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2010 Irish Lights Calendar October 19 2009 The 2010 Irish Lights calendar is now available. This calendar features photographs commemorating the various branches of the Lighthouse Service over the past 200 years. Draft Marine AtoN Strategy - 2025 and Beyond October 14 2009 2025 and Beyond is the United Kingdom and Ireland's marine aids to navigation (AtoN) strategy. It has been prepared by the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Irish Lights for their users, partners and stakeholders. New Mizen Bridge! October 02 2009 Welcome boost for Mizen Head Tourism! A contract for the construction of a new bridge to the Mizen Head Lighthouse has been signed and work will start right away with the new bridge ready for next summer's tourist season. Minister Dempsey announces that the Light Dues rate from 1st August 2009 to 31st March 2010, has been increased from 52 to 57 cents August 06 2009 Minister Dempsey announces that the Light Dues rate from 1st August 2009 to 31st March 2010, has been increased from 52 to 57 cents per ton and the maximum number of voyages to be levied has been increased from 7 to 9 in any one year. The tonnage cap remains at 35,000 NRT. Please click here to see SI 297 of 2009 - MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIGHT DUES) ORDER 2009 |
                   
| Finance Who pays for the lighthouses and other aids to navigation around our coast? Let us clear up some misconceptions. Many people believe that voluntary contributions, such as those made by the general public to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, are a source of revenue. Others believe that they continue to be paid for by the British Exchequer, or by Trinity House. Another misconception is that the service is completely paid for by the Irish Government. In fact, the Commissioners of Irish Lights is a 'User Pays Service', the primary source of revenue coming from dues levied on commercial shipping which relies for its safety on these aids to navigation. Pleasure craft under 20 tons and fishing vessels within the Republic of Ireland are exempt from these charges, although they are major beneficiaries. 
Ships entering ports and harbours in Ireland pay light dues towards the upkeep of the lighthouse service. The concept of commercial shipping paying dues to fund light services was developed in the last century and is similar to the idea that road tax and tolls should fund our roads. Ships trading to Great Britain and Ireland pay 'Light Dues' when they call to ports to discharge or load cargoes. These 'Light Dues' are based on the net registered tonnage of the vessel and on the frequency and number of voyages per annum. The Dues are collected either by the relevant customs authority or by ship's agents acting on behalf of the lighthouse authorities. The 'Light Dues' collected in Ireland are not sufficient to meet the full cost of the service. However, as Ireland lies in the path of the major transatlantic shipping lanes, vessels not calling to Irish ports still benefit from the service. For this reason all light dues collected in Britain and Ireland are pooled into a central fund called the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) which is administered by the Dept of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). This fund meets the costs of the three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs). Additionally, a grant in aid is made to the GLF by the Irish Government's Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. At present, there is some debate on the whole topic of a 'User Pays' Service as to whether this means of financing the Aids to Navigation services should be paid from central government funding. |