Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 26 Feb 2019

Written Answers Nos. 486-505

Legislative Measures

Questions (486)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

486. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce legislation to make it compulsory to keep leylandii trees under control (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9287/19]

View answer

Written answers

I have no legal function in relation to the particular issue identified by the Deputy. The responsibility for planning legislation rests principally with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Energy Policy

Questions (487)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

487. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a tender process exists for finance companies being promoted through advertising at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland conferences, whereby the authority is promoting private finance companies to assist in retrofitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9433/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the home energy efficiency grant schemes that are funded by my Department.

SEAI recently sponsored two separate events which were hosted by Irish Rural Link, to promote home energy efficiency and availability of grants, one in Tuam and one in Loughrea.

I am advised that a contractor active in the area of home energy efficiency upgrades/retrofits was invited by Irish Rural Link to speak at both events and as part of their presentation mentioned that they can arrange a third party financial service. There was also a local credit union in attendance at the Tuam event.

SEAI also gave a presentation on home energy efficiency Grants at both events, but there was no mention of financial offerings and SEAI does not endorse any financial service.

Waste Disposal

Questions (488)

James Browne

Question:

488. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which persons in towns and villages in County Wexford who dispose of rubbish using crushing machines will be excused during inspections of their means of rubbish disposal; the position regarding bin charges for households in which a household member is incontinent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9449/19]

View answer

Written answers

A Template for a Bye-law on Waste Presentation has been prepared by the three Regional Waste Management Offices and circulated to local authorities with a view to standardising such Bye-laws across the State. A number of local authorities have already introduced such Bye-laws with the remaining Local Authorities expected to do so by mid-2019. The Bye-laws govern a range of issues, including obliging consumers to participate in an authorised waste collection service (or provide documentary proof on what alternative means they use to dispose of their waste) and encouraging greater segregation of waste to reduce volumes of residual waste collected.

The requirement for people to demonstrate how they manage their waste is consistent with national policy as set out in A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy in Ireland. However, the power to adopt Waste Presentation Bye-laws is a reserved function of a local authority. Accordingly, questions in relation to how householders demonstrate compliance with the Bye-laws are best directed to the relevant local authority.

My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of their domestic waste. I am informed that this process has taken longer than envisaged, due to a number of issues, including data protection issues that have arisen since the introduction of GDPR. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to introducing an annual support as soon as practically possible in conjunction with relevant agencies and stakeholders.

Energy Efficiency

Questions (489)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

489. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the energy saving grants available to small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, and businesses; the grants available to SMEs and businesses for solar power system installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9474/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department, through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides a range of supports for SMEs to improve their energy efficiency. Grant programmes include:

- The Smart Lighting Scheme - as lighting is a significant cost for many SMEs, this scheme provides up to 30% of the upgrade costs helping businesses to upgrade to more efficient lighting, and permanently reduce their future energy use and spend.

- The Dairy Farm Grants - administered by SEAI in collaboration with Teagasc - with up to 40% of total technology and installation costs covered by the grant. Participating farmers have achieved an average saving of €1,440 per annum on their electricity bills through this grant scheme. The 2019 scheme was launched on 18 February, with up to €500,000 available this year.

- Community Grant - SMEs are eligible for grant funding for a range of energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy systems. SMEs may apply for grant funding for solar photovoltaic systems through SEAI’s Community Grant.

- The EXEED certification programme also incorporates Grants. It encourages businesses to look at projects from the design stage, and consider the most efficient process when commissioning or designing a new project, process or asset.

- Support Scheme for Renewable Heat - SMEs are currently eligible for grant funding for heat pump installations, and will be eligible for a support tariff for biomass heating systems through this scheme in the coming months.

In addition to the grant programmes, SEAI provide other supports including energy management training and mentoring to help SMEs save energy through a structured management system. The SEAI also publish an SME Guide to Energy Efficiency.

Besides cutting energy use and costs and helping these enterprises become greener and more energy efficient these programmes are also helping businesses improve competitiveness and resilience.

Further information on the grants and wider range of supports that are available can be found on the SEAI website at https://www.seai.ie/.

Landfill Sites

Questions (490)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

490. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 526 of 5 February 2019, the number of expressions of interest received by the closing date of 14 February 2019; when tenders will be invited from the shortlist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9505/19]

View answer

Written answers

In December 2018, Kildare County Council, the contracting authority, invited tenders for expressions of interest in the remediation of Kerdiffstown landfill. The closing date for submissions was extended until 14 February 2019 on foot of requests for more time made on the eTenders procurement website. I have been advised by Kildare County Council that 43 individual companies looked at the documents by the original tender date. I have been further advised by Kildare County Council that it has received 4 Expressions of Interest by the extended dateline, and that these submissions are currently being reviewed.

Environmental Policy

Questions (491)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

491. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if proposals will be brought forward for a pilot programme for a deposit return policy for plastic bottles to commence the process of reducing the amount of plastic dumped in the environment annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/19]

View answer

Written answers

The government is committed to leading the way on tackling plastic waste and increasing the level of plastic recycling.

We have consistently exceeded the current EU plastic recycling target of 22.5%, with the most up to date figures showing that we recycled 35.7% of plastics in 2016.

We will increase this (our plastic recycling rate) to 55% by 2030.

The public sector are leading the way in reducing our reliance on single use plastics. The government recently approved a plan to stop purchasing certain single use plastic cups, cutlery and straws across the public sector and to require all government departments and agencies to have resource efficiency plans in place.

We are also working on proposals to ensure the €12 billion the government spends on public procurement every year, takes account of environmental matters. This will ensure all state contracts include the full life cycle cost of our purchases.

A review of how best to achieve a 90% collection target for plastic bottles has already been commissioned and this will include an examination of an Irish Deposit and Return Scheme. Following this review, I will make a recommendation to government on whether the introduction of such a scheme is the best way in which to make progress in this area.

The government also strongly supports an EU proposal to reduce the impact of certain single use plastic (SUP) products, which proposes (a) a ban on certain plastic products, (b) targets for reducing the use of certain plastics and (c) obligations for producers to cover the costs of waste management and clean up.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (492)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if assistance is available, in the form of grants or otherwise, to enable rural service stations or others to provide power points for the charging of electric vehicles to ensure nationwide coverage of power points, thus facilitating an increase in the number of environmentally friendly vehicles on roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9559/19]

View answer

Written answers

Businesses, including service stations, in both rural and urban areas can avail of Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This scheme enables businesses invest in energy efficient equipment including electric charging infrastructure and write down the cost of such equipment in the year of purchase rather than over 8 years.

Funding for public charging in local communities is available through the Better Energy Communities Scheme. The scheme, which is administered by the SEAI, supports community-based partnerships – many of which include local businesses and enterprises. Support is provided to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area.

In November, I announced the successful projects under the first Call for Applications Assessment Stage under the Climate Action Fund. This included funding of up to €10 million to an ESB eCars project that will develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade.

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.

EU Funding

Questions (493)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

493. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of funds received by his Department or channelled through his Department from EU funds in 2017; and the programmes these funds supported. [9566/19]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy in relation EU funds received into, or channelled through, my Department in 2017, is set out in the following Table.

EU Funds - 2017

Programme Supported

€92,000

European Marine Data & Observation Network at Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) (European Maritime and Fisheries and Fund)

€5,350

EU Raw Materials/Minerals Projects at GSI (Horizon 2020)

€60,900

European Plate Observation Systems at GSI (Horizon 2020)

€21,712

Concerted Action related to implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (Horizon 2020)

€53,560,365

€53,560,365 represents Ireland’s gross share of receipts arising from auctioning of allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in 2017. €1,262,363 is deducted for the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrative expenses, resulting in €52,298,002 being returned to the Exchequer.

Energy Efficiency

Questions (494)

Frank O'Rourke

Question:

494. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding schemes or incentives available to public sector premises, such as schools and colleges, to retrofit their fluorescent lighting to more energy efficient and eco-friendly alternatives, such as LED lighting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9593/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Public sector Energy Efficiency Strategy mandates the public sector to improve its energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. Progress is monitored and publicly reported annually for each organisation. Lighting upgrades are an effective way to achieve improved energy efficiency.

SEAI operate several schemes with funding from my Department which support energy efficiency, including LED lighting upgrades, in schools and colleges. These supports include energy management training and mentoring, helping schools and colleges save energy through a structured management system, which over 700 schools have undertaken. Capital support is available under SEAI Community Grants, which support 50% of retrofit costs in schools. Since 2017, SEAI and the Department of Education and Skills have partnered to deliver a pathfinder project which has undertaken medium to deep retrofit upgrades – including lighting - in schools (with 16 schools completed to date and others to be retrofitted this year).

Since 2017 SEAI have partnered with OPW to undertake a pathfinder building retrofit programme – funded by my Department - in Central Government and other OPW estate buildings. Much of this work has had a Mechanical and Electrical services focus, with a strong emphasis on lighting retrofit. The fundamental objective of the Pilot is to test approaches, build best practice and build capacity for a large-scale energy retrofit programme through OPW. The upgrades have delivered significant savings and clients are pleased with the results. It is planned to scale this approach more widely in the OPW portfolio subject to funding availability.

Local authorities are also upgrading public lighting to more efficient LEDs. This work has already commenced in some Local Authorities and a national project involving most Local authorities is at an advanced stage of development. This upgrade, when delivered, should enable most local authorities to meet or exceed their 33% energy efficiency target and was one of the projects successful in the first round for Climate Action Fund support.

Waste Management Regulations

Questions (495)

Robert Troy

Question:

495. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the practice by some waste management companies whereby customers are charged a service fee for weeks when they do not leave out their bins for collection will be investigated; the legal status of such a charge (details supplied); and his views on whether such charges are in direct contradiction to environmental protection policies in view the fact that households that engage in recycling activities are being penalised with extra charges for doing so. [9608/19]

View answer

Written answers

The waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged, including any service charges, are a contract matter between those companies and their customers.

My role as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is to ensure that the waste management market is operating in compliance with relevant environmental legislation. With regard to the charges applied for kerbside household waste collection, the charges applied should encourage householders to divert waste from the residual or general waste bin. For example, it would be expected that charges for the general waste bin would be higher than the charges (if any) applied to the recycle bin or the organic (brown) bin.

The Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established to monitor the rates charged by waste collectors during the phase out of flat-rate fees. It has found that there a number of different pricing models available in the market including various combinations of service charge, charge per bin lift, charge per kilogramme of weight and weight allowance. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, charges have remained stable. Detailed data on price offerings is available on www.dccae.gov.ie and on www.mywaste.ie.

Waste Management

Questions (496)

Clare Daly

Question:

496. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 529 of 5 February 2019, if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9613/19]

View answer

Written answers

As part of "A Resource Opportunity", there was a proposal to strengthen the collection permitting system further by changing the permit fee structures. Consideration was given to amending secondary legislation around the level of permit fees payable by a waste operator, which are currently €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000 depending on whether the application to collect waste is in a single local authority functional area, a region or nationally. However, advice was received that fees collected from waste operators to support activities, such as enforcement, may constitute a levy and was not proceeded with. In that context, the issue of a contribution to enforcement from the sector will be revisited in the context of the review of "A Resource Opportunity" taking place in 2019.

Issues concerning the enforcement of waste legislation are statutory matters for local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency as appropriate, who both have significant powers under waste legislation to secure compliance from waste operators. The role of my Department is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework through which the enforcement authorities operate.

Waste enforcement activities on the ground have received significant support through the continued annual investment of €7.4 million in the network of 150 local authority waste enforcement officers and the further development of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA) Offices with an annual budget in excess of €1 million. I regard the introduction of the WERLA model in 2015 as one of the most significant reforms introduced in the local authority sector in a decade. Through this structure and with the cooperation of local authority waste enforcement personnel, a more co-ordinated and consistent approach to tackling waste crime in Ireland is being achieved. This investment is critical in providing an enhanced response on the ground to infractions of the waste code and enables enforcement personnel to carry out a verifiable programme of waste enforcement activity and deal with national waste enforcement priorities while sending a strong signal to waste operators that a robust enforcement presence continues to be maintained.

My Department has also developed the Anti-Dumping Initiative to work in partnership with local authorities and community organisations in identifying high risk or problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. Since 2017, funding of €3.3 million has been made available from the Environment Fund in this regard which has supported over 400 projects across all 31 local authority areas, remediating black spots and equipping local authority enforcement officers with the latest technologies available to support SMART enforcement of our waste laws. A review of this initiative is underway, which will inform a 2019 anti-dumping work programme that will place an increased emphasis on all actors who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste.

Waste Disposal Charges

Questions (497)

John Curran

Question:

497. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress he has made with the relevant agencies and stakeholders to deliver the annual support of €75 for the disposal of medical incontinence wear for vulnerable persons, to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of domestic waste; when he expects this support to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9640/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of their domestic waste. I am informed that this process has taken longer than envisaged, due to a number of issues, including data protection issues that have arisen since the introduction of GDPR. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to introducing an annual support as soon as practically possible in conjunction with relevant agencies and stakeholders.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (498)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

498. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a location (details supplied) will have access to broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9648/19]

View answer

Written answers

The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.

Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their Eircode and details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.

EU Directives

Questions (499)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delayed implementation deadline for extended producer responsibility measures, which following interinstitutional negotiations would not need to come into effect until 31 December 2024 (details supplied); and the steps he will take to support more ambitious targets for this directive. [9672/19]

View answer

Written answers

In its original proposal the Commission envisaged Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) being in place for the following wastes by 2023:

1. Food Containers

2. Cups for Beverages

3. Beverage Containers

4. Beverage Bottles

5. Tobacco products with plastic filters

6. Balloons

7. Wet wipes

8. Plastic carrier bags and

9. Fishing Gear

In relation to items 1-4 above, Ireland already has EPR in place. The deadline for tobacco products remains at 2023, which Ireland supported. A deadline does not mean measures will be delayed. Every effort will be made to ensure that mandatory EPR measures are delivered at the earliest possible date.

In relation Article 9, I would point out to the Deputy that the final text is more ambitious than the original proposal, which foresaw a separate collection rate for plastic bottles of 90% by 2030. The deadline for achieving this collection target has been brought forward to 2029 with an interim target to be achieved of 77% by 2025.

EU Directives

Questions (500)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 19 February 2019, the reason he did not state if there is a protocol or set of guidelines for his Department on sharing information, including amendments that are not available to the public, with lobbyists, industry, NGOs and others during EU interinstitutional negotiations; the protocols and guidelines in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9673/19]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland supported a high level of ambition throughout the negotiations on a proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. This reflects Ireland's position as one of the leading countries in the EU for packaging recycling and recovery. The latest statistics for packaging recycling for 2016, published by the EPA, show that Ireland has met and exceeded all EU targets for packaging recycling and recovery. In relation to plastic packaging specifically, Ireland has exceeded its recycling target by 60% - Ireland recycled 36% of its plastic packaging waste in 2016 against an EU target of 22.5%. The overall packaging recycling and recovery rate in Ireland has grown from a very low base to 88% in 2016.

When a new directive is proposed by the European Commission, the Irish authorities consider the proposals in terms of our national policy and objectives and any implications that may arise from the proposals. It would not be unusual practice for national authorities, from time to time, to seek or receive the views of experts and stakeholders when considering a national response to a specific draft proposal, although this process would not typically be set out in a formal document. This process enables the development of an informed national position by Ireland, particularly where there are technical discussions of this nature. I believe this is a common practice among all Member States and particularly in technical or complex discussions of this type.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (501, 502)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

501. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 19 February 2019, his views on a revision upwards of the EU-wide nationally determined contribution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels; his plans to seek to strengthen the EU's 2030 climate goals from the current 40% to the recommended 55%, in order to be compliant with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations of keeping global warming under 1.5°C; and the ambition he will be advocating for EU climate targets. [9674/19]

View answer

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

502. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking with the EU to raise climate action ambition; and the steps he is taking to reverse the reputation Ireland has of playing a negative role in the formation of EU climate policy, according to an organisation (details supplied). [9675/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 505, 507 and 508 of 19 February 2019.

In order to meet Ireland’s target for 2030 that we will reduce emissions in the non-ETS sector by 30%, and building on the framework put in place by both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan, I am currently developing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives in electricity, transport and heat, as well as a range of other sectors.

The All of Government Plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with specific timelines and steps needed to achieve each action, assigning clear lines of responsibility for delivery. It will also be informed by successful approaches in other countries, where such approaches could be adapted for implementation in Ireland.

The EU has in place an ambitious set of greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets for the period to 2030 which are one of the most ambitious of any party to the Paris Agreement. These targets are supported by an underpinning policy framework at EU level in the key sectors of energy, buildings and transport, through the Climate and Energy legislative package. It is important that EU Member States now put in place the necessary domestic policy framework to enable them to deliver on their respective non-ETS targets which have only recently been finalised at EU level.

It is important that the EU is able to review its targets on a regular basis in the context of measuring progress towards their achievement. This is also important given the expectation that all parties to the Paris Agreement review and strengthen their commitments over time in order to meet the objectives of the Agreement.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (503)

Robert Troy

Question:

503. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if fibre broadband will be supplied to a property (details supplied) in phase one of the national broadband plan. [9707/19]

View answer

Written answers

The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.

The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I will bring a recommendation to Government in relation to the NBP in the coming weeks.

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. 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.

Road Projects Status

Questions (504)

Micheál Martin

Question:

504. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the M20 and N20 project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9116/19]

View answer

Written answers

As 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 planning, design and operation 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 for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A

Coast Guard Services

Questions (505)

Seán Haughey

Question:

505. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if legislation will be introduced to allow emergency vehicles operated by the Irish Coast Guard to use blue lights and sirens; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of Irish Coast Guard personnel that they will be unable to respond to emergencies effectively in view of traffic congestion in north county Dublin coastal areas, particularly during the summer months; the consideration given to the issue previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9278/19]

View answer

Written answers

Under SI 694 and 695 of 2011, Coast Guard vehicles can be fitted with blue lights and warning devices. Arising from a safety review internally, the Coast Guard issued a clarification to its volunteers in relation to how these blue lights and warning devices (sirens) should be used on public roads. This instruction sets out the existing position as regards their use while driving on public roads and it mirrors best practice in other Emergency Services for untrained “Blue-light” drivers.

This notice in no way impacts on the Coast Guard’s status as a Principal Emergency Service. The issue of training Coast Guard volunteers and full-time staff in the correct and safe use of Blue Lights and sirens is being addressed as part of the Coast Guard’s Safety and Risk Work Plan.

Road traffic legislation is under constant review. Any changes in this regard impacting on the Coast Guard need to balance the safety of staff, whether full-time or voluntary, members of the public as well as those to whom the Coast Guard is responding.

Top
Share