Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42558/12]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42579/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department works with local authorities in a number of different areas. This would include both project level involvement as referred to below and interactions with local authorities as part of different statutory provisions. In addition the Semi State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, e.g. ESB, Bord na Móna, BGÉ and EirGrid would have ongoing contacts with local authorities.

My Department liaised with the local authorities during the construction of Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and their subsequent handover to e|net, a company appointed to manage and maintain the networks on behalf of the State. My Department continues to work with local authorities on the liaison committee that oversee the operation of the MANs.

Local authorities are sometimes partners in delivering digital inclusion basic skills training under the BenefIT schemes operated by my Department. The BenefIT scheme operates nationally. The current scheme is in operation until the end of 2012 and involves 19 grantees representing 200 organisations (including the 2 local authorities) providing training in 700 locations to about 40,000 people. In two cases under the current (BenefIT 3) scheme local authorities are working with training delivery organisations partners. These are Dublin City Council, which is one of the partners of FIT FastTrack to Information Technology, and Waterford County Council, which partners Waterford VEC. More information on the BenefIT scheme can be found on the web page .

The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) provides expert advice and mapping data to local authorities in relation to Groundwater Protection and our geological Heritage. This information and data are used by local authorities in the compilation of their Development Plans. The GSI also provides expert advice as required in relation to planning applications. In addition, bodies such as Inland Fisheries Ireland would have ongoing interaction with local authorities.