of the Regional Airports Programme, former Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe announced €1.2m in funding last April for the four regional airports. The PPR-C Scheme caters for projects and operations at the airports which are generally obligatory under national or international aviation requirements and which involve costs for the airports that generate no economic return (e.g. Air Traffic Control, fire services, security services, etc). Exchequer support for PPR-C projects is not regarded as State aid and the support provided by my Department under this Scheme is at the 90% level.
265. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has held any engagement with the Minister for Finance concerning the possible introduction of tax relief for persons who contribute to sporting bodies. [27916/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Working Group was set up in 2015 to examine the possibility of tax relief for donations to sporting bodies for non-capital projects. The Working Group included representatives from the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Department of Finance emphasised to the Working Group that any new tax expenditures would need to be matched by new revenue raising measures or expenditure cuts and no new tax relief for donations to sporting bodies for non-capital projects was introduced. Taxation matters are matters for the Minister for Finance in the first instance.
266. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe and process that will be undertaken for the establishment of a separate unit within the IAA to deal with airport noise; and the way it will operate as the competent authority in relation to EU Regulation No. 598/2014 in the interim. [27919/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is envisaged that the legislation currently in preparation in my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office, will specifically require the establishment of a functionally separate unit within the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Pending the completion of that legislation, expected by the end of this year, the question of the interim operation of the Competent Authority does not arise.
There is a requirement for regulatory independence in EU Regulation 598/2014 and its achievement by functional separation is specifically permitted. The IAA has considerable experience of this functional separation model as it has been operating that model since 2004 in relation to safety oversight of air navigation service providers under the suite of EU legislation concerning the Single European Sky. The IAA is also responsible for safety regulation of Irish civil aviation generally. This experience of the functional separation model will inform the establishment of the required separate unit in relation to EU Regulation 598/2014.
267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the arrangements that exist in other EU countries regarding the competent authority designated to deal with EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and the analysis he made of the practice in other jurisdictions, prior to awarding this function to the IAA. [27920/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven that three of the four constituent elements of the Balanced Approach for airport noise management, as developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), are aviation-related with the remaining one relating to land-use planning and management, it was considered that a dedicated body, with expert knowledge of aircraft technology as well as airport and air navigation operations, was the principal decision criterion in this instance and essential to fulfil the various regulatory tasks satisfactorily. Although no one entity in Ireland possesses the entire range of expertise and knowledge to implement internally all elements of the ICAO Balanced Approach, given the particular relevance of aviation expertise, it was considered that the Irish Aviation Authority was best placed to discharge the regulatory responsibilities involved.
Information obtained from the European Commission indicates that other Member States are following a similar approach as in most of the cases notified to the European Commission national civil aviation authorities are being designated for the role of competent authority for EU Regulation 598-2014.
268. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he proposes to deal with the collaborative working and public consultation arrangements that he has acknowledged have to be applied in implementing EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and the way residents' views will be taken into consideration in the establishment of such arrangements. [27921/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is proposed that the legislation currently in preparation in my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office, will outline requirements concerning the collaborative working arrangements to apply between the Competent Authority and the various statutory bodies that have roles and expertise in relation to noise management, in particular An Bord Pleanála, Fingal Council and the Environmental Protection Agency. Insofar as public consultation arrangements are concerned, the Competent Authority will also be required to organise consultation processes to secure the views of all concerned stakeholders, including from local residents and businesses. The detailed public consultation requirements and mechanisms will be defined legislatively for the Competent Authority in order that all concerned parties have full clarity of the regime and can provide the necessary inputs and advices at clearly defined stages of the overall regulatory process.
269. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process he intends to undertake in relation to the establishment on an appeal mechanism to independently examine, where required, the application of the competent authority's legal responsibility in adhering to the ICAO balanced approach in implementing EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and if such a body must be in place prior to the commencement of the implementation of the regulation. [27922/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislation currently in preparation in my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office, will make specific provision for an independent appeal body. The precise details of the process under which the appeal body, of up to five persons with relevant expertise, will be constituted remains under consideration. Decisions of the Competent Authority may be referred to this appeal body which will be established by me in consultation with my colleagues, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. In these circumstances, it is not necessary for the appeal body to be in place prior to the commencement of the legislation, which is expected by the end of the year.
270. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vacancies that currently exist on State boards and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the length of time that such vacancies have existed; if such vacancies have been advertised on a website (details supplied); and when he intends to fill the vacancies. [27931/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA full list of membership and vacancies can be found on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
In relation to vacancies on boards under my remit, I set out my position on the filling of vacancies to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport last week. In doing so I questioned the need for the size of these boards. I am currently considering means by which the appointment processes can be enhanced to ensure in so far as possible the best appointments are made. I am also considering the size of the boards in question and the need or otherwise to fill each vacancy.
