Written Answers Nos. 1012-1032
1013. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the proposed renewable heat incentive scheme; when he expects the scheme to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34095/17]
View answerThe introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Energy White Paper and the 2016 Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. It is currently envisaged that the implementation of the RHI would assist Ireland in reaching our 12% target in the renewable heating sector by 2020. Provisional data indicates that 6.6% of heat demand was derived from renewable sources in 2016. My Department has undertaken a detailed economic assessment on the design and cost of the RHI for the industrial/commercial sector in Ireland. This analysis included a range of renewable energy technologies and focused on large commercial and industrial heat users in the non-Emissions Trading System (ETS).
The final public consultation process on the design and implementation of the new RHI closed in March 2017 and 119 submissions were reviewed by my Department. All submissions to the RHI public consultation have been published on the Department's website at: www.dccae.ie. The findings from this public consultation are currently being evaluated to help inform final decisions in relation to the scheme. At this stage, a number of important factors are still under consideration including overall costs, technologies to be supported and general design.
It should be emphasised that the introduction of any scheme would be subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.
1014. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding of a scheme (details supplied) since 2011, by producer and year. [34102/17]
View answerRepak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland. It is funded by fees paid by their members based on the amount of packaging they place on the market. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of such information, a breakdown by individual member is not possible. However, the following table outlines the fees paid by producers to Repak in the relevant years. A list of all members of Repak is available at www.repak.ie.
Fees paid by members to Repak
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€25.2m |
|
2012 |
€24.5m |
|
2013 |
€24m |
|
2014 |
€24.4m |
|
2015 |
€25.5m |
|
2016 |
€26.6m |
1015. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on correspondence (details supplied). [34150/17]
View answerThe information requested is being complied by IFI who will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. IFI has also indicated that they would be available to meet with the Deputy to discuss the matter in more detail.
1016. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to make an order amending the conservation of pike by-law No. 208 of 2006 to allow pike up to or equal to 85 cm to be culled on designated trout waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34155/17]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.
In 2014, IFI developed policies on the management of Wild Brown Trout, Pike and Bass. These policies were scheduled to be reviewed in 2017. However, recognising the concerns of some stakeholders in relation to elements of the pike and wild brown trout policies, the Board of IFI decided to bring forward the review period for these policies and commence the process in 2016, focusing initially on the element of the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries.
A group, comprised of a range of representatives from all disciplines within IFI, was formed to undertake the review. A public consultation process was held in November 2016 through which almost 300 submissions were received. In January 2017, the review group met with representatives of a number of pike and trout angling organisations and associations.
In May 2017, representatives from both pike and trout angling associations joined the review group for two information gathering meetings at which various scientists made presentations.
The review group adjourned after the 29 May meeting for the summer to provide time to review and assimilate the data and information provided during the two information gathering meetings.
The presentations delivered at the meetings, along with minutes of the previous meetings and the public consultation submissions are published on the IFI website at the following link: www.fisheriesireland.ie/Public-Consultation/public-consultation-national-policy-review-management-of-pike-in-designated-wild-brown-trout-fisheries-3.html.
While the policy review is underway, the current IFI pike management practices continue. While this may be an area of concern for both the brown trout and pike angling communities, it would not be appropriate to make any recommendations on policy change in advance of the report from the review group. An initial draft of the report is expected to be available in the Autumn, however, IFI have advised that the report will not be finalised before the year end or early 2018. Decisions on any change in the management of pike and trout will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
1017. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has had correspondence or discussions with his UK counterpart with regard to the UK's ongoing membership of EURATOM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34247/17]
View answerThe Brexit negotiations, including matters relating to the UK's decision to leave the Euratom Treaty, are being conducted bilaterally between the European Commission, representing Member States, and the UK. Ireland is represented at the European Council Article 50 Working Party which meets regularly to discuss Brexit related issues, including Euratom, with a view to informing the negotiation process. I have not had correspondence or discussions directly with my UK counterpart regarding the UK's membership of Euratom. This matter has been discussed at official level, including at the UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters. Further discussions on this topic are scheduled to take place at the next meeting of the Group in early October 2017.
1018. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his departmental remit to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU introducing substantial amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU will be provided; when such provisions are expected to be initiated (details supplied); the basis on which these provisions will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34299/17]
View answer1021. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his departmental remit to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU introducing substantial amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU will be provided for; when such provisions are expected to be initiated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/17]
View answer1039. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his departmental remit to transpose directive 2014/52/EU (details supplied) will be provided for; the timeframe for when such provisions are expected to be initiated; the basis on which these provisions will be introduced; if provisions related to the 2014/52/EU have already been made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34836/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1018, 1021 and 1039 together.
Following the recent public consultation on the transposition of Directive 2014/52/EU: Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken by the Department of the Housing, Planning and Local Government (closing date 2 June 2017), my Department is working to complete the steps necessary for Ireland to achieve full transposition of the Directive into Irish law. This ongoing work, which includes cross-Departmental engagement with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and other Departments concerned, is a priority and will be completed as quickly as possible.
In terms of steps already taken, the Environmental Protection Agency’s EIA reporting guidelines have been revised, to reflect the new obligations of Directive 2014/52/EU, following a public consultation by the Agency between September 2014 and October 2015. The consultation, which focussed on how the guidelines can best fulfil their statutory purpose insofar as they relate to the EPA’s areas of activity while also meeting the day-to-day practical needs of all involved, drew contributions from practitioners, academics, developers, NGOs and the public. I have approved the final draft of the Guidelines for release by the Agency, and they will be available shortly on the Agency’s website.
In light of the substantial consultations already undertaken by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the Environmental Protection Agency, my priority is to complete the elements of transposition for which my Department is responsible.
1019. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the items allowed in black and green bins; the position with regard to green waste including branches, soils and grass; the steps being taken by his Department to educate persons on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34323/17]
View answerThe European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 430 of 2015) are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste. Regulations 6 and 7 impose obligations on householders, which inter alia, require householders who avail of a household waste collection service, and are supplied with a food waste bin in line with the Regulations, to place food waste in the food waste bin. Alternatively, a householder may subject the food waste to a home composting process or bring the food to an appropriate authorised waste facility. A collector may also offer a service to collect garden and/or other suitable bio-waste in the food waste bin. My Department has worked with the Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland to develop a website, www.brownbin.ie, to provide the public with the information required to use the brown bin appropriately. This includes advice on the types of material which should and should not be in placed in a household brown bin and guidance on food waste prevention and home composting. The Seventh Schedule to the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, (S.I. 820 of 2007) as amended, requires kerbside household waste collectors to accept a minimum list of recyclable household waste materials. Collectors also may accept additional mixed dry recyclable household waste items.
Residual household kerbside waste, as defined in the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, (S.I. 820 of 2007) as amended, which is not food waste or recyclable household waste, should be placed in the residual bin.
A campaign developed by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices focusing on reducing food waste generation and also encouraging the use of brown bin ran throughout March 2017, comprising radio and cinema advertisements and backed up by a social media campaign. Further campaigns will be rolled out over the second half of 2017 addressing issues such as food waste, waste prevention, how per lift and weight based charging models work and increasing and improving recycling.
1020. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of refit tariffs for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34325/17]
View answerThe 2016 Programme for Government and 2015 Energy White Paper recognise that solar has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future and it is increasingly recognised that Solar PV has the potential to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and climate change objectives. At present, Solar Photovoltaic (PV), for electricity generation, is not supported under any of the existing renewable electricity support schemes operating in Ireland. However, my Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme is underway, and includes an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal involves comparing the cost of supporting Solar PV (both rooftop and ground mounted), offshore wind, onshore wind and a range of other commercial renewable technologies, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The assessment also includes analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.
My Department will publish shortly a final public consultation on the design principles of the new RESS. Following the outcome of this public consultation, and before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in 2018.
My stated position is that while solar has a role to play in Ireland’s energy future, we cannot have a situation where a new support scheme leads to a disproportionate increase in people’s electricity bills through the Public Service Obligation levy. In designing the new RESS, the cost implications for people and businesses will, therefore be a high priority and I will ensure that the new scheme is designed in a cost efficient manner.
1022. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to include compensation for eel fishermen in the 2018 Estimates; and the amount proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34665/17]
View answerIreland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP) under EU Regulation 1100/2007, which included a closure of commercial fishing, was approved by the European Commission in 2009. Ireland's EMP and its conservation measures were reviewed in 2012 and again in 2015 in accordance with the EU Regulation. Both reviews involved an examination of the latest scientific data and the conservation measures, the results of which were the subject of public consultation processes.
Based on management advice from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and having considered all aspects of the 2015 review, the existing conservation measures remain in place up to mid-2018 at which time a further review is required. IFI have been provided funding for a new collaborative research initiative involving IFI scientists and a number of former eel fishermen to further develop national knowledge of the species and its medium to longer term potential for recovery. This scientific fishery was commenced in 2016 and is expected to continue for three years to increase data and knowledge ahead of further review of eel management measures in 2018.
The latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) for 2016 (published in October 2015) is that “the status of eel remains critical and that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pumping stations, and pollution) affecting production and escapement of silver eels should be reduced to – or kept as close to – zero as possible. There is no change in the status of the stock as being critically endangered".
While I recognise the difficulty facing eel fishermen, there is no property right attaching to public eel licences and the issue of compensation does not arise. Consideration is being given to the possibility of an eel hardship scheme within the 2018 Estimates process. However, such consideration will be against the background of competing requirements from all Departments as part of the Estimates process. My Department will liaise with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.
1023. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the statement by the chief executive officer of Dublin City Council that he wished to take back control of waste management to introduce a publicly run tendering system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34671/17]
View answerThere are no proposals currently to alter the structure of the household waste market. A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy In Ireland (2012) commits to retaining the current market structure while strengthening the regulatory regime applied to household waste collection.
1024. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce maximum charges as part of the waste charging regime in advance of the proposed changeover to pay by weight in September, 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34672/17]
View answerThe charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
In the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, the Government has decided that flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection will be phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018 as customers contracts come up for renewal, when the necessary regulatory steps are in place.
As has been long-standing practice, a collection service provider may amend a pricing structure or a contract at any time, as long as the amendments are in accordance with all relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. It is worth noting that the measure to phase out flat fees is not ‘new’ for the more than half of kerbside household waste customers who are already on an incentivised pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or weight related fee. There are no plans at present to introduce maximum charges. However, I am establishing a pricing monitoring function that will provide monthly reports on pricing developments and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be asked to report on the operation of the household waste collection market in order to inform the future development of national waste management policy before year end.
1025. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to require the food industry to reduce the amount of packaging it uses; his views on the operation of a company (details supplied) in view of the fact that the scheme does not incentivise the use of recyclable materials or reduce the overall level of packaging; and his plans to address this matter. [34699/17]
View answerAs Minister, I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive, which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. Under the Regulations, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland, published by the EPA in May 2016, show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall packaging waste recovery rate and the recycling rate targets since they came into force. Our recovery rate has gone from 70% in 2009 to 88% in 2013; and our recycling rate has gone from 65% in 2009 to 70% in 2013. Specific material streams for 2013 are shown in the following table:
|
Material |
EU Recycling rate target |
2013 recycling rate Ireland |
|
Glass |
60% by weight |
80% |
|
Plastic |
22.5% by weight, counting exclusively material that is recycled back into plastics |
40% |
|
Paper & Board |
60% by weight |
79% |
|
Metals |
50% by weight |
79% |
|
Wood |
15% by weight |
82% |
Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and it is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive. Repak members pay fees based on the amount of packaging they place on the market and this incentivises them to reduce packaging.
A lot of work has been done by Repak members to prevent and minimise the amount of packaging they require. With the assistance of the EPA, Repak’s Prevent and Save initiative funded under the National Waste Prevention Programme, has worked with Irish business to reduce packaging and to promote packaging improvements across industry. Under the initiative, specialist packaging technologists look for ways to optimise the packaging used and to minimise any resulting packaging waste. Further information can be found on www.repak.ie/preventandsave.
Furthermore, as Minister, I have advanced a range of initiatives to reduce Ireland's food waste, including the expansion of the Stop Food Waste campaign, the launch of a Food Waste Charter, the establishment of an Action Group on Food Waste Prevention in the Retail Sector, imposing a requirement on industry for the nationwide roll-out of "brown bins" for food/organic waste management to all communities with a population of 500 people, and the organising of an awareness and educational media campaign to help households to use their 'brown bins' and reduce their food waste.
1026. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the report on the proposal announced in 2016 to give waste companies a €1.5 million reduction in landfill fees to offset the price freeze; the position regarding the promised information campaign which was supposed to be funded on foot of this reduction;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34703/17]
View answerThe charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
Last year, the waste management industry had committed to providing a full weight allowance for the disposal of non-infancy incontinence wear to patients supplied with such products by the HSE, if a mandatory pay-by-weight per kilogramme charging system was introduced for household waste collection on 1 July 2016. There was a proposal under consideration at that time whereby half of the landfill levy payable on the incontinence wear in question would be used to fund an awareness campaign, the other half would be given to waste companies to offset some of their costs in disposing of the material.
However, as the waste industry began releasing its proposed prices under a mandatory pay-by-weight system in June 2016, the Government relayed its concern to the industry regarding the reported escalation of waste bills for customers of certain companies and mandatory pay-by-weight per kilogramme charging was not implemented.
My Department, in consultation with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, had designed a public awareness campaign to coincide with the introduction of a mandatory pay-by-weight charging structure. However, with the removal of mandatory pay-by-weight charging, this campaign was withdrawn.
There was no proposal to give waste companies a €1.5 million reduction in landfill fees to offset the voluntary price arrangement.
1027. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of houses that have been connected by a company (details supplied) under its commercial agreement with the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34801/17]
View answer1028. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which his Department would proceed with the procurement process for the national broadband plan if one of the bidders were to withdraw. [34802/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1027 and 1028 together.
The Commitment Agreement signed by eir by includes quarterly milestones for the numbers of homes to be passed by eir's fibre high speed broadband network roll-out. Delivery by eir against these milestones is subject to formal evaluation by my Department and my Department has concluded that eir met the milestone to pass 40,000 premises by the end of April of this year. Indications are that eir has also met its Quarter 2 target to roll-out out to a further 30,000 premises by the end of June. A formal evaluation of eir's Quarter 2 performance will be conducted by my Department shortly.
I do not propose to comment on participation by bidders in the NBP procurement process.
1029. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of residents excluded from having brown bins in each local area authority under Regulation 3(3)(b) of S.I. No. 191/2015; if his Department has plans to amend this statutory provision to ensure all residents have access to brown bins; and if not, if his Department have plans to provide alternative composting options to these residents. [34818/17]
View answerThe European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 191 of 2015 were revoked and replaced by The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 430 of 2015. The regional waste management plans have not utilised the provisions of article 3(3)(b) of the food waste Regulations and as such, no households have been excluded from the requirement on waste collectors to provide a separate food waste collection service in this regard.
In line with the objectives of the national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy in Ireland, in terms of maximising the resource potential and minimising the disposal of our waste, the household food waste Regulations are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste.
The Regulations impose obligations on both householders and waste collectors. Under articles 4 and 5 of the Regulations, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of, a separate collection service for food waste from households for population agglomerations greater than 500 persons. Householders are obliged to segregate their food waste, and make it available for separate collections. Alternatively householders may compost the food waste at home or bring it themselves to authorised treatment facilities such as civic amenity facilities or anaerobic digestion sites.
A food waste collection service is now being provided in every county across all local authority areas. The provision of this service to more remote areas with agglomerations less than 500 persons, where it is technically and environmentally practical to do so, continues to be monitored by my Department, together with the regulatory authorities.
1030. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in view of the current negotiations in Brussels on the EU waste directives, the Government supports the following measures: a 65% target for recycling of municipal solid waste by 2030 binding minimum requirements on extended producer responsibility including full cost coverage and modulated fees, separate targets for preparation for reuse of municipal solid waste, waste prevention targets, and a packaging reuse target of 10% by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34821/17]
View answerIreland welcomed the publication by the European Commission of the Action Plan for the Circular Economy, which included a range of actions and legislative proposals. The Action Plan proposes that we can reorganise our economies to the benefit of all citizens, and at the same time improve our protection of the environment. Negotiations are on-going between the Council and the European Parliament. These negotiations are complex and cover a wide range of issues and it is always challenging to find a balance between ambition, practicality and affordability for all Members States in the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission. Ireland is broadly supportive of the Action Plan.
1031. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the recent meeting of the parties to the Espoo Convention including the position Ireland took on the findings of the implementation committee of the convention on the proposed new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. [34822/17]
View answer1032. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position Ireland took at the recent meeting of the parties to the Espoo Convention on the environmental impact assessment of proposals to extend the lifetimes of nuclear plants currently reaching the end of their originally envisaged periods of operation. [34823/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1031 and 1032 together.
The questions refer to the United Nation’s Espoo Convention which is concerned with environmental impact assessments in a transboundary context. The lead Department in Ireland for the Convention is the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government which liaises as appropriate with other Departments and Agencies on particular issues. Ireland was not represented at the recent Espoo Convention Meeting of the Parties which took place in Minsk, Belarus.
I can, however, inform the Deputy that a meeting took place in Dublin in April of this year, between UK officials and representatives from both the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and my Department, regarding the Espoo Convention and the development of new nuclear power plants in the UK. At that meeting the UK committed to notify Ireland of all transboundary related issues for future new nuclear power plants as a matter of policy, and also to notify Ireland in the event of any application by the UK authorities for any material change to the existing planning permission at the Hinkley Point C site.
In relation to ageing infrastructure of the nuclear power plant fleet, I can inform the Deputy that this issue is closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is covered in some detail by the European Union’s Nuclear Safety Directive, which is due to be transposed later this year.
