Written Answers Nos. 403-421
403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter with regard to fishing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15055/19]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon. IFI is supported in its management role by scientific advice from Ireland’s independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. IFI also has to have regard to EU legislation, most notably the Habitats Directive under which salmon habitats are protected.
Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct salmon stocks, including the River Inney's stock, are carried out every year with IFI engaged in extensive stock monitoring, which feeds into the Scientific Group's annual reviews. An average of the 5 years of data is used to estimate expected returns for the coming year to ensure that a good or bad year does not have a disproportionate impact on the stock assessment in any single year.
Based on the annual assessment carried out for the 2019 season added to the previous 4 years' assessments, the Inney is significantly below its conservation limit, which is the number of returning adult fish required to sustain a healthy population. Therefore, the river is not open to harvest fishing either by rod and line or commercially for 2019. The river is open to catch and release angling only. The River Inney will again be included in the annual scientific assessments carried out later this year in anticipation of the 2020 season.
The fundamental requirement of responsible fisheries management is that rational exploitation of the salmon resource is critically dependent on the sustainable availability of that resource. Harvest fishing, by any means, on the River Inney will be dependent on the availability of a sufficient surplus above its conservation limit to underpin exploitation, which aligns with the conservation imperative and which does not put the genetically unique stock at risk.
404. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual cost for the purchase of emissions allowances for each year that such allowances have been purchased, in tabular form. [15090/19]
View answerIreland’s strategy to meet its targets under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012) included investments, between 2006 and 2007, in three multilateral funds: the Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (MCCF) managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and the Carbon Fund for Europe (CFE) and Bio-Carbon Fund (BioCF), both managed by the World Bank.
In addition to the State's investments in these funds, during 2008 and 2009 the NTMA, on foot of its powers under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, was directed by the then Minister to engage in a number of transactions for the purchase of carbon credits directly from the market in order to assist with compliance with Ireland’s obligations under the first period of the Kyoto Protocol.
Through the direct market purchases and investment in the three funds listed above, a total of 8,558,888 credits were received by the State. Of this total, 3,052,416 have been surrendered for compliance with the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The remaining number of carbon credits currently held by the State is 5,506,472.
Details of all transactions entered into by the NTMA are published annually in a Carbon Fund Report at www.ntma.ie in accordance with section 6 of the Carbon Fund Act 2007.
The following table details the level of expenditure on these funds and transactions in the period between 2006 and 2018. All amounts are in millions of euro.
|
YEAR |
MCCF |
CFE and BioCF |
NTMA Market transactions |
Total |
|
2006 |
20 |
20 |
||
|
2007 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
||
|
2008 |
53 |
53 |
||
|
2009 |
2.3 |
33.8 |
36.1 |
|
|
2010 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
||
|
2011 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
||
|
2012 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
||
|
2013 |
0 |
|||
|
2014 |
0 |
|||
|
2015 |
0 |
|||
|
2016 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
||
|
2017 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
||
|
2018 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
||
|
20 |
13.8 |
86.8 |
120.6 |
For the period 2013-2020, the EU Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC (ESD) has set binding annual emission reductions targets for each Member State. While credits currently held may be used towards compliance with these targets, Ireland will need to purchase additional credits to meet projected shortfalls against our annual targets. My Department currently estimates the additional costs of this requirement to be in the region of €6m to €13m, depending on the price and final quantity of allowances required.
408. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are long delays in applications for the SEAI home energy grants; his plans to make additional funding available to the scheme in order to increase the number of contractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14977/19]
View answerMy Department funds a number of home energy efficiency schemes that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). I have allocated €85m to these schemes in 2019. As with all Exchequer funded programmes, these are managed within available resources. The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides fixed cash grants towards a range of energy efficiency measures. Homeowners must apply online for grant approval before employing a contractor from the SEAI's Register of Contractors, which is available on the SEAI website. Online approval will be made for eligible applicants within minutes, with an official letter of offer following within 5 working days. Homeowners then have 30 days to accept the offer and 6 months from the date of grant approval to complete their works. Payment is generally made within 4 weeks of submission of the final declaration of completed works. However, longer waiting times for payment can arise if a home is selected for an inspection of works.
The Deep Retrofit Pilot Programme provides 50% funding towards a deep energy upgrade of a home. Homeowners must apply through a Deep Retrofit Service Provider who provide a timeline of works to the homeowner. The standard turnaround time from receipt of a valid application to approval is approximately 8 weeks though longer waiting times can occur for higher value project applications. A list of Service Providers is available on the SEAI's website.
The Better Energy Communities Scheme provides grants to community projects, led by a single project manager, that pull together buildings from the private, public and commercials sectors. The approval timeframe under this Scheme is generally in the order of 8-10 weeks, with longer waiting times associated with higher value project applications. A project approval tracker is available on
https://www.seai.ie/__uuid/cd83e4dc-10a8-4f09-acea-d7cbc6896a49/Communities-grant-status-tracker.pdf /.
Works under this scheme must be competed by a given deadline in order for projects to receive funding within the calendar year.
The Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades free of charge to households on lower incomes. The works carried out in each house are determined by a technical survey of the home. In light of the scale of works and funding for individual interventions, current waiting time under the Scheme is up to 18 months in some instances. Homes that are recommended for deeper energy efficiency measures such as external wall insulation or heating upgrades face longer waiting times than those receiving simpler measures such as attic insulation. Waiting times are also impacted by the high demand for the Scheme and the capacity of SEAI's contractor panel to deliver deeper measures. The current contractor panel is in place until 2020
The issue of additional funding for the schemes will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.
409. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if it is planned to extend high-speed fibre broadband to St. John's Point, Dunkineely, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14983/19]
View answer410. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if it is planned to extend high-speed fibre broadband to Ballycroy, Dunkineely, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14984/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
All premises in the areas referenced by the Deputy are 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 intend to bring a recommendation to Government 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 Local Authority 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.
411. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15136/19]
View answerThe 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. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I intend to bring a recommendation to Government 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 Local Authority 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.
413. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the programme for partnership Government commitment on broadband. [15118/19]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (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 high speed broadband. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I intend to 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.
414. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15278/19]
View answerThe NBP aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through 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 high speed broadband.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I intend to 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.
415. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to examine the potential for new support programmes, such as deep retrofit, to encourage home investment in certain energy efficient measures and systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/19]
View answerMy Department funds a range of support programmes and schemes to encourage homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. Funding for these schemes, which are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), will total €85m in 2018. Information and data on the operation of the schemes, including the Deep Retrofit Programme, is routinely gathered by the SEAI. This information is used by my Department and the SEAI to evaluate and improve the existing schemes as well as identify opportunities for new schemes. Both organisations also monitor the approaches being taken in other jurisdictions in order to learn from their experiences. This approach of evaluation and international review will provide a sound basis on which to design future supports to encourage home energy efficiency upgrades.
416. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to test low-cost finance models, to identify and refine those best suited to consumer needs in order to increase the uptake of home energy investment with finance being one of the main barriers to energy efficiency investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15286/19]
View answerThe National Development Plan has identified a significant level of investment to fund home energy efficiency retrofit. However, it is clear that the Exchequer alone will not be able to fully fund the scale of retrofits that need to happen for Ireland to meet its national and EU climate targets. In order to address this, my Department is currently working with a number of key stakeholders to explore the potential for the introduction of new financing options to support energy efficiency. Actions in relation to smart finance to support energy efficiency measures will be considered in the context of the forthcoming All of Government Climate Plan.
417. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to provide the necessary supports to help homeowners undertake home retrofits in order to prevent application abandonment for energy efficient grant schemes and to increase the uptake of home retrofits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15288/19]
View answerMy Department funds a number of energy efficiency schemes for homeowners that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI works on an ongoing basis to identify opportunities to reduce application abandonment and increase the number of successful applications made to the schemes they administer. This focus includes significant insights from SEAI’s Behavioural Economics Unit. For example, in October of 2018, SEAI reviewed the online application wizard through which members of the public can apply for SEAI grant funding. The review identified a number of steps which could be removed in order to reduce application abandonment. Following the review, the problematic steps were removed from the application wizard resulting in a more streamlined process for users. This example of an innovative approach is in addition to the comprehensive information and guidance available from the SEAI through their website and information line.
More generally, I will shortly be publishing a new All of Government Climate Plan which will include a number of actions aimed at improving supports for homeowners and increasing the number of retrofits.
418. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter regarding the nationwide ban on fossil fuels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15328/19]
View answerThe 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 subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels and has had the effect of significantly improving public health. Research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in over 350 fewer annual deaths in Dublin alone. In light of its significant health and environmental benefits, it had been announced by a number of previous Ministers that the ban would be extended to the entire territory of the State. However, as the Deputy may be aware from recent press reports, a number of coal firms have indicated that they would legally challenge this decision.
I have discussed this issue with the Attorney General, my Department is now working to finalise a legally robust plan which will improve air quality by reducing particulate matter in the air. However, pending the completion of this work I am aware of the need to provide clarity now to the public and to the trade to enable them adequately plan for purchases of stock for the 2019/20 heating season. I can confirm therefore that the current ban on bituminous coal will not be extended nationwide for the 2019/20 heating season.
419. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of court prosecutions initiated by An Post in each of the years 2014 to 2018; the result of each of these court cases; the number and values of fines issued in each year; the value of fines collected each year; the value of fines still outstanding in respect of these prosecutions; the arrangements in place to collect the outstanding fines; if he will provide an age analysis of these outstanding fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15344/19]
View answerUnder the Broadcasting Act, 2009, An Post is the designated agent, acting on my behalf, for the collection of the Television Licence fee. In line with the Act, An Post deals with all day to day operational matters of the current licence fee regime. An Post makes every effort to bring evaders into the licensed pool and a considerable amount of time and resources are spent in dealing specifically with this issue. An Post concentrates its initial efforts on getting people to buy the licence when due and by following up with a series of reminder notices and inspector visits. Bringing people to court is a last resort and only carried out where all other means have failed.
The number of summons issued and cases brought to court between 2014 and 2018 are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Number of Summons applied for |
Number of cases brought to court |
|
2014 |
20,877 |
13,976 |
|
2015 |
17,763 |
12,302 |
|
2016 |
17,608 |
11,994 |
|
2017 |
17,288 |
11,693 |
|
2018 |
16,120 |
10,234 |
The imposition and collection of fines for non-payment of TV licence fees are a matter for the Courts Service in conjunction with An Garda Síochána. No statistics for fine collection, non-payment of fines or age analysis of outstanding fines are provided to An Post by the Courts Service.
420. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of court prosecutions initiated by ESB Network Limited in each of the years 2014 to 2018; the result of each of these court cases; the number and values of fines issued in each year; the value of fines collected each year; the value of fines still outstanding in respect of these prosecutions; the arrangements in place to collect the outstanding fines; if he will provide an age analysis of these outstanding fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15347/19]
View answerThe initiation of legal proceedings is an operational matter for the Board and management of ESB Networks and is not one in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function.
421. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has undertaken procurement processes for consultancy agencies, media or otherwise to assist it with formulating or contributing to policy messaging on social media or videos relating to his departmental strategies or policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15384/19]
View answerMy Department incurred costs of €69,497 on social media services since May 2016 to date, as set out in the following table.
|
Strategy/Policy |
Expenditure |
|
National Waste Awareness Campaign |
€45,250 |
|
Trading Online Voucher Scheme Promotion |
€24,247 |
|
€69,497 |
The above services were procured in accordance with the relevant procurement procedures.
