Finance and Performance
A summary of the costs of the Commissioners of Irish Lights service for year ended 31 March 2009, divided between the main operational areas, is shown in fig 1.
Running Costs
Running costs for the year totalled €20,504,000 down €694,000 on 2007-08. Allowing for inflation, the real operating cost of the Service has not increased in the last ten years as demonstrated in fig 2. Over this period cost reductions have been achieved through 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 mariners.
Pensions
Pension costs for the year totalled €7,782,000. The average number of pensioners during the year was 458.
Capital Expenditure
Capital Expenditure by the Commissioners in 2008-09 totalled €3,776,000. The major capital projects completed during this period included the re-equipping of the lighthouses at Fanad Head and Dundalk with other projects being completed at Buncrana, Slyne Head and Donaghadee. A detailed review of capital projects carried out during 2008-09 is included in the Engineering report.
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 2009 was: Lighthouse and Helipad Attendants and Assistants 70; ILV Granuaile 32; Civil Engineering Coast Workforce 24; Dun Laoghaire offices and workshops 131; making a total of 257 of which 186 were full time and 71 part time. In addition, casual workers are employed around the coast on a day to day basis as required.
Light Dues
Light Dues at ports in the Republic of Ireland are currently charged at 57 cent per net registered ton subject to a maximum charge of €19,950 per voyage. The rate at ports in Northern Ireland is 39 pence per net registered ton subject to a maximum charge of £13,650 per voyage. Vessels are charged for a maximum of nine voyages per annum. Light dues collected in year ended 31 March 2009 from vessels in ports in the Republic of Ireland amounted to €3,969,000 down 16% on the previous year. Light dues collected in Northern Ireland during the same period amounted to £569,000 which is broadly in line with the previous year. The rates of light dues payable during this period were 52 cent per net registered ton for the Republic of Ireland and 35 pence per net registered ton for Northern Ireland.