Written Answers Nos. 49-68
49. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed in tabular form. [9682/21]
View answerMy Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy.
Studies, reviews and research are currently being undertaken by my Department which contribute to project delivery and informed, robust, evidence based policy making. Details of these are set out in the table below.
|
Details of live studies, reviews and research |
Scheduled date for completion |
|
Review of the Call Handling Procedures of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) |
Q1 2021 |
|
EnvEcon AP Limited - Consultancy to support work of the Climate Action Modelling Group (CAMG). |
14/11/2022 |
|
University College Cork (MaREI Institute) - Consultancy to support work of the Climate Action Modelling Group (CAMG). |
06/12/2022 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)- Consultancy to support work of the Climate Action Modelling Group (CAMG). |
31/12/2022 |
|
University College Dublin (Energy Institute) -Consultancy to support work of the Climate Action Modelling Group (CAMG). |
7/02/2023 |
|
Review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems - focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. |
Q4 2021 |
|
Assessment report carried out to provide economic and policy analysis on micro-generation in Ireland |
22/06/2021 |
|
Capacity Review of National Cyber Security Centre |
Q2 2021 |
|
An independent analysis of the Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme carried out by the London School of Tropical Medicine |
2021 |
|
Developing geochronology by LA-ICPMS imaging: applications of U-Pb calcite dating in raw materials research |
30/11/2021 |
|
Quantifying coastal evolution along Wexford county using remote sensing approaches |
31/07/2021 |
|
Irish National Seismic Network |
30/11/2022 |
|
Mapping, Modelling and Monitoring Key Processes and Controls on Cold-water Coral Habitats in Submarine Canyons |
30/10/2021 |
|
Structure, evolution and seismic hazard of the Irish offshore: An investigation using the first broadband, ocean-bottom seismometer deployment offshore Ireland |
28/02/2023 |
|
Assessing the educational impact of geoscience public engagement initiatives |
31/12/2021 |
|
Integrating multidisciplinary geoscientific data into forecasting models to monitor and predict coastal change: Proof of concept in Dublin Bay |
30/06/2022 |
|
COntrol SEISmicity and Manage Induced earthQuakes (COSEISMIQ) |
30/04/2021 |
|
Identification and Assessment of Deep Geothermal Heat Resources in ChallengingUrban Environments (GEO_URBAN) |
30/04/2021 |
|
Recycling of End-of-Life Products (PCB, ASR, LCD) |
29/04/2021 |
|
Environmental Geosceince PhD Programme |
31/12/2022 |
|
Exploring the critical metal potential of Irish Zn Pb deposits |
30/9/2021 |
|
Earth Observation for Intertidal Mapping and Monitoring EO Intertide |
30/9/2021 |
|
DIG: De-risking Ireland’s Geothermal Energy Potential |
31/12/2023 |
|
ThermoWell: Thermal Resource Extraction from a Standing Column Well |
31/12/202 |
|
ShallowTHERM |
31/05/2021 |
|
Stonebuilt Ireland - creating a countrywide inventory of building stone |
30/11/2022 |
|
SEparating Critical metals ThrOugh mineRal crystallization |
30/08/2024 |
|
Geophysical and Earth Observation Tools for Evaluating the Condition of Slopes (GEOTECS) |
30/09/2024 |
|
DEEP Innovation for De-Risking Enhanced Geothermal Energy Projects |
31/11/2023 |
|
Enhancing REServoirs in Urban deveLopmenT: smart wells and reservoir development, RESULT |
30/09/2023 |
|
Groundwater-g - Supporting Groundwater Resources Management using Low-Cost Microgravity Technology |
31/01/2022 |
|
Abrupt Climate Change in Ireland: Redefining our climate future through a lens of high-resolution glacial reconstruction |
31/01/2022 |
|
RAFTA: Resolution Analyses for Frequency- and Time-DomainAirborne Electromagnetic Data of the Irish Tellus Programme |
31/01/2022 |
|
Linking ocean model predictions with coastal impacts using a low cost, time-lapse camera shoreline monitoring system |
31/01/2022 |
|
BIM integrated Geo hazard monitoring of at risk slopes and historical retaining structures |
31/01/2022 |
|
Amplification of seismic rotations due to subsurface heterogeneities |
30/08/2021 |
|
Assessing the potential of Holocene shellbeds in Galway Bay as palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate archives |
31/11/2021 |
|
Using Earth Observation (Satellite) imagery for offshore renewable energy site selection and constraint analysis. |
31/08/2021 |
|
Energy Critical Element Characterisation of Irish Mineral Deposits |
30/11/2021 |
|
Hyperspectral Analysis of the Mourne Mountains (HAMM) |
31/01/2022 |
|
Mapping weather & climate indices using seismic data (SeisStorm) |
30/08/2021 |
|
Pile Ageing Study for Offshore Wind Applications |
31/01/2022 |
|
Delivering Added Value to the Tellus Survey: A Multi-elemental Isotopic Database of Soil and Stream Water |
30/11/2021 |
|
Quantifying Ireland’s Dust Bowl: An interdisciplinary assessment ofpotential loess genesis, deposition, and dynamics in the Burren |
31/01/2022 |
|
Real time Monitoring of landslides using remote sensing approaches |
31/01/2022 |
|
Developing seabed scour assessment and prediction tools using computational fluid dynamics modelling (DeMo) |
31/01/2022 |
|
Extraction of Historic DEMs and Orthophotos using Digital Photogrammetry and its Applications in Coastal Evolution Studies |
31/01/2022 |
|
Monitoring and Modelling Geomagnetic and Geoelectric Fields in Ireland |
31/3/2024 |
|
Integrated modelling of hydrogeological/hydrological data and climate change scenarios for preselected Irish groundwater systems |
31/3/2022 |
|
PACIFIC: Passive seismic techniques for environmentally friendly and cost efficient mineral exploration |
30/11/2021 |
|
Catchment Care: Community Actions for resilient ecosystems |
30/04/2023 |
|
CHERISH: Climate, Heritage and Environments of Reefs, Islands, and Headlands |
30/06/2023 |
|
Coastal Change from Space: Monitoring Coastal Erosion from Space |
10/03/2021 |
|
EMODNET, The European Marine Observation and Data Network – Geology |
24/09/2021 |
|
EMODNET, The European Marine Observation and Data Network – Habitats |
30/09/2021 |
|
EMODNET, The European Marine Observation and Data Network – Bathymetry |
20/12/2022 |
|
GEOTHERMICA ERA-NET Cofund |
31/12/2021 |
|
ERA MIN 3 Raw Materials for the Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy |
30/11/2025 |
|
Establishing the European Geological Surveys Research Area to deliver a Geological Service for Europe: |
28/02/2022 |
|
Hover |
28/02/2022 |
|
Tactic |
28/02/2022 |
|
Resource |
28/02/2022 |
|
MUSE |
28/02/2022 |
|
Hotlime |
28/02/2022 |
|
GeoConnect3d |
28/02/2022 |
|
GIP-P |
28/02/2022 |
|
MINDeSEA |
28/02/2022 |
|
Eurolithos |
28/02/2022 |
|
Frame |
28/02/2022 |
|
Mintell4EU |
28/02/2022 |
|
European Plate Observing System (ESFRI infrastructure) |
ongoing |
|
Geo Energy Europe2 |
30/9/2022 |
|
ESRI - Paper on consumer inertia and price sensitivity when choosing mobile plans, based on ComReg’s Mobile Consumer experience survey data. |
Q2 2021 |
|
ESRI - Paper on how local availability of high-speed broadband affects consumer preferences in the mobile market. |
Q2 2021 |
|
ESRI - Behavioural experiments on how to encourage take-up of high-speed broadband services. |
Q4 2021 |
|
ESRI - Study of how availability high-speed broadband and use of internet applications affects social inclusion, loneliness and well-being among older people in Ireland. |
Q4 2021 |
50. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of additional staff that have been recruited to National Cyber Security Centre in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if further staff will be recruited later in 2021. [9774/21]
View answerThe National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is located within my Department, and is responsible for acting as a conduit for information to constituents, including operators of Critical National Infrastructure, Government Departments and Agencies. The Centre also provides expert advice and analysis on cyber security issues and is involved in coordinating the response to significant incidents. The NCSC is composed of highly skilled, specialist technical civilian staff, with skillsets in areas such as computer science, software engineering, malware analysis, information technology forensics, cryptography, software development, and cyber security compliance, as well as general cyber security skills. In 2020 two additional cyber security experts were recruited by my Department to work in the NCSC and following a further recruitment competition a Chief Technology Officer will be appointed to the NCSC shortly.
The 2019 National Cyber Security Strategy set out a series of measures to further improve and develop the capacity of the NCSC. In order to assess the capacity of the NCSC to deliver its objectives as set out in the strategy, an external review of the NCSC has been commissioned. The capacity review, which commenced in January 2021, will examine the current organisational structure, staffing, work processes and financing of the NCSC and will benchmark it against international best practice models. Work in relation to the capacity review is on-going and the report of the independent experts is expected early in Q2. The findings of the review will then be considered and will inform decisions to be taken on the future resourcing of the NCSC.
51. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre broadband will be supplied to a location (details supplied), given residents of the area are struggling with slow broadband speeds while trying to work from home and with home-schooling. [9795/21]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is 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.My Department has, however, looked into the matter and I understand that high speed broadband services are available at this location. Complaints about service provision are a matter between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. There may also be a choice of operators offering this service in the area and it may help to check www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services or another cost comparison search engine.
52. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timescale for the fibre roll-out in the intervention areas in County Donegal under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9809/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract 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 deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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.
There are a total of 102,564 premises in County Donegal of which 70,191 premises (68%) are served by commercial operators and 32,373 premises (32%) are in the Intervention Area.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Some 4,042 premises have been surveyed in Co Donegal including in the areas Milford, Letterkenny, Ramelton, Termon, Ballymacool, Kilmacrennan, Mullaghfin and Tommyscroft. Further details are available on specific areas within County Donegal 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 15 February, 274 BCP 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 accessible sites and the Department of Education for schools. BCP sites connected in Donegal are Ray Community Centre, Leghowney Community Centre, Dunree Military Museum, Cranford Coole Community Centre, the Gweedore Theatre and Meenreagh Hostel. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Some 42 schools in County Donegal are to be connected by the end of 2022. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
53. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the next renewable energy support scheme, RESS, auction will commence; the terms and conditions made available; if delays are expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9810/21]
View answer66. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when details of the new renewable electricity support scheme will be announced; if community ownership will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 66 together.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is a flagship policy to deliver on the Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan target of at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Following a successful first auction under the scheme last year, my Department is currently designing the next onshore auction, as well as the first offshore auction.
The first RESS auction already included a standalone category for community owned projects which protects them from having to compete with larger scale developments in the auction. I intend that this community category will continue in the second onshore auction, to enable communities to generate their own electricity and to promote further growth in this area.
In addition, I announced on 4 February last that all projects applying to the community category in future RESS auctions must be 100% community owned. Communities will now be able to retain all the benefits that are associated with generating their own electricity.
Detailed work is underway on the planning and design of the second RESS onshore auction. A timetable will be published in the coming months which will set out the key milestones including consultation on the terms and conditions, the qualification process and the auction bidding window.
54. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter regarding the provision of broadband in the case of a person (details supplied). [9839/21]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is 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.
My Department has, however, looked into the matter and I am advised that high speed broadband services are available at this location. Complaints about service provision are a matter between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. There may also be a choice of operators offering this service in the area and it may help to check www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services or another cost comparison search engine.
55. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when works related to the fibre box will be completed near the railway gates at Cratloemoyle, County Clare; and when persons in homes nearby will be able to access fibre broadband (details supplied). [9841/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract 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 deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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.
There are a total of 69,225 premises in County Clare of which 46,633 premises (67%) are served by commercial operators and 22,592 premises (33%) are in the Intervention Area.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Some 3,556 premises have been surveyed in Co Clare including in the areas of Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglas, Cloghrea, Kilkishen, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry, Broadford and Clontra. NBI are currently undertaking pre build works in the area of Cratloe and anticipate that build works will be complete in the area later this year. Further details are available on specific areas within County 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 15 February, 274 BCP 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 accessible sites and the Department of Education for schools. BCP sites connected in Clare are Cree Community Centre, Michael Cusack Visitor Centre and Loop Head Lighthouse. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools are connected as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
56. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of consultation that has taken place regarding the proposed peatlands climate action scheme with local residents in each of the affected areas. [9873/21]
View answerThe approval of the Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme on 24 November 2020 reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a just transition for workers in the Midlands. The scheme will, over time, employ 307 people, some of whom will be engaged on a seasonal basis, with 210 full time equivalents engaged over the delivery period. The scheme encompasses 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation. The scheme will protect the storage of 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. It is also estimated that over the period 2020 to 2050, 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has been established as Scheme Regulator to ensure the effective oversight of the rehabilitation and restoration works. Bord an Móna must submit a plan for each bog to both the National Parks and Wildlife Services in respect of this scheme, and to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in respect of works required to meet their Integrated Pollution Control licence obligations. As part of this process, Bord Na Móna is consulting with stakeholders and landowners that may be impacted by the scheme. Bord na Móna carry out such consultation in accordance with EPA guidance on the process of preparing and implementing bog rehabilitation plans, which focuses on meaningful, early, on-going and transparent consultation with all national and local regulators, local interest/community groups, and affected parties.
Covid restrictions have impacted Bord na Móna’s capacity to call door-to-door to affected parties and, as such, newspaper advertisements have been issued in local publications. In addition, Bord na Móna have recently launched a digital information hub for the Scheme.
57. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for enacting policy on fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9897/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government recognises that as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop LNG terminals that import fracked gas and commits to developing a policy statement to establish that approach. My Department is in the process of developing the policy statement, which includes consideration of any necessary legal and regulatory provisions. This includes detailed examination of the European energy and environmental frameworks, in which our national laws operate, to ensure the policy statement will be legally robust. Once finalised, I intend to bring the policy statement to Government for approval. This is a priority issue in my Department. However, pending the conclusion of the necessary legal considerations, I cannot give an exact timeline for completion.
58. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a union (details supplied) has made a request for a meeting with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10043/21]
View answer59. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will meet with a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.
I have met with representatives of the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) since taking up my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the postal sector. In these meetings, we discussed the matters raised in the Grant Thornton report commissioned by the IPU,
I intend to meet the IPU again on 2 March following a request for a further meeting.
60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be examined. [10117/21]
View answerBord Na Móna’s last full peat harvest took place in 2018, followed by a partial harvest in 2019 and a full suspension of harvesting operations in 2020. Bord Na Móna’s decision to cease peat harvesting in January 2021 is a commercial and operational matter for the board and management of the company, and not one in which I as Minister have any function.
The approval of the Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme on 24 November 2020 reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a just transition for workers in the Midlands. The scheme will, over time, employ 307 people, some of whom will be engaged on a seasonal basis, with 210 full time equivalents engaged over the delivery period. The scheme encompasses 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation. The scheme will protect the storage of 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. It is also estimated that over the period 2020 to 2050, 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided.
My Department has no direct role in relation to the horticulture sector, including the sourcing of peat or peat products for the sector. However, a working group is being established by the Minister of State for Heritage and Local Government Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the future role of peat and the use of peat alternatives in the horticulture sector.
61. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his officials have met with representatives of a company (details supplied) or other industry bodies in relation to the decommissioned infrastructure at the Kinsale gas field and the possible use of this in any field developed at the Barryroe field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/21]
View answerMy Department meets with holders of petroleum authorisations from time to time on a variety of issues in order to ensure the effective regulation of petroleum activities offshore Ireland and to facilitate informed decision making. However, neither I nor my officials have met with the company referred to by the Deputy or representatives of any industry bodies in relation to the use of decommissioned Kinsale area gas fields infrastructure in any development of the Barryroe field.
62. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre optic broadband will be activated for Tinnahinch, County Carlow. [10244/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract 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 deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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.
There are a total of 28,291 premises in County Carlow of which 20,133 premises (71%) are served by commercial operators and 8,158 premises (29%) are in the Intervention Area.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Some 7,772 premises have been surveyed in Co Carlow including in the areas of Downings, Ballymurphy, Coppenagh, Killerig, Friarstown, Slaney Quarter, Kilmagarvoge, Muinebheag, Ballinkillen, Garryhill, Knockdrumagh, Drumphea, Coshill, Borris, Ballyphenan, Ballymurphy, Tinnecarrig, Goolin, Ballyling, Glynn, St Mullins, Hollybrook, Myshall, Lismaconly, Cappawater and Tinnahinch.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Carlow 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 15 February, 274 BCP 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 accessible sites and the Department of Education for schools. BCP sites connected in Carlow are Rathanna Community Hall, Duckett’s Grove House and Altamont Garden. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Our Lady’s National School is connected as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
63. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount allocated by his Department in 2020 and 2021 for the retrofitting of private dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10267/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government's approach to achieving our national retrofit targets.
€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for residential and community retrofit programmes to be funded by my Department through the SEAI. This represents an additional €100 million, or an 82% increase, on the 2020 allocation and is the largest ever budget for the schemes. This funding supports a range of SEAI grant schemes and initiatives for private homeowners. The Deputy may wish to note that the National Retrofit One-Stop-Shop Development Scheme is available to local authority homes and Approved Housing Bodies in addition to private homeowners. The Community Energy Grant scheme brings together residential, community and commercial buildings under the same retrofit programme to facilitate community-wide energy improvements more efficiently and cost effectively than might otherwise be possible. Full details on retrofit schemes are available at: www.seai.ie.
64. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered a national anti-illegal dumping campaign; and his views on whether the current measures to prevent illegal dumping are sufficient. [10268/21]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy contains a range of additional actions designed to enhance waste enforcement, protect human health and the environment, provide a strong deterrent effect and bring about behavioural change. These include:
- an enhanced role for the WERLAs,
- an anti-dumping toolkit for local authorities,
- an illegal and unauthorised sites action plan to assist authorities,
- greater use of fixed penalty notices,
- the data-proofing of waste legislation to facilitate the use of available and emerging technologies in a manner which is GDPR-compliant and;.
- A new national communications and education programme, building on the work of the Waste Communications Strategy Group and Waste Advisory Group.
I launched the national anti-dumping awareness communications campaign, Your County, Your Waste in November 2020, as part of the 2020 anti-dumping initiative. It includes a tailored suite of information and awareness messaging for use by local authorities and community and volunteer groups.
65. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a 24-month delay in assigning contractors under the better energy warmer homes scheme; his plans to address the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10342/21]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. To qualify for the scheme recipients must be in receipt of a qualifying welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection.
Currently, there are over 7,800 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. This includes homes that are: currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor or are awaiting the initial survey of their home.
SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months, which would have included an impact of COVID-19 restrictions. For the same time period, the average time for a surveyor to be allocated was approximately 8 months.
SEAI have advised my Department that the average waiting times quoted above should only ever be used as a general guide and waiting times may vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application. For instance, once the survey is completed and works are allocated to a contractor the time to complete works is dependent on a number of factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials, weather and more recently COVID-19 public health restrictions.
Funding for the SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased to over €109 million in 2021. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. This funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades, making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government.
In addition to the increased budget, capacity by the industry to deliver more activity has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel to provide works which commenced at the end of 2020. I also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to allow it drive the various grant programmes that it operates, including the Warmer Homes Scheme, and to ensure that level of activity envisaged under the Programme for Government is delivered. My Department is also in regular contact with the SEAI at official level in relation to the operation of the Scheme. Recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need will also be finalised shortly.
67. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure the financial sustainability of the post office network; when the public service obligation funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10370/21]
View answerA lot of work has been done over the past few years to develop the post office network and this has had a positive effect for both postmasters and customers. This momentum needs to be maintained and if An Post, the postmasters and Government work together we can ensure that the network can emerge as a central hub for a wide variety of valuable community-focused services.
While it is longstanding Government policy that postal services will not be directly subsidised by the Government, we remain fully committed to a sustainable post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.
Government believes An Post has untapped potential to do more and make a further significant contribution across many areas of public, business and community life in Ireland. I intend to set out a series of next steps on the Offline Services Report shortly.
What we are doing now is working with An Post to investigate the scope to channel additional services through the network. As with any business the post office needs to develop commercial strategies to enable it to grow and maintain its relevance for its users. All options will be considered fully and efforts will be redoubled to give effect to our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and viable post office network.
In the circumstances, there are no proposals to introduce a Government funded subsidy for the post office network.
68. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details and dates of the introduction of the single use plastics directive; if existing stocks of plastic utensils purchased before 3 July 2021 can be used by outlets until that existing stock has depleted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10388/21]
View answerFrom 3 July this year, under the provisions of the Single Use Plastics Directive, single use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, balloon and cotton bud sticks may not be placed on the Irish market. This also applies to expanded polystyrene cups and food containers and all products containing oxo-degradable plastic.
Final clarification is awaited from the EU Commission in relation to the use of stocks on hand prior to 3 July.
