Written answers

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Departmental Agencies

11:00 pm

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1589: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has made on the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes proposal to merge the Digital Hub Development Agency with Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33302/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1590: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has been made on the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes proposal to merge ComReg and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33303/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1591: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to adopt the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommendation of part-funding TG4 from the television licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33304/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1592: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to adopt the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommendation of terminating energy awareness programmes run by him and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33305/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1593: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to adopt the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommendation that the multiplicity of energy efficiency schemes run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland be rationalised with a view to saving €40m per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33306/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1594: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to adopt that there be a single funding stream for all research including energy with a view to saving €3.5m per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33307/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1595: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has been made on the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes proposal to merge the Ordnance Survey, Valuation Office and Property Registration Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33308/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1596: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has been made on the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes proposal to achieve 20% efficiency savings from operating costs at the Geological Survey of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33309/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1597: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount that will be saved annually from the merger of the regional fisheries boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33310/10]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1598: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to adopt the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommendation of transferring responsibility for inland fisheries to the Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33311/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1589 to 1598, inclusive, together.

The table below shows the current status of proposals in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes relating to my Department and to Bodies and Agencies under its remit about which the Deputy is inquiring. As the Deputy is aware the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes outlined a wide range of proposals across all Departments, a number of which, if agreed to proceed, can only be achieved through restructuring over a number of years. The consideration of the proposals for my Department and the Agencies under its aegis is ongoing and as the table shows, progress has been made in relation to certain proposals. In addition, my Department has committed to current expenditure savings amounting to €13 million over the 2009 Estimate in 2010. Gross current expenditure in 2010 for my Department will be 3% below the 2009 outturn and expenditure on the Department's pay bill will be some 9% below the 2009 outturn.

Savings outlined in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes
Merge DHDA with EI/IDAReview of DHDA currently underway
Merge ComReg with BAINot implemented
Partially fund TG4 from TV LicenceNot included in Budget 2010 but direct Exchequer subvention to TG4 reduced by €2.083 million
Terminate DCENR/SEI energy awareness programmesSeparate budget for Energy Efficiency Awareness eliminated in Budget 2010 (€0.894 million saving)
Rationalise multiplicity of energy efficiency schemes run by SEIBeing rationalised in the context of the multi-annual National Retrofit Programme announced in Budget 2010
Transfer energy research funding to new single funding stream for all researchEnergy research function retained
Merge OSi and the Valuation Office with the PRANot implemented
Secure efficiencies/increased revenue worth 20% of GSI's operating costsValue for Money Review of GSI underway to secure efficiencies/increased revenue
Secure additional savings from the merger of the regional fisheries boardsMerger took place with effect from 1 July 2010 and direct Exchequer funding for Inland Fisheries reduced by €3.369 million compared to the 2009 Estimate
Transfer responsibility for Inland Fisheries from DCENR to DEHLGNot implemented

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1599: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received, pursuant to Section 37 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, estimates of income and expenditure from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for the next three years; if so, if he will publish that information; if he has not received those estimates, when he expects to receive that information; if he will publish such on receipt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33315/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provisions in relation to the submission of the Authority's three-year estimates and expenditure proposals and their publication are set out in section 37 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

In relation to the estimates for the period 2011-2013, which are due to be submitted by the Authority no later than 30 September, I can confirm that these estimates have not yet been received in my Department. Furthermore, following recent queries raised by my Department with the Authority, it has been clarified to me that the 3-year estimates will now not be available until the end of October.

This delay results from a decision of the Authority that the Budget for the period 2011-2013, which will be the BAI's first three-year budget, needs to be framed in the context of the Statement of Strategy for the same period on the basis that the content of the Statement of Strategy provides the framework for the objectives and work-plan of the organisation and the budget supports the activities to be undertaken to achieve these objectives.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Authority is currently engaged in a comprehensive process in regard to the development of its Statement of Strategy and this has involved wide-scale consultation with industry and other key players. I am informed by the Authority that, on the basis that a draft Strategy is finalised over the coming weeks, it expects that the 3-year Budget will be agreed and submitted to me before the end of October.

While this goes beyond the timeline provided for in the legislation, I have been assured by the Authority of its continued commitment to comply with the will of the Oireachtas as expressed in the legislation. In this instance, while the Authority regrets the likely delay, its view is that the approach being taken is the most appropriate to best serve the needs of the broadcasting industry in that it will provide greatest certainty regarding the Authority's future work and expenditure plans and, through this, the clarity needed by industry on the level of levy that it will be required to pay over the coming 3-year period.

In relation to publication, the legislation requires that, subject to the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, the Authority shall publish its 3-year estimates or a summary of them on a website maintained by the Authority. I am very much aware that both public and commercial broadcasters will be keen to view the Authority's expenditure proposals as early as possible and it is my intention to facilitate this as much as practicable in the circumstances.

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