Written Answers Nos. 105-120
105. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures which are currently being undertaken to identify and implement strategies that will assist in reducing Ireland's carbon footprint in regard to future decisions on public procurement contracts across all areas and public bodies, including targeted timelines for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12208/24]
View answerA new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan is currently being finalised by my Department. A draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan was launched for public consultation in September 2023. Key areas of focus in the draft Strategy and Action Plan include measures to progress Green Public Procurement implementation in the Public Sector; Monitoring and Reporting; Training and Awareness; and further development of national Green Public Procurement guidance and criteria. The draft Strategy includes information in relation to undertaking market engagement, availing of research and innovation, and EU and international initiatives on Green Public Procurement. The draft strategy also has a key sectoral focus with related proposed Green Public Procurement targets. The finalised Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, which include timelines for implementation of actions, will be published in March 2024.
106. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to identify any and all grant supports for new businesses building new premises that wish to make their sites carbon neutral and avoid fossil fuel energy sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12212/24]
View answerMost of the building grants funded by my Department and administered by SEAI are for building retrofitting to a higher energy performance standard, rather than aimed at new buildings, which are already built to a high energy standard in accordance with building regulations, which the Department of Housing and Local Government lead on.
The EXEED Grant Scheme which is focussed on energy efficient design and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat are also open to newly constructed buildings or greenfield sites, provided specific criteria are met. The only eligible costs for new buildings are incremental investments that go beyond the minimum required to meet building regulations or other minimum statutory requirements. Typically, in order to access a grant for a new building, the applicant will need to present a design that meets these regulatory requirements, and a design that goes beyond these requirements, including the incremental investment cost between the two.
Enterprise Ireland (EI), which is under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, has a suite of grant supports available to companies to help prepare for a low carbon, more resource efficient economy, no matter what stage of the journey they are at, from planning to implementation stage. Enterprise Ireland and IDA may support businesses under the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment’s Environmental Aid Scheme, which would include those seeking to make their existing or new greenfield sites energy efficient or carbon neutral and avoid fossil fuel energy sources.
107. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide clarity on the extent to which his Department has implemented a moratorium on additional data centres in the Dublin region; if the west of Ireland is included in this moratorium; to extent to which his Department has placed a moratorium on new data centres; the conditions or criteria his Department is utilising to evaluate data centre proposals during this moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12333/24]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector, following enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister.
On November 23rd 2021, following advice from EirGrid with regard to network constraints and security of supply, the CRU issued a direction on new assessment criteria for data centre connections, the “CRU Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing” (CRU/21/124). These assessment criteria consider;
• The location of the data centre applicant with respect to whether they are within a constrained or unconstrained region of the electricity system.
• The ability of the data centre applicant to bring onsite dispatchable generation (and/or storage) equivalent to or greater than their demand, which meets appropriate availability and other technical requirements as may be specified by the relevant SO, in order to support security of supply.
• The ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand by reducing consumption when requested to do so by the relevant SO in times of system constraint through the use of dispatchable on-site generation (and/or storage) which meets appropriate availability and other technical requirements as may be specified by the relevant SO, in order to support security of supply.
• The ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand by reducing consumption when requested to do so by the relevant SO, in times of system constraint, in order to support security of supply.
The direction issued by CRU did not constitute a moratorium on new data centre connections, but rather introduced new assessment criteria for the System Operators to consider and apply in the processing of applications. To date EirGrid have identified regional constraints on the Electricity Transmission Grid in the Greater Dublin Region.
The Direction and its implementation are matters for the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities who are accountable to the Oireachtas and have a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matter raised in this question, to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
108. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by his Department, and bodies under his aegis and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €100,000 and above but less that €200,000, by the amount and by each body in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [12348/24]
View answerAs outlined in my response to the Deputy to PQ no. 33 for answer on 6 March 2024, redundancy or severance payments in the Civil Service generally arise with respect to specific categories of employees, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and approved by Government. Decisions in respect of same are made by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not made any payments in respect of severance or redundancy in the specific range requested (i.e. between €100,000 and €200,000) in the time periods requested.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
109. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the wording of the plastic bag levy legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12447/24]
View answerThe Government charges a levy of 22c on single-use lightweight plastic bags. The levy was introduced in 2002 as a means of reducing the consumption of such plastic bags by influencing consumer behaviour. It has proven enormously successful, reducing the use of these bags from a peak of more than 132 million in 2006 to just over 8 million during 2022 (the last full year for which figures are available). A levy is not charged on reusable bags, often referred to as ‘bags for life’.
In December 2023, I signed the new Circular Economy (Environmental Levy)(Plastic Bag)(No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 698 of 2023). These took effect from 1st January 2024 and transposed EU Directive 2015/720 on lightweight plastic bags. These Regulations, in which plastic bags are classified according to the wall thickness (in microns) of the bag, removed the minimum size exemption for very lightweight plastic bags and the minimum price of 70c for reusable bags.
Reusable bags are no longer subject to the minimum price requirement if they have a minimum wall thickness of 50 microns. These are substantial bags which are typically stored and reused by the purchaser, rather than being disposed of in the manner of lightweight bags.
110. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he aware a case (details supplied) in relation to broadband; the reasons that the connection was not extended to include the additional homes; if there are any plans to extend the fibre connection to include additional homes; what measures he taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12462/24]
View answerIn December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023
NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.
The remaining targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
As the area in question, Kentstown is declared as part of a commercial operator planned fibre rollout these premises cannot be add to the intervention Area covered by the NBI rollout. Under State aid rules, the Department is not permitted to crowd out commercial investment by intervening in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these State aid rules.
In order to ensure that we are meeting the "Gigabit" targets as mentioned in the Digital Connectivity Strategy, my officials are continuously evaluating opportunities for adding premises to the Intervention Area, where appropriate. Alternatively, where it is not feasible for premises to be recategorised, we are addressing the issues through the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force (the Taskforce).
The Taskforce comprises State actors and industry representatives and is tasked with identifying and overcoming barriers to improved connectivity. The Taskforce was originally established in 2016 to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, and to investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP).
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 545,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1 million premises over the next three years, to date it has passed 252,000 premises with full fibre.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3 , 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing substantially as it is deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also indicates that c. 40% of homes and business throughout the State now have access to gigabit services through either fibre (667,771) or cable (348,251) infrastructure.
111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the number and locations of post offices run directly by An Post; and the number franchised out to postmasters. [12523/24]
View answerOperational matters relating to An Post post offices are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.
112. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the latte levy on disposable cups will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12535/24]
View answerMore than half a million coffee cups are sent to landfill or incineration every day in Ireland. An environmental levy on single-use cups (coffee cup levy) will incentivise people to choose re-usable cups and reduce single-use waste.
A detailed consultation report, along with copies of all submissions received, were published in late 2023 on the Department’s gov.ie website.
Throughout 2023 and so far this year, retailers, producers and those in hospitality have worked hard to ensure the successful introduction of Ireland's new Deposit Return Scheme, which went live on 1 February. Now that the Scheme is operational, attention will return to introducing the coffee cup levy in 2024.
My Department has also been working on designing a new collection model for the levy. An alternative model to the plastic bag levy is under consideration and this will require changes to primary legislation. Heads of Bill have been drafted. Once this legislation is in place, a commencement date will be agreed to allow the appropriate preparations be made by the sector before the levy goes live. A comprehensive and timely public information campaign will help ensure a smooth transition to a more sustainable coffee culture here.
114. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what measures are being taken to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12641/24]
View answerThere are a number of key schemes and policies across Government designed to accelerate the deployment of renewable electricity generation.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland’s flagship support scheme for onshore grid-scale renewable electricity generators. The three onshore RESS auctions held since September 2020 have been fundamental in boosting Ireland's energy independence. The latest auction (RESS 3), held last year, represents a potential 12% increase in Ireland’s renewable energy capacity from current levels. The fourth auction (RESS 4) is scheduled to be held later this year.
Smaller onshore renewable projects are primarily being delivered through two other Government support schemes: the Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) and the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
The MSS was introduced by Government as a means of supporting 380 megawatts of new micro-generation capacity by 2030 through grants, amounting to 60,000 domestic and 9,000 non-domestic renewable generation installations.
The SRESS currently provides grants for renewable self consumers, up to 1MW in size. An upcoming new SRESS export tariff phase will offer a simpler route to market for community and SME renewable export projects.
The Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS) is the primary mechanism to deliver offshore wind generation. The first ORESS auction, held last year, was a resounding success and achieved over 3 GW of potential new offshore wind capacity. This is supported by the work of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) which coordinates activities ongoing across Government in relation to offshore wind.
I have also established an Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) to focus on the development of onshore renewable generation.
115. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of any omissions by the electric supply company in terms of customers receiving the correct energy credits; and if he will seek a report from the electricity supply companies in terms of any omissions and whether they have been rectified. [12682/24]
View answerAs part of Budget 2024, Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, which over 2.2 million households will benefit from, totalling €450 per household. Under the terms of the scheme, three payments of €150 (including VAT) are being made between December 2023 and April 2024.
The scheme is to be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then credit each domestic electricity account held with them.
The payments are being applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). Under the scheme, usage levels are assessed to ensure that payments are withheld in relation to low usage electricity accounts identified by the distribution system operator, to prevent the payment from being applied to vacant houses. Credits will not be withheld from accounts with a financial hardship meter, accounts held by registered as a vulnerable customer or accounts which have low usage due to the exporting of energy to the grid through microgeneration.
The Scheme allows for review by a customer’s electricity supplier, if contacted by a customer who has not received the payment. The customer can seek further review by the CRU, which has oversight of the Scheme, following the decision of the electricity supplier. Under the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Act 2023, it is the function of the CRU to report to the Minister in relation to the performance by the distribution system operator and electricity suppliers of the respective functions conferred on them by or under the Act.
116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the Houses of the Oireachtas have been granted an exemption (details supplied) as part of the deposit return scheme; the reasoning for this; if he plans to seek a reversal to this exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/24]
View answerAll retailers who sell products which come under the scope of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) are required to participate in the scheme by registering with Re-turn, the DRS operator and, unless exempt, to charge customers a deposit for every in-scope product sold, provide a take-back facility and to refund the deposit to consumers who return empty containers.
The rules of the scheme attaching to the hospitality sector are set out by Re-turn in specific guidance which can be found here: https://re-turn.ie/wp-content/uploads/Hospitality-Need-to-Know-.pdf.
The retailer referred to in the question is registered with Re-turn and a take-back exemption has been approved by Re-turn, as is permitted under the Regulations. I do look forward to working with the Houses of the Oireachtas however to explore further local enhancements. This could include facilitating the collection of bottle and cans in the canteen for charitable purposes as those aspects of the scheme develop in the coming months.
117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish a list of the NGOs funded by his Department; and the level the funding each NGO received in the past three years, in tabular form. [12718/24]
View answerMy Department has provided a total of almost €13 million to a range of NGOs over the three year period 2021-2023. The details are set out in the table below.
|
NGO |
2021€ |
2022€ |
2023€ |
|
Community Resources Network Ireland |
0 |
19,994 |
42,016 |
|
ECO UNESCO |
90,000 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
|
Foodcloud |
0 |
0 |
249,028 |
|
Grow it Yourself (GIY) |
31,027 |
18,878 |
0 |
|
Irish Environmental Network |
1,746,000 |
2,100,000 |
3,675,539 |
|
Irish Green Building Council |
14,646 |
30,098 |
25,285 |
|
Irish Local Development Network |
0 |
0 |
124,911 |
|
Leave No Trace Ireland |
0 |
0 |
23,194 |
|
National LGBT Federation |
0 |
0 |
49,646 |
|
National Women's Council of Ireland |
0 |
0 |
124,875 |
|
National Youth Council of Ireland |
0 |
4,585 |
8,000 |
|
PACE |
13,308 |
17,369 |
19,322 |
|
Rediscovery Centre |
0 |
70,000 |
638,817 |
|
ROTHA |
0 |
0 |
75,000 |
|
Sonairte National Ecology Centre |
0 |
0 |
38,777 |
|
Sustainable Ireland Cooperative Society |
0 |
0 |
49,801 |
|
Sustainable Projects Ireland |
0 |
0 |
49,917 |
|
An Taisce |
674,526 |
684,591 |
795,000 |
|
Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment |
396,000 |
241,993 |
444,237 |
|
Totals |
2,965,507 |
3,307,508 |
6,553,365 |
118. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that he or officials from his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have had with an organisation (details supplied) including its representatives from 1 January 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/24]
View answerMy Department is providing funding, from the Climate Action Fund, to the organisation specified in the details supplied, for a Community Climate Action Programme project. In September 2023, I attended the launch of this project hosted by the organisation. This project is being managed by Pobal, on behalf of my Department. Pobal are therefore the point of contact for the organisation on matters relating to this project.
In both March 2023 and 2024, as part of International Women's Day events in my Department, all staff were invited to presentations by the organisation relating to the project.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
119. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with the CRU on the possibility of adding a second annual application window for the Enduring Connections Process. [12812/24]
View answerEnduring Connection Policy 2 (ECP-2) is the second stage of the development of enduring connection policy in Ireland. In June 2020 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published their decision on ECP-2, which set policy for at least three annual batches of connection offers (ECP 2.1, ECP-2.2, and ECP-2.3). The final iteration of ECP was ECP 2.4 and opened for applications in October last year.
The CRU held a public consultation, which closed on 16 February 2024, on the successor to ECP (‘the ‘Electricity Generation and System Services Connection’ Policy), the responses to which will inform the introduction of a new policy framework to connect onshore generators, storage and other systems services technology projects to the grid. Among other matters, the paper sought responses on the potential for more frequent grid connection application batches, locational signals, hybrid generation projects and repowering.
Delivery of this task is a matter for the CRU, which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. However, I am aware of the CRU’s ‘minded-to’ approach to introduce a bi-annual batch application process without caps for renewable generators as set out in the public consultation. In addition, my officials have been engaging with CRU on the development of this important new policy in relation to compliance with Article 16 of the Renewable Energy Directive which provides for mandatory permitting deadlines and must be transposed by 01 July, 2024. My officials look forward to their continued engagement with CRU as they continue to develop this important policy which will be published in Q2, this year.
120. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to upgrade the grid in order that the limits for peak export from single-phase connections and three-phase connections can be increased. [12821/24]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible, inter alia, for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators. Decisions regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Networks. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network. EirGrid and ESBN are independent bodies and as such the Minister has no power regarding the exercise of their respective functions.
In relation to access to the grid of households and businesses with solar PV system, for safety reasons, all microgeneration systems must be registered with ESBN, using the NC6 notification process. This process also includes recording the size of the microgeneration system. To maintain balance and prevent strain on the low voltage distribution grid, ESBN has set limits based on the size of the inverter through which the PV panels transport their generation. These limits require that the peak export from inverters should not exceed 25A (approx. 6kVA) for single-phase connections or 16A/phase (approx. 11kVA) for three-phase connections.
While export limits are in place to protect the grid, households can still install larger systems through the NC7 mini-generation process or adopt solutions to maximise self-consumption of solar PV generated electricity. Furthermore, the use of smart inverters and batteries as part of Solar PV systems, as well as households and businesses flexing their energy demand across the day and using services enabled by the National Smart Metering Programme, will increasingly be a more effective and economic way of supporting the grid and reducing costs for consumers.
