Written Answers Nos. 137-145
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps being taken by way of energy conservation measures in homes and businesses throughout the country with particular reference to the need for compliance with carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52399/13]
View answerThe National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland. Reducing energy consumption remains the most cost-effective means of reducing Green House Gases and one of the primary means of achieving Ireland’s climate change objectives. The NEEAP acts to underpin and extend the energy-related actions contained within the existing Climate Change strategy. NEEAP reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to a 20% energy savings target across the economy by 2020. This is equivalent to 31,925 Gigawatt hours (GWh) or a reduction in annual CO2 emissions of around 7.7 Mega tonnes (Mt). Recognising that Government must lead by example, the Government is committed to achieving a 33% reduction in public sector energy use by 2020. The second Action Plan identifies realisable but ambitious actions across six areas: Public Sector, Residential, Business, Transport, Energy Supply, and Cross-Sectoral. The Plan contains 97 actions, each of which will play a part in securing a more sustainable energy future for Ireland.
The anticipated energy and CO2 savings are distributed as follows:
Energy savings (GWh) CO2 (kt CO2
|
Sector |
2010 |
2016 |
2020 |
2010 |
2016 |
2020 |
|
Public Sector |
650 |
1,975 |
3,240 |
155 |
455 |
730 |
|
Business |
2,505 |
4,340 |
5,820 |
620 |
1,025 |
1,330 |
|
Buildings |
2,565 |
9,565 |
15,255 |
625 |
2,295 |
3,650 |
|
Mobility-Transport |
630 |
3,295 |
5,330 |
160 |
840 |
1,360 |
|
Energy Supply |
1,965 |
2,000 |
4,415 |
490 |
365 |
595 |
|
Total |
8,315 |
21,175 |
34,060 |
2,050 |
4,980 |
7,665 |
Government supports alone are unlikely to ensure that we fully achieve our energy saving targets by 2020 and a strong commitment from all sectors is imperative. NEEAP2 emphasised the role of market actors in facilitating the delivery of energy savings, with the introduction of energy saving targets for energy suppliers a key measure underpinning the delivery of the 2020 target.
Should all measures detailed in the NEEAP reach their full potential by 2020 it is estimated that a potential reduction in energy spend across all sectors of approximately €2.36 billion (at 2011 prices) would be realised.
138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of reports carried out by National Parks and Wildlife Service into the impact on wildlife of the Corrib gas project over the past five years. [51463/13]
View answerThe Corrib Partners submitted Environmental Impact Statements in support of their applications to construct the Corrib Gas Field Development. The Deputy will appreciate that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a statutory consultee under this process and has therefore been consulted on a number of occasions by my Department with respect to potential environmental impacts of the Corrib Gas Field Development. Observations and recommendations have been received by my Department from the NPWS, with regard inter alia to: Special Areas of Conservation; Marine Mammal Monitoring; Archaeological Monitoring; and Nature Conservation, including the Glenamoy Bog Complex, Sruwaddacon Bay, Blacksod/Broadhaven Bay and Special Protection Areas with regard to protected bird species. Recommendations made by NPWS have been incorporated in the conditions attaching to the Corrib consents.
139. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recently published national ground water vulnerability map which indicates that some of Leitrim's ground water may be extremely vulnerable and at risk of pollution or contamination, and that it was indicated the map will be used to better understand and manage land use and development that have the potential to impact on ground water, if he will now agree that hydraulic fracturing poses an unacceptable risk of pollution and-or contamination of extremely vulnerable groundwater, and that it should now be decided that hydraulic fracturing will not be permitted anywhere in Ireland. [52258/13]
View answerThe map referenced by the Deputy is a risk map that does not replace site specific investigations, but is appropriate for evaluating impact of potential contaminant release at the surface, or near surface, e.g. on site wastewater treatment systems, licensed landspreading and landfills.
With respect to exploration for unconventional gas, the map would be appropriate for assessing the risk associated with some activities, such as storage of flowback water, potential oil spills from machinery etc, but not for assessing subsurface risks. These risks, especially in an Irish hydrogeological context, are as yet not completely understood and therefore are a major element of the Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction Research project recently launched by the Environmental Protection Agency.
As both I and Minister Rabbitte have confirmed on several occasions, no applications proposing the use of hydraulic fracking will be considered in Ireland until the results of the EPA research are available and have been considered. It should also be recalled that any such application would be the subject of Environmental Impact Assessment, which must consider the potential impacts of any unconventional gas exploration or exploitation on water.
140. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department's annual report for 2012 has been published yet. [52268/13]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that my Department's Annual Report for 2012 is published and is available on the websites of both the Houses of the Oireachtas and my Department.
141. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount paid to date by his Department on consultancy services in relation to the proposed 440 kVA electricity lines here; the organisations that were paid fees and the amount paid to each organisation; the work done under these consultancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52316/13]
View answerThe planning, development and routing of 400 kV transmission line infrastructure, including any necessary consultancy services, are matters for EirGrid and not matters in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.In 2008 my Department commissioned an independent study on Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables. The analysis was undertaken by international consultants Ecofys, in partnership with an expert in underground cable technology, Professor Dr Heinrich Brakelmann of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, and with Golder Associates, a global group specialising in ground engineering and environmental services. This total cost of that work was approximately €123,000, plus VAT. In addition, in 2011, I appointed an independent international expert commission to review the case for, and cost of, undergrounding all or part of the Meath-Tyrone line, as committed to in the Programme for Government. This was at a cost of €25,000, plus VAT for each of the three experts involved. The Meath-Tyrone Report - a Review by the International Expert Committee - was published in 2012.
142. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Government will, in the interest of environmental best practice and planning, consider doing an analysis of the long term costs and benefits of high voltage cables going underground for the North-South interconnector and the Leinster south-east interconnector. [52068/13]
View answer145. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the work his Department has carried out regarding a cost benefit analysis of placing pylons underground versus overground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52370/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together.
I welcomed the decision made by EirGrid last week to extend the deadline for the consultation process on the GridLink project to 7 January 2014. The period between now and the close of the extended deadline will, no doubt, be useful in providing EirGrid with an opportunity to reflect further on the valid concerns raised in relation to various aspects of the project. If it emerges after 7 January that further steps need to be taken, then due consideration will be given at that point.
The Programme for Government committed to the establishment of an independent international expert commission to review the case for, and cost of, undergrounding all or part of the Meath-Tyrone line. The Commission was appointed in July 2011 and its Report was published in January 2012.
The July 2012 "Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure" emphasised the imperative for the State Companies, and all developers of energy projects, of early, transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholders. The Statement also made clear that public acceptability requires public confidence that proposals adhere to the highest international standards of safety, health and environmental and visual impact, and technology choice. The Government affirmed that EirGrid and the other State energy companies are obliged to adhere to all relevant guidelines and standards and they act in the national interest, and on behalf of all electricity consumers.
In this regard, the expectation is that those companies in making their choices, of project specific technologies and routing as well as mitigation measures, will take account of all relevant national and international standards, to follow best practice and ensure value for money and be informed by detailed consultation at local level. In addition to undertaking extensive statutory and non statutory public consultation, the State Companies and energy developers must adhere to national and international standards on health, environment, biodiversity, landscape and safety as an intrinsic part of the Planning process.
I am aware that many people are concerned about the immediate and longer term impact that new transmission lines and other energy infrastructure may have on the landscape, the environment and on local communities. Accordingly, it is essential that the GridLink project is taken forward on the basis of the best available knowledge and informed engagement on the impacts and costs of different engineering solutions. EirGrid has stated that it will take full account of all the submissions received during the course of the consultation process.
Finally, it is important that the Government can give a strong consistent message to Irish business and multinationals, and our citizens, that Ireland’s electricity networks are robust, modern and safe. EirGrid's transmissions projects are crucial in that regard.
143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding broadband in an area (details supplied). [52358/13]
View answerIreland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within the competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions are matters for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its functions. Accordingly, I have no statutory function in this matter. However, I expect that with the continued significant capital investments being made by mobile operators, the quality of mobile services will continue to improve across the country. I note in this regard that a number of mobile operators have made announcements regarding network upgrades. I can also confirm that the areas referred to by the Deputy are included in the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was launched in 2008, following a competitive tendering process, was to provide access to affordable, scalable broadband services to rural areas, where operators had been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with "3", the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps and 1.4Mbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 18:1. The NBS satellite service, which is utilised in a small number of cases for technical reasons associated with the location of the premises, offers minimum download and upload speeds of 3.6Mbps and 384 kbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 48:1.
All persons located within the NBS Coverage Area can avail of the NBS service by contacting "3", the NBS Service Provider on 1800 944 791, online at www.three.ie or by calling into one of 3’s authorised retail outlets.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and
- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since the publication of the Plan, there is evidence that industry is investing beyond the targets to which they committed in the Plan. eircom has extended its plans for the rollout of high speed services, with speeds of up to 100Mbps to 1.4m premises, UPC has increased its minimum and top speed products to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively, and mobile operators are rolling out enhanced product offerings, including 4G mobile. Other operators continue to invest and ESB is currently considering the prospect of utilising its distribution network to rollout fibre broadband services.
These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators.
In tandem with these developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained. My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector over the coming years, the results of which will inform the areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
144. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the sale of Bord Gáis; the number of bids received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52363/13]
View answerIn May of this year, a process was initiated to sell the Bord Gáis Energy business. This process was led by Bord Gáís Éireann and overseen by a Government Steering Group which included officials from my Department, the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance and the NewERA unit of the NTMA.I am advised that the process was conducted in a professional, open and transparent manner and attracted significant interest from a broad range of potential international acquirers, reflecting the positive international sentiment towards Ireland. However, based on clear advice, I have determined that the three bids received were not a fair reflection of the strength and potential of the Bord Gáis Energy business. On November 27 last, I announced that I had confirmed to Bord Gáis Éireann that none of the final bids received for the Bord Gáis Energy business were of an acceptable value. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I have been clear from the outset of this process that Bord Gáis Energy would only be sold if a sale price was achieved which fully recognises the inherent value of the business. This decision underlines our commitment to proceed with asset disposals only when we are satisfied with the outcome.
My Department, along with NewERA, will now work with Bord Gáis Éireann to ensure continued investment in and development of the Bord Gáis Energy business.
On Wednesday last, the Oireachtas passed the final stage of the Gas Regulation Bill, which underpins the restructuring of Bord Gáis Éireann and the sale of the energy business. The Government will keep all options open as regards the future of Bord Gáis Energy, which is a growing and successful business.
