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Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 131-140

Climate Change Policy

Questions (131)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

131. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if it will be ensured housing agencies can access the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35089/20]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years.  Housing associations are an important stakeholder and will play a key role in the achievement of our national retrofit targets.  Budget 2021 provided €221.5 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation will kick-start the first phase of our retrofit programme.

The first of the new schemes supported by this allocation was launched in September when a call for projects under the new National Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) scheme issued.  This scheme is open to registered housing associations as well as local authorities, energy utilities, groups of private households and other organisations who wish to participate in delivering energy efficiency upgrades to homes.  This will allow the development of working relationships between SEAI, housing associations and other relevant groups in order to facilitate large scale residential energy upgrades.  A call for projects under the Communities Energy Grant scheme is also imminent and will be open to housing associations.  Further details on SEAI grant schemes are available on it’s website. 

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Questions (132)

Neale Richmond

Question:

132. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications when high-speed broadband will be supplied to all households including those in cities to allow them to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic with ease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34996/20]

View answer

Written answers

The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas 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 NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.As of 4 November, design work is complete or on-going in target townlands across 25 counties and steady progress is being made with almost 122,000 premises surveyed to date. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.The first fibre to the home connections are expected around December 2020 and they will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from the end of January retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in these areas will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.NBI provides a facility for any premises within the AMBER area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/).Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 30 October, 187 BCP sites have been installed by NBI with 59 sites now connected with high speed broadband connectivity. The high speed broadband service will be switched on in BCP locations through 'service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools. It is anticipated that circa 275 BCP sites will be installed by the end of the year including 74 schools. School BCPs will be provided with high speed broadband, for educational use only, through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Education and Skills. Some 20 schools have been installed with high speed broadband for educational access of which 6 are now live with an internet service. My Department will work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible. The Covid 19 pandemic has also highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the Programme for Government where delivery of the National Broadband Plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around increased levels of remote working.Extensive investment plans are in place by a range of commercial operators active in the BLUE areas. These plans will see improved high speed broadband access across the country. In this regard eir are today delivering fibre to the home services to 576,000 premises and have announced plans to increase this coverage to approximately 1.8 million homes over a 5 year period. SIRO have already passed 344,000 premises and plan to provide coverage to 365,000 in total by the end of this year. Virgin Media now provide high speed broadband to almost 1 million premises and are continuing to expand their services.

Mining Industry

Questions (133)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

133. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the policy of his Department in relation to new mining being developed in high value nature areas and in or near Natura 2000 sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35001/20]

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Written answers

There are currently no applications for State Mining Licenses or Leases with my Department. Any potential mining activity is subject to a number of separate and independent statutory consents; planning permission, an Integrated Pollution Control or Industrial Emissions licence and finally an application for a State Mining Licence or Lease. Similarly, if a holder of a prospecting licence wishes to carry out drilling, an application must be made in advance to me, as Minister, and the application will be screened for compliance with environmental legislation. This applies no matter where the activity is proposed. Where a company proposes to carry out work within a Natura 2000 site, I formally seek the views of the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the application.

All licencees are obliged to follow my Department's Guidelines for Mineral Exploration as part of their prospecting licence conditions. These guidelines set out, in considerable detail, standard operating procedures to avoid damage or pollution.

I will shortly be publishing a draft policy statement for consultation on mineral exploration and mining. This will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to inform the development of policy in this area. The draft policy statement will include a significant focus on how we can maintain and improve the sustainability of mineral exploration and mining, and on the role of minerals in supporting technologies that will help achieve our decarbonisation targets.

Telecommunications Services

Questions (134)

Brendan Smith

Question:

134. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a public service obligation on mobile telecommunications providers to ensure that all areas of the country have adequate and proper mobile telephony coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35079/20]

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Written answers

Providing telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Obligations in relation to mobile coverage are set out in licences granted by Comreg to the mobile operators and ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded considerably by all operators. The regulator is currently preparing detailed award proposals for wireless broadband services under the proposed Multiband Spectrum Award process to commence next year and has commissioned studies and technical reports to inform its approach and its consideration of appropriate coverage and rollout obligations in that context. These studies are available at www.comreg.ie

In relation to mobile coverage, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at this link), which can help consumers choose the network provider that best meets their needs for where they live, work and travel. ComReg has also published the results of tests carried out on mobile/smartphone handsets currently available in Ireland (available athttps://www.comreg.ie/publication/mobile-handset-performance-data). These findings will further allow consumers to make informed decisions based on the handsets which best address their needs. These actions arose from discussions of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, established in 2016

Since 2016, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. It has completed over 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers, and continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of essential infrastructure in rural areas. The Taskforce will continue its work in the context of its inclusion in the Programme for Government, in ensuring access to high quality telecommunications connectivity across Ireland to support social and economic development.

Energy Production

Questions (135)

Holly Cairns

Question:

135. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of a microgeneration scheme to incentivise persons generating their own energy. [35119/20]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation, letting people sell excess power back to the grid by July 2021. The following measures will assist in delivering this commitment:The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a Roadmap for the EU Clean Energy Package’s Electricity and Renewables Directives in March this year, which provides for a public consultation on the regulatory framework for prosumer development later this year. My Department has provided €10.1m in recent years to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for the Solar PV grant scheme to help domestic customers generate electricity through installing rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment on their homes, with 4,104 applications processed to date, saving approx. 3.34 kiloTonnes CO2 per annum. The Department has engaged with SEAI on a review of the scheme to gather data on installation costs, the impact of grant amount and other scheme changes on industry, demand and customer behaviour in order to capture the lessons learned for the Micro-generation Framework.

My officials have also engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Heritage and Heritage (DHLGH) to review the existing planning exemptions for rooftop solar PV. Officials from the DHLGH have agreed in principle to a revision to the existing exemptions that will include provision for apartments, community and educational buildings including schools.

A Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is examining an enabling framework for micro- generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. The proposed support mechanism will be outlined in a public consultation in the coming months.

A suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all microgenerators by 2021 in line with the transposition of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001) into Irish law.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (136, 213)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

136. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his engagements to date with National Broadband Ireland regarding the feasibility of accelerating aspects of the planned roll-out of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35124/20]

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Sorca Clarke

Question:

213. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the delivery of rural broadband; and the steps he will take to accelerate this in view of the changing nature of working in rural Ireland due to Covid-19. [34782/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 213 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.As of 4 November, design work is complete or on-going in target townlands across 25 counties and steady progress is being made with almost 122,000 premises surveyed to date which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area. The first fibre to the home connections are expected next month in Carrigaline, Co Cork and they will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from the end of January retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in these areas will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.

Further details are available on specific areas through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commenceBroadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 30 October, 187 BCP sites have been installed by NBI with 59 sites now connected with high speed broadband connectivity. The high speed broadband service will be switched on in BCP locations through 'service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools. School BCPs will be provided with high speed broadband, for educational use only and some 20 schools have been connected with high speed broadband of which 6 are now live with an internet service. My Department will work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .

While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network arising from, among other things, travel restrictions and availability of accommodation for contractors across Ireland; access to island and some buildings such as schools and GAA halls which form part of the BCP initiative; and supply chain and logistic delays. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible. The Covid 19 pandemic has also highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the Programme for Government where delivery of the National Broadband Plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around increased levels of remote working.

The Programme for Government has committed to seek to accelerate the roll out of the National Broadband Plan. In this regard, 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. NBI has now established a dedicated team to investigate acceleration of the rollout from its current contracted schedule of seven years. Substantial work has been completed by this team to date with further actions scheduled over coming months. Exploring the potential to accelerate the network rollout is being undertaken in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (137)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

137. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the vote by the European Parliament to update the EU climate target for 2030, backing a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade up from 40% currently; if legislation will be introduced here in line with this new ambition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35011/20]

View answer

Written answers

The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal and in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. The European Commission presented its plan in September 2020 to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels based on a comprehensive impact assessment. This level of ambition for the next decade will put the EU on a balanced pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It is intended that both the 2030 and 2050 targets will be enshrined in the EU Climate Law. As part of this process, the EU Parliament and Council were invited to confirm this at least 55% 2030 target as the EU's new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and to submit this to the UNFCCC by the end of this year. Ireland has welcomed the European Green Deal and fully supports the enhanced ambition at EU level. The Programme for Government has a Green New Deal for Ireland as a core mission. It commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the latter being consistent with EU 2050 ambition. Adjusting to allow for comparison against a common base year, the Programme for Government ambition is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 55% and 60%. However, it should be noted that the precise split between ETS and non-ETS following the European Green Deal is uncertain. It is possible that further sectors will be added to the ETS and that the relative effort of ETS and non-ETS sectors will change. Accounting systems for greenhouse gas emissions reduction will also evolve over time.

Overall, it would be important that any further increase in EU ambition is decided on in solidarity with all Member States, ensuring that no one is left behind. Domestically, my immediate focus is to drive action to close Ireland's implementation gap, and ensure that our Programme for Government commitments are fully delivered.

Energy Efficiency

Questions (138, 142)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

138. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the national retrofitting scheme and the plan to designate a national retrofitting delivery body by the end of 2020 as outlined in the programme for Government. [35000/20]

View answer

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

142. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for changes to the various SEAI schemes and grants available to private homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34999/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Question Nos. 138 and 142 together.

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years.

The development of a new retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway. Budget 2021 provided €221.5 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation will kick-start the first phase of our retrofit plan.

Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households.  This is a €47 million increase on the 2020 allocation.  €112.5 million will be spent on expanding other existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new and improved ones.  The first of the new schemes was launched in September when a call for projects under the new National Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) scheme issued.  A call for projects under the Communities Energy Grant scheme is imminent.  Other initiatives to be funded in 2021 include a new National Retrofit scheme focused on achieving B2 retrofits; a heat-pump ready homes scheme; and a new Community Activation scheme.

Another key aspect of phase 1 of the retrofit programme was the recently announced establishment of the National Retrofit Office in the SEAI with additional resources to drive delivery of our retrofit targets.

It is intended to align the delivery of the Phase 2 of the Retrofit Plan with the review of the National Development Plan.

Question No. 139 answered with Question No. 121.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (140, 145)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

140. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the national broadband plan currently in terms of connectivity in County Clare. [33976/20]

View answer

Cathal Crowe

Question:

145. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of broadband in County Clare; and if he will ensure connectivity in rural areas of the county. [33975/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 145 together.

The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.

As of 4 November, design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 25 counties and steady progress is being made with almost 122,000 premises surveyed to date which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.

Surveys have commenced in Co Clare in the areas of Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglas and Cloghrea and further surveys are due to commence in the areas of Kilkishen before the end of this year. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts, informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.

The first fibre to the home connections are expected next month in Carrigaline, Co Cork and they will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from the end of January retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in this area will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.

Further details are available on specific areas within Clare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP, providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 30 October, 187 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools. Some 59 publically accessible BCPs across the country are now live.

Cree Community Centre, Loop Head Lighthouse, and Michael Cusack Visitor Centre are BCPs which are now connected in Co. Clare. A number of schools including Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools are also now connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. My Department will work with Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP.

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