Written Answers Nos. 625-649
625. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the drawing up of a territorial plan for the midlands region which is the first step in securing new EU just transition funding under the coal regions in transition platform; when he expects such funding to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13014/20]
View answerAs part of the EU Green Deal package, the European Commission published a proposal for an EU Just Transition Fund, funded under the EU Multiannual Financing Framework (MFF), in January 2020. The Fund is intended to provide support to the economies, people and the environment of territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the EU’s 2030 climate targets and a climate-neutral economy by 2050. Under the European Commission’s Next Generation EU package, published on 28 May, it is proposed that the budget for the EU Just Transition Fund would increase from €7.5 billion to €40 billion over the period 2021 to 2027. The proposed allocations to all Member States would increase as a result, with that for Ireland increasing from €29.9 million to €176 million, subject to the outcome of negotiations on the MFF.
The legislative proposal for the EU Just Transition Fund continues to be negotiated at EU level and Ireland is actively participating in these negotiations.
Investments in Member States under the EU Just Transition Fund must be underpinned by a Territorial Just Transition Plan, covering the period 2021 to 2027, which must be approved by the European Commission and implemented within the framework of the EU’s cohesion policy programmes. Work on this plan has commenced in my Department, and this work will also be supported by technical assistance under the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme.
Separately, the EU Platform for Coal and Other Carbon Intensive Regions in Transition, of which the Midlands Region is a member, works as an open forum, convening relevant local, regional and national governments, businesses and trade unions, NGOs and academia, to promote knowledge sharing and exchanges of experiences between EU coal and carbon-intensive regions to enable regions to identify and respond to their unique contexts and opportunities.
While the Platform does not provide funding, membership enables regions to participate in multi-stakeholder dialogue on policy frameworks and financing for successful transformation of the included regions, to share best practice and to avail of support, in the form of technical assistance, for the development of strategies and projects for local regions, focusing in particular on the employment challenges faced by workers affected by decarbonisation. The Platform was re-launched on 29 June as the Just Transition Platform.
The Platform has been providing technical assistance to the Midlands Region, through its Secretariat Technical Assistance for Regions in Transition (START), to undertake a series of preparatory actions and engagements with communities during the course of 2020, including the registration of projects for potential funding under my Department’s Just Transition Fund. The second stage of this call was launched by my Department on 19 June. Applications for funding must be received by 17 July and evaluations of submitted proposals will commence shortly afterwards.
626. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of fibre broadband to a property (details supplied). [13022/20]
View answer627. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13203/20]
View answer632. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13340/20]
View answer634. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13342/20]
View answer638. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13346/20]
View answer641. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13349/20]
View answer642. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13350/20]
View answer643. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13351/20]
View answer645. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the provision of broadband for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13518/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626, 627, 632, 634, 638, 641 to 643, inclusive, and 645 together.
The Questions refer to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie. I understand that some of the premises referred to are close to premises that are passed by eir’s fibre network. eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and, as such, decisions regarding the areas and premises served are made by eir. My Department has no role in the matter and has no statutory authority to intervene in decisions of commercial operators, as to where they build infrastructure and provide services.
Throughout rural Ireland, eir’s fibre deployment is primarily focussed on towns and villages and the premises on their outskirts. Where that network ends is where the National Broadband Plan in effect commences to ensure that nobody is left behind. I appreciate the frustration of the Deputy’s constituents when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic and the individual circumstances referred to. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this commenced earlier this year.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
628. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to plans to complete the roll out of fibre broadband in the Rathmore area of County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13267/20]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas in County Kerry which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. - Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises, including in Kerry, as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
|
County |
AMBER Premises within the NBP State Intervention Area |
BLUE Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
LIGHT BLUE Premises within eir's commercial rural deployment |
|
Rathmore Electoral District |
28% (272) |
72% (710) |
Less than 1% (5) |
The NBP network will offer those premises within the AMBER area, a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
There are 9 public access BCP's planned at present for Kerry, with a further 3 planned for schools. Proposed BCP locations including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map (www.broadband.gov.ie). The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
629. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider accelerating the roll out of broadband to ten areas most adversely effected by the closure of Bord na Móna. [13288/20]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas in the Midlands which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. - Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents 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 NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities, including those across Midlands Counties, to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
Proposed BCP locations including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map (www.broadband.gov.ie). The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the 2020 Just Transition Fund which is now open for applications. This is a key pillar of the just transition plan for the Midlands region. A 2020 fund of €11 million will be available for projects, focusing on retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region, and supporting communities to transition to a low carbon economy. The Fund could potentially support projects to develop/expand regional and local co-working hubs to facilitate remote working.
630. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will make a roadmap available indicating the plans in place to roll out vehicle charging points to small and medium-sized rural towns aside from large urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13331/20]
View answerThere are currently over 650 standard public charge points and almost 100 fast charge stations (the majority of which are operated by the ESB) in Ireland. An interactive map showing ESB charger locations can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars. The Government is investing, in a sustained way, in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure right across the country. The measures that have been put in place are providing significant support for the development of Ireland’s charging network, both public and private. The Government is committed to increasing this network in the years to come so as to ensure good accessibility across a well-developed and modern charging network.
Already €10 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund to assist the ESB in expanding their charging network and this has leveraged another €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:
- 90 additional high power chargers (150kW chargers), each capable of charging two vehicles
- 52 additional fast chargers (50kW charger), which may replace existing 22 kW chargers
- 264 replacement standard chargers (22kW chargers) to more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points.
The fast charging infrastructure will be mainly concentrated on or near national roads and motorways to enable longer journeys to be completed. The first two multi charger sites have been delivered in Galway (M6) and Kildare (M9) with additional fast charger installation having already taken place in Dublin, Cavan, and Meath. Further plans are in place for a number of other sites in Galway, Kerry, Louth, Sligo and Westmeath.
EV infrastructure will be deployed in a fundamentally different way compared to fossil fuel infrastructure. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of EV charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most is a convenient and cost-effective common and cheapest form of charging. The Government will seek to maintain this home charging level to 2030. On street charging will also be provided by Local Authorities (government supports already in place), and as the market develops, it will increasingly be provided by private enterprise also.
Managing this complex charging mix will require close cooperation across Central Government, Local Government and private enterprise. In this regard the Government will continue to review national charging needs, and will further develop its EV infrastructure accordingly with a view to ensuring that its policies promote a charging network that meets demand across both urban and rural locations.
631. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13339/20]
View answerThe area referred to in the Question is located within the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. However, I note that the map was published prior to the construction of the Clonlara development and therefore this individual premises does not currently appear on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map. BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. As the premises is located in the BLUE areas, it is my Department’s understanding that it will be served by existing commercial operators.
633. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13341/20]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises which is located in the intervention area to be served by the network to be deployed under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie. I understand that premises referred to the Question is very close to premises that are passed by eir’s fibre network. eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and, as such, decisions regarding the areas and premises served are made by eir. My Department has no role in the matter and has no statutory authority to intervene in decisions of commercial operators, as to where they build infrastructure and provide services.
Throughout rural Ireland, eir’s fibre deployment is primarily focussed on towns and villages and the premises on their outskirts. Where that network ends is where the National Broadband Plan in effect commences to ensure that nobody is left behind. I appreciate the frustration of those who are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this commenced earlier this year.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
635. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13343/20]
View answer637. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13345/20]
View answer640. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13348/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 635, 637 and 640 together.
The Questions refer to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie.
I understand that premises referred to these Questions are very close to premises that are passed by eir’s fibre network. eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and, as such, decisions regarding the areas and premises served are made by eir. My Department has no role in the matter and has no statutory authority to intervene in decisions of commercial operators, as to where they build infrastructure and provide services.
Throughout rural Ireland, eir’s fibre deployment is primarily focussed on towns and villages and the premises on their outskirts. Where that network ends is where the National Broadband Plan in effect commences to ensure that nobody is left behind. I appreciate the frustration of the Deputy’s constituents when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic and the individual circumstances referred to. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this commenced earlier this year.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
636. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13344/20]
View answer639. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [13347/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 639 together.
The premises referred to in the Questions are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
There may be a choice of operators offering this service in the area referred to and further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
644. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the situation in which workers have to work in their cars in a church carpark in Bandon, County Cork due to poor broadband in areas close to Bandon (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13517/20]
View answerI am very much aware of the difficulties facing people across the country as a result of poor broadband availability. These challenges have been magnified by the Covid 19 crisis and the need for so many to work remotely. The contract to deliver the NBP State led intervention was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
646. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has established a working from home policy for its employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13543/20]
View answerMy Department is committed to facilitating and supporting more sustainable ways of working, including eworking, across a range of policy areas. The introduction of an e-working policy for the Department itself was identified through the employee engagement process and was also an action under the Department’s Resource Efficiency Action Plan (2019), which recognises the positive impact e-working can have on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. An eworking policy has been in place in this Department since 2019. Up to March of 2020, 28 staff had availed of eworking.
Since 16 March 2020 all staff have been working remotely due to the Covid 19 pandemic and continue to do so in line with Government recommendations and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on working from home. A number of supports have been put in place to assist employees when working remotely including a remote working handbook, eLearning modules, wellbeing initiatives, resources from the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service and guidance on cyber security and data protection when working from home.
I understand that Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will shortly be issuing further guidelines on working from home during Covid-19 and has also commenced work on the development of a remote working policy for use in the civil service in the longer term.
647. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ballivor, County Meath is excluded from the midlands engagement process and the first call for proposals under the €11 million just transition fund that ended on 1 June 2020, in view of the relation of the town and hinterland with Bord na Móna (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13563/20]
View answer648. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if County Meath will be included as part of the target group for the midlands engagement process; if it can retrospectively apply to be involved in the first call for proposals under the €11 million just transition fund despite the deadline for initial project proposal having passed on 12 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13564/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together. 647 and 648 together.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that a number of company employees based at the Ballivor operation in County Westmeath are based in County Meath, and are involved in bog operations in both Counties Meath and Westmeath, principally to supply Bord na Móna’s horticulture business.
In light of Bord na Móna's decision to suspend peat harvesting activities for 2020, while its substitute consent application is under consideration by an Bord Pleanala and to put in place an enhanced peatlands rehabilitation scheme as a key component of the company's move away from peat harvesting, these employees are currently engaged in ancillary activities associated with milled peat that has already been harvested, including consolidating existing and newly harvested stockpiles, covering/protecting stockpiles and maintenance of equipment.
The 2020 call for proposals from my Department’s Just Transition Fund is open to suitable projects from East Galway, Kildare, Laois, Longford, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon and Westmeath. This is in line with the approach set out in the first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey.
The first stage in this call for proposals launched on 22 May with an invitation for organisations to register details of potential projects with the START engagement process through the Midlands Regional Transition Team. This stage concluded on 12 June. The second stage, inviting funding proposals to be submitted to my Department, opened on 19 June.
As the Bord na Móna Ballivor operations includes County Westmeath, I am satisfied that Ballivor is covered by the scope of the 2020 call for proposals from the Just Transition Fund.
Interested parties, that meet the criteria set out in the call Information Booklet published on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund, may submit applications not later than 4pm on Friday 17 July. Any questions concerning eligibility of projects may be directed in advance of this deadline to my Department at JTF@dccae.gov.ie.
649. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of operators that are licensed waste tyre disposal entities but are not registered with an organisation (details supplied) in counties Longford and Westmeath [13594/20]
View answerMy Department does not collate the type of data sought by the Deputy. However, information on waste collection permits is available from the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO). The NWCPO website contains a search facility for waste collection permits, https://www.nwcpo.ie/permitsearch.aspx . Repak Elt operate the approved compliance scheme for dealing with waste tyres under the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017, S.I. No 400/2017. A list of Repak Elt registered collectors is available on their website https://repakelt.ie/collectors/ .
