Written Answers Nos. 503-520
503. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if bids or expressions of interest have been received to date since the bidding process for the national broadband plan closed; if he has had engagement with the remaining consortium bidding for the project by phone, email, letter or meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39421/18]
View answerAs I informed the House on 18 September my Department received the Final Tender submission from the bidder in the National Broadband Plan State led intervention procurement process on that date. Since receipt of that Final Tender on September 18 no further bids or expressions of interest have been received and I have had no engagement with the bidder.
504. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has consulted with his officials regarding discontinuing the bidding process for the national broadband plan and retendering the project; if he has received written and-or verbal advice or reports from his officials on this course of action; the estimated cost of retendering the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39424/18]
View answerFollowing eir's withdrawal from the NBP procurement process earlier this year, leaving a single remaining bidder, I understand my Department's procurement team conducted a project re-appraisal exercise in line with the Public Spending Code. The re-appraisal exercise identified the preferred option as continuing with the procurement process.
My Department is currently evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process has now entered its final stage.
505. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an issue raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39443/18]
View answerThe premises referred to by the Deputy is in a LIGHT BLUE area according to my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with me in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband in the LIGHT BLUE area of the map and had passed approximately 175,000 of these premises as of Q2 2018.
I understand from my Department that the premises referred to by the Deputy is a new build and that eir's high speed broadband network has passed the premises. I also understand that the new Eircode for this premises is now in eir's database which should allow for a connection to be requested and provided.
506. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the introduction of incentives to encourage the use of biofuels will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39520/18]
View answerThe Biofuels Obligation Scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency, is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland. The scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of road transport fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of annual fuel sales. It is a certificate based scheme with two certificates awarded per litre of sustainable biofuel if that biofuel is produced from wastes or residues and one certificate per litre for all other sustainable biofuels. For each calendar year, a fuel supplier must hold sufficient biofuel obligation certificates to demonstrate compliance. The number of certificates required is determined by the biofuel obligation rate, which is currently set at 8%. This means that at the end of 2018, a fuel supplier must hold 8 biofuel certificates for every 92 litres of fossil fuel they place on the road transport fuel market this year.
In 2017 the Biofuels Obligation Scheme resulted in over 225 million litres of biofuel being placed on the market in Ireland leading to over 7% renewable energy use in the transport sector compared to the 10% target for 2020 under the Renewable Energy Directive.
In April 2018, I published a Biofuel Obligation Scheme Policy Statement which set out six key actions that will be undertaken in the development of the scheme. This included an increase in the biofuel obligation rate to 10% by volume from 1 January 2019 and 11% by volume from 1 January 2020. The first of these changes has been enacted by S.I. No. 169 of 2018 and I intend to enact the second of these changes early next year.
507. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39578/18]
View answerProject Ireland 2040 sets out the Government’s overarching policy for infrastructural and economic growth, incorporating themes of wellbeing, equality and opportunity. Combining the National Planning Framework to 2040 and the National Development Plan to 2027, the initiative contains 10 ambitious targets to address sustainable national development.
My Department held an event on 20 June 2018 to highlight one of these targets, the Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society. The event was designed to open dialogue among a range of stakeholders on collaborative and community-based approaches to achieving this key strategic outcome, as well as offering valuable insights from the individuals, organisations and agencies who will work closely with Government to address these issues. The event, entitled “Empowering Communities for Climate Action”, showcased local initiatives that are addressing climate change and sustainable growth. It also highlighted the critical issue of behavioural change, and how government and communities can address these challenges and opportunities.
I hosted the event which was also attended by the Taoiseach, and Ministers for Finance; Housing, Planning and Local Government; Transport, Tourism and Sport; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The full cost of this event was €28,278 inclusive of VAT, which included venue hire; refreshments for all attendees; staging, AV and recording; the design and print of information material outlining the NDP investment in Climate Action entitled “Investing in the Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Society”; the creation of a short video for online dissemination to highlight climate investment; and photography.
508. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the location of each of the 14 publicly accessible compressed natural gas refilling stations that Gas Networks Ireland is delivering; and the timeline for delivery of each of these stations. [39592/18]
View answerThe delivery of 14 Compressed Natural Gas filling stations, as part of the Causeway Project, is an operational matter for Gas Networks Ireland.
I have been provided with an update on the current status these stations by Gas Networks Ireland which is set out in the table below.
|
Location |
Status |
|
|
Station 1 |
Dublin Port |
The station is constructed and has been commissioned. Gas has been successfully dispensed. A licence Application has been submitted to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The station is scheduled to be operational later this year. |
|
Station 2 |
Exit 8, Cashel |
Planning permission has recently been granted and the station is scheduled to be operational in 2019. |
|
Station 3 |
Kinsale Road, Cork |
Planning permission has recently been submitted and the station is planned to be operational in 2019. |
|
Station 4, 5, 6, 7 |
Louth, Limerick, Portlaoise and Tipperary (exact locations to be confirmed) |
Construction is likely to take place in 2019. |
|
Station 8-14 |
To be confirmed. |
Negotiations in relation to locations are ongoing. |
509. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the disallowance of up to €75 with regard to waste collection for persons with a long-term certified medical condition, which was announced in 2017, will be implemented. [39612/18]
View answerMy Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a €75 support for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of medical incontinence products. This process has unfortunately taken longer than envisaged, due to data protection issues that have arisen since the introduction of GDPR. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to introducing the annual support as soon as practically possible in conjunction with relevant agencies and stakeholders. In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this measure.
This measure 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 a weight related fee.
As announced in mid-2017, mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging is not being introduced. Allowing for a range of charging options, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste, provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances.
The Price Monitoring Group has considered twelve months of data to date. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend is relative price stability.
511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 50 and 80 of 18 September 2018, if it is the case that EirGrid has not had sight of or been consulted regarding the two independent reports he commissioned in respect of the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39785/18]
View answerEirgrid is a commercial State company which holds the licence, from the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, as transmission system operator (TSO) in Ireland, in accordance with EU and Irish law. CRU issued the licence to Eirgrid under S.14(1)(e) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 on 20th June 2001. In this role as transmission system operator, EirGrid, as the national authority, is responsible for the operation, development and maintenance of Ireland’s electricity transmission system. Eirgrid’s role is to deliver connection, transmission, and market services to generators, suppliers and customers utilising the high voltage electricity system and to put in place the grid infrastructure to support the development of Ireland’s Economy. Moreover, EirGrid is statutorily obliged “to explore and develop opportunities for interconnection” as well as developing, operating and maintaining a “safe, secure, reliable, economical and efficient electricity transmission system by virtue of Regulation 8 of SI 445 of 2000, the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000. This SI gave effect to various elements of Directive No 96/92 /EC, and specifically provided for the establishment and designation of the transmission system operator (TSO) and set out its functions. In determining the approach to improving the operation of the All-Island Single Electricity Market, the development of an overhead line, linking sub-stations in Meath and Tyrone, was determined as the best fit, being the economical and the best technical solution. The project has been subject to substantial study and review, with planning permission granted in December 2016.
In relation to the two independent reports dealing with the North-South Interconnector (NSIC ) that I commissioned following engagement with members of the Oireachtas and community interests, these were considered by Government this morning and are being published on the website of my Department. One considers the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the NSIC, while the second addresses comparative international practice and approaches to compensation of property owners in proximity to high-voltage lines. On the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding, the report concludes that from a techno-economic point of view, an Alternating Current Overhead Line is the most beneficial way of meeting the need for enhanced power transfer capability between Ireland and Northern Ireland. On comparative international practice in relation to compensation, that report indicates that Ireland has a comparatively generous compensation regime in place.
The International Expert Commission who conducted the technical study met with a number of bodies, including the CRU and EirGrid, during the course of their work. In their capacities as the national regulator and the transmission system operator, the final reports relating to the North South Interconnector were provided to both EirGrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
In addition to publishing the reports on the website of my Department, I am forwarding copies of the two Reports to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
512. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects progress will be made on appointing a company to roll out rural broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39786/18]
View answerMy 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, and is now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.
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.
513. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the response to the opening of a sinkhole at Magheracloone, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/18]
View answer514. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the arrangements in place for the monitoring of disused or historic mines that may develop a risk of causing the development of sinkholes or other forms of subsidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/18]
View answer515. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position with regard to the identification and monitoring of potential sinkholes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39867/18]
View answer516. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the location of closed or abandoned mines; the nature or designation of each mine, for example, open or shaft; the date on which an inspection or site visit was last carried out or reported to his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39868/18]
View answerI propose to take questions Nos. 513 to 516, inclusive, together.
A land subsidence incident in the grounds of the Magheracloone GAA club was reported on Monday morning, 24 September affecting lands above the disused underground gypsum mine at Drumgoosat, Co. Monaghan. An investigation team engaged by the company, incorporating mining engineers from the UK, arrived at the site to assess the situation and determine the scale and cause of the subsidence and the risk of further events occurring in the area. My Department’s senior geologists and I visited the site on Tuesday 25th September. Since then, officials of the Department have been liaising with the company and the other regulatory authorities on an ongoing basis and have continued to monitor the situation closely.
The initial Gyproc investigation has identified that recent mining operations involving the transport and storage of water in an old part of the mine, previously unused for water storage, resulted in the collapse. The initial report further indicates that these circumstances do not appear to be present elsewhere in the vicinity, though the company is taking all precautions and conducting further investigations to ensure this is the case.
Gyproc has verified that the area of subsidence, known technically as the disturbance zone, at Magheracloone GAA Club is approximately 120 metres in radius. Gyproc is confident that if there is any further subsidence, it will be confined to this zone. Outside of the actual disturbance zone, an area including five houses and two stretches of public road has been identified for investigation. This is being done on a precautionary basis, as is the closure to traffic of certain sections of road, including part of the main Carrickmacross to Kingscourt (R179) road.
Ireland has a mining heritage that extends back to the Bronze Age. Mining has occurred at hundreds of sites, the majority of which are not the legal responsibility of the State (the relevant private mineral owner or landowner is responsible in most cases). The Department maintains an inventory of sites at which historical mining is known to have occurred in compliance with Article 20 of the Extractive Industries Waste Directive (2006/21/EC).
Although the majority of abandoned mines in Ireland are not the legal responsibility of the State, over 80 individual sites have been assessed in relation to the potential risk posed to human and animal health and the environment between 2006 and 2009, as part of a joint investigation undertaken by the Geological Survey Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency and the Exploration and Mining Division of the Department. The main findings of this investigation are available from http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/land/mines.
The high-risk mining sites identified have been inspected on numerous occasions in recent years. In collaboration with the Office of Public Works, mine safety works have been completed at a number of these sites, including Silvermines, Avoca, Allihies, Bunmahon, and various small 19th century workings.
All current underground mining operations (Navan, Drummond), and recently-closed mines (Galmoy and Lisheen), are required to undertake ground subsidence monitoring and to report the results to the Department. All current mines are, in addition, inspected twice yearly by an independent Mining Expert and the Department.
Between 1998 and 1999, the Department also contracted external consultants to independently review the subsidence risk of the underground gypsum mines, near Kingscourt. The report recommended detailed underground inspections and a programme of periodic measurement of surface levelling points and surface inspections in those areas of the mine lying below public roads and buildings. This follow-up work was undertaken by the independent consultants between 2001 and 2005. Arising from this work, a programme of subsidence monitoring was implemented at these mines by Gyproc.
517. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the three reports that have been commissioned on the North-South interconnector will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39957/18]
View answer518. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to present the three reports that are being prepared on the North-South interconnector project in a manner that is appropriate and accessible for persons deemed functionally illiterate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39958/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together.
In July this year I sought reports from the Energy Regulator, and electricity and gas transmission system operators (Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, Eirgrid, Gas Networks Ireland) on the implications for the electricity market in Ireland in the event of a hard Brexit, including for the Single Electricity Market (SEM), for the delivery of programmes such as DS3, the North South Electricity Interconnector and continued secure cross-border electricity trading.
I have received the reports and all identify significant market challenges absent an agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) on energy trading post Brexit. After Brexit, trade in energy between EU Member States and the UK, including that on SEM, will involve trade with a Third Country with implications for the smooth operation of markets. These issues, principally around regulatory alignment, level playing field, market oversight, etc., are not new and have featured in Ireland's input to the EU's negotiations with the UK. Given the level of detailed analysis that the reports have gone into in terms of the specifics of individual instruments and their relevance to Ireland's continuing input to EU negotiation with the UK, it would not be appropriate to publish these reports at this time, but the key points will be raised with the EU's negotiators.
I would also point out to the Deputy that trade between the EU and Third Countries in electricity is long standing, providing greater security of supply, reduction in network constraints, increased competition and enhanced capacity to accommodate renewable energy.
In relation to the two independent reports dealing with the North-South Interconnector (NSIC) that I commissioned following engagement with members of the Oireachtas and community interests, these were considered by Government this morning and are available on my Department's website. One considers the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the NSIC, while the second addresses comparative international practice and approaches to compensation of property owners in proximity to high-voltage lines.
On the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding, the report concludes that from a techno-economic point of view, an Alternating Current Overhead Line is the most beneficial way of meeting the need for enhanced power transfer capability between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
On comparative international practice in relation to compensation, that report indicates that Ireland has a comparatively generous compensation regime in place.
In addition to publishing the reports on the website of my Department, I am forwarding copies of the two Reports to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
519. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the supports offered to a case (details supplied); the status of the matter; the agencies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40035/18]
View answerA land subsidence incident in the grounds of the Magheracloone GAA club was reported on Monday morning, 24 September affecting lands above the disused underground gypsum mine at Drumgoosat, Co. Monaghan. An investigation team engaged by the company, incorporating mining engineers from the UK, arrived at the site to assess the situation and determine the scale and cause of the subsidence and the risk of further events occurring in the area. My Department’s senior geologists and I visited the site on Tuesday 25th September. Since then, my officials have been liaising with the company and the other regulatory authorities, Monaghan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency, on an ongoing basis and have continued to monitor the situation closely.
520. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40348/18]
View answerThe Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment - along with a number of other government departments - has a strong annual presence at the National Ploughing Championships.
2018 was the second year the Department had its own marquee at the event, and the exhibition space housed stands from a number of the Department’s divisions and agencies and initiatives being undertaken by the Department, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, ComReg, Eircodes, the National Broadband Plan, Geological Survey Ireland, Regional Waste Management Offices, Green Schools and Climate Ambassadors. The Regional Telecommunications Unit of Department of Rural and Community Development also had space in the marquee.
The Department’s presence at the Ploughing enables citizens to meet representatives from our various agencies and divisions and discuss key initiatives that impact on their lives and livelihoods, such as rural connectivity, soil and geological profiling of land, sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency grants, and initiatives to enhance digital literacy in communities.
The total cost of the Department’s marquee at the 2018 Ploughing Championships was €114,868 exclusive of VAT. This figure factored in design, build, maintenance and break-down/removal of the marquee itself as well as all built items within it, all stands, audiovisual equipment, backdrop design and printing, kitchen and toilet facilities, electrical set-up, AV and marquee staffing (including project management and construction) and maintenance in the lead-up to and throughout the event. Department agencies will contribute to this overall cost, and while this amount has not been fully finalised, the final overall cost to the Department is likely to be approximately €95,000.
There was, on average, 35 Department staff per day at the event to manage reception, logistics, support and management of all the Departmental stands at the event.
Figures are not yet available for the full cost of staffing for Ploughing Championships. Staff, where their presence was required, were paid as they would their normal working day and any overtime where necessary was paid in line with the agreed overtime rates.
