Written Answers Nos. 174-193
174. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of single farm payments following inspection for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44359/17]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 15 April 2017. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
175. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) in view of the fact that a decision is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44412/17]
View answerTeagasc is a non commercial State body, established in 1988, under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, chiefly to provide advisory, research and training services to the farming and agri-food sector.
As the matter raised is an operational matter for Teagasc, I have arranged to forward the relevant information to the Director of Teagasc for his attention and direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €300 million Brexit loan scheme fund announced in budget 2018 which has 40% ring-fenced for food businesses will open for applications; the length of time the fund will remain open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44447/17]
View answer177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria necessary for persons to apply for loans under the €300 million Brexit loan scheme fund announced in budget 2018 which has 40% ring-fenced for food businesses; the minimum and maximum amounts which will be permitted to be loaned; the collateral requirements which will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44448/17]
View answer178. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will be permitted to apply to the €300 million Brexit loan scheme fund announced in budget 2018; if funds will be loaned to farmers for the purchase of livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44449/17]
View answer179. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €25 million allocated in budget 2018 for the development of further Brexit response loan schemes for farmers, fishermen and food businesses in 2018 will open for applications; the length of time the fund will remain open for applications; the minimum and maximum amounts permitted to be loaned; the collateral requirements which will be required; if funds will be loaned to farmers for the purchase of livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44450/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 179, inclusive, together.
I was delighted to announce in the Budget that, in partnership with my colleague, An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD, we had agreed to establish a new “Brexit Loan Scheme” which will provide affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future.
The new Brexit Loan Scheme aims to make up to €300 million of working capital finance available to SMEs and mid-cap businesses (up to 499 employees). Given their unique exposure to the UK market, my Department’s funding (€9 million out of total public funding of €23 million) ensures that at least 40% of the fund will be available to food businesses.
The finance will be easier to access, more competitively priced (at a proposed maximum interest rate of 4%), and at more favourable terms than current offerings. This will give Brexit-impacted businesses time and space to adapt and to grow into the future. Applications will be cleared for Scheme eligibility through the SBCI and applicants must be exposed to the current or potential impacts of Brexit and submit a business sustainability plan which demonstrates how they plan to respond to Brexit. Loans must be for the purpose of supporting working capital or cash flow needs and will be provided by commercial lenders, subject to normal lending criteria. Further details of the loans will be provided over the coming weeks.
The success of our “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme” has been recognised and it provides a template for this new Scheme. Drawdowns under the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme are nearing completion. Due to the different State Aid legislation covering primary production, the Brexit Loan Scheme announced in the Budget will not be available to farmers and fishermen. Therefore I was very pleased to announce that I have secured funding of €25 million for my Department to facilitate the development of a new Brexit response loan schemes for farmers, fishermen and food businesses in 2018. Further details will be announced in due course.
We all understand the unique exposure of the agri-food sector to Brexit impact. Uncertainty about the final outcome can make planning for the future difficult. But one thing we can be sure of is that both food businesses and farmers need to focus on competitiveness and innovation in order to survive these challenges and grow their business sustainably in the future. Supporting lower cost flexible finance is a key Government response to assist the sector in this process.
180. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the individual allocation to AEOS, GLAS and organics under the €233.8 million announced for agri-environmental schemes in budget 2018. [44451/17]
View answerThe allocations for the individual schemes mentioned by the Deputy will be set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) to be published later this year.
181. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the individual allocation for each non-commercial State-sponsored body under his Department’s aegis (details supplied) announced in budget 2018; and the 2017 allocation for each body. [44452/17]
View answerThe 2017 information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows:
|
|
2017 Budget €000 |
|
Teagasc |
128,130 |
|
Bord Bia |
34,492 |
|
Marine Institute |
31,563 |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
44,088 |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
12,800 |
|
|
251,073 |
The individual allocations for 2018 will be set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) to be published later this year.
182. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding radon gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44302/17]
View answerThe National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS) Co-ordination Group was established to implement and track the key recommendations of the NRCS, which was published in 2014. The strategy recommends a broad range of measures aimed at reducing the risk from radon to people living in Ireland. 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.
There were 31 identified action points set out in the NRCS, and it is intended that all will be implemented. Work has commenced on 27 of these action points, with 11 now complete, 10 on track for completion by May 2018, and the remainder being actively progressed. A progress report on implementation is submitted to me annually.
While the economic analysis demonstrates that in general the radon intervention measures proposed in the strategy are cost-effective, it also shows that dealing with radon through prevention in new buildings is by far the most cost-effective approach.
Cost has been identified as a disincentive to householders to both test and remediate their homes for radon. One of the recommendations made by the NRCS relates to financial incentives to encourage household action on radon. My Department is currently examining the feasibility of providing such financial incentives.
183. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which his Department plans to spend the additional €35 million allocated in budget 2018 to energy efficiency. [44323/17]
View answerUsing less energy, and using it more efficiently, is the most cost effective and accessible way for us all to take action on climate change.
Overall in 2018, at least €117m in capital and current funding will be invested in energy efficiency programmes. This will save over 120,000 tonnes in carbon emissions every year. It will support around 3,500 jobs, and reduce our overall dependence on imported fossil fuels. As the Deputy notes, this is an increase of €35m over the allocation for 2017. I have outlined below key interventions which will receive funding in 2018 and I will keep these and financial allocations under review through the course of the year.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is currently engaged in a review of the technologies supported under the Better Energy Homes grant programme. Increased funding will allow SEAI to take a broader look at what new technologies might be supported under the scheme in 2018.
I will also continue to support collective local action on energy efficiency. The Better Energy Communities scheme continues to go from strength to strength and the additional funding I have secured for 2018 will increase funds available to this scheme.
Activity has significantly ramped up on the Warmth & Wellbeing scheme in 2017 with nearly 500 homes completed to date. A further €8m in capital funding has been allocated to the scheme for 2018 which will see activity increase to at least 600 home completions in 2018.
Earlier this year, I announced that those people identified as living in the poorest condition homes would receive a deeper energy efficiency than standard under the Warmer Homes scheme. So far in 2017, SEAI have already identified many homes that are in a very poor condition and these will be considered for upgrade under the Warmer Homes scheme. In total, funding in 2018 will provide for the upgrade of over 9,000 low income homes.
The Commercial sector has significant potential to contribute to national energy efficiency and climate change objectives. I am increasing our capital investment in this sector to provide for the expansion of the successful Energy Efficiency in Design or EXEED Programme. Launched on a pilot basis in 2017, companies participating in the scheme are seeing an impressive 28% energy efficiency improvement on average. This helps to improve the competitiveness and resilience of Irish businesses.
I am also determined that we harness more of the energy efficiency potential in our farms and small businesses. My Department is currently consulting on how best we can increase awareness of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency for businesses and the allocation of additional funds will be guided by the results of this consultation.
It should also be noted that the public sector has already made a very significant contribution to national energy efficiency objectives, having already achieved energy efficiency gains of 20%. In 2017 new pilot support schemes were put in place for the renovation of public buildings and for our schools that saw schools reduce their energy bills by more than 40% on average. Given these promising results I am nearly doubling the budget for these works in 2018. I hope that this will identify the optimal approaches and standards that can be replicated and scaled more widely across the public sector.
184. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the deadline by which the renewable heat incentive scheme will be launched. [44324/17]
View answerThe proposed Renewable Heat Incentive addresses key objectives set out in the National Mitigation Plan, the Energy White Paper and the Programme for Government. The development of the scheme has involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and two public consultations.
In Budget 2018, €7m was allocated for the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. I intend to seek Government approval to the scheme in the coming weeks. European Commission State Aid approval will also be required in advance of the scheme commencing operation.
Although there is no set deadline for the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, I expect the scheme to come into operation in 2018.
185. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding that his Department plans to allocate to the trading online voucher scheme in 2018. [44325/17]
View answer194. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of small businesses supported by the trading online voucher scheme has declined in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44498/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 194 together.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a demand-led scheme which aims to deliver 1,000 businesses trading online each year with minor fluctuations in throughput expected in a demand-led scheme. The scheme has the flexibility to approve applications in excess of the target, should the demand exist.
The following table gives a breakdown on an annual basis of the number of businesses that have been approved for a Trading Online Voucher under the scheme.
|
Year |
No. of Vouchers Approved by Local Enterprise Offices |
|
2014 |
593 |
|
2015 |
1,184 |
|
2016 |
1,154 |
|
2017 to end Sept |
881 |
The lower output in 2014 was due to the commencement of the scheme in July 2014. The scheme is on target to deliver a further 1,000 businesses trading online by the end of 2017. In addition, over 9,000 businesses have so far benefited from training and mentoring under the scheme.
€3 million in funding has been allocated for the continuation of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme in 2018.
186. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of additional funding that has been provided to the EPA in budget 2018; and the breakdown of this funding between air quality monitoring, noise monitoring and climate change research. [44326/17]
View answerThe indicative overall Budget 2018 allocation for the EPA is €34.8m, a significant increase on the 2017 allocation of €31.5m.
The indicative allocation for 2018 is broken down into €21.3m. current and €13.5m. capital, and is subject to final agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) later this year.
The new Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme covers the years 2017 to 2022 and I have committed funding of some €5 million over the lifetime of the programme, including €1 million in 2018.
Actual expenditure in 2018 on noise monitoring and climate research is a matter for the Agency having regard to its overall Exchequer allocation, any income it generates from approved activities, and any further funding it may receive through my Department from the Environment Fund.
187. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of new funding that will be allocated to waste prevention and recycling in 2018; the programmes that this funding will support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44327/17]
View answerI recently announced that €1.6 million was allocated as part of Budget 2018 to support an on-going waste campaign to assist householders in managing their waste.
The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices commenced a programme of education and awareness funded by my Department earlier this year with radio advertisements encouraging the use of the brown bin and focusing on food waste prevention. This was backed up with social media campaigns to further encourage the use of the brown bin. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will continue to roll out waste awareness and education initiatives this year, re-focussing on the use of the brown bin, but also concentrating on improving and increasing recycling, waste prevention and the correct use of the kerbside collection system. My Department is also undertaking an awareness campaign to inform people about the phase out of flat rate fees, which began during the summer and will continue this year.
The campaign will carry forward into 2018 and will continue to help householders reduce, reuse and recycle waste.
The Environment Fund has been used in previous years to support a range of prevention and recycling initiatives, including the National Waste Prevention Programme. Allocations from the Environment Fund for 2018 are currently under consideration.
188. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of plans to regulate the waste collection industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44420/17]
View answer189. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of work by the Government created watchdog set up to monitor pricing in the waste collection sector; the number of meetings the watchdog has held; the date of each meeting; the members of the watchdog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44421/17]
View answer190. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission declined to join the watchdog set up to monitor pricing in the waste collection sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44422/17]
View answer191. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission that was asked to conduct an investigation into the waste collection industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44423/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 to 191, inclusive, together.
In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland published in 2012, a number of additional legislative measures have been introduced to further regulate the waste collection industry. Examples include: the introduction of fixed payment notices for the contravention of specific conditions of a waste collection permit; providing for the review of a waste collection permit in primary legislation and also specifying instances whereby an automatic review of a permit is triggered; and strengthening the provisions around what constitutes a 'fit and proper person' to hold a waste collection permit. Furthermore, legislation has been introduced to explicitly strengthen the regulation of household waste collectors, including requirements on operators to have customer charters in place; to weigh each and every collection of waste and to make that weight available to the householder; and to provide a minimum level of service in terms of the collection of recyclable material and food waste.
In line with A Resource Opportunity and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, 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. The necessary regulatory steps are being put in place to give effect to this, however, it is worth noting that the measure to phase out flat fees is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or weight related fee.
Information and awareness campaigns have been, and will continue to be, rolled out by the Department and the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices to take account of the new approach to waste reduction, increased recycling and charging. In particular, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will continue to roll out waste awareness and education initiatives re-focussing on the use of the brown bin, but also concentrating on improving and increasing recycling, waste prevention and the correct use of the kerbside collection system.
Notwithstanding the above measures, a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group has been established and has begun the process of monitoring the rates charged by household waste collectors. The Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group has met on two occasions, 13 September, 2017 and 11 October, 2017. The Group comprises representatives from the Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency Division and an economist from my Department, the Central Statistics Office and a company with expertise in price monitoring. The company made a presentation to the Group at the meeting on 11 October, 2017 based on the data it had collected as part of the first data sweep of the market. They will report back to the Group on a monthly basis and a report on the data collected will be published.
In addition, the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has asked the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to conduct a study on the operation of the household waste collection market. The CCPC has indicated that it hopes to finalise the study in early 2018.
The results from the Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group will be monitored and analysed and in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC, provide an evidence base regarding future monitoring or the potential need for additional regulation of the waste market.
192. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the arrangement that will be put in place for an eel hardship fund further to budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44426/17]
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 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 consultations.
In that context, I recognise fully the difficulty facing eel fishermen. However, there is no property right attaching to public eel licences. Notwithstanding, the possibility of implementing support measures for eel fishermen is a matter under consideration.
Both I and the Minister have also discussed the issue of eels with ESB Fisheries who are fishery owners in this context.
193. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that waste companies are unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of their waste collection system and scheme in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44441/17]
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.
Each household waste collector has been required through a condition in their waste collection permit from 1 July, 2015 to weigh a bin each time it is collected and to make that information available to the customer on at least a monthly basis. In terms of a weight allowance, I am aware that one local authority has stipulated in bye-laws that 240 litre bins should not weigh more than 40kg when presented for collection in order to protect the health and safety of the person or persons collecting bins.
In the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, the Government 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 and the necessary regulatory steps are being put in place to give effect to this decision.
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.
