Finance and Performance
A SUMMARY of the costs of the Commissioners of Irish Lights
Service for the year ended 31 March 2003, divided between the main
operational areas, is set out below.
RUNNING COSTS
Service running costs for the year totalled €16,553,000. Included in this figure are payroll costs of €9,916,000. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has substantially reduced since 1996-7. This reduction in costs has been achieved through lighthouse automation, solarisation, increased ship efficiency, and re-organisation of the Engineering function while maintaining the level of performance and reliability of aids to navigation required by the maritime industry. The reduction in costs achieved by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and by Trinity House Lighthouse Service and the Northern Lighthouse Board in Great Britain, has made a considerable contribution to the reduction in light dues rates compared to the Consumer Price Index over this period.
Pensions
Pension costs for the year totalled €4,889.000.
Capital Expenditure
Capital Expenditure in 2002-03 totalled €2,244,000. Major projects completed during this period included the conversion to solar power of Skelligs Rock, Eagle Island, and Slyne Head Lighthouses. Work commenced on converting Inishtearaght to solar power. Also work continued on replacing 1st and 2nd Class buoy superstructures with new aluminium buoy superstructures and solar power systems.
Light Dues
Light dues collected in year ended 31 March 2003 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to €5,278,869, up 5.94% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland in the year amounted to £609.989 Stg. The rate of light dues payable by commercial ships at ports in the Republic of Ireland since 1 April 2002 is €0.56 per net registered ton. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is £0.40 Stg.
Quality of Service
The performance of aids to navigation is measured by comparison with the minimum standards recommended by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) of which Irish Lights is a member.
Employee Numbers
The complement of permanent employees on 1 April 2003 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants (part time) 78; Lighthouse and Helipad Supervisor 1; Automated Lightfloat Attendant Masters (part time) 4; Granuaile 36; Civil Engineering coast workforce 28; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 81; Irish Lights Office 66; making a total of 212 full time and 82 part time employees. In addition, casual workers are employed around the coast on a day to day basis as required.
RUNNING COSTS
Service running costs for the year totalled €16,553,000. Included in this figure are payroll costs of €9,916,000. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has substantially reduced since 1996-7. This reduction in costs has been achieved through lighthouse automation, solarisation, increased ship efficiency, and re-organisation of the Engineering function while maintaining the level of performance and reliability of aids to navigation required by the maritime industry. The reduction in costs achieved by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and by Trinity House Lighthouse Service and the Northern Lighthouse Board in Great Britain, has made a considerable contribution to the reduction in light dues rates compared to the Consumer Price Index over this period.
Pensions
Pension costs for the year totalled €4,889.000.
Capital Expenditure
Capital Expenditure in 2002-03 totalled €2,244,000. Major projects completed during this period included the conversion to solar power of Skelligs Rock, Eagle Island, and Slyne Head Lighthouses. Work commenced on converting Inishtearaght to solar power. Also work continued on replacing 1st and 2nd Class buoy superstructures with new aluminium buoy superstructures and solar power systems.
Light Dues
Light dues collected in year ended 31 March 2003 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to €5,278,869, up 5.94% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland in the year amounted to £609.989 Stg. The rate of light dues payable by commercial ships at ports in the Republic of Ireland since 1 April 2002 is €0.56 per net registered ton. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is £0.40 Stg.
Quality of Service
The performance of aids to navigation is measured by comparison with the minimum standards recommended by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) of which Irish Lights is a member.
Employee Numbers
The complement of permanent employees on 1 April 2003 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants (part time) 78; Lighthouse and Helipad Supervisor 1; Automated Lightfloat Attendant Masters (part time) 4; Granuaile 36; Civil Engineering coast workforce 28; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 81; Irish Lights Office 66; making a total of 212 full time and 82 part time employees. In addition, casual workers are employed around the coast on a day to day basis as required.