Finance and Performance
A SUMMARY of the costs of the Commissioners of Irish Lights
Service for the year ended 31 March 2004, divided between the main
operational areas, is shown in fig 1.
RUNNING COSTS
Running costs for the year totalled €17,369,000. Included in this figure are payroll costs of €10,105,000. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has reduced since 1996-7 as demonstrated in fig 2. 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.
PENSIONS
Pension costs for the year totalled €5,335,000.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Capital Expenditure in 2003-04 totalled €1,948,000. The main project completed during this period was the conversion to solar power of Inishtearaght. Work commenced on the re-equipping of Ballycotton, St John's Point Donegal, and Rue Point. Also work continued on replacing 1st and 2nd Class buoy superstructures with new aluminium buoy superstructures and solar power systems.
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. Fig 3 shows the degree to which the various categories of aids to navigation provided by the Commissioners functioned correctly compared with the IALA performance targets. IALA recommends presentation of dgps service availability taken over a two year period. Other performance statistics are based on three year rolling averages.
EMPLOYEE NUMBERS
The complement of permanent employees on 31 March 2004 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants (part time) 77; Lighthouse and Helipad Supervisor 1; Automated Lightfloat Attendant Masters (part time) 4; Granuaile 31; Civil Engineering coast workforce 24; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 79; Irish Lights Office 59; making a total of 193 full time and 82 part time employees. In addition, casual workers are employed around the coast on a day to day basis as required.
LIGHT DUES
Light dues collected in year ended 31 March 2004 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to €4,950,042, down 6.23% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland in the year amounted to £585,866 Stg. The rate of light dues payable by commercial ships at ports in the Republic of Ireland since 1 April 2004 is €0.56 per net registered ton. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is £0.39 Stg.
RUNNING COSTS
Running costs for the year totalled €17,369,000. Included in this figure are payroll costs of €10,105,000. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has reduced since 1996-7 as demonstrated in fig 2. 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.
PENSIONS
Pension costs for the year totalled €5,335,000.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Capital Expenditure in 2003-04 totalled €1,948,000. The main project completed during this period was the conversion to solar power of Inishtearaght. Work commenced on the re-equipping of Ballycotton, St John's Point Donegal, and Rue Point. Also work continued on replacing 1st and 2nd Class buoy superstructures with new aluminium buoy superstructures and solar power systems.
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. Fig 3 shows the degree to which the various categories of aids to navigation provided by the Commissioners functioned correctly compared with the IALA performance targets. IALA recommends presentation of dgps service availability taken over a two year period. Other performance statistics are based on three year rolling averages.
EMPLOYEE NUMBERS
The complement of permanent employees on 31 March 2004 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants (part time) 77; Lighthouse and Helipad Supervisor 1; Automated Lightfloat Attendant Masters (part time) 4; Granuaile 31; Civil Engineering coast workforce 24; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 79; Irish Lights Office 59; making a total of 193 full time and 82 part time employees. In addition, casual workers are employed around the coast on a day to day basis as required.
LIGHT DUES
Light dues collected in year ended 31 March 2004 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to €4,950,042, down 6.23% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland in the year amounted to £585,866 Stg. The rate of light dues payable by commercial ships at ports in the Republic of Ireland since 1 April 2004 is €0.56 per net registered ton. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is £0.39 Stg.