Written Answers Nos. 305-320
305. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the current micro-generation feed in tariffs in operation as well as other financial incentives for each type of renewable energy including small-scale wind, solar, including photovoltaic and small-scale hydro and biomass, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/16]
View answer307. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on feed-in tariffs to incentivise micro-generation for renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/16]
View answer308. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when tariff support for photovoltaic solar energy production here will commence; the reason it is taking so long to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34366/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305, 307 and 308 together.
While I have no statutory function in the matter, I am aware that since February 2009 Electric Ireland has offered a feed-in tariff on a commercial basis to domestic microgenerators. I understand that Electric Ireland decided to close the scheme to new entrants from the end of 2014. More recently, Electric Ireland extended the tariff to their existing customers from the end of 2015 until the end of 2016. Electric Ireland publish details of the scheme on their website https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/helpful-links/terms-conditions/micro-generation-scheme. To date, no other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, although they have been invited to do so by the CER.
The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for energy exported to the grid. These schemes, which are now closed for new applications, have proven successful at encouraging the development of renewable generation. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has estimated that 25.3% of electricity was generated by renewable sources at end 2015.
The existing REFIT support schemes are underpinned by detailed economic analysis to ensure long-term certainty for investors and overall value for money for consumers. The REFIT schemes assure a minimum price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a 15 year period and cover a range of different renewable energy technologies, including wind energy, biomass and hydro-generation and microgeneration. Solar technologies are not eligible for support under the REFIT schemes.
The Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this aim. One key action is to explore the scope to provide market support for microgeneration technologies.
My Department is currently working on the development of a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). While no decision has been taken on the precise renewable technologies to be supported, the cost and technical viability of a variety of technologies - including wind, solar photovoltaics (PV), hydro and biomass - are being examined as part of the on-going assessment process.
Once the economic analysis is complete, a further public consultation on the new scheme will be published. This consultation is expected in the first half of 2017 and details will be advertised on the Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. It is expected that the new scheme will be announced in late 2017, subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.
For the Deputy’s information, the REFIT reference prices for 2016 (in euro per megawatt hour) are available on this Department’s website and are provided in the following table.
|
- |
Tariffs per MWh (€) 2016 |
|
REFIT 1 |
|
|
Large Wind (above 5MW) |
69.72 |
|
Small Wind (equal to or less than 5MW) |
72.167 |
|
Hydro |
88.068 |
|
Biomass Landfill Gas |
85.622 |
|
Other Biomass |
88.068 |
|
REFIT 2 |
|
|
Large Wind (above 5MW) |
69.72 |
|
Small Wind (equal to or less than 5MW) |
72.167 |
|
Hydro |
88.068 |
|
Biomass Landfill Gas |
85.622 |
|
REFIT 3 |
|
|
Biomass Combustion |
89.314 |
|
Biomass Combustion - Energy Crops |
99.822 |
|
Large Biomass CHP (above 1500kW) |
126.091 |
|
Small Biomass CHP (equal to or less than 1500kW) |
147.106 |
|
Large AD Non CHP (above 500kW) |
105.076 |
|
Small AD Non CHP (equal to or less than 500kW) |
115.583 |
|
Large AD CHP (above 500kW) |
136.598 |
|
Small AD CHP (equal to or less than 500kW) |
157.613 |
306. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the renewable heat incentive will be available for domestic energy users; the timetable for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/16]
View answerThe introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, it is estimated that 6.5% of heat was derived from renewable sources.
The proposed RHI scheme is aimed at supporting larger industrial and commercial installations outside of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. From a national policy perspective, the focus on the non-ETS sector is likely to accrue a double benefit for the Irish taxpayer, helping to meet our renewable energy target and reduce emissions in the non-ETS sector, simultaneously.
Analysis to date suggests that it would not be cost effective, at this stage, to include the domestic heating sector in the RHI. This is due to a number of factors including the much higher support tariff per kilowatt hour of energy that would be required to incentivise households to change heating systems as well as the significantly greater costs associated with administering the scheme for a large number of households in what is an unregulated sector.
The overall costs and technologies to be supported under the new RHI Scheme will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. It is expected that the RHI will open for applications in the latter half of 2017.
309. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has explored introducing a non-means-tested grant for remediation work on houses found to have high levels of radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34368/16]
View answerThe National Radon Control Strategy Co-ordination Group was established to implement and track the key recommendations of the National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS), published in 2014. This co-ordinated, Government-led, strategy aims to reduce both overall population and individual risk, particularly for people living in areas with high radon levels.
Cost has been identified as a disincentive to householders to both test and remediate their homes for radon. The NRCS contains a number of recommendations, one of which is to explore possible financial incentives to encourage household action on radon. My Department is examining the feasibility of providing such financial incentives. A decision will be taken in the coming months on whether and, if so, how to proceed once the examination of options is complete.
310. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of public funding given to An Post annually in the 2010-2016 period, in tabular form; the budget allocation for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34370/16]
View answerAn Post is a commercial State company and does not receive any public funding.
311. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; if he has examined the refuelling infrastructure needed for operation here; his plans for test pilots in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34367/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I recently launched for public consultation a draft national policy framework on alternative fuels infrastructure for transport; this is with a view to removing any barriers that exist towards greater uptake of low emissions vehicles including hydrogen fuelled vehicles.
There are no immediate plans to establish a hydrogen refuelling network, as the cost of the infrastructure is significantly disproportionate to current demand and is likely to remain so until the middle of the next decade. However, the feasibility of establishing a hydrogen refuelling network will be regularly assessed to take account of changes in technological development and market uptake.
This is one of a number of measures in the draft framework, which is aimed at supporting the uptake of alternatively fuelled vehicles in Ireland. Diversifying the fuel mix in transport across a range of alternative fuels will ultimately provide the means through which this sector can transition away from oil dependency over the next two decades, supporting our long-term goal to decarbonise the transport sector in Ireland by 2050.
312. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of the regulations regarding the work local authorities can carry out in the event of vegetation or blockages posing a threat of flooding, including damaging properties and risking structural damage to the road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34369/16]
View answerThe statutory provisions in relation to works local authorities can carry out to prevent damage to roads are set out in the following sections of the Roads Act 1993, as amended. At present no regulations have been made.
Section 70(2) of the Roads Act 1993 provides that landowners and occupiers of land must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a tree, hedge and other vegetation growing on their land is not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road and that it does not obstruct or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
Section 70(2) further provides that if a tree, hedge or other vegetation is, or could become, a danger to those using or working on a public road, or obstructs or interferes with the safe use or maintenance of a public road, the road authority may serve a written notice on the owner or occupier of the land requiring action to be taken in order to remove the danger or potential danger within the period stated in the notice.
Section 70(7) provides that an owner or occupier who fails to comply with such a notice served by a road authority is guilty of an offence. A person guilty of an offence under section 70(7) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000.
Section 70(8) provides that the road authority may take the action specified in the notice itself or such other action as it thinks fit where the person on whom the notice was served fails to comply with it.
Section 76 of the Roads Act, 1993 sets out the powers of road authorities in relation to the drainage of public roads and also includes a requirement that the owner or occupier of any land adjacent to a public road must take all reasonable steps to ensure that water or other material is prevented from flowing onto a public road. This section also includes provision for the road authority to require the owner or occupier to undertake specific works in this regard, and where any such a person fails to carry out such works the road authority may carry out such works itself.
313. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 3 November 2016, if he will clarify the policy regarding private car rental companies which operate here; if these companies are required to use cars taxed and registered here or if they can use vehicles taxed and registered in Northern Ireland and England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34150/16]
View answerVehicle registration is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and for the Department of Finance and I understand that the Minister for Finance is responding regarding an identical question submitted by the Deputy concerning this matter.
314. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons receiving new driving licences who were born in Northern Ireland have country of birth noted as UK on them; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is a deviation from the previous practice where Ireland would be indicated in this case; and his plans to rectify this matter. [34165/16]
View answerIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. The EU Driver Licensing Directive provides that the date and place of birth be recorded on the driving Licence. This has applied in Ireland and across the EU since 19 January 2013.
If a customer has a place of birth within the six counties, their place of birth is recorded as Northern Ireland, and 'Northern Ireland' will appear on the licence. This designates a record of place of birth, not nationality or citizenship.
315. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status on resolving the issue that arose earlier in 2016 whereby refresher courses provided by the National Maritime College of Ireland were not recognised by the Marine Survey Office, while they were recognised in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34204/16]
View answerParticular issues have arisen in relation to certifications purportedly provided under the authority of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. These matters have been the subject of correspondence between my Department and, inter alia, the UK authorities.
Arising from the correspondence, which remains open, and its consideration in my Department, a number of meetings with interested parties have taken place, most recently on 17th October last.
I believe that substantial progress has been made in the course of the meetings and I am confident that the matter can be resolved.
316. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Transport Infrastructure Ireland has assessed the volume of traffic using the M11 from Coynes Cross to the M50 connection each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34215/16]
View answer317. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the additional lane from Coynes Cross, Wicklow on the M11 to the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34216/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
318. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide copies of any written agreements between the Government and International Airlines Group, IAG, dealing with the issue of compulsory redundancies, specifically relating to an agreement that no compulsory redundancies would take place within five years of IAG's takeover of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34226/16]
View answerThe terms and conditions of IAG's takeover offer for Aer Lingus, which the previous Government and the vast majority of other shareholders accepted, were outlined in detail in the Offer Document published on 19 June 2015.
This included the following forward looking statement in relation to compulsory redundancies: 'Aer Lingus is also committed to the principle that it would not utilise compulsory redundancy or a movement to non-direct employment in a scenario where the changes and efficiencies that the business requires can be achieved through flexibility and mobility internally delivered by staff and their trade union representatives'.
The Offer Document makes clear that such forward looking statements 'involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements' .
There are no written agreements between the Government and IAG in relation to compulsory redundancies. The legally binding commitments included in IAG's Offer relate to Heathrow slots and the Aer Lingus brand and HQ, and these commitments are incorporated into Aer Lingus' revised Articles of Association.
Since the takeover IAG's plans for Aer Lingus have progressed broadly in line with those outlined in the Offer Documentation. Aer Lingus has announced the creation of new jobs, launched a number of new routes, increased its passenger numbers and acquired new aircraft.
319. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the price disparity between commuters using two train stations in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34357/16]
View answer320. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a revised pricing policy for those commuters using the train stations of south County Kildare, in view of the recently announced report by the National Transport Authority that has recommended up to 50% reductions for commuters using the train stations of north County Kildare on the same rail line. [34358/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.
The issues raised are a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
