Written Answers Nos. 544-58
545. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes in relation to the future subvention of the group water schemes; the estimated level of the future subvention in 2015 and 2016; the timeline for a final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43324/14]
View answerThe Government announced on 6 May 2014 its intention to adjust the current subvention of group water schemes so that it is aligned with the free allowance approach for households on public water supplies. This is to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. There has been an initial formal engagement in relation to the future subvention of the group water sector with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has proposed to continue to treat public group water schemes in the interim regulatory period as non-domestic customers. As such, current tariff arrangements, as applied by local authorities prior to 1 January 2014, will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.
The Government remains committed to continuing to support the sector as an important element of the water industry in Ireland, founded on co-operative community and voluntary engagement, and to invest in the sector to sustain and improve quality standards and performance. Against this background, the future approach to the supervision of the group water sector and funding in relation to both capital and operational subsidies will be determined by my Department in due course, in consultation with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.
546. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Revenue Commissioners with regard to a dispute over the payment of VAT between Carlow County Council and a company (details supplied) and the fact that Carlow County Council were deemed liable for the VAT; if arising from this decision he will confirm if Carlow County Council will now resolve matters with the other party; if he or the local government auditors are concerned about the legal costs in this case and that Carlow County Council appears to be intent on spending more public money in challenging the outcome; if he will confirm the costs to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43327/14]
View answerI understand from Carlow County Council that this matter relates to a long and complex taxation dispute involving the Council, the Revenue Commissioners, a third party who, in 2006, agreed to provide a section of the Carlow Eastern Relief Road (in lieu of the payment of development contributions as is provided for in sections 47 and 245 of the Planning and Development Act 2000), and the courts. The local government auditor, in 2011, requested that the Council establish whether or not there was a possible tax implication associated with this agreement and, in May 2011, Carlow County Council made a submission to the Revenue Commissioners in this regard. I understand that Carlow County Council have asked that the matter be expedited with Revenue. The issue is still subject to legal processes involving these parties. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.
547. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in achieving the Government target of a 10% share of electric vehicles here by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43173/14]
View answer548. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in achieving the Government target of a 10% share of electric vehicles here by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43368/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together.
The Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme was opened in April 2011 to incentivise and support, through grants of up to €5,000, the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the vehicle registration tax (VRT) reliefs of up to €5,000, and it was the early policy ambition in Ireland that 10% of the vehicle fleet would be electric by 2020.
However, the extent to which EVs are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including, inter alia, the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. Overall within the EU, demand for EVs has been lower than originally anticipated.
To date in Ireland, grant support has been provided for the purchase of 532 new vehicles of which 250 were grant aided in 2014. The grant scheme will remain open for this year and, subject to finalisation of the budgetary arrangements, continue into next year.
549. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views regarding crew and tender boats for offshore renewable energy projects and problems with qualification recognition (details supplied). [42896/14]
View answerI am aware of the issues raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. My Department has recently replied to a query on this matter from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications. This reply explained that, while I do not have responsibility for the recognition of maritime qualifications, my Department is working with colleagues in relevant Departments and Agencies, including the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, to explore how this matter can be progressed in the context of the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan, and progression by SEAI of its report, Sustainable Energy Supply Chain Opportunities, published in June of this year.
550. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the actions his Department has taken to ensure that rivers here are properly dredged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42956/14]
View answerI am advised that matters relating to cleaning or maintenance of a river or stream is an issue for the relevant Local Authority. In that context, it would be the norm that the Local Authority would engage in consultation with, among others, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) which is the statutory body charged with ensuring the protection and conservation of our fisheries resource and habitats.
The organisation of works is a matter for the Local Authority and IFI assists Local Authorities in ensuring any proposed works would comply with relevant fisheries legislation.
551. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the better energy homes grant scheme; his plans for the scheme post 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/14]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers the Better Energy Homes scheme on my behalf. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER). Since its commencement in March 2009 the scheme has delivered energy efficiency measures to almost 161,000 homes around the country. It is anticipated that €10m will be drawn down by the scheme in 2014. Whilst there has been a decline in grant applications for the Better Energy Homes scheme this has been largely offset by a surge in applications under the Better Energy Areas and Communities Schemes which provide grant funding for locally and community-based projects, including homes. The Government has committed a total of €57 million in Exchequer capital funding for the Better Energy Programme this year.
My Department is currently examining a range of options with regard to the future to the Better Energy Homes scheme. The options under active consideration include simplifying procedures to make the scheme more accessible to householders and engaging with local actors including energy suppliers, credit unions and local authorities to promote and initiate action at a community level.
In addition, a project team is examining the scope for introducing a Better Energy Financing (BEF) model in Ireland. This will be centred on introducing consumers to a journey of successive home improvements leading from shallow to deeper retrofit in a manner and over a timeframe that is suited to individual circumstances. This approach will take account of economic realities, while also providing assurance that even the smallest job is done to specification and with the full protections of the BEF scheme’s governance arrangements.
The BEF project team is currently engaged in reviewing the design and development of the necessary technical, administrative and financial pillars that are required to underpin the scheme, as well as carrying out a detailed analysis of similar schemes in other jurisdictions. Under the umbrella of the Better Energy programme a number of BEF pilot projects will be undertaken next year alongside the current grant based supports which will be continued in 2015.
552. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Electric Ireland has announced that it will no longer buy electricity from residential properties generating electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind, which will impact residential customers who will lose 9 cent/kWh export tariff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43047/14]
View answer555. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding renewable electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43214/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 555 together.
While this is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland has been offering a micro generation feed in tariff since February 2009. No other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they have been invited to do so by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the CER, which is an independent statutory body.
I am aware of the need to give further policy consideration to the place of microgeneration in our energy mix. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar and small scale hydro, has been carried out for my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration.
553. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of commercial buildings that have applied for retrofitting grants from the State; and this number as a percentage of the total number of commercial buildings in the State. [43115/14]
View answerThere are no direct grants available for retrofitting of the approximately 109,000 commercial buildings in Ireland. However, a wide range of policy and financing initiatives addressing the barriers to retrofitting works in the commercial sector have been implemented in recent years. The main policy focus is on the promotion of new business models to deliver energy efficiency projects through Energy Service Companies, Energy Performance Contracts and other models where payment to service providers is linked to energy savings achieved. The National Energy Services Framework provides a comprehensive suite of tools to facilitate organisations seeking to implement projects through Energy Performance Contracts and alternative models; information in relation to the Framework is available on the website of the SEAI at www.seai.ie. In conjunction with the National Energy Efficiency Fund, these novel approaches to identifying and delivering energy savings have the potential to unlock major energy savings in commercial buildings.
My Department will revert to the Deputy directly with more detailed information on the full range of supports available to the commercial sector.
554. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will investigate issues surrounding the ownership of a telecommunications mast (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason adverse repossession is now being pursued; the options now available to this land owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43182/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the response to Question 426 of 30th April 2014. The position is unchanged.
556. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve the broadband service in Hollymount and Roundfort, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43223/14]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next number of years. In the last month alone, two companies have announced projects to deliver direct fibre connectivity to approximately 500,000 homes and businesses in every county in Ireland including Ballina, Westport and Castlebar in County Mayo. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
The purpose of the National Broadband Plan is to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of where they are located, benefits from a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments, such as those I have already mentioned, and a State-led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. My Department is currently finalising a national map which will identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial examination has already identified a significant number of areas that will require State intervention. It includes 104 areas in County Mayo including Hollymount.
I understand that at least one operator has published a programme to roll out fibre based broadband networks in 39 locations in County Mayo by July 2016.
As part of the mapping process, a stakeholder consultation was launched in June. 32 submissions have been received and non-commercially sensitive versions of these responses were published by my Department last month.
I expect to publish the map shortly. Those accessing this map will be able to identify their own house or premises and see whether it is in the proposed intervention footprint. Where a house or premises is not in the proposed intervention area it means it either currently, or will in the near future, have access to commercial high speed broadband services. The map will be subject to change as new information becomes available or commercial investments are announced in the future.
A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015. My Department is also working closely with the European Commission with a view to obtaining State Aid clearance for the programme.
A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder or bidders towards the end of 2015.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
557. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on when a report will be published by his Department on addressing cyberbullying; the actions he will take to address the issue of cyberbullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43273/14]
View answerThis Government is committed to keeping our children and young people safe online. To that end, the Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group was established in December of last year to review existing policy and practice across the full range of issues that arise in this space and to make recommendations on same. The ICGA Group’s report was brought to Cabinet and published this summer and makes several recommendations aimed at protecting children and young people without unduly limiting their opportunities and rights online. Along with changes to institutional, administrative and legal structures, the report makes four specific recommendations on cyberbullying aimed at providing stronger supports for tackling this issue through primary and post-primary curricula and additional training and awareness measures. An Implementation Group has been established, and its Final Report, which I expect will be completed by year end, will set out the full set of measures to be introduced on foot of this process. This Report will also be made publicly available once approved by Cabinet.
In terms of dealing with cyberbullying, our most immediate and important task is to help educate children, young people and parents as to the risks that can be found online, to support parents and teachers in explaining these issues to children and to identify the optimal solutions to mitigate these risks and protect children. In this regard, the Department of Education and Skills, who are represented on the Implementation Group, have a number of ongoing actions in place, for children of a variety of different ages.
This is a complex and rapidly developing area, and Government, industry and parents all have a role to play in ensuring that children can take full advantage of the opportunities offered online in a safe environment. The ongoing work across Government in this area will bring significant improvements to our regulatory system. Given the rate of change in online behaviour, clearly these are issues that we will need to refer to again in the future, but I am confident that the outcome of this implementation process will be an important and useful step forward.
558. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the activities of the Internet content advisory group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43274/14]
View answerThe Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG) was formed in December 2013 to provide my Department with expert, independent advice in forming legislative, policy and regulatory recommendations to Government on a range of internet content governance issues for which responsibility is spread across a number of Government Departments. The Group conducted a public consultation on the emerging issues arising from widespread access to online content and its impact on society as a whole, taking particular account of issues of online safety arising from children and young people’s use of the Internet. 59 responses were received during this period from citizens, industry, not for profit organisations and representative groups. The Group then used these responses to inform their policy recommendations. The Group also met with a number of the major international companies based in Ireland who operate in this space.
The Report of the ICGAG was approved by Government and published on 24th June. It contains 30 structural, legislative and administrative recommendations, the responsibility for which fall across a number of different Departments.
Following the publication of the ICGAG Report, a cross departmental implementation group was established. This implementation group is chaired by DCENR and comprises representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Justice (Office of Internet Safety) and the Department of Education. The Group have held several meetings to date and will conclude their work and submit a report to me which I will bring to Cabinet following consideration.
