Róisín Shortall
Question:421. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of quarries here; and the number that are in use by county. [29093/18]
View answerQuarrying Sector
Questions (421)
Written answers
The Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009 requires each local authority to establish and maintain a register of all extractive industries within its functional area, including the working of quarries. Under Regulation 19(1) each local authority are obliged to:
Establish and maintain a register of all extractive industries within its functional area including-:
- the extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources,
- the working of quarries, and
- the extraction, treatment and storage of peat.
Regulation 19(2) requires the EPA to maintain the register on behalf of the local authorities and to prescribe the form and manner in which such information shall be entered and maintained.
The Extractive Industries Register allows for the requirements under the Regulations 19 to be met and can be accessed at the following link: http://watermaps.wfdireland.ie/ExtractiveFacilities/SearchTheRegister.aspx
Waste Management Data
Questions (422, 423)
Catherine Murphy
Question:422. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding streams that exist for the development of new and existing civic amenity facilities; and the amount that has been spent on each in each of the past five years. [28668/18]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:423. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of civic amenity facilities (details supplied) here; and the location of each. [28669/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.
There is currently no exchequer funding available for the development of new and existing civic amenity sites.
Between 2000 and 2015, a total of approximately €210 million was provided to Local Authorities for the building and operation of bottle banks and civic amenity sites. With declining resources in the Environment Fund to provide subventions to Local Authorities and conclusion of the EU-supported capital schemes, my Department’s support for local reuse and recycling has become more strategic in focus. In addition to funding the establishment and operation of the three regional waste management planning offices to drive reuse and recycling in our communities at a cost of some €300,000 each year, I am also providing funding in 2018 towards the refurbishment of Local Authority bottle banks and bring centres. This is a joint initiative of the regional waste management planning offices and Repak. The following table provides a breakdown of Local Authority supported civic amenity sites by county; the information was collated by my officials in January 2018 and is the most recent information held by my Department.
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
|
Clare |
5 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
|
Cork Co |
11 |
|
Galway Co |
3 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
1 |
|
Dublin City |
2 |
|
Fingal |
2 |
|
Galway City |
1 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Laois |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
|
Limerick City & Co |
5 |
|
Longford |
0 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Meath |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
South Dublin |
1 |
|
Tipperary Co |
5 |
|
Waterford City and Co |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
|
Wexford Co |
5 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
|
|
91 |
Waste Management
Questions (424)
Catherine Murphy
Question:424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the basis on which disposal charges are set for civic amenity facilities. [28670/18]
View answerWritten answers
Waste management planning, including infrastructure provision such as civic amenity sites, is the responsibility of local authorities under the Waste Management Act 1996. Under section 60(3) of that Act, I, as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act. I refer the Deputy to the Local Government Management Agency for the information sought.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (425)
David Cullinane
Question:425. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in his Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28741/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, including regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. The Department necessarily incurs some occasional expenditure on archaeological services from time to time.
In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.
The policy of selection and contracting of archaeological services for my Department is carried out as part of competitive procurement processes in line with Office of Government Procurement guidelines. Where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs.
The information requested is outlined in tabular format:
|
Year (2013 - 2018 to date) |
Provider of commercial archaeology services |
Cost (inc vat) |
Totals (by year) |
|
2013 |
- |
- |
|
|
2014 |
CDRS Ltd |
€4,766 |
|
|
CDRS Ltd |
€1,291 |
||
|
€6,057 |
|||
|
2015 |
CDRS Ltd |
€615 |
|
|
€615 |
|||
|
IAC* |
€3,567 |
||
|
IAC |
€3,905 |
||
|
€7,472 |
|||
|
2016 |
IAC |
€1,660 |
|
|
IAC |
€510 |
||
|
IAC |
€9,664 |
||
|
IAC |
€676 |
||
|
IAC |
€2,981 |
||
|
IAC |
€1,021 |
€16,512 |
|
|
2017 |
IAC |
€9,317 |
|
|
€9,317 |
|||
|
2018 |
- |
||
|
€39,973 |
*Irish Archaeological Consultancy
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (426)
Tom Neville
Question:426. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28790/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure 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. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
In April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This Map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the NBP. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address and eircode.
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April 2017 and available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. This process is now in its final stages.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (427)
Robert Troy
Question:427. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the rural broadband scheme will be extended to cover an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28797/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure 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. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
In April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, which shows those areas that will be served by commercial operators and those that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the NBP. This includes approximately 300,000 premises to be passed as part of eir's rural deployment of high speed broadband as part of the Commitment Agreement signed in April 2017.
The Eircode referenced by the Deputy within the townland of Ballinamuddagh, Co. Westmeath is in an AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map. This premises will therefore be included in the State Intervention Area under the NBP. My Department is in the final stages of the procurement process to select a company who will rollout a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area.
The rollout of broadband infrastructure close to this premises is a commercial undertaking by eir. Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the rollout and siting of high speed broadband infrastructure are taken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and fully appreciate the frustration felt by people who do not currently have access to this level of connectivity. Delivering connectivity under the NBP where commercial providers would not otherwise act remains a Government priority.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives are being undertaken through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. A list of Broadband Officers, is available on my Department's website at https://dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (428)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:428. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the European Court of Auditors report and the fact that Ireland is unlikely to receive 100% coverage of fast broadband by 2020 (details supplied). [28813/18]
View answerWritten answers
The NBP aims to ensure 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. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
My Department is in the final stages of the formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area.
I welcome the recently published European Court of Auditor's (ECA) report on broadband in EU Member States and acknowledge the comments on Ireland's progress under the NBP. I also note that the referenced report acknowledges Ireland's overall improved performance in access to high speed broadband. I further welcome the overall positive comments from the ECA regarding Ireland's progress towards achieving the ambition of the EU Digital Agenda for 2020 - "Connectivity for a Gigabit Society" and its observations that Ireland is in a good position to achieving this ambition upon implementation of the NBP. A key element of the NBP is to build a future proofed network which will ultimately support future European connectivity goals, including the EU ambition that, by 2025:
- all schools, transport hubs and main providers of public services as well as digitally intensive enterprises should have access to internet connections with download/upload speeds of 1 Gigabit of data per second
- all European households, rural or urban, should have access to networks offering a download speed of at least 100 Mbps, which can be upgraded to 1 Gigabit
- all urban areas as well as major roads and railways should have uninterrupted 5G wireless broadband coverage.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (429)
Catherine Murphy
Question:429. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at his Department building and other buildings used by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28886/18]
View answerWritten answers
Currently, my Department has one e-car charging point and one designated parking bay at its headquarters in Dublin 2, and is set to increase to three charging points shortly. The position at my Department's office locations will be kept under review in the light of growing demand.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (430, 438)
Catherine Murphy
Question:430. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of funding in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to boost electric vehicle ownership, including purchase grants, 0% benefit-in-kind and home charger installation grants; his plans to increase the number of charging ports for vehicles; the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at his Department's office building and other buildings used by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28907/18]
View answer
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:438. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for legislative change to make it compulsory that all commercial, retail and residential development being built or planned in the future will be required to have power points for electric vehicles at each of the associated car parking spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29274/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 438 together.
The National Development Plan sets the ambition of at least 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and, in order to support reaching this level, allocates €200m in funding for electric vehicles over the period 2018 to 2027.
Funding of €9.8 million has been allocated in my Department's budget this year to support the increased deployment of electric vehicles. These supports include the Electric Vehicle Purchase Grant (€6.0m capital and €0.1m current), the Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant (€1.0m capital and €0.1m current), supports for public charging (€1.5m capital and €0.3m current) and the Electric Vehicle Public Awareness Programme (€0.5m capital and €0.3m current). No decision has yet been reached on specific funding levels for future years. Benefit-in-kind comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
The National Policy Framework: Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030 sets out the need for electric vehicle charging in Ireland. Although the existing capacity of the public charging network is considered adequate, development of infrastructure to meet the growing demand is necessary.
A key aspect of the work of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, involves examining how best to support the development of the public charging network. The first phase of the Taskforce's work, which focuses on electric vehicles, is nearing completion and I expect to bring forward proposals that will support the provision of effective and efficient publically accessible electric vehicle charging later this year.
Funding for public charging in local communities is already available through the Better Energy Communities Scheme. The scheme, which is administered by the SEAI, supports community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area.
To support home charging, where the majority of electric vehicle charging takes place, I introduced the Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant this year. This supports the cost of installing a home charger up to a maximum of €600 for buyers of both new and second-hand electric vehicles.
As part of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead department in relation to planning legislation and building regulations. In addition, the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was recently finalised at European Union level. This Directive sets out requirements for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new residential and non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces and such buildings undergoing major renovation. The Directive also requires Member States to lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of recharging points for all non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces from 2025. Furthermore, the Directive requires that Member States provide for measures in order to simplify the deployment of recharging points in new and existing residential and non-residential buildings. The transposition of this Directive into Irish law will be led by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Currently, my Department has one electric vehicle charging point with a designated parking place at its offices Adelaide Road in Dublin. It is planned to increase this number to three charging points with accompanying designated parking places. The position at my Department's office locations will be kept under review in the light of growing demand.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (431)
James Browne
Question:431. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the roll-out of fibre broadband in County Wexford under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28912/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure 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. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, this will increase to 9 out of 10 premises. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
The Intervention Area for the State led intervention, coloured AMBER on my Department's High Speed Broadband Map (www.broadband.gov.ie) shows those premises that will not receive this service without Government intervention. Information on specific categories of premises can be accessed by entering the relevant eircode into the Map.
There are just over 82,000 premises in County Wexford. Some 21,500 (26%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. Approximately 52,500 (64%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are, or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 8,000 (10%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment, which has already deployed to around 14,400 premises in the county. Individuals can check which category their premises falls into by going to my Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie and entering their Eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
A full set of county statistics are available at www.broadband.gov.ie.
Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie.
My Department is in the final stages of a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
Alternative Energy Projects
Questions (432)
James Browne
Question:432. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding micro generation of solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28913/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am committed to exploring opportunities for micro generation further, as I believe it can offer customers protection from rising energy costs and could enhance broader social engagement with renewable energy projects across Ireland. Furthermore, micro generation will be required given the scale of our climate and energy ambition as laid out in the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. My Department already supports the deployment of Solar PV through the SEAI led Better Energy Communities and Deep Retrofit pilot schemes.
Last year, my Department assessed micro generation, across a number of renewable electricity generating technologies (including solar PV), as part of the economic analysis to underpin the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The assessment identified technical and financial challenges which may need to be addressed before a broader support scheme for micro generation can be introduced. This is in line with international experience, including across the EU, where many member states who have introduced supports for micro generation have had to reform them or cancel them altogether.
The reality is that bringing micro generation on to a system designed for large generators is complicated. It impacts how we pay for the network, how we manage regulation and how we technically manage the system. My Department is continuing to work closely with the micro generation sector and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to better understand how to validate and further develop these policies in a fair and cost effective manner.
Solar PV and self-consumption among domestic customers will be supported under a pilot scheme to promote micro generation, due to be launched this summer. It is important that before a scheme like this is introduced, the likely demand for the scheme is understood and the SEAI are currently assessing the results of a study that examined this aspect. It is equally important that safety, technical and training requirements are established in advance of this pilot scheme being rolled out and the SEAI are developing a micro generation Code of Practice which will underpin the pilot scheme.
The data gathered during the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for micro generation in Ireland that may be appropriate, as we align with the ambition of the recast Renewable Energy Directive which recognises the rights, entitlements and obligations of renewable self-consumers. This pilot scheme will deliver on ambitions and commitments made in the Energy White Paper and the Programme for Government.
Electricity Generation
Questions (433)
Seán Fleming
Question:433. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the names and roles of each person that attended a meeting (details supplied); the person that wrote the note for information arising from that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28981/18]
View answerWritten answers
At the meeting in January 2018 which I attended with officials along with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Ratheniska, Timahoe, Spink and Surrounding Areas Substation Action Group outlined aspects of the project with which they were dissatisfied. These aspects covered issues of concern from the origins of the project in 2009 to the present day. I listened carefully to the many views expressed and I undertook to further consider the issues raised.
The Laois-Kilkenny electricity project is to improve the security of electricity supply across counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare and Laois. It is a €110 million investment in the area designed to ensure that the electricity network can meet the present and future needs of all users, from homes to farms and small businesses to industrial customers. The project was granted planning permission in 2014 by An Bord Pleanála. That decision was subject to Judicial Review proceedings which were dismissed in January 2015.
Last month all planning conditions were discharged and works have begun at the site. All matters arising are now an operational matter for the project developers, EirGrid and ESB Networks, and subject to monitoring in accordance with the planning system.
Since the meeting, my officials have engaged with EirGrid, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and other parties in an effort to explore the issues raised. A report was prepared by my officials, which details those issues and I sent it to the Group on 19th June.
Fuel Laundering
Questions (434)
Declan Breathnach
Question:434. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual cost related to the clean-up and restoration process due to fuel laundering by local authority in 2016, 2017 and 2018, in tabular form; if his attention has been drawn to an increase in this illegal activity in 2018 in County Louth; the measures which will be taken to assist in the clean-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/18]
View answerWritten answers
Enforcement in relation to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners from the point of view of avoiding loss of revenue to the Exchequer. My Department assists local authorities in carrying out their role as competent authorities under waste legislation, which is to take the necessary measures, on behalf of the State, to ensure that any waste generated and left abandoned by diesel launderers is disposed of without endangering human health and without harming the environment. Over 1,000 incidents of diesel laundering waste dumping have been dealt with by local authorities to date and my Department has reimbursed the costs associated with such disposal in every instance. Details of the amount provided by my Department for the period 2016-2018 are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Louth County Council |
Monaghan County Council |
Total |
|
2016 |
€922,518 |
€98,044 |
€1,020,562 |
|
2017 |
€174,906 |
€49,307 |
€224,213 |
|
2018 |
€92,839 |
€0 |
€92,839 |
In April 2015, the UK and Ireland both introduced a new fuel marker, and there has been a significant decline in the number of incidents and tonnages of fuel laundered waste arising as a consequence. However a complete solution to this problem must necessarily involve continued effective and co-ordinated enforcement of the law from both a revenue and a waste management perspective. In that context, my Department is represented on the Cross Border Fuel Laundering Group and continues to liaise with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the local authorities, and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities to seek to identify more effective enforcement solutions and these engagements will continue.
Electricity Generation
Questions (435, 436)
Seán Sherlock
Question:435. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the carbon capture and storage study has been completed; if his attention has been drawn to the report; and if not, when the study will be completed and published. [29031/18]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:436. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department is engaging with stakeholders in respect of the future of the Kinsale gas field; and if plans have been made in relation to the potential for carbon capture. [29032/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together.
The 2015 Energy White Paper envisages that, for the medium term, gas will remain a critical component of our electricity generation mix as we transition to a low carbon energy system. In this context, there may be a role for carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Subject to commercial and technical considerations, CCS could facilitate decarbonisation of our electricity sector. This technology involves capturing carbon dioxide from power stations and transporting it to geological storage sites.
In the period 2012 to 2014, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), which is part of my Department, engaged in a joint project with the British Geological Survey, re-assessing shared saline aquifer basins in the Irish Sea and their suitability for possible CO2 storage. Extant seismic and well data were reassessed for the Central Irish Sea Basin and the north-eastern part of the North Celtic Sea Basin. The report is available on the GSI website www.gsi.ie under the CCS section. The study found that while well data are generally favourable, the basins studied are structurally complex, with a lot of faulting that compartmentalises potential reservoir units and no obvious large storage site was identified. The study indicated that there is scope to extend this study to other basins that might be more favourable, particularly in the south Celtic Sea.
As outlined in the National Mitigation Plan, a watching brief is being maintained on this developing technology and related research and further studies will be carried out as appropriate.
Officials in my Department have met with Ervia, the parent company of Gas Networks Ireland, to discuss the potential for CCS in Ireland in particular in respect of the Kinsale gas fields, which are coming to the end of their productive life and will commence decommissioning in the next few years.
https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/natural-resources/consultations/Pages/Decommissioning-of-certain-facilities-within-the-Kinsale-Head-and-Seven-Heads-Petroleum-Lease-areas.aspx
North-South Interconnector
Questions (437)
Niamh Smyth
Question:437. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delay in publishing the studies in relation to the North-South interconnector; the timeframe for publication of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/18]
View answerWritten answers
In 2017 I commissioned two studies designed to address the main points of the motions passed in Dáil and Seanad Éireann as well as key concerns expressed by the parties opposed to the development of the North South Interconnector as an overhead line. The first is an independent study to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the interconnector. The second study is focused on the levels of compensation provided to land and property owners in proximity to high-voltage transmission lines in a European context.
I indicated previously that the Consultants undertaking the two studies have finalised their reports and it is my intention that these will be brought to Government and made publicly available. I expect to bring both reports to Government shortly.
Question No. 438 answered with Question No. 430.
Environmental Protection Agency Staff
Questions (439)
Pat Buckley
Question:439. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, was a project manager at a company (details supplied) when first appointed to that body; his views on whether there may be a conflict of interest in view of the role of the company in numerous projects such as the proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy. [29432/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the Director General's background and note that the employment in question predated her first appointment as a Director of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004. While serving as a Director and in response to an open competition, she was appointed Director General of the Agency in 2011.
I am advised that the provisions of Sections 37 and 38 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, as amended, which relate to the declaration and disclosure of interests, are being fully complied with by the Director General. I am also advised that the Director General has not participated in decisions on licence applications for any projects associated with the company she worked for prior to her taking up her appointment with the EPA in 2004.
I, therefore, have no concerns in relation to potential conflicts of interest of the nature suggested in the Question.
Public Bike Schemes
Questions (440)
Seán Sherlock
Question:440. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the meetings he or his officials have had with Cork City Council to discuss the extension of the public bike scheme. [28636/18]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycle and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, including the management of public bike schemes.
Decisions regarding contracts, operation and expansion of existing and proposed bike schemes fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Meetings to discuss any of the above mentioned should therefore take place between the NTA and the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply with regard to your particular query. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.