Minister responds to Navaid report

The recommendations for increasing the synergy and cost-effectiveness of the GLAs raise interesting and challenging scenarios for the GLAs, which they have said they will endeavour to deliver. Changes to the funding arrangements for the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland are particularly challenging.

The GLAs believe that together they are capable of delivering the necessary efficiencies identified for them. They have recognised the merits in many of the recommendations contained within the Atkins Review published earlier this year and, under their own initiative, have already established a Joint Strategic Board (JSB) to look at how to take the recommendations forward. The JSB has determined a number of improvement objectives set against the 52 recommendations contained within the report that will deliver increased operational efficiencies across the three authorities.

The GLAs have said that they have a responsibility to reduce costs over, embrace technology whilst ensuring the safety needs of the mariner are always met and respect the cost efficiency desires of the Light Dues payers. Sustained savings over recent years have demonstrated the effectiveness of the GLAs, particularly when matched against rises in the RPI and increased government spending in other areas.

The Government’s intention to provide long term stability in the Light Dues regimehas also been welcomed by the GLAs. After more than 16 years of consistent reductions in Light Dues they have said that are embarking on an exciting new era of eNavigation development for which it is vital that financial stability is present to engage in the process.