Written Answers Nos. 542-560
542. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take to discourage the use of non-biodegradable plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53459/18]
View answer543. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a means can be found to incentivise a reduction in the use of plastic wrappings and containers that are non-biodegradable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53460/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 543 together.
Ireland uses the extended producer responsibility model for dealing with waste packaging. Repak, the national producer responsibility scheme for packaging, is a not for profit organisation which charges fees to its members in accordance with the amount and type of packaging they place on the Irish market. These fees are used to subsidise the collection and recovery of waste packaging through registered recovery operators across Ireland. Because Repak members pay fees based on the amount of packaging they place on the market, this incentivises them to reduce packaging where possible and in so doing, reduce their fees.
In addition, Repak will modulate costs for individual products or groups of similar products, by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and recyclability and the presence of hazardous substances.
At EU level, the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics has been adopted. The strategy envisages that all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030 and the consumption of single-use plastics will be reduced. The strategy is underpinned by a proposed directive for the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. I am working closely with the Commission and other Member States in the development of this proposal. Once finalised, this proposal will enable me to introduce concrete measures to reduce, and in some cases, ban the use of single use plastics.
544. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he expects the delivery of broadband to proceed throughout the country, with particular reference to those areas located between services but not in receipt of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53461/18]
View answerThe national broadband plan, NBP, aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. When this Government came into office, this had risen to 52%. Today, 74% of premises can access a high speed broadband service.
In April 2017 my Department 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 areas 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 my Department in April 2017.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will now conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. The data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department indicates that the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment.
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.
545. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proportion of electricity generated from oil, gas, coal, wind, solar or other renewable sources; the extent to which the present position is in line with expectations and international requirements; when it is expected that renewable sources will meet the international targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53462/18]
View answer549. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the full extent of the development of the alternative energy sector over the past five years with a view to the benefit to the environment and the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53466/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 549 together.
The Energy in Ireland 2018 Report was published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) last week. The report sets out the progress that Ireland has made in reducing reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating and electricity production. In 2017, as Ireland’s economy grew by 7.2% as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) or 3% as measured by gross national income (GNI), overall energy use also increased by 0.5%. The report also states that renewable energy use grew by 52% between 2013 and 2017. Notwithstanding this, over 90% of all energy used in Ireland in 2017 was from fossil fuels.
Details of the proportions of electricity generated from oil, gas, coal, wind, solar or other renewable sources are available in Table 8 “Growth rates, quantities and shares of electricity generated by fuel” on page 29 of the report.
There are no specific international requirements on the composition of electricity generation in the fuel mix. The EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. The SEAI analysis states that 10.6% of Ireland's overall energy requirements in 2017 were met from renewable sources. This avoided 4.1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and €439 million of fossil fuel imports. Ireland achieved 30.1% of electricity, 6.9% of heat and 7.4% of transport energy requirements using renewable energy sources in 2017.
546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which landfill sites are being replaced with alternative means of waste disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53463/18]
View answerEuropean, national and regional waste policy are all predicated on the management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred (in that order) to the disposal of waste. For instance, collectors of waste must conduct their activities in accordance with the relevant legislation and the conditions of their waste collection permits which, inter alia, require that waste is managed in line with the waste hierarchy.
Waste management planning, including infrastructure provision, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996. The three Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities monitor on an on-going basis the generation and management nationally of municipal solid waste and other waste streams. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act.
The Government's policy of increasing the landfill levy to its current level of €75 per tonne has provided a real financial incentive for waste operators to divert as much material as possible from being disposed of at landfill. The success of the above and many other policy and legislative measures, including the National Waste Prevention Programme and the phasing-out of flat rate fees for household waste collection, which encourage waste prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery, has meant that more waste can be put to environmentally sustainable and productive use as opposed to being buried in the ground.
Up until November 2017, different household waste collectors accepted different items for recycling, which led to some confusion on which items go in which bin. Now, however, following co-operation between my Department, the regulatory authorities, the waste industry, Repak and environmental NGOs, we have a single, standard national list of items and materials that can be placed in the recycling bin. Removing confusion will play an important role in improving the quality of the waste presented for recycling. This will help to ensure that these items are actually recycled, as opposed to being contaminated accidentally by householders and sent to landfill. Supporting householders in terms of recycling is important. Householders are also being supported through a number of awareness and education initiatives such as the Recycling Ambassadors Programme and the new waste website mywaste.ie.
Statistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency show that we have come a long way in a relatively short period of time in terms of improving our recycling and recovery rates and reducing our reliance on landfill. In this regard, National Waste Statistics are available to download at https://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/ including the State's progress in meeting targets under EU waste legislation including the Waste Framework Directive; the Landfill Directive; and the Producer Responsibility Directives (Packaging, End-of-Life Vehicles, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Batteries and Accumulators).
Of particular note is the reduction in the disposal (landfill) rate of managed Municipal Solid Waste, which fell from 41% in 2012 to 21% in 2014. Furthermore, 79% of managed municipal waste was recovered in 2014 (compared to 59% in 2012). Recovery includes treatment processes such as recycling or use as a fuel (e.g. incineration which converts waste to energy or co-incineration, including the use of solid recovered fuel as part of the cement manufacturing process).
547. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which air pollutants have been identified at the various monitoring points throughout the country; if specific action is required in response to specific increases in air pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53464/18]
View answerAmbient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with co-ordinating and managing the monitoring programme.
Ireland currently has a nationwide network of 42 monitoring stations which measure levels of air pollutants in the four zones. This information is delivered to the public in near real-time at www.airquality.epa.ie. The numbers and locations of the monitoring equipment for each pollutant are determined by the requirements of the Directives for ambient air monitoring in each zone.
The Agency's most recent annual Air Quality Report was published in November 2018 and provides an assessment of air quality in Ireland for 2017. Values for all network sites were below the EU annual limit value, but exceeded the stricter World Health Organisation guideline values for a number of pollutants at individual sites. The European Environment Agency reference level for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) was exceeded at 4 monitoring sites. The report indicates that particulate matter from solid fuel burning remains the greatest threat to good air quality in Ireland, closely followed by nitrogen dioxide from transport emissions in urban areas. The report can be found at the following link: http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/quality/epaairqualityreport2017.html.
Notwithstanding the favourable comparison with EU annual limit values, recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish by the end of February 2019, will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across Government that are required to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner air, while delivering on wider national objectives.
548. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which efforts are being made to maximise the production and use of electric cars by way of replacement for existing petrol or diesel models; the extent to which this will impact on emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53465/18]
View answerThe National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland was published in May of last year. It set out the ambition that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emissions capable. The National Development Plan, published in February of this year, raised this ambition such that no new non-zero emission cars would be sold in Ireland post 2030.
The Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, examined measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles and how best to support the development of the electric vehicle charging. The first phase of the Taskforce's work, which focused on electric vehicles, is now complete and the progress report is available on my Department’s website. The work of the Taskforce, has led to an expanded range of supports for electric vehicles, which include:
- the EV purchase grant of up to €5,000;
- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles and up to €2,500 for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles;
- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for Battery Electric Vehicles;
- Home Charger grant of up to €600 towards the cost of the installation of a domestic charge point;
- Grants of up to €7,000 for EVs for the taxi sector;
- Accelerated Capital Allowances for businesses;
- Low rate of annual motor tax; and
- Tolling reductions of 50% for Battery Electric Vehicles and 25% for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
In addition, earlier this year a new Electric Vehicle Public Awareness Campaign was launched by the SEAI. This campaign includes an advertising campaign and website www.DrivingElectric.ie providing information on buying and driving an EV including the models available and links to dealers to arrange a test drive.
Last month, I announced the successful projects under the first Call for Applications from the Climate Action Fund. I approved funding of up to €10 million to a project from ESB eCars that will develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade. Further details on this project, and the other projects approved from the fund, are available on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the SEAI, is working on how best to support the provision of greater levels of on-street public charging.
This year has seen significant growth in the number of electric vehicles. There are currently circa 7,500 electric vehicles on Ireland’s roads, which represent almost a doubling of the number of these vehicles at the end of 2017.
Provisional data published by the EPA indicates that 11.5 million tonnes of carbon were emitted by the road transport sector in 2017. Private car use is the largest single contributor to these emissions. With over two million private cars on the road in Ireland, the impact of the current level of electric vehicles on emission reduction is limited. However, the increasing use of electric vehicles, along with increases in electricity production from renewable sources, has the potential to contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. It will also assist in reducing emissions of air pollutants associated with diesel and petrol vehicles, such as fine particulate matter, which have a detrimental impact on both human health and environmental ecosystems.
550. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53121/18]
View answerThe Deputy's proposal that drivers caught over the limit on the "morning after" be somehow exempt from Road Traffic Law is, for obvious reasons, completely unacceptable.
Analysis of Garda Síochána Investigation Files for fatal collisions shows that 11% of fatal collisions involving alcohol occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Anyone who chooses to drive while over the limit poses a grave risk to themselves and to others, irrespective of the time of the day. A driver who needs his or her car to get to work needs to take this into account if socialising the night before.
Ignorance is not an excuse, and it would be both inappropriate and massively irresponsible for either An Garda Síochána or the courts system to allow for exemptions of any kind on this matter.
551. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with Irish Rail and the NTA and agree to abandoning the Iron Hills rail line formally in order that the south Kildare to Athy distributor road meets its timeframe for delivery. [52722/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Operational matters such as those described by the Deputy are a matter for Iarnród Éireann, in co-operation with the National Transport Authority as required.
In light of the Iarnród Éireann's responsibilities on this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to it for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
552. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a licence renewal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52734/18]
View answerAs this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
553. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to increase the number of wheelchair friendly taxis; the steps that can be taken to ensure that wheelchair taxis and taxi companies have a greater dedication to taking wheelchair fares especially for medical appointments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52744/18]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. In order to support an increase in the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) in Ireland's SPSV fleet, licences for new taxis or hackneys will only be granted in respect of WAVs. This requirement was introduced in 2010.
To supplement this measure, the NTA administers a WAV Grant Scheme, which offers grants on a sliding scale from €2,500 to €7,500. The set amounts awarded by grants through this scheme aim to align with the cost difference in purchasing a WAV or converting a vehicle to fulfil the WAV requirements. This scheme is open to all SPSV drivers, with grants offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
In relation to the issue raised by the Deputy concerning taxi companies failing to make good on wheelchair bookings, the NTA have set regulations in relation to the duties of holders of WAV licences under S.I. No. 33 of 2015. These regulations include that the holder of such a licence shall give priority to bookings in respect of persons with disabilities, including persons who wish to travel in their wheelchairs. A person who contravenes this regulation is committing an offence and may be subject to a fine.
Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
554. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided for a feasibility study for a public swimming pool in west County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52836/18]
View answerThe Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP), as operated by my Department, provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. To date 51 pools have been completed and four swimming pool projects remain in the current LASPP. The priority next year will be on advancing these four projects and sufficient resources are available to cover these commitments.
In relation to the future funding of swimming pools and other larger projects, the National Development Plan confirmed the establishment of a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) with at least €100 million available over the coming years. The new scheme opened for applications on 19 November and the closing date for applications is the 17 April 2019. Full details of the scheme and application forms are available on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif. Initially, the scheme has a particular focus on National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities. New swimming pool projects will be considered under the scheme.
Applications under the grant scheme will be considered under two separate streams. Stream One gives applicants the opportunity to apply for a consultancy grant towards the cost of developing the project with the assistance of external consultants to the point that a Stream Two final application for delivery phase funding can be submitted. In all cases, applicants are required to submit a feasibility report as part of their application. The feasibility report is intended to be a relatively short report which constitutes an evaluation of the viability of the project idea.
555. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if advance warning signage will be put in place on the N55 route at the approach to Tang village in view of the fact that excessive speed and overtaking are a major concern to residents. [52848/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 the operation, planning and maintenance of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in relation to national roads.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII's Safety Division for a direct reply to you on the matter. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
556. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the name of the person he has appointed to examine the technical and safety performance of the Irish Aviation Authority pursuant to section 32 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 as he is required to do every three years with 2018 being a year in which such an appointment is due. [52865/18]
View answerThe closing date for receipt of bids from interested parties under a competitive tendering process was last Friday, 14 December. The received bids are now being evaluated, with a view to selecting and notifying a preferred bidder this week.
557. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has consulted with, offered administrative advice or financial aid to all-island sporting bodies (details supplied) in the context of Brexit; the degree of assistance he has offered to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52867/18]
View answerSport Ireland is the main statutory organisation that liaises with Ireland's national governing bodies of sport (NGBs), including those 45 bodies that operate on an all-island basis. The question of consultation, or the provision of operational advice or assistance of the type indicated by the Deputy, would accordingly be more appropriate for that agency to consider. I have therefore referred the question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
It is however pertinent to emphasise that all NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own operational arrangements, procedures and competition rules for their sports.
As acknowledged in the National Sports Policy, the uncertainty associated with Brexit adds to the capacity building challenge facing the sport sector. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and Sport Ireland would work constructively to assist any NGB to deal with any challenges that might arise as a result of Brexit.
558. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the fact that vehicle users submitting licence renewal forms to the National Driver Licence Service before the expiration of their licences and who receive new licences with dates starting before the expiry of their previous licences means users do not receive full value from the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52977/18]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
559. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the sustainable transport measures grant programme in 2018; the allocation that has been drawn down in counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53011/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware NTA has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including individual projects within the Sustainable Urban Transport programme, which has replaced the Sustainable Transport Measures Grant Programme.
Noting the on-going nature of this programme and the NTA's responsibility for implementation of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
560. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when commercial vehicle testing will recommence in Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53013/18]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
