13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update offshore wind projects; the amount of offshore wind that is expected to be connected by 2030, 2032 and 2035, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/26]
Sentiment score: 0.19
The Minister pointed on some of the issues that I want to raise. The first is what has been identified as a substantial delay in the planning system. This was reported on and accounted in the Oireachtas committee at the back end of last year. There were examples there, which he touched on, in terms of entering into the planning system in 2024, an expectation that people would have a decision in 2025 and instead they get a massive request for further information. I would make two related points on that. The first is that it felt like a planning system getting used to new types of applications. Is that something that we can expect in the future will be resolved? The second is the capacity in the planning system and the staffing of it. It does not fall directly under the Minister's remit, but where is that?
Sentiment score: 0.05
That is something that we need to keep a continued emphasis on to ensure that these applications are processed in a timely manner and that all of the necessary scrutiny is conducted from all aspects. One of the key enabling infrastructures around offshore wind is our ports infrastructure. In terms of the development of our ports infrastructure, will we be ready to take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself in terms of offshore wind, whether in terms of ports for the maintenance of these facilities or for their construction?
Sentiment score: 0.37
75. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on TV licence sales for each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43818/26]
Sentiment score: 0.01
I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on TV licence sales for each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date 2026. I ask him to make a statement on the matter.
Sentiment score: 0.01
It is clear, based on the figures the Minister of State has outlined, that the TV licence funding model is completely broken. People are voting with their feet. The Minister of State has outlined a number of contributing factors. The single biggest contributing factor is scandal after scandal in RTÉ. In 2019, over 1 million TV licences were sold. The Minister of State is saying that in the first half of this year, fewer than 300,000 have been sold and in all of last year, only 768,000 were sold. This is a very significant decrease and it calls into serious question the fundamental funding model for public sector broadcasting in this State. When will decisions be made on the review that has been conducted and will the scrapping of the TV licence be considered?
Sentiment score: -0.08
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I absolutely agree and that is why it is important to raise these issues. At the heart of this is the question of the funding model for good-quality public service broadcasting. I will give another example on this. I welcome the Ashbourne Women's Shed who are visiting today. There were a number of posts for local democracy journalism funded across the State but in Meath and Mayo those posts have been withdrawn. They are not being funded. It was an initiative on behalf of this Government and the previous government. It was a welcome and important initiative. It could be seen reflected in local online and print media covering local council meetings and court services. There needs to be increased investment in this initiative. In particular, the post in County Meath needs to be reinstated. The public in County Meath need to have the same access to that service as we have in other parts of the State.
Sentiment score: 0.15