Written Answers Nos. 527-540
527. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the €17.2 million fee charged to Irish Water by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44308/14]
View answerI understand that the work undertaken by Accenture was in respect of Integrated Programme Management of Business Capability Establishment projects and management of specialist vendors contracted by Bord Gáis Eireann. The procurement by Irish Water of external resources is a matter for the company and I had no role in approving individual contracts.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
528. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of ongoing work to establish an independent standing electoral commission; and when a first proposal might be ready for discussion by Dáil Éireann. [44309/14]
View answerThe Government Legislation Programme for Autumn 2014 provides for the publication of an Electoral Commission Bill in 2015. Work on this task has commenced in my Department.
This will involve detailed and considered examination of the key issues, including international best practice, the Commission's structure and functions, who it reports to, its relationship with other bodies currently involved in electoral administration, and the approach to be followed in relation to the extensive legislation that will be required, as well as practical matters including staffing and funding arrangements.
529. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon whose septic tank has failed inspection, the septic tank having not been registered, and who, through economic circumstances, is unable to meet the costs of remediation, he will issue the grant for persons who meet the income criteria and who have no possibility of meeting the costs of remediation without assistance. [44315/14]
View answerThe launch of the registration programme for domestic wastewater treatment systems in late June 2012 was accompanied by an extensive public awareness campaign, with information regarding how to register and the fee payable being broadcast by local radio stations nationwide and on national stations. Advertisements were also placed in national, local and regional newspapers. Information regarding how to register was also published on a number of websites, including those of my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the local authorities. The reduced registration fee of €5, which applied to those who registered on or before 28 September 2012, was also widely publicised during the campaign.
During the period from late August to mid-September 2012, the radio and newspaper campaign was re-run. The local authorities also distributed an information booklet to homes in un-sewered areas, advising householders of the legal requirement to register by 1 February 2013, along with details of how to register and the fact that the reduced registration fee was available until September 28th 2012. The fee since that date is €50. Another major publicity campaign, again involving local radio and newspapers, and augmented by advertisements in national newspapers, was rolled-out in the run up to the 1 February 2013 deadline.
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting the qualification criteria, a local authority may pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to have repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. The qualification criteria are set out in the Regulations, a critical one being that only those who complied with the legal obligation to register their systems by 1 February 2013 are eligible to apply for grant aid. There are no provisions for concessional treatment and all qualifying criteria must be met in order for a grant to be paid. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf.
Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the above regulations but wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue’s website at:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/hri/home-renovation-incentive-guide.pdf.
530. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the eligibility criteria for grants for replacement of septic tanks; the total funding for the grant by county; the number of applications for the grant since its introduction; and the number of grants paid. [44320/14]
View answerThe Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. The qualification criteria are set out in the legislation and full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at:http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf.
Applications for grant aid in respect of remediation works are submitted to and processed by the local authorities who then seek recoupment of the amounts paid from my Department. There is no specific fund set aside for the grants scheme. Grants are recouped to the local authorities, on a demand-led basis, from my Department’s Rural Water Programme. Details of the grants recouped by my Department to date are set out in the following table.
SEPTIC TANKS 2014
|
County |
No. of Grants |
Amount Drawn |
|
Carlow |
- |
|
|
Cavan |
- |
|
|
Clare |
- |
|
|
Cork |
- |
|
|
Donegal |
- |
|
|
Galway |
4 |
15,300.06 |
|
Kerry |
- |
|
|
Kildare |
- |
|
|
Kilkenny |
- |
|
|
Laois |
- |
|
|
Leitrim |
- |
|
|
Limerick |
3 |
10,500 |
|
Longford |
1 |
4,000 |
|
Louth |
1 |
4,000 |
|
Mayo |
- |
|
|
Meath |
7 |
25,714.32 |
|
Monaghan |
- |
|
|
Offaly |
- |
|
|
Roscommon |
- |
|
|
Sligo |
1 |
3,161.75 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
6,364.40 |
|
Waterford |
- |
|
|
Westmeath |
- |
|
|
Wexford |
- |
|
|
Wicklow |
- |
|
|
- |
||
|
Total |
20 |
69,040.53 |
532. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the progress of the recommendations contained in the construction strategy launched earlier this year, particularly on account of the housing challenges facing some parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44366/14]
View answerIn May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – a Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. Following publication, a Construction Sector Group was established to support implementation of the Strategy. The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and includes Secretaries General and key officials from the Department of Finance; Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and the Department of Social Protection. To drive the implementation of the Strategy, in July, the Minister of State at my Department, Paudie Coffey, TD, was given special responsibility for coordination of the Construction 2020 Strategy. The Government has also established a Cabinet Committee on Construction 2020, Housing, Planning and Mortgage Arrears to ensure that focus is maintained at the highest levels of Government.
I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. My Department is the lead Department for a range of the Construction 2020 actions in the areas of housing and planning. Action 8 of Construction 2020, the preparation of a Social Housing Strategy, is of key importance. This Strategy, which is very close to finalisation, will contain clear measurable and innovative actions that are to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists. In addition, a range of actions under Construction 2020 are to be progressed through two Planning and Development Bills, in respect of which Heads have recently been approved by Government.
I and Minister of State Coffey are fully committed to delivering on the Social Housing Strategy, and indeed all other Construction 2020 actions within our area of responsibility.
533. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the progress of broadband in Longwood, County Meath. [43744/14]
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 approximately 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 Navan. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
In addition, I understand that at least one operator has published a programme to roll out fibre based broadband networks in 36 locations in County Meath by July 2016 including Longwood.
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 mapping exercise which will identify those areas that require a State intervention.
I expect to publish the map for public consultation next week. Those accessing this map will be able to identify their own house or premises and see whether it is in the proposed intervention area. 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.
534. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that communities remain at the heart of energy policy, particularly in respect of the forthcoming White Paper on energy policy and the renewable electricity policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44072/14]
View answerOne of the central themes in the Green Paper on Energy Policy was citizen empowerment. In September I launched the current phase of the consultation process on the Green Paper, which takes the form of a series of stakeholder seminars on the various priority areas. The four seminars held to date have covered the topics of infrastructure, empowering energy citizens, markets and regulation, and ensuring a balanced and secure energy policy. They were all well attended and feedback to my Department suggests that the seminars were well received by the attendees and instructive for my Department. Community groups were represented at all the seminars so far and will continue to be. The final two priority topic seminars will be completed by mid-December and three regional seminars are being arranged in the North-West, the Midlands and the South to facilitate wider public engagement with communities from those regions.
In addition, the second phase of public consultation on the Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework will commence shortly with the publication of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment scoping document. Building on the 2012 Government Statement on Strategic Infrastructure, this phase of consultation will explicitly seek views on community engagement and benefit with a view to developing policy in this area. The Renewable Electricity and Development Framework is expected to be completed in 2015.
It is also important to note various community level initiatives supported by Government including the development of community energy through the Better Energy Areas and Communities Programme which is administered on my behalf by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The programme allows community and locally based organisations to apply for funding on a competitive basis to support sustainable energy upgrades to existing buildings and facilities. It also promotes the creation and development of locally based entities that can inspire and mobilise community resources to lower energy bills and boost local employment.
535. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to explain the percentage of energy supplied from biomass resources here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44087/14]
View answer536. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set out his views on whether biomass energy will form part of renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44088/14]
View answer538. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the State has the capability to supply the necessary natural resources to provide a sustainable supply of biomass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44090/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 535, 536 and 538 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Biomass is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here and in the EU as a whole.
Last month I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (www.dcenr.gov.ie). The draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly.
The draft plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme. Furthermore, the analysis underpinning the plan is that an additional bioenergy-focused measure in the heat sector represents the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the plan also recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.
The draft Plan recognises that, although Ireland will remain a net importer of biofuels in the transport sector, meeting demand for biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic benefits. Consequently, the draft plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard, the key recommendations include: the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Móna and Coillte.
Furthermore, in terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.
537. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to outline his plan to examine proposals to convert coal-fired generators in Moneypoint, County Clare, and peat fired generators in the midlands to biomass to reduce carbon emissions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44089/14]
View answerThe fuel used in the coal-fired generators in Moneypoint and in the peat-fired generators in the Midlands is a matter for the relevant operators and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I am advised that ESB has conducted some limited trials on biomass co-firing at Moneypoint and will continue to monitor developments in this area. Notwithstanding this, I am advised that there are a number of important issues that would demand further consideration before biomass could be used extensively at Moneypoint, including:
- conversion of Moneypoint to biomass would require significant levels of operator capital investment and plant redesign;
- substantially more biomass than is available domestically would be required with large amounts of the resource having to be imported leading to questions in relation to sustainability and security of supply;
- the commitment of substantial amounts of biomass to Moneypoint would divert scarce biomass away from the renewable heat sector, where biomass can be used more efficiently and where fewer alternative technologies exist; and
- support tariffs substantially higher than those available for wind, which has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, would also be required which could lead to increased electricity prices.
In that regard, electricity from biomass, including co-firing with peat, is already supported through REFIT. The recently published draft Bio Energy Plan recommended that REFIT 3 would be kept under review to ensure the most cost effective way to support co-firing of biomass with peat.
In relation to the peat fired generators in the Midlands, I am advised that ESB has also completed biomass co-firing trials at West Offaly and Lough Ree power plants. These trials have identified some significant technical and commercial issues, including uncertainty regarding the biomass supply chain, that need to be addressed before biomass co-firing could be a realistic option. Bord na Móna is already co-firing its plant at Edenderry with biomass now accounting for 25% of the fuel mix.
539. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to outline the number of wind farms in operation here; the average daily megawatt supply from wind energy; and the number of wind farms being planned. [44091/14]
View answerEirGrid and ESB Networks are the system operators of the transmission and distribution grids respectively. There are currently 187 wind farms in operation in Ireland (154 are attached to the distribution grid and 33 to the transmission grid). Further detail on these wind farms is publicly available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites. Wind is a variable source of renewable energy and thus the amount of energy supplied by wind each day fluctuates. However, the average energy derived from wind generation in 2013 was 17% of total electricity.
It should be noted that EirGrid and ESB Networks, the system operators, do not hold information on the number of wind farm projects being planned or seeking planning permission in Ireland, and have no role in assessing the commercial viability of proposed wind farms nor in making planning decisions. However, they have provided information on the number of expected wind farm projects contracted to connect to the electricity grid. In this regard, 214 wind farms are contracted to connect to the grid (152 to the distribution grid and 62 to the transmission grid). It is important to note that this figure may change as some wind farm developers may decide not to proceed with their projects for commercial reasons or may not receive the required planning permission.
540. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the Grid 25 project; the amount that has been spent on this project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44092/14]
View answerEirGrid’s Grid25 strategy is a major initiative that involves building 800km of new transmission and upgrading 2,000 km of existing lines. It comprises over 100 projects ranging from large projects such as the North South transmission line, to smaller projects such as upgrades of existing lines. Grid25 will provide capacity to facilitate regional economic development, together with job creation and growth. It will allow for long term growth in the demand for electricity and ensure the efficient operation of the All Island Single Electricity Market. It will reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels by putting the infrastructure in place to enable us use our own natural resources, and to reach our 2020 renewable energy target.
The overall Grid25 Strategy was forecast to cost up to €4 billion at its launch in 2007. EirGrid reviews all projects and strategies at regular intervals to take into account relevant developments including economic conditions and electricity demand forecasts. In 2010, a review of Grid25 resulted in EirGrid reducing the estimated cost of the programme to €3.2 billion. EirGrid is currently undertaking a further review, with the outcome expected in Q1 2015.
The issue of how the various projects under the Grid 25 Strategy will be financed is a matter for EirGrid and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role. However, in relation to network investment costs, the Commission for Energy Regulation undertakes reviews of such costs incurred by both EirGrid and ESB every five years with additional monitoring carried out annually, with a view to ensuring that the significant network investment needed is efficient and delivered at the lowest possible cost to electricity consumers, while also ensuring security of supply and greater fuel diversity.
