A summary of the costs of the Commissioners of Irish Lights service for year ended 31 March 2007, divided between the main operational areas, is shown in fig 1.

Running Costs
Running costs for the year totalled e19,811,000. Included in this figure are payroll costs of e11,891,000. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has remained relatively static since 1996/97 as demonstrated in fig 2. Over this period cost reductions have 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 mariners. Much of this cost saving has however been offset through increases in payroll costs in line with inflation trends in the economy.

Pensions
Pension costs for the year ended 31 March 2007 totalled e7,160,732.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Capital expenditure by the Commissioners in 2006-2007 totalled e11,724,150, which includes e8,844,639 for redevelopment of the Dun Laoghaire site. The main engineering projects completed during this period were reequipping Rockabill, Ballinacourty, and Chaine Tower Lighthouses, and replacing Coningbeg Lightfloat with a superbuoy and two first class cardinal buoys.

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, based on a three year rolling average, compared with the IALA performance targets.

Employee Numbers
The average number of permanent employees for the year ended 31 March 2007 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants 73; Automated Lightfloat Attendant Masters 4; ILV Granuaile 32; Civil Engineering Coast Workforce 23; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 77; Irish Lights Office 69; making a total of 278 of which 201 were full time and 77 were 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 2007 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to e4,613,000 down 3% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland in the year amounted to £539,000. The rate of light dues payable by commercial ships at ports in the Republic of Ireland is e0.52 per net registered ton. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is £0.35 per net registered ton. Both rates remain unchanged from the previous year.