Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 8 Nov 2018

Written Answers Nos. 205-229

Forestry Data

Questions (205)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

205. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated and expended on forestry schemes in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [46399/18]

View answer

Written answers

The amount allocated and expenditure incurred by my Department for forestry schemes, in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, is shown in the following table.

Forestry Division

2010 Allocation

Expenditure to 31 December 2010

2011 Allocation

Expenditure to 31 December 2011

Main Afforestation Programme

Grant - 1st Instalment

27,556,571

20,481,845

Grant - 2nd Instalment

7,441,352

7,696,746

Premium

72,285,245

75,005,332

Sundry

505,431

646,973

104,730,000

107,788,599

104,000,000

103,830,896

Forestry Support Schemes

Forest Roads

3,693,987

4,203,983

Reconstitution of Woodlands

973,368

827,265

Woodland Improvement Scheme

917,444

913,806

NeighbourWood

179,692

351,300

Native Woodland Conservation

818,760

828,965

9,200,000

6,583,252

8,000,000

7,125,319

[Table Cont]

Forestry Division

Expenditure to 31 December 2012

2013 Allocation

Expenditure to 31 December 2013

2010 Allocation

Main Afforestation Programme

Grant - 1st Instalment

19,215,307

17,032,616

Grant - 2nd Instalment

6,334,304

7,290,625

Premium

75,685,338

76,013,236

Sundry

378,590

523,363

101,613,538

106,490,000

100,859,840

104,730,000

Forestry Support Schemes

Forest Roads

3,077,494

2,708,941

Reconstitution of Woodlands

562,694

948,385

Woodland Improvement Scheme

1,278,898

1,024,397

NeighbourWood

434,503

146,475

Native Woodland Conservation

1,221,094

845,244

6,574,683

4,375,000

5,673,441

9,200,000

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (206)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

206. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of data in his Department regarding the reduction in greenhouse gases by switching from calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser to protective urea which reduces the nitrous oxide release. [46441/18]

View answer

Written answers

Urease inhibitors can be used to delay the breakdown of urea until it has been washed deep enough into the soil, and to prevent sharp increases in pH, especially where urea is spread in bands, giving emissions reductions of 40% for liquid urea ammonium-N and 70% for solid urea1.

In its recent analysis of abatement potential in greenhouse gas emission in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030, Teagasc identified that altered fertiliser formulation offered the single largest agricultural abatement measure with mean N2O reductions of 0.52 Mt CO2-e yr-1 between 2021 and 2030 and a maximum mitigation potential of 0.75 Mt CO2-e yr-1 based on a 50% replacement of CAN (either straight or in compounds) applied to grassland with protected urea products.

The Sustainable Nitrogen Fertiliser Use and Disaggregated Emissions of Nitrogen (SUDEN) project, which was funded by my Department identified that farmers can maintain yields and reduce ammonia loss to the environment by switching from calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) to urea protected with NBPT (urease inhibiter). The research found nitrogen loss to the environment can be reduced substantially by integrating urease inhibitors in high profit grass systems.

1 http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/lrtap/Publications/Ammonia_SR136_28-4_HR.pdf

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (207)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

207. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of data in his Department regarding the reduction in greenhouse gases from reduced low emissions slurry spreading. [46442/18]

View answer

Written answers

Using trailing shoe, dribble bar or injector systems, termed Low Emission Spreading or LESS technologies contribute to reducing GHG emissions through improvements in nitrogen use efficiency and with a direct impact also on ammonia emission reductions.

The recent Teagasc report ‘An Analysis of Abatement potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030’ highlighted the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement to limit the emissions from the agricultural sector over the period 2021 to 2030. One of the measures identified in that document is Low Emission Slurry Spreading, which identified potential mitigation of 0.117 Mt CO2 e/year assuming 50% of slurry applied was by LESS techniques.

Additionally, research1 funded by my Department has shown that on average trailing shoe (Low Emission Slurry Spreading - LESS) equipment reduced ammonia emissions by 36% compared to the use of the splash plate. This is the average reduction across all application timings. Agriculture accounts for 98% of ammonia emissions in Ireland with land spreading of slurry accounting for almost half of this total. Using trailing shoe, dribble bar or injector system to spread slurry is significant in going towards reducing ammonia emissions and complying with our national targets.

Therefore, my Department is supporting a number of measures under the Rural Development Programme in support of low emission slurry spreading (LESS). Under GLAS almost 4,600 farmers are availing of the LESS techniques option, with potential reductions in GHG and Ammonia of the order of 1,420 tonnes of ammonia and 3,260 tonnes of CO2e . While under TAMS there is the option to avail of a 40% grant ( 60% for eligible young farmers) to purchase LESS equipment.

1Dowling, C., Curran, T. ,Lanigan G.J. 2008 The effect of application technique and climate conditions on ammonia emissions from cattle slurry, RAMIRAN 13 , 363-366.

Lanigan et al. 2009. An Evaluation of Strategies to Control Ammonia Emissions from the Land -spreading of Cattle Slurry and Cattle Wintering Facilities. Final Report, DAFM Project Ref No: RSF 05 211.

Marine Institute

Questions (208)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

208. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the process and cost of procuring a new research vessel to undertake fisheries research, oceanographic and environmental research and seabed mapping and surveys; when the new vessel will be operational; and the steps which will be taken with regard to the Celtic Warrior vessel. [46443/18]

View answer

Written answers

The tender for the design of the research vessel, to replace the current Celtic Voyager was published on 6 November 2018. Subject to further consideration by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the tender is currently expected to be awarded in early January 2019. The build process is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 and the new vessel is likely to be operational from early 2022 onwards.

The new vessel will be a sister ship to the State's largest research ship, the 65m RV Celtic Explorer and will replace the RV Celtic Voyager. The Marine Institute's RV Celtic Voyager is Ireland's first purpose built research vessel. It has been utilised heavily since its acquisition 21 years ago and has been vital in providing marine scientists, researchers and its crew members, with many years of valued experience at sea, expanding and strengthening marine science in Ireland to help inform decisions affecting our ocean. Consideration is being given to possible uses of the existing vessel, the Celtic Voyager, including disposing of it on the open market. No final decisions have been taken in relation to this aspect.

It is planned that €4 million from the Marine Institute's vote allocation in 2019 will provide for the cost of the first phase of the building of the new vessel.

It is intended that this new 50m modern research vessel will provide critical national infrastructure to enable Ireland to address the considerable challenges of Brexit and the Common Fisheries Policy as well as climate induced impacts on our oceans. The final capital cost of the project will be dependent on outcome of the tender process.

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Questions (209)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

209. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in percentage terms and number of jobs created for each Food Wise 2025 target (details supplied). [46444/18]

View answer

Written answers

Food Wise 2025, the latest ten year strategy for the agrifood sector published in July 2015 identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectorial recommendations.

If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee, which drew up the Food Wise 2025 Strategy, believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agrifood exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion.

In July this year, I launched the third annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2018. This showed that by 2017 exports had increased by 15.9% and primary production by 8.9% compared to the baseline.

With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agrifood sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development. It is not possible to attribute specific job targets to each of the value targets.

The CSO’s Labour Force Survey has replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey which has resulted in a recalculation of the employment figures. The agrifood sector continued to make a significant contribution to employment at national and regional levels accounting for 174,400 (7.9%) of total employment based on the 2017 average.

Steps to Success 2018 also showed that, of the 375 detailed actions which were due to commence by 2018 or are on-going actions; 74% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken; and a further 26% have commenced and are progressing well.

Brexit Supports

Questions (210)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

210. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funds from the €300 million working capital loan scheme can be made available to farmers in view of the fact that take-up has been so low since it opened in March 2018; and if he has had discussions with his colleague in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in this regard. [46445/18]

View answer

Written answers

The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are, or will be, impacted by Brexit, and meet the scheme criteria. Exchequer funding from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300 million. The scheme was launched on 28 March this year and will remain open until March 2020.

It has been designed to assist eligible Irish businesses in the short-term to deal with the challenges of Brexit, which include the pressures of increased market instability and currency volatility. Because of the terms and conditions of the scheme, including the EIF Innovfin counter-guarantee and EU State Aid rules, primary agriculture is not eligible for the scheme.

I have had ongoing engagement with the banks on the cash flow pressures arising from the effects of the weather this year at the primary producer level. I am pleased to see that this engagement and the delivery of last year’s Agriculture Cash Flow Loan Scheme have acted as a catalyst to encourage financial institutions to improve and develop new products for the sector.

Census of Population Data

Questions (211)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

211. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farming families per county based on census 2016 figures. [46446/18]

View answer

Written answers

Official statistics on farm numbers are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and come from two sources, the Census of Agriculture and the Farm Structure Survey . The Census of Agriculture, which is carried out every ten years, compiles data on the number of family farms in each county. The last agriculture census was taken in 2010 with the next census of agriculture expected to be held in 2020. The table below shows the number of family farms based on the 2010 census.

A Farm Structure Survey takes place every three years, where a sample of farms are surveyed. The 2016 Farm Structure Survey indicated that there are 137,500 farms in the country, with 72,500 in the Border, Midland & Western region and 65,000 in the Southern & Eastern region.

2010 Agriculture Census - CSO - Family Farms

Total

139,556

Carlow

1,795

Dublin

785

Kildare

2,561

Kilkenny

3,725

Laois

3,306

Longford

2,599

Louth

1,666

Meath

4,544

Offaly

3,456

Westmeath

3,447

Wexford

4,409

Wicklow

2,379

Clare

6,548

Cork

14,192

Kerry

8,406

Limerick

5,981

South Tipperary

3,923

North Tipperary

3,797

Waterford

2,751

Galway

13,434

Leitrim

3,671

Mayo

12,447

Roscommon

6,305

Sligo

4,391

Cavan

5,272

Donegal

9,222

Monaghan

4,544

European Innovation Partnerships

Questions (212)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

212. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of each European innovation partnerships initiative project opened to date under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020; the financial allocations on an annual basis for each such project opened to date; the annual amount expended on the listed schemes in each year since it was established; the number of active participants in the scheme; and the number of approved applicants that subsequently withdrew from each project in tabular form. [46447/18]

View answer

Written answers

At the outset, I wish to clarify that each European Innovation Partnerships Initiative project is locally led, locally designed and locally administered and not managed directly by my Department. All projects are still in the early stages of design or implementation.

The first round of the EIP competitive process started in December 2016. Following a two stage selection process, twelve projects were chosen and these have now begun full implementation on the ground. They are still at design stage and none of these projects have invited expressions of interest from farmers yet.

The second call under this initiative issued in August 2017. Nine projects were selected for full implementation and the successful project teams were informed in late October 2018. Contracts with the selected project teams will be signed following workshops and individual meetings.

The Hen Harrier Programme, which is one of two Prescribed EIPs, commenced in April 2017 has received 1,845 applications. 1,683 of those are valid applications and 693 people have been offered contracts to date. Letters of Offer will commence again shortly and will continue into 2019. No farmer has withdrawn from the scheme.

The Fresh Water Pearl Mussel Project is the second Prescribed EIP and commenced in May 2018 and the project design is in progress. Farmer consultation meetings are on-going and expressions of interest will be sought from early 2019 onwards.

Details of the individual projects are shown in the following table. The amounts shown are for the full allocation to each project and all are still in early stages.

Project Team

Name of Project

Total Allocation

Amount expended to date in 2018

MOPS (Maximising Organic Production Systems)

Maximising organic production through integratedcropping systems.

€597,417.46

€85,218

Irish Biochar Cooperative Society

Biomass to Biocarbon for Farm Bioeconomy

€998,397.00

0

Ovi Data

Increasing sheep genetic gain in Ireland throughcommercial data capture

€515,625.00

0

Caomhnú árann

Managing the habitats of the Aran Islands to maximisetheir agricultural and ecological output

€1,450,000

0

Wicklow Uplands Council

Sustainable Uplands Agri-Environment Scheme (SUAS)

€1,950,000

€99,278

ECT (Enable Conservation Tillage)

Wider adaptation of sustainable conservation tillagesystems

€1,000,000

0

Blackstairs Farming Futures

Delivering more for nature and sustainable farming inthe Blackstairs Mountains

€1,500,000

€31,227

Irish Breeding Curlew Conservation Group

Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying environment

€1,100,000

€38,771

BRIDE Project Group

Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying environment

€1,100,000

€62,283

Duncannon Sustainable Farming Association

Duncannon Sustainable Farming Scheme

€550,000

0

MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum

Conservation and restoration of Upland Habitats in theReeks

€950,000

€48,313

DANÚ Farming Group

Biological Farming Transition Programme

€400,000

0

Open Call 2 Projects

Mulkear Integrated Catchment Management Partnership

On farm technology transfer to enhance water quality in the Mulkear Catchment

€1,172,830

0

Biorefinery "Glas"

Small scale farmer-led green biorefineries

€940,498

0

Inishowen upland farmers

A whole farm approach to landscape management

€989,700

0

National Biodiversity Data Centre

Protecting Farmland Pollinators

€1,194,679

0

Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha Ctr (LAN)

Culra Creafoige

€583,010

0

Rathcroghan Resource Community

Sustainable farming in the Rathcroghan Archaeological Landscape

€984,000

0

Small Biogas Demonstration Group

Small Biogas Demonstration Programme

€994,273

0

FORUM Connemara Operational Group

North West Connemara Locally Led Scheme

€1,424,284

0

River Allow Catchment Mangement Group

River Allow Catchment Management

€1,460,707

0

Other EIP Schemes

Fresh Water Pearl Mussel

Programme for the conservation of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel

€10,000,000

€256,362

Hen Harrier Project

Scheme for the conservation of the Hen Harrier

€25,000,000

€632,581 - 2018

€716,897 - 2017

Food Labelling

Questions (213)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

213. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of discussions between his Department and the Department of Health on the implementation of an agreed statutory instrument on the extension of country of origin labelling to loose meats of swine, sheep, goats and poultry. [46448/18]

View answer

Written answers

Discussions between my Department and the Department of Health on the implementation of a SI on the extension of COOL to loose meats are on-going.

Knowledge Transfer Programme

Questions (214)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

214. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason participants in the knowledge transfer programme scheme for forestry are not eligible for an equivalent payment of up to €750 similar to participants in the beef, dairy, sheep, tillage, poultry and equine schemes. [46449/18]

View answer

Written answers

The Forestry Knowledge Transfer Groups scheme is a completely separate scheme and is not part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It is an initiative of my Department and is entirely exchequer-funded. It has different requirements and conditions to that of the other Knowledge Transfer schemes. In designing the Scheme my Department consulted with stakeholders and the scheme was trialled during the pilot phase, which had the same payment rate as the scheme now being implemented. There has been excellent uptake of the scheme since its launch.

I am pleased to say that the Scheme will launch again in early 2019, allowing for a fresh intake of participants.

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Pilot

Questions (215)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposals raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the BEEP, beef environmental efficiency pilot, scheme. [46450/18]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has provided €20 million in budget 2019 for a new pilot scheme for suckler farmers, specifically aimed at further improving the carbon efficiency of beef production. The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) will target the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves - measuring the liveweight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's liveweight.

Building on the success of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, the data collected will also be a valuable addition to Ireland's already impressive database on cattle genomics.

Details of the scheme will be announced in due course following further consultation.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (216)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

216. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of civil servants by grade who are specifically allocated to work exclusively on market access; the number that work on market access exclusively for each of the beef, dairy, lamb, pig meat and poultry sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46451/18]

View answer

Written answers

One of my key priorities is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drinks internationally. Market development is a key component of Food Wise 2025, and is particularly important in the context of Brexit.

My Department’s market access effort includes work at political, diplomatic, and technical levels. The work of staff right across the Department is central to this effort. Veterinary, inspection and administrative staff involved in the protection of public and animal health, the provision of laboratory services and the certification of exports, are directly involved in supporting the department’s efforts to access new markets, for example through the provision of critical information to competent authorities in third countries, the facilitation of inspection visits by third country officials, or the agreement of export health certificates.

This wider effort work is co-ordinated by a team of 14 people working specifically on market access and the identification of technical barriers to trade across a range of commodities and livestock. Furthermore, my Department has appointed agricultural attachés to embassies in Beijing, Washington, and Abu Dhabi, specifically to provide support to our trade development efforts in these critical third country markets. It keeps the locations of such appointments under review in line with the market opportunities in these regions.

My Department also funds the operations of Bord Bia and works closely with other Government Departments and agencies to increase the global footprint of Irish food, including by leading multi agency trade missions.

I will continue to keep these arrangements under review to ensure that resources are optimally deployed and that our efforts to develop the global footprint of the Irish food sector are effective.

Tax Reliefs Application

Questions (217)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

217. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to raise with the Minister for Finance issues raised by a farming organisation (details supplied) regarding the cumulative lifetime cap of €70,000 on the amount of tax relief that can be availed of by young farmers as proposed in the Finance Bill 2018. [46452/18]

View answer

Written answers

Taxation policy is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However, I have on-going contact with Minister Donohoe to ensure that taxation policy reflects the Government’s commitment to agriculture. The following tax or stamp duty relief schemes come within article 18 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/2014, the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER) which sets out State Aid rules for primary agriculture:

- section 81AA of the Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999 (which provides a stamp duty exemption for transfers of land to young trained farmers);

- section 667B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (which provides an income tax relief in respect of increases in the value of farm trading stock).

- section 667D TCA 1997(which provides an annual tax credit of up to €5,000 for succession farm partnerships where an approved partnership culminates in the transfer of at least 80% of the farm assets from the original farmer to the successor).

Article 18 of the ABER Regulation provides for the state aid rules in relation to start-up aid for young farmers and the development of farms. Paragraph (7) of the article provides that the aid amount per young farmer shall be based on the socioeconomic situation of the Member State concerned and shall be limited to EUR 70 000”. This means that the maximum aid amount allowed under the three schemes is €70,000 per each farmer who qualifies for the relief.

EU state aid regulations are legal acts that have direct effect in all EU countries. Ireland does not, therefore, have the power to vary the limit. Introducing the cumulative €70,000 limit in the Finance Bill is designed to provide clarity on how the limit applies in relation to the three reliefs.

The Revenue Commissioners have informed my Department that the limit will be applied in respect of claims for relief made in relation to stamp duty for conveyances or transfers executed on or after 1 January 2019, and for the year of assessment 2019 and subsequent years of assessment for stock relief and succession farm partnership relief.

Inland Fisheries Stocks

Questions (218)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which restocking of rivers and lakes continues to be undertaken with particular reference to areas in which a reduction in catches has indicated a need for restocking; the fish species provided for under this heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46366/18]

View answer

Written answers

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. I am advised by IFI that restocking is a complex area.

In relation to potential restocking of salmon, there are significant genetic and ecological concerns when the progeny of wild salmon reared in a hatchery environment are released back into the wild. Research has also shown that stocking with hatchery reared brown trout makes no significant contribution to the recovery of those fisheries where they have been introduced.  In addition, it has been shown that restocking of non-native salmonids can be detrimental to the freshwater pearl mussel, a protected species included in Annex II and V of the EU Habitats Directive.

IFI supplies stocked fish to hundreds of angling clubs around the country. The main species stocked into rivers are brown trout and for put and take fisheries it is normally rainbow trout.

Should the Deputy have a specific case in mind I can arrange that IFI contact him directly and will be happy to assist.

I will arrange for a copy of IFI’s stocking policy to be sent to the Deputy for his information.

Electricity Transmission Network

Questions (219)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

219. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the Celtic interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46230/18]

View answer

Written answers

The Celtic Interconnector is an estimated €1 billion electricity interconnector jointly proposed by EirGrid and their French counterparts, the French transmission system operator, RTÉ (Reseau de Transporte d’Électricite). It is proposed as a 500km long (subsea), 700MW high voltage direct current line that would run from the north-west coast of France to the south coast of Ireland. At this scale it would be able to provide electricity for some 450,000 homes. The Celtic Interconnector has the potential to provide a reliable high-capacity electricity link between Ireland and France that would have significant benefits for the people of Ireland. The project would provide access to the European electricity market, leading to expected increased competition and lower prices in Ireland.  It would also improve security of electricity supply and facilitate increased capacity for renewable energy here via export access to the mainland European markets.

The project is currently in the initial design and pre-consultation phase which will run to later this year. The current phase includes land studies, marine studies considering the potential route of the interconnector, and specific nearshore analyses. EirGrid has also held public consultation events and has carried out a social impact assessment screening process that has led to a formal social impact assessment of the project. 

As a formally designated EU Project of Common Interest, EirGrid lodged an “investment request” with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) for the Celtic Interconnector on 7 September 2018. This investment request will be considered by the CRU who will issue a decision on whether the project is in the public interest within six months. If the decision is a positive one and if is mirrored in France by the French regulator, then EirGrid and RTÉ will proceed to lodge an application for EU funding next year for a portion of the construction costs. The regulators will also reach a determination - a Cross Border Cost Allocation decision - on how the balance of the construction costs should be allocated between the two countries. To date the project has successfully secured EU funding of almost €8m for feasibility studies.

The cost of the interconnector will not be borne by the Exchequer - its cost, net of EU support, will be included in the costs of distribution networks in the same way as all other electricity infrastructure investments are paid for. Construction of the interconnector is expected to commence circa 2021 after a variety of approvals have been secured, including regulatory and planning consents. It is expected the interconnector will be completed in 2025/26.

Departmental Reports

Questions (220)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

220. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress of the implementation of all recommendations contained within the report of the mobile phone and broadband task force. [46231/18]

View answer

Written answers

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, which contained 40 actions to alleviate some of the coverage deficits across the country. An Implementation Group is overseeing the implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. The Implementation Group meets on a quarterly basis and publishes quarterly progress reports on the implementation status of actions. My Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development published the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2017 on 21 February 2018, which comprehensively outlines the progress made in 2017 on the actions identified by the Taskforce. Of the 40 actions, 29 have been completed, with work on the remaining 11 carrying into the 2018 Work Programme. Following close engagement with stakeholders at the inaugural National Stakeholder Forum 2017, an additional 23 new measures were identified for delivery in 2018

Some of the Taskforce’s achievements to date include:

- My Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development have worked to achieve a greater consensus around site selection for telecoms infrastructure and therefore improve mobile phone coverage.

- Both Departments also worked with a pilot group of local authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local blackspots. This pilot exercise has been completed, with all local authorities having been asked to map local blackspots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to provide additional coverage on an economic basis.

- A focus group was established to provide guidance with respect to categories of location where high quality reliable mobile coverage should be made available as a priority. The report of the focus group was published on my Department’s website on 31 August 2018. It is anticipated that the output of the focus group should influence the actions of the mobile network operators in their work to reduce mobile phone blackspots. It will also inform future policy in my Department with regards to priorities for mobile phone services.

- A working group has been established with the remit of investigating the feasibility of developing standardised policy for accessing and utilising State  and publicly owned assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.

- ComReg is delivering a composite national coverage map, which will, in tandem with its work on handset testing and activities to raise consumer awareness, allow people across Ireland to optimise the services available to them.

- ComReg has developed a licensing scheme which will enable households and businesses to use mobile phone repeaters to boost signals into their premises and bring immediate improvements in mobile coverage.

The Quarter 3 Progress Report  for 2018 will be published shortly.

Renewable Energy Incentives

Questions (221)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

221. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions taken to apply for state aid with regard to the renewable electricity support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46234/18]

View answer

Written answers

The high level design of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was approved by Government in July 2018 and it is expected that the first renewable electricity auctions will take place in 2019. The RESS will be subject to the new rules on public support for projects in the field of energy, adopted by the European Commission in April 2014, which seek to promote a gradual move to market-based support for renewable energy. In this regard, the Scheme has been developed in line with the 2014-2020 EU State Aid Guidelines. The RESS has been designed to deliver Ireland’s contribution towards an EU-wide renewable energy target of 32% out to 2030, within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework. The RESS will deliver a broad range of policy objectives including: the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects; broadening the renewable electricity technology mix and increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy.

The Scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of up to a maximum of 55% by 2030 subject to determining the cost effective level which will be set out in Irelands first draft National Energy and Climate Plan.

My Department is now progressing the RESS design across three main  work streams: the EU State Aid approval process; the development of an Enabling Framework for Community Participation; and the detailed design of the first RESS auctions. Engagement with relevant stakeholders will continue in the coming months. 

The EU State Aid Manual and Procedures sets out the importance of pre-notification procedures  in advance of formal submission of State Aid matters and officials from my Department are currently engaged with DG Competition in advance of submitting a RESS pre-notification.

Public Procurement Contracts Data

Questions (222, 223, 224)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

222. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of contracts tendered to businesses in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [46261/18]

View answer

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

223. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of contracts tendered to businesses of 50 employees and less in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [46262/18]

View answer

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

224. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of contracts tendered to businesses in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, disaggregated by the value of the contracts awarded. [46263/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together.

The information sought in the Question is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

However, details of tenders awarded by my Department on foot of procurements via the eTenders platform administered by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) can be found on the eTender's website at:

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders.

My Department also utilises Framework Agreements and centralised contracts established by the OGP for its procurement needs, where available. Details of such agreements and centralised contracts can be viewed at https://ogp.gov.ie.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (225, 226)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

225. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of procurement officers in his Department charged with the responsibility of preparing, tendering and awarding procurement contracts. [46264/18]

View answer

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

226. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual cost of procurement officers in his Department charged with the responsibility of preparing, tendering and awarding procurement contracts. [46265/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.

Within my Department, the Assistant Principal Officer charged with responsibility for the Department's Accounts and Procurement Units also acts as the designated Procurement Officer.  As such, the annual cost of the Procurement Officer function is included within the individuals annual salary.

The Procurement Officer operates in a support and advisory capacity to line Divisions who are individually responsible for the preparation, tendering and awarding of contracts for goods and services within their respective areas.  These procurement activities form part of the day-to-day duties of certain officials, the cost of which is included within their respective salary costs.

Air Pollution

Questions (227)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

227. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 14 December 2017, if the use of smoky coals will still be allowed for certain types of engine, for example, vintage tractor engines and vintage locomotive engines; his plans to make provisions for the use of smoky coal allowable in very specific circumstances in view of his predecessor's announcement on the matter; the timeline for the introduction of the exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46400/18]

View answer

Written answers

The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or the ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 and since then has been extended to 26 urban areas nationwide, currently known as Low Smoke Zones.  The ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels within the areas it applies, with an associated significant improvement in public health. Research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in over 350 fewer annual deaths in Dublin alone. It is not envisaged that any extension of the ban on the use of bituminous or smoky coal would extend to vintage tractor engines or locomotives.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (228)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which a simple means can be found to explain the benefits of climate change protection measures available to the community at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46438/18]

View answer

Written answers

Addressing climate change will require a significant step change in Government action across all sectors. It also has implications for how individuals, households, communities, businesses, and schools live, work and learn.   As a means of promoting wider societal action on climate, the Government established a National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. The primary purpose of the Dialogue is to ensure an inclusive process of engagement and consensus building across society towards enabling the transformation to a low carbon and climate-resilient future. To do this, the Dialogue will seek to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change and to establish, on a long term basis, appropriate networks for people to meet periodically to consider evidence-based inputs on the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.

A range of initiatives are already taking place under the National Dialogue on Climate Action, including a series of regional gatherings to consider the issues facing Ireland in addressing climate change and identify the different actions that individuals, local communities and the public sector can take. The next regional gathering will take place in Tralee, Co. Kerry on 10 November.

As part of planned National Dialogue initiatives for 2019, I am also proposing to launch a new awareness campaign on actions that individuals and households can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

My Department already supports a range of awareness-raising initiatives through its agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).  These initiatives include:

- the provision by the EPA of a range of online environmental resources for primary and secondary schools, and the SEAI schools programme, which helps to inform attitudes on energy conservation and climate action though a range of curriculum-based teaching resources and workshops;

- the EPA BeGreen online portal, which promotes waste prevention and resource efficiency activities in homes, businesses and other sectors;

- the EPA ’s online climate resources, which includes information on Irish climate research projects, carbon calculator tools for personal and business use, and answers to frequently asked questions about climate change;

- funding by the Department for the environmental television series, Eco Eye, which has aired over 100 episodes on RTE;

- SEAI consumer awareness resources, including online and print resources providing advice on how individuals can reduce their own energy use throughout their daily lives, comprising a mix of no- and low-cost actions as well as more significant retrofit interventions that can be made, with grant funding provided by the Government;

- provision by SEAI of information on energy performance of consumer products in line with EU labelling and ecodesign regulations, which promotes purchasing decisions in favour of more energy efficient options; and

- the Sustainable Energy Communities network, supported by SEAI, comprising over 200 communities around Ireland who are interested in the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The network facilitates members to work with communities with common interests, learn from others who have conducted local energy projects, learn about energy technologies and solutions available. The network also has access to energy experts and mentors as well as a range of financial supports from SEAI.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (229)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which a 25% reduction in the use of fossil fuels can address the growing burden of carbon and relevant fines arising from failure to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46440/18]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arise from a number of different sources, including use of fossil fuels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produces national greenhouse gas emission projections on an annual basis.  According to the latest inventory figures from the EPA, total GHG emissions in Ireland in 2016 amounted to 61.55 Mt CO2eq. The breakdown of emissions by sector is as follows:

Sector

Mt CO2eq.

% of total 2016 emissions

Agriculture

19.85

32.3%

Energy Industries

12.56

20.4%

Transport

12.29

20%

Residential

6.05

9.8%

Manufacturing Combustion

4.55

7.4%

Industrial Processes

2.15

3.5%

F-Gases

1.27

2.1%

Commercial Services

0.99

1.6%

Waste

0.96

1.6%

Public Services

0.87

1.4%

Total ETS

17.73

29%

Total Non-ETS

43.81

71%

Total for all sectors

61.55

100%

According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland report, Energy in Ireland 1990 - 2016 , energy-related greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use accounted for 37.2 Mt CO2eq in 2016, approximately 60% of total emissions in that year. On the basis of this data, a 25% reduction in fossil fuel use could theoretically result in a reduction in emissions of 9.3 Mt CO2eq.

The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. These targets concern emissions from most sectors not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), such as transport, buildings, agriculture and waste. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. In the period 2021 to 2030, Ireland must reduce its non-ETS emissions by 30% relative to 2005 levels of emissions by 2030. This is where we must now focus our efforts to ensure that, at the absolute very least, we meet our 2030 target.

Ireland's National Mitigation Plan (NMP), published in 2017, sets out the sectorial policy measures required in order to manage Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions at a level appropriate for making progress towards our long-term national transition objective, as well as taking into account our EU and international obligations. Although this first Plan does not provide a complete roadmap to achieve our national transition objective to 2050, it begins the process of development of medium- to long-term options to ensure that we are well positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades.

Building on the National Mitigation Plan, the publication in February of the National Development Plan reaffirms the Government’s commitment to transitioning Ireland to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society. Reflecting the strong commitment of 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. This means that well over €1 in €5 spent under the National Development Plan (NDP) will be on climate action and this capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030.

Further building on these Government initiatives to date, l will shortly seek Government approval to prepare an all of government plan which will set out the actions which must be taken in every government department and body. The central ambition of this plan will be to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change.  I will work with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives across electricity, transport, heat, as well as a range of other sectors. The new plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with clear timelines and steps to needed to achieve each action, assigning clear lines of responsibility for delivery. The new plan will also be informed by successful approaches in other countries, where such approaches could be adapted for implementation in Ireland.

Top
Share