Written Answers Nos. 448-466
448. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding gaining access for Irish meat products such as beef, lamb and pigmeat to the USA; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the approximate timeframe for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [29926/17]
View answerI was very pleased with the outcome of the Trade Mission to the USA last week, which allowed high level discussions at political and official level aimed at increasing access and trade.
Ireland already enjoys access to the US market in the case of beef and pigmeat and the trade in both these meats is developing well. Access for beef to the US market was restored in 2015, with Ireland the first EU Member State to achieve such access. Following this, ten Irish beef establishments have been approved over the past couple of years for the export of beef to the US. Two of these establishments have also been approved for the export of BIFG (beef intended for grinding) which gives them access to the lucrative US market for ground beef. In the case of pigmeat, three Irish pigmeat processors are approved for the production of pork for export to the US.
At present no EU Member State has access for sheepmeat. There are a number of steps to be undertaken before access can be achieved. The next step is the publication by the US authorities of the "small ruminant rule" in relation to TSEs in sheep. While access cannot be achieved before publication, my department has completed a significant amount of preparatory work to ensure we are well-positioned once the rule is published by the USDA. The next key event is the USDA inspection visit to Ireland in September 2017, which will include inspection of some sheepmeat establishments.
449. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the original value and volume targets his Department put on beef exports to the United States of America for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively; the actual value realised in each such year for such exports; and the amount of manufacturing beef and ground beef that has been permitted to enter the market in the United States of America on an annual basis during this period. [29927/17]
View answerMy Department does not set targets for the volume and value of beef exports to the United States or to other markets. The role of the Department is to secure market access to overseas third country markets, for Irish agri-food exports, including beef. Once access is secured, market forces determine how much is exported, and to where, in any given year. This can vary depending on a number of factors such as currency fluctuations, global supply and demand dynamics, tariffs, quotas and the prices available in alternative markets. Having access to a range of markets gives exporters different options.
Access for beef to the US market was restored in 2015, with Ireland the first EU Member State to achieve such access. In 2015, 912 tonnes of beef were exported. According to the USDA in 2016, approximately 2,400 tonnes of beef and as of the end of May 2017, approximately 700 tonnes were exported. Value of exports is not currently available. As exports of manufacturing beef only commenced in quarter 2 of 2017 it is too early to collate volumes exported.
However, with ten Irish meat establishments now approved for the US market, two of whom are also approved for beef intended for grinding, I am satisfied that Irish meat exporters are well placed to exploit any opportunities which may arise. I hope that the agreement reached last week as part of the Trade Mission to the USA on the Process verified programme for Irish beef, will increase sales of Irish beef in the USA. Last week also saw the launch of Irish beef directly into US retail for the first time.
450. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the animal welfare measures which must be adhered to in cases in which animals are being seized under the European Union (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2016 26(2)(v); the policy for segregation of pregnant mares and the treatment of animals when they are impounded; the rationale for prohibiting members of the public or animal welfare organisations from viewing the animals once they are impounded; the policy on rehoming animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30002/17]
View answerThe EU (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2016 provide for the seizure of horses where an authorised officer has grounds for believing that an offence is being or has been committed under the Regulations. The Regulations also provide an opportunity for the owner/keeper of the animals to reclaim seized animals on production of the required documentation within 5 days. The handling and transport of seized equines must be carried out in compliance with the EC (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006. Impounded animals are provided with appropriate food and water and colts and stallions are kept separate from fillies and mares. Pregnant mares for whom 90% or more of the gestation period has passed cannot be transported. For security reasons, including biosecurity reasons there is strict control on access to horse pounds from unauthorised personnel. Every effort is made to rehome unclaimed horses and horse pound operators do facilitate the viewing and rehoming of horses by horse welfare bodies and these arrangements are dealt with separately by arrangement with the Pound.
451. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers with their primary residence here who also farm land in Northern Ireland; and the number of farmers with their primary residence in Northern Ireland who also farm land here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30003/17]
View answerThere are 15 applicants who submitted a 2017 Basic Payment Scheme application to my Department with an address here and who have claimed land in Northern Ireland. There are 297 herdowners who submitted a 2017 Basic Payment Scheme application with an address in Northern Ireland and who have claimed land here.
452. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will waive an overcharge fee placed on a direct payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30034/17]
View answerThe person named was subject of a field inspection under 2016 GLAS on 13th April 2017. The outcome of this inspection was examined for any impact on payments already issued under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme, as required under the governing EU Regulations. This examination found an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 10%, leading to a penalty.
Officials in my Department have reviewed the position in relation to the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme and I am pleased to advise that the original area over-declaration has been reduced to under 3% and 2 hectares. Any monies owing to the person named as a result of this change will now be processed and issued to his nominated bank account shortly.
453. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding penalties on a farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30048/17]
View answerThe penalty applied under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme relates to breaches of Cross Compliance requirements. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Basic Payment Scheme and other area-based schemes, an applicant as well as meeting the scheme criteria, must comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to Cross Compliance.
An inspection was carried out by my Department's Agri-Environment Schemes Division on 27 July 2016. The inspector reported a breach relating to the cross compliance requirements in respect of the GAEC Standard relating to landscape features. In this instance the person named had removed hedgerows and had not re-instated them as required. This breach resulted in a 5% penalty being applied against the 2016 Direct Schemes payments.
The person named was notified of this decision on 28 November 2016. A review of this decision was requested, the outcome of which was to up-hold the original inspection findings. The person named was notified of this decision on 8 June 2017.
It is open to the person named to appeal this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months of the date of the review outcome letter. I understand that to date no such request has been received by that office.
454. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of on-farm inspections that have been carried out by Department staff in the past 24 months, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30097/17]
View answerEU Regulations governing the Basic Payment Scheme and other area-based schemes requires my Department to carry out on-the-spot inspections annually to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements, including land eligibility and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), in the areas of the environment, climate change and good agricultural condition of land; public, animal and plant health and animal welfare. These inspections are mandatory and there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place annually. The regulations further prescribe the basis for the selection of cases for inspections using risk analysis.
The outcome of 2016 Land Eligibility and Cross Compliance related inspections is currently being finalised and therefore final data on the outcome is not yet available. While 2017 inspections have commenced, inspections will continue throughout the year.
The following table details the number of 2015 applications and Land Eligibility inspections (Ground & Remote Sensing), by county, under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Area reductions determined under this scheme may also impact on payments under other EU funded area-based schemes.
2015 Land Eligibility Inspections
|
County |
No. of BPS Applications Submitted |
No. Inspected |
|
Carlow |
1,657 |
116 |
|
Cavan |
4,821 |
264 |
|
Clare |
6,090 |
218 |
|
Cork |
13,130 |
653 |
|
Donegal |
8,446 |
461 |
|
Dublin |
640 |
40 |
|
Galway |
12,066 |
779 |
|
Kerry |
7,750 |
449 |
|
Kildare |
2,113 |
156 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,470 |
221 |
|
Laois |
2,985 |
315 |
|
Leitrim |
3,474 |
364 |
|
Limerick |
5,113 |
317 |
|
Longford |
2,392 |
168 |
|
Louth |
1,543 |
137 |
|
Mayo |
11,614 |
619 |
|
Meath |
3,849 |
82 |
|
Monaghan |
4,057 |
509 |
|
Offaly |
3,111 |
225 |
|
Roscommon |
5,756 |
587 |
|
Sligo |
3,990 |
172 |
|
Tipperary |
7,033 |
375 |
|
Waterford |
2,437 |
168 |
|
Westmeath |
2,990 |
188 |
|
Wexford |
4,120 |
334 |
|
Wicklow |
2,167 |
59 |
The following table details the numbers of 2015 BPS applications and the number of Cross Compliance related inspections, i.e. Full Cross Compliance, Animal Identification & Registration Inspections, LA Nitrates, Ad Hoc inspections, Cross Reports, etc. Penalties for breaches of Cross Compliance apply to payments across all EU funded area-based schemes.
2015 Cross Compliance Related Inspections
|
County |
No. of BPS Applications Submitted |
No. Inspected |
|
Carlow |
1,657 |
150 |
|
Cavan |
4,821 |
278 |
|
Clare |
6,090 |
275 |
|
Cork |
13,130 |
809 |
|
Donegal |
8,446 |
259 |
|
Dublin |
640 |
48 |
|
Galway |
12,066 |
616 |
|
Kerry |
7,750 |
420 |
|
Kildare |
2,113 |
184 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,470 |
296 |
|
Laois |
2,985 |
273 |
|
Leitrim |
3,474 |
147 |
|
Limerick |
5,113 |
409 |
|
Longford |
2,392 |
155 |
|
Louth |
1,543 |
101 |
|
Mayo |
11,614 |
581 |
|
Meath |
3,849 |
323 |
|
Monaghan |
4,057 |
313 |
|
Offaly |
3,111 |
231 |
|
Roscommon |
5,756 |
308 |
|
Sligo |
3,990 |
160 |
|
Tipperary |
7,033 |
698 |
|
Waterford |
2,437 |
251 |
|
Westmeath |
2,990 |
247 |
|
Wexford |
4,120 |
350 |
|
Wicklow |
2,167 |
181 |
455. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) who has been approved for TAMS and has complied with all additional requests for information and documentation has still not received payment; when the TAMS payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30120/17]
View answerThe person concerned applied for payment of a claim under the Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II. The applicant has submitted a manufacturer's certificate for concrete beams which are not on the Department's approved list and steps are being taken by the supplier to rectify this issue. The claim will be processed when this matter is resolved.
456. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS 2 payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30136/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified whereby the person named was awaiting finalisation of their AEOS contract. This issue has now been resolved and the application is now being further processed for payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year and payment should issue shortly.
457. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will extend the deferment of the application of the pay-by-weight refuse collection regime that was originally scheduled for commencement in July 2016; if he will intervene with a company (details supplied) that opted its customers into a form of pay-by-weight unless they opted out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29702/17]
View answerI have been quite clear that I am not introducing mandatory per kilogramme pay by weight charging for Household Waste Collection. It my intention to introduce an incentivised pricing structure to encourage householders to reduce and segregate their waste in line with the waste hierarchy.
The charges applied by a waste management company are a matter between those companies and their customers subject to compliance with all applicable legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
The matter being raised in relation to a particular company concerns the rules governing a contract between a household consumer and a service provider rather than an environmental issue and, therefore, as Minister, I have no role in the matter.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition and consumer protection law. Concerns in relation to consumer or competition issues should be reported to the CCPC.
458. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of discussions he has had with his EU counterparts with responsibility for climate change since President Trump's announcement that the United States of America was withdrawing from the Paris Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29935/17]
View answerThe Irish Government strongly supports concerted international action to address the global challenge of climate change and, together with our EU colleagues, helped to bring about the entry into force of the Paris Agreement last November.
Ireland has joined the international community in expressing our concern and disappointment at the decision by the United States to seek to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. As I stated in my immediate reaction to the decision, we are all vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we all have a responsibility to address climate change within our respective capabilities. The withdrawal decision marks a regrettable shift away from the previously strong climate ambition shown by the United States, which played a major role in mobilising global ambition and achieving the agreement reached by 195 Parties in Paris in 2015.
The Environment Council, which met on 19 June, was unanimous in its view that the Paris Agreement is fit for purpose and is not open to renegotiation. This position was reaffirmed by the European Council at its meeting last week. Heads of State and Government agreed that the EU remains fully committed to playing a strong role in implementing the Paris Agreement and to enhancing cooperation with its international partners under the Paris Agreement, in particular with the most vulnerable countries.
The Government fully supports this stance. We continue to play a strong role in meeting this objective through our on-going commitment, in particular through Irish Aid programmes, to supporting developing countries to integrate climate action in development plans, including in relation to social protection, disaster risk reduction, and strengthening agriculture and food systems.
Ireland will continue to work closely with other EU Member States and international partners to ensure that the Paris Agreement becomes fully operational as soon as possible, giving the international community the means to take the action required to limit the impacts of climate change.
459. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the fibre optic cable for broadband can be extended to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29564/17]
View answer460. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if residents in an area (details supplied) can avail of high-fibre broadband following developments in infrastructure in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29570/17]
View answer463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a broadband connection for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29713/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 459, 460 and 463 together.
The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband and fibre optic backhaul cables are a matter, in the first instance, for the commercial players who operate in the Irish market. Neither I nor my Department have a statutory authority to direct telecommunications operators in this regard.
The Government's National Broadband Plan will provide high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.4m or 61% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second and this footprint is expanding.
In April, eir signed a agreement with me committing them to follow through on their commercial plans to provide new high speed broadband infrastructure to 300,000 premises in rural areas. Eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period with an average of 500 premises passed per day. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie. The decision by eir to invest in infrastructure to deploy high speed broadband services to an additional 300,000 premises in rural Ireland was taken by eir on commercial grounds. Neither I nor the Department have a statutory authority to direct eir in this regard.
Quarterly updates on progress of the eir 300k rollout will be published on the Departments website. The Q1 figures have been verified by my Department and the eir rollout is in line with the Commitment Agreement.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map finalises the State Intervention Area for the procurement process and is an important milestone in the procurement process. The Map shows the extent of the State Intervention area and also the areas targeted for commercial services.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The AMBER areas on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of the current procurement process.
The map shows that 97% of the townland of Derreen (Ed Caher) Co Kerry, 13% of the townland of Ballydunlea Co Kerry and the eircode referred to by the Deputy in the townland of Clonee Co Meath falls within an AMBER area and will be part of the State led Intervention under the NBP. The remaining 3% of the townland of Derreen (Ed Caher) and 87% of the townland of Ballydunlea falls within eir’s plans to deliver rural high speed broadband between now and end 2018 (Light BLUE on map). Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. Individuals can themselves check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode at www.broadband.gov.ie
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. The procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The finalisation of the State Intervention Area for the procurement process is an important milestone as it means that bidders can progress their business plans and the Department can move to the next stage of the procurement. The three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second.
The State Intervention network will be a wholesale network and retail service providers will be able to use the network to provide enhanced broadband services to their customers. The timeframe for the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders, during the procurement process. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to rollout a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP, once contracts are in place.
The procurement is progressing to the next stage. This week, the Department wrote to the three bidders in the NBP procurement process inviting them to submit their “Detailed Solutions” by 26 September 2017. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process moves to the next stage. The Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best rollout strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand.
However, I am aware that the rate of demand for data services has increased exponentially in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for telecommunication operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally. Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force. In July 2016, I established the Task Force together with Minister Humphreys to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers, prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
The report of the Task Force was published in December and is available on both Departments' websites. In producing this report, the Task Force worked with Departments, local authorities, ComReg, State agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The report contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland and the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access identifies 19 of these actions as areas where immediate and direct action by Departments and State agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers.
In order to maintain momentum created by the Task Force, I, together with Minister Humphreys, established an Implementation Group. This group is driving and monitoring the implementation of the actions, bringing together all key stakeholders identified in the Task Force report with responsibility for delivery. This group will be formally reporting every 90 days on progress made on all actions. I published the first such quarterly progress report on 13th June 2017, which is available on my Department's website at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Tas2kforce%20Q1%20Progress%20Report.pdf and which shows that considerable progress has been made, particularly in relation to the implementation of actions identified for Q1 2017. The work of the Task Force will also assist local authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contracts are in place.
In addition, following regulations which I signed last year, ComReg recently announced the results of its auction for the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, which means an 86% increase in spectrum capacity to meet the growing demand for mobile and wireless broadband services across rural and urban areas. The Regulator has awarded 15 year licences for the rights of use in this band which will provide a degree of stability and create future investment certainty. Spectrum was also awarded in lots covering 9 urban and rural regions across the country.
In my Department's Estimates for 2017, I have secured an €8 million provision for RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to allocate this spectrum to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances.
These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland and particularly in rural Ireland.
461. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the staffing complement of his Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29600/17]
View answerThe staffing complement for my Department at the end of 2016 was 318 full-time equivalent employees.
462. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding Traveller support and services provided by his Department in each county; the groups, agencies and voluntary bodies involved; the cost of same for each county for the past three years and to date in 2017; his plans to set up an advisory group to report on the minimum levels of support and services from his Department that should be available in each county to address the needs and the rights of Travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29689/17]
View answerMy Department does not have any specific schemes in place for support and services exclusive to the traveller or other communities. All support schemes available through my Department are open to all communities on an impartial basis. There are no plans to establish an advisory group.
464. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost associated with the report of a person (details supplied); the amount paid to the person; and if this money was paid to the person or to their company. [29750/17]
View answer465. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department and a person (details supplied) informed a group (details supplied) and the local community of a potential conflict of interest in so far as the person's company was at this time the beneficiary of a contract worth €9,075 from the Department of Health and Children. [29751/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together.
A total of €61,710 was paid to the company referred to in the Question for the provision of mediation services relating to the Corrib gas field development project.
It is not clear from the Deputy’s question as to what the company was tasked to do by the Department of Health and Children and as to how it might have potentially given rise to a conflict of interest in respect of the provision of services relating to the Corrib gas field development project.
466. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details and county location of capital projects announced by his Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29778/17]
View answerThe most significant component of my Department's capital expenditure for the timeframe requested in 2017 is in respect of the Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes which are administered on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes (BEWH) scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures, free of charge, to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty that meet the defined eligibility criteria. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. The measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs, cavity wall insulation and energy advice.
The Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme 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). Grants typically cover about a third of the overall cost to the homeowner.
In respect of the BEH scheme the total grant paid in each month was €1.117m in March, €1.449m in April and €1.638m in May. In respect of the BEWH the total grant amount paid in each month was €1.97m in March, €1.599m in April and €2.239m in May.
I have provided details of the number of homes upgraded under each of the schemes per county in March, April and May in the following table. The number of homes upgraded in June will not be available until SEAI report on their monthly progress in early July.
|
Name of Project/Grant Scheme |
County |
No of homes upgraded in 2017 per month |
||
|
|
|
March |
April |
May |
|
BEH |
Carlow |
11 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
Cavan |
14 |
9 |
22 |
|
|
Clare |
28 |
25 |
26 |
|
|
Cork |
155 |
149 |
177 |
|
|
Donegal |
17 |
8 |
19 |
|
|
Dublin |
371 |
447 |
343 |
|
|
Galway |
65 |
66 |
76 |
|
|
Kerry |
27 |
31 |
44 |
|
|
Kildare |
34 |
75 |
67 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
11 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
Laois |
21 |
7 |
28 |
|
|
Leitrim |
1 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
Limerick |
51 |
77 |
100 |
|
|
Longford |
11 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
Louth |
34 |
45 |
31 |
|
|
Mayo |
42 |
33 |
34 |
|
|
Meath |
36 |
52 |
39 |
|
|
Monaghan |
6 |
5 |
3 |
|
|
Offaly |
19 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
Roscommon |
7 |
8 |
15 |
|
|
Sligo |
8 |
5 |
12 |
|
|
Tipperary |
24 |
31 |
43 |
|
|
Waterford |
11 |
46 |
27 |
|
|
Westmeath |
10 |
17 |
25 |
|
|
Wexford |
40 |
46 |
37 |
|
|
Wicklow |
21 |
27 |
55 |
|
|
|
March |
April |
May |
|
BEWH |
Carlow |
0 |
4 |
17 |
|
|
Cavan |
2 |
6 |
3 |
|
|
Clare |
80 |
18 |
13 |
|
|
Cork |
58 |
70 |
89 |
|
|
Donegal |
48 |
34 |
24 |
|
|
Dublin |
88 |
217 |
208 |
|
|
Galway |
122 |
80 |
46 |
|
|
Kerry |
3 |
12 |
7 |
|
|
Kildare |
21 |
21 |
11 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
Laois |
4 |
16 |
10 |
|
|
Leitrim |
3 |
2 |
7 |
|
|
Limerick |
71 |
16 |
7 |
|
|
Longford |
11 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Louth |
27 |
41 |
16 |
|
|
Mayo |
83 |
94 |
25 |
|
|
Meath |
20 |
31 |
14 |
|
|
Monaghan |
6 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Offaly |
6 |
4 |
13 |
|
|
Roscommon |
14 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
Sligo |
37 |
16 |
17 |
|
|
Tipperary |
53 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
Waterford |
5 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
Westmeath |
18 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
Wexford |
20 |
24 |
20 |
|
|
Wicklow |
12 |
9 |
6 |
The Better Energy Communities scheme aims to encourage community based partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the building stock and energy poor homes and facilities, encouraging the implementation of deeper and more technically and economically challenging measures. These partnerships can be between the public and private sectors, domestic and non-domestic sectors, commercial and not-for-profit organisations and energy suppliers. The community and business supports leverage considerable additional private investment. Projects are typically based across a number of counties so it is not possible to report on a county by county basis. However a total of €26m will be granted to these projects in 2017.
The Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people in the pilot area who meet the eligibility criteria. The scheme is designed to test the benefits that improved home energy efficiency can have on the health of people living with a chronic respiratory disease. To date in 2017 there have been 124 homes upgraded in Dublin. These upgrades have cost €1.266m.
In addition to the above schemes, my Department also provided funding for the Landfill Remediation Grant Scheme. This scheme was established in order to deal with the specific issue of the remediation of closed, licensed, local authority-operated landfills, and in recognition of the fact that local authorities would not have sufficient resources to fund the full cost of this remediation. Details of the funding provided are set out in the following table.
|
Landfill Remediation Scheme |
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|
Name of Project |
County |
Amount of funding provided |
2017 – Month funding provided |
|
Kealine |
Cork |
€200k |
May |
|
Newmarket |
Cork |
€500k |
May |
|
Tipperary Town |
Tipperary |
€1.5m |
May |
|
Finisklin |
Sligo |
€600k |
May |
|
Kerdiffstown |
Kildare |
€4.5m |
June |
