Written Answers Nos. 768-784
768. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the delivery of a joint venture between Bord na Móna and Coillte to capture synergies in the bioenergy sector. [30495/18]
View answerBord na Móna and Coillte Teoranta continue to work together on areas of joint interest, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding that was agreed by the two companies in 2016. The two companies are co-operating closely in a number of areas including:
1. Indigenous biomass supply;
2. Regional tourism development; and
3. Wind energy.
Bord na Móna is working with a number of stakeholders, including Coillte, on the development of an indigenous biomass supply chain. It is envisaged that these will include sawmill residues from a number of sources, willow from local growers and pulpwood logs mainly supplied by Coillte.
Bord na Móna launched a new division named Bord na Móna BioEnergy in 2017, which aims to be the largest supplier of biomass in the State. Bord na Móna BioEnergy will be using agri crops (principally willow) and forestry by-products including thinnings, brash, pulpwood as the main sources of biomass material. This material is currently being sourced in Ireland and abroad. The company will continue to work with the farming community and State agencies to develop a willow growing industry.
769. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the renegotiation of a revised gas security of supply regulation. [30496/18]
View answerThe renegotiation of EU Regulation 994/2010 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply concluded with the adoption of EU Regulation 2017/1938.
The revised regulation came into effect on 1 November 2017. The revised regulation further strengthens regional cooperation in the field of security of gas supply.
770. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the EU third energy package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30497/18]
View answerThe Third Energy Package was adopted in July 2009, and comprised two Directives and three Regulations: Directive 2009/72/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity; Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas; Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity; Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks; and Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.
The Third Energy Package was transposed into Irish law through a suite of legislation, including the following: S.I. No. 450/2010 - European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2010; S.I. No. 463/2011 - European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity and Gas) (Consumer Protection) Regulations of 2011; S.I. No. 570/2011 - European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) (Certification and Designation of the Transmission System Operator) Regulations 2011; S.I. No. 16/2015 - European Communities (Internal Market in Natural Gas and Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2015; S.I. No. 630/2011 - European Communities (Internal Market in Natural Gas and Electricity) Regulations 2011.
Implementation of the legislation is a matter for various bodies in the energy sector so tasked in the aforementioned legislation, including Ireland’s energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the Transmission System Operator (EirGrid), and the Distribution System Operator (EBSN).
As the Deputy will be aware, substantial elements of the 2009 Third Energy Package are set to be amended by the EU’s Clean Energy Package for All Europeans, negotiations of which are ongoing under the Austrian Presidency of the European Council, which aims to complete negotiations by the end of 2018, with subsequent dates from 2019 for adoption and entry into effect.
771. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of travel expenses for him and those who travel with him since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30506/18]
View answerThe costs incurred in relation to my travel (comprising mileage, flights, trains and taxis), and that of my Private Secretary and two special advisers amounted to €98,385.26 in the period since my appointment in May 2016 to date, and are detailed in the Table below.
|
|
Minister € |
Rúnaí Aire/Advisers € |
Total € |
|
Mileage |
38,373.24 |
3,106.70 |
41,479.94 |
|
Flights |
15,354.90 |
39,110.08 |
54,464.98 |
|
Trains |
225.40 |
450.80 |
676.20 |
|
Taxis |
777.56 |
986.58 |
1,764.14 |
|
|
54,731.10 |
43,654.16 |
98,385.26 |
772. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the rural broadband scheme will be extended to areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30521/18]
View answerThe 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 National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/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.
All 96 premises in the townland of Ballynacarrigy are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment.
There are 136 premises in the townland of Ballymore. 134 of these are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment. 2 are AMBER and will be served under the State led Intervention.
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. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Data for Q1 2018 submitted by eir to my Department indicated that the company has passed some 145,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. eir has signalled that there would be some knock-on effects to the 2018 milestone targets due to the severe weather impacts of both storms Ophelia and Emma.
I have met with the senior management in eir and expressed to them the importance of implementing measures to catch up with milestone targets as a priority.
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 this link.
773. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of times he has met his officials regarding Project Ireland 2040 since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30547/18]
View answerOn 20 June, I launched the 'Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Society' Strategic Investment Priority of Project Ireland 2040. This event, which was also attended by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, and other members of the Cabinet, had the theme of Empowering Communities for Climate Action.
Recognising the key role of communities as enablers and drivers of the low carbon transition in society, this event also included two panel discussions exploring how to engage society with climate change and how, once engaged with the challenge, citizens can be empowered to act, focusing especially on the role of Government expenditure policy, taxation measures and regulation in underpinning climate action. These panel discussions will, in turn, further inform the development of initiatives under the National Dialogue on Climate Action. A recording of the 20 June event is available to view on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie
Building on the National Mitigation Plan, the publication in February of the National Development Plan will lead to a significant step change in funding available for climate action in the next decade. Reflecting the strong commitment of the Government on this issue, almost €22 billion will be directed, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer resources, to addressing the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. In addition, the National Development Plan allocated a further €8.6 billion for investments in sustainable mobility. This means that well over €1 in every €5 spent under the National Development Plan will be on climate mitigation and this capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the period to 2030.
The key investment priorities in the National Development Plan that my Department will take forward include:
- energy efficiency upgrades of 45,000 homes per annum from 2021 and providing support for a major roll-out of heat pump technologies;
- delivering energy upgrades to BER 'B' level in all public buildings and a minimum of one third of commercial buildings;
- implementing the new renewable electricity support scheme to deliver an additional 3,000-4,500 MW of renewable energy, with the initial focus on shovel ready projects which could contribute to meeting our 2020 renewable energy targets;
- the roll-out of the support scheme for renewable heat and national smart metering programme;
- transitioning the Moneypoint plant away from coal by the middle of the next decade;
- having at least 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 with additional charging infrastructure to cater for planned growth; and
- a €500 million Climate Action Fund to leverage investment by public and private bodies in climate action measures, which I launched for applications on 9 July.
Both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan explicitly recognise that the reliance solely on Exchequer expenditure schemes is neither affordable nor adequate to meet the scale of the challenge to be addressed, and that climate mitigation action will require a targeted balance between Exchequer-supported expenditure, taxation measures, regulation and behavioural change.
In certain cases, taxation policy may have a stronger role to play in changing individual or business behaviour and investment decisions, including harnessing non-Exchequer finance. Carbon tax, in particular, has a critical role in climate mitigation policy and the national mitigation plan commits the Department of Finance to completing a review in 2018, with a view to setting a long-term trajectory for the evolution of this tax. Clear long-term signalling by the Government on the future evolution of the tax is vital, as well as an examination of what other changes to the taxation regime could be considered that would assist with the achievement of climate targets. The low emission vehicle task force is bringing forward proposals in this regard.
As regards significant regulatory change, the National Development Plan commits the Government to no new non-zero emission cars to be sold in Ireland post-2030, with no NCT certificates to be issued for non-zero emission cars post-2045. There is also to be a transition to a low emission urban bus fleet, including electric buses, with no diesel only buses purchased from 1 July 2019.
Given the significant role for my Department in the development and implementation of policies and programmes envisaged in the National Development Plan to advance our transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society, as well as other programmes for which I am responsible, I am in constant contact with my officials regarding the implementation of various elements of the Project Ireland 2040 commitments and I also meet with the Management Board of the Department each month to review progress on the full suite of business priorities for which the Department is responsible.
774. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of FOI requests his Department has received since January 2018; the number of refusals; the number that have been appealed and that are ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30564/18]
View answerDetails of the FOI requests received by my Department in the period 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2018, as requested by the Deputy is set out in the Table below.
|
Total no. of requests received |
No. of requests dealt with outside of the FOI process |
No. of requests processed
|
No. of requests refused |
No. of appeals |
No. of requests that are ongoing
|
|
164 |
17 |
113 |
32 |
2 |
34 |
The basis for the refusal of the 32 FOI requests in the relevant period is as follows:
Section 15 -Records do not exist (19 cases)
Section 33- Matters relating to the defence or security of the State (5 cases)
Sections 29 & 30 – Deliberative process of FOI Bodies (4 cases)
Section 15 - Information already in the public domain ( 2 cases)
Section 42 - Record relating to private papers of a member of the Oireachtas (1 case)
Section 28 - Meetings of Government (1 case)
775. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vacancies on State boards under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30581/18]
View answerThe table below outlines the vacancies on the State boards under the remit of my Department as at 30 June 2018. The detail of all State boards vacancies is available at www.stateboards.ie.
|
State Board |
Vacancies |
|
An Post |
2 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
5 |
|
EPA Advisory Committee |
1 |
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
2 |
|
Loughs Agency |
1 |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) |
1 |
|
RTÉ |
1 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) |
1 |
The vacancies on the SEAI and An Post boards are currently advertised on the State boards website, with closing dates of 1 August and 2 August 2018 respectively. The vacancies on the NORA and RTÉ boards were advertised on the State boards website with closing dates of 7 June and 4 July 2018 respectively and are currently undergoing an assessment process.
It is not proposed to fill the vacancies on the DHDA given the proposals to merge DHDA with Dublin City Council.
776. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his policy on fossil fuel divestment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30597/18]
View answerThe Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill seeks to amend the NTMA Acts to have the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund divest from fossil fuels. The Bill is progressing though the legislative process and is due before the Dáil this Thursday, 12 July. It is being brought to the Dáil by Department of Finance.
The Government and I are committed to reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. Our 2015 Energy White Paper on Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future sets out a vision of a low-carbon energy system where emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. The reduction will require a significant increase in the share of renewables in primary energy supply. The government has made a definitive decision to take coal out of power generation by 2025 and peat out before 2030. Ireland will be one of the first countries in Europe to do so. We will be one of the first countries in the world to ban smoky coal later this year.
This time last year I published Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan, an initial step to set Ireland on a pathway to achieve the deep decarbonisation required by 2050.
The National Mitigation Plan covers greenhouse gas emissions in the Electricity Generation, Built Environment, Transport, and Agriculture, Forest and Land Use sectors. For each sector, the Plan sets out the sectorial policy context, the greenhouse gas emissions trends for each sector, the opportunities and challenges, mitigation measures currently in place and under development, and specific actions to take forward work within each sector. The National Development Plan specifies that €1 in every €5 spent over the next decade in public funding is to be spent on climate –related activity.
Work is also being carried out to examine the potential economic impact of various carbon tax scenarios. A report is due to be published on this in advance of the forthcoming budget. The National Development Plan sets out the Government’s ambition that no new non-zero emission cars would be sold in Ireland post 2030. In addition, Budget 2018 introduced a range of measures to drive uptake in electric vehicle ownership including continuation of Electric Vehicle Purchase Grant and VRT reliefs, grants for home chargers and a 0% rate of benefit in kind for battery electric vehicles. My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport has introduced grant incentives for the uptake of electric vehicles in the Small Public Service Vehicle sector and discounted tolling charges for electric vehicles. Government continues to increase support to extended energy efficiency programmes managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), resulting in less reliance on imported fossil fuels.
778. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the basis on which a company (details supplied) can introduce a monthly service charge to customers who specifically choose to use a pay-per-lift service. [30710/18]
View answerAs Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment, I have no role in relation to the terms and conditions of private contracts, or in enforcing consumer protection legislation. The 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.
Notwithstanding the above, I established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor pricing developments for household waste collection services during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered nine months of pricing data trends. The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, prices have remained stable. Detailed data on the price offerings for the months of December to June is available on www.dccae.gov.ie
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is also currently conducting a separate study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018.
The results from the PMG in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions in relation to the household waste market.
779. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to provide assistance to persons to dispose safely of historical asbestos that they have on their land or in their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30871/18]
View answerThere is no funding available from my Department for the removal of asbestos from lands or residential properties.
The prevention of exposure to the harmful effects of asbestos is the focus of occupational safety and health legislation concerning asbestos in the workplace. Specific Regulations regarding the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos fibres while at work have been in place since 1989. The current Regulations are the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006, which are enforced by the Health and Safety Authority, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
The primary responsibility for the management of any waste, including costs for removal or disposal, lies with the holder of the waste, i.e. the natural or legal person in possession of the waste, or the producer of the waste. The Waste Management Act 1996 imposes a general duty of care on holders of waste. A person may not hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. In addition, in the case of hazardous waste, a holder of waste is required, without delay, to inform both the local authority concerned and the Environmental Protection Agency of any loss, spillage, accident or other development concerning that waste which causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution.
It is recommended that expert advice should be sought in dealing with asbestos materials and if removal is necessary it should only be done by a competent contractor with the required training and appropriate authorisations. Advice on the proper disposal of asbestos is available from the website of the Environmental Protection Agency at this link.
780. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the precise role of each State organisation in the enforcement of conditions attached to waste licences, waste permits, illegal dumping and other related waste laws; and the way in which he plans to strengthen enforcement in this area. [30893/18]
View answerIssues concerning the enforcement of waste legislation are statutory matters for local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as appropriate, who both have significant powers under waste regulations to secure compliance by waste operators. The role of my Department is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the enforcement authorities operate.
Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Agency or a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
The primary objective of local authorities in terms of waste enforcement is to achieve regulatory compliance in relation to waste activities in the local authority’s functional area. This covers a wide range of roles, including regulatory enforcement, undertaking inspections and taking appropriate measures to bring relevant parties into compliance, addressing unauthorised waste activities and responding to environmental complaints.
It is a matter for each individual local authority in the first instance to deal with any instances of illegal disposal of waste in their area and to take the appropriate enforcement action. Local authorities have significant powers available to them under the Waste Management Act, to enable them to tackle illegal waste activity. This includes the power to investigate complaints, prosecute offences, apply to the Courts for the imposition of fines, enter onto and inspect premises where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk of environmental pollution, direct a holder of waste to dispose of it in a certain way within a specific timeframe and monitor and inspect waste holding, recovery and disposal facilities.
Local authorities are assisted by three Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs), covering the Southern, Eastern and Midlands, and Connacht/Ulster Regions, which were established in 2015. The WERLA offices have responsibility for coordinating waste enforcement actions within regions, setting priorities and common objectives for waste enforcement, ensuring consistent enforcement of waste legislation while still leaving local authority personnel as first responders on the ground. The work of the WERLAs is overseen by a National Steering Committee which includes representatives from a wide range of regulatory and law enforcement authorities.
The Environmental Protection Agency carries out its waste enforcement functions through the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE), and the Office of Climate, Licensing, Resource and Research (OCLRR). The OEE has a mandate to deliver enhanced environmental compliance through enforcement of EPA licences issued to waste, industrial and other activities. It also exercises a supervisory role in respect of the environmental protection activities of local authorities. In this regard, the OEE acts as a resource to members of the public who have exhausted all other avenues of complaint. Further enforcement responsibility is assigned to the OCLRR, including producer responsibility enforcement related to WEEE, batteries and tyres.
The National Transfrontier Waste Shipment (TFS) Office was established in 2007 as part of Ireland’s transposition of Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the waste shipment regulation). All transfrontier shipments of waste originating in any local authority area in the State that are subject to prior written notification procedures must be notified to and through the National TFS Office who have a dedicated enforcement team in place to tackle the illegal shipment of waste abroad.
The National Waste Collection Permit Office processes waste collection permit applications and review applications for all local authorities. It maintains the Waste Collection Permit register, revokes Waste Collection Permits as appropriate, and provides data reports to relevant stakeholders- including enforcement authorities where required.
My commitment to supporting waste enforcement activities is demonstrated through continued investment in the network of local authority waste enforcement officers, increased resources for the EPA and the development of the WERLA Offices. My Department is at an advanced stage of reviewing the €7.4 million annual waste enforcement grant provided to local authorities in order to ensure that resources are placed where they are needed most. A further €1 million is being invested in the WERLA offices on an annual basis while my Department has also provided €3.3 million to support the national anti-dumping initiative in the past two years. Notwithstanding this support it is a matter for local authorities to ensure that the statutory functions that they are charged with delivering are adequately resourced, that they engage proactively with the other supports which are available to them through the EPA’s NIECE Enforcement network and that staff avail of the training and development opportunities available to them as professional waste enforcement practitioners.
781. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the installation of broadband at a location details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31015/18]
View answerThe 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 a Commitment Agreement signed in April 2017.
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will rollout a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
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 made 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.
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 this link.
783. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a service level agreement, in number of days, for the planning process for renewable energy projects from design through to operation (details supplied); and the way in which these service level agreements compare with the UK and Germany. [31050/18]
View answerRenewable electricity projects are subject to a number of separate processes relating to planning requirements, grid connection and financial support. These processes differ across jurisdictions in Europe where planning laws, grid access rules and funding arrangements are not necessarily comparable.
Planning applications in Ireland are generally made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board). Applications for larger wind energy projects (with 25 turbines and above or having a total output greater than 50 megawatts) are made directly to the Board under Strategic Infrastructure Development system. Planning authorities normally decide planning application within 8 weeks. Where an appeal is lodged with the Board in relation to a planning decision by a local authority, the Board has a statutory objective to determine the matter within 18 weeks. For Strategic Infrastructure Development generally, the Board has an objective to make a decision on applications within a period of 18 weeks.
Renewable electricity projects that are eligible for financial support under the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff that is administered by my Department must adhere to applicable timelines in relation to the furnishing of relevant permissions and consents, as well as deadlines for connecting to the electricity grid.
The processing of applications to the electricity grid is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU, ESB Networks and EirGrid are working to develop a programme for issuing new connection offers under the revised Enduring Connection Policy (ECP-1) rules. This programme includes the scheduling of individual and grouped grid connections.
The scheduling of grid delivery for specific projects is dependent on parameters such as geographical location, network capacity, operational conditions and the requirement for network reinforcements, which is assessed on a case by case basis. I understand that, insofar as possible, ESB Networks co-ordinates its connection works with developer project timelines, to align generator delivery schedules with proposed energisation dates. The timelines for works associated with an individual generator's connection to the grid depends on the connection method and associated works required for that connection.
Finally, timescales for the funding of renewable energy projects are a commercial matter for project developers.
784. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider using the Kilbarry project in Waterford city as a pilot scheme to reassess planning restrictions regarding the ESB grid access. [31052/18]
View answerI am not aware of the details regarding grid access for the Kilbarry development, however if the Deputy has further information in that regard and can forward the details I will ask my officials to examine the matter further if there are any relevant policy issues arising.
I have no function in relation to planning requirements for connections to the electricity grid. Planning applications are generally made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board). Applications for larger wind energy projects (with 25 turbines and above or having a total output greater than 50 megawatts) are made directly to the Board under the Strategic Infrastructure Act.
The regulation of the electricity network (including the management of the grid connection process) is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent statutory body.
