Written Answers Nos. 76-100
76. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the availability of SEAI grants for private home owners to retrofit and insulate their homes; if these schemes will be expanded to cater for more persons; the current waiting time for a person that may wish to avail of same; if funding will be increased for these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/21]
View answerMy Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, around 450,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. Last year alone, although COVID-19 restrictions had a negative impact on activity, over 17,500 homes were retrofitted with SEA support.
€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes. This represents an additional €100 million, or an 82% increase, on the 2020 allocation and is the largest ever budget for the schemes.
Waiting times vary across schemes. Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, in 2020 the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months, which reflects the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. SEAI have advised my Department that this average waiting time 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.
Under the Better Energy Homes programme works must be completed within an 8-month period, starting from the date of grant approval.
Aggregation based supports such as Community Energy Grant and the National Retrofit Scheme approve applications which meet the qualifying criteria on an ongoing basis within the annual budget. Work on these schemes can commence as soon as grant approvals are given to each project with works to be completed by mid-October of this year.
Full details on the application processes for all schemes operated by th. SEAI are available at www.seai.ie
78. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact that data centres will have on electricity demand in Ireland over the next decade; the policy interventions planned as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44949/20]
View answerGovernment policy in relation to data centres is primarily a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Government Statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy, 2018 recognises that a plan-led approach is needed to develop a range of measures to promote regional options for data centre investment, minimising the need for additional electricity grid infrastructure.
Data centre related electricity demand in Ireland continues to grow. EirGrid, in their Generation Capacity Statement 2020-2029, project that demand from data centres could account for 27% of all demand by 2029, up from 2% in 2018. Significant increases in volumes of generation capacity, including from renewable energy sources, will be required to meet Ireland’s electrification objectives including demand from heat pumps, electric vehicles and data centres.
The Climate Action Plan sets out a number of actions to ensure that data centres are accommodated in a sustainable manner including implementing flexible demand and other innovative solutions for data centres. This has been implemented by EirGrid for new data centres seeking to connect in Dublin.
EirGrid has launched this week a public consultation on 'Shaping our Electricity Future'. The aim is to make the electricity grid stronger and more flexible so that it can carry significantly more renewable generation as well as meet increasing demand from high volume energy users such as data centres. EirGrid’s consultation will align with Ireland’s strategy to further reduce electricity emissions which will be set out in this years revision to the Climate Action Plan.
Work is also ongoing by the Renewable Electricity Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) Steering Group, led by the the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in order to deliver on the step up in ambition in the Climate Action Plan of meeting 15% of electricity demand from CPPAs by 2030. A public consultation on options is currently underway and is running until the 31st March 2021; the relevant documentation is available at www.seai.ie
79. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to procure new renewable energy sources particularly vital for heating and transport sectors given their current heavy reliance on oil and gas; if he is satisfied with the current rate of the transition away from fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1577/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits Ireland to achieving an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
This will require a significant shift away from fossil fuels and a corresponding increase in the use of renewable energy across all sectors. Currently 12% of the energy we consume is from renewable sources. The National Energy & Climate Plan, which was approved by the Government and published last year, commits us to reaching a level of 34% by 2030.
In order to achieve this target, the Government has set a target of 70% of the electricity we consume to come from renewable sources by 2030. We are currently over halfway to achieving this target and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme will support further increases as evidenced by the successful first auction which took place last year.
In the heat sector, the National Energy & Climate Plan envisages an increase from the current level of 6% renewable energy to 24% by 2030. This will be achieved by a combination of retrofitting 500,000 homes, installing 400,000 heat pumps, ensuring new buildings do not install fossil fuel heating systems and supporting the growth of renewable energy through programmes such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat.
Growth in renewable energy in the transport sector will also be required which is within my remit as Minister for Transport. This will include significant growth in the use of electric vehicles powered by electricity that will be 70% renewable by 2030. It will also include growth in the use of sustainable biofuels displacing fossil fuels in conventionally power vehicles.
I would note the policies and measures currently in place are not sufficient to meet the commitments set out in the Programme for Government. An updated Climate Action Plan is currently under development and I expect this will further increase the rate at which we move away from fossil fuels to renewable technologies.
80. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the outcomes of the Shared Island Dialogue on The Environment and Climate - Addressing Shared Challenges of February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12763/21]
View answerThe Shared Island Dialogue series was launched by the Taoiseach last October as part of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative and is central to our Shared Island approach, working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to address shared strategic challenges, in ambitious and effective partnership, founded on the Good Friday Agreement.
Alongside PEACE PLUS, the Government in Budget 2021 announced our Shared Island Fund, with €500m in capital funding being made available over the next five years, ring-fenced for collaborative North/South investments, to be made in line with our Programme for Government commitments and priorities, including on environmental protection and sustainable development
I delivered the opening address at the second dialogue which took place on 5 February, on the theme "Environment and Climate - addressing shared challenges on the island." The purpose of the dialogue was to inform the development of the Shared Island Initiative in view of the priority placed by the Government on addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, and protecting our shared environment on the island.
The event was moderated by Kevin O'Sullivan, Environment and Science Editor with the Irish Times, and there were three panel discussions on the themes of "Tackling the climate emergency - a shared island perspective"; "Addressing the biodiversity crisis on the island"; and Future priorities for all-island cooperation on environment".
This second dialogue brought together more than 100 participants from across the island of Ireland joined in an online discussion involving civil society groups, business and agriculture representatives, academic and research experts, local authorities and state agencies. In doing so, the d ialogue provided an opportunity for experts to share experience and suggestions on what works, what more could be done together and where we could learn from each other on the island - in government, in research, and in our economy and society - to protect our shared environment.
The Shared Island Dialogues are organised by the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach in partnership with Government Departments. The Dialogue series will contribute to the Government’s approach to the Shared Island Initiative, complementing commissioned research and the implementation of commitments on building a Shared Island that are set out in the Programme for Government. Further information on the Shared Island Initiative is available at www.gov.ie/sharedisland, with reports from plenary sessions of the Shared Island Dialogues being added at www.gov.ie/sharedisland/dialogues.
82. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined the potential devaluation of private homes close to overhead pylons proposed for the north-south interconnector grid in counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1572/21]
View answer86. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a review of the proposed north-south interconnector project will be undertaken in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1517/21]
View answer88. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the most recent occasions he has met with all anti-pylon groups, community groups and residents and farmers over concerns for overhead pylons on the north-south interconnector route in counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1571/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 86 , 86 and 88 together.
The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also help Ireland to move towards 70% renewable electricity by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.
Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure which states: ‘The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies’.
The option of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions. Most recently and fully in line with the resolution of Dáil Éireann of 16 February 2017, my Department commissioned an independent report incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. The report from the International Expert Commission was published in October 2018 and it found that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this piece of critical electricity infrastructure. I do not intend ordering a repeat of such a review.
In a separate independent study carried out by KHSK Economic Consultants and also published in October 2018, the issue of possible impacts on the valuation of homes was considered. The report "International Practice in the approach to and levels of compensation of property owners in proximity to high voltage transmission lines" indicated that transmission lines have a negligible or small impact on property values, and where an impact was found it tends to be short term only. It is to be expected that this project will attract new levels of investment and employment opportunities that will significantly benefit the local economy.
EirGrid and ESB Networks, as our electricity system operators, always seek to work in close collaboration with landowners and stakeholders in the delivery of electricity infrastructure. Both companies are engaging with those living closest to the route of the interconnector. In that regard I note that EirGrid has already set in place a variety of engagements locally, including the appointment of community liaison officers and a mobile information unit active in the area. I expect such engagements to intensify in the coming weeks and months, subject to Covid-19 public health guidelines.
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in achieving emission reduction targets in line with the programme for Government whilst at the same time protecting economic progress in the agri-food business or other sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8973/21]
View answerThe programme for Government commits to an annual average 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 2030.
While Irish agriculture has a positive international reputation in terms of producing high quality, sustainable produce, emissions from the agri-food sector have continued to increase. The long-term challenge for the sector is to achieve carbon neutrality, while not compromising our capacity for sustainable food production. The Government is committed to finding the balance between environmental, climate and biodiversity needs, and supports for farmers.
The Climate Action Plan 2019 includes measures for the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deliver in order to ensure we meet our existing EU targets. The next Climate Action Plan 2021 will further evolve the climate policy in the area, including in respect of the agri-food industry. We are working to identify actions to support increased carbon removals. Land-use offers significant potential to sequester additional carbon and may provide a new source of family farm income and rural economic benefit. As well as developing the next Climate Action Plan, we are evaluating the potential climate contributions from land use improvements, to set in train the development of a land land-use strategy
Finally, we recognise the interlinked role the agriculture and agri-food sectors have with the waste sector and are committed to supporting the agri-food sector to evolve Ireland’s capability as a leader in circular economies. We are investing in research in the agri-food sector to prioritise investment in climate and the bio-economy and will implement the National Policy Statement on the Bio-economy, providing the agri-food sector with new opportunities using biological resources in a sustainable and circular manner
With the correct policy choices in the agriculture sector, we can reward farmers for sequestering carbon, restoring biodiversity, improving water and air quality, producing clean energy, and developing schemes that support results-based outcomes.
84. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if National Broadband Ireland will provide greater functionality and more detail on its website with a rolling update of network build plans across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/21]
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.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI are working to provide greater functionality and more detail on their website with a rolling update of network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
85. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the Celtic interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1331/21]
View answerThe Celtic Interconnector is a €1 billion electricity interconnector jointly proposed by EirGrid and their French counterparts, the French transmission system operator, RTÉ (Reseau de Transporte d’Électricite). It is proposed as a 575km long (500km subsea), 700MW cable from the north-west coast of France to the south coast of Ireland. At this scale it would be able to provide electricity for some 450,000 homes.
The Celtic Interconnector will provide a reliable high-capacity electricity link between Ireland and France that will have significant benefits for the people of Ireland. The project will provide access to the European internal energy market, leading to expected increased competition and lower prices in Ireland. It will also enhance security of electricity supply and facilitate increased capacity for renewable energy here via export access to the mainland European markets.
In late 2019 the European Commission announced a grant of €530 million towards the construction of the interconnector under the Connecting Europe Facility fund. This grant was made possible by significant support for the project from the Irish Government that resulted in its designation as an EU Project of Common Interest.
Extensive planning by EirGrid and a period of public consultation took place last year with regard to the development of interconnector infrastructure, following which decisions were reached on the interconnector's location in East Cork. A further decision was arrived at by EirGrid regarding the establishment of an enhanced community benefit scheme for impacted communities.
While I have no function in this matter, my officials have been informed that EirGrid will likely submit its planning application for Celtic Interconnector project in Spring this year with the project estimated to be completed in 2026.
87. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the recent news that EU member states have now agreed on a negotiating mandate for revised rules on the protection of privacy and confidentiality in the use of electronic communications services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13292/21]
View answerOn the 10th February, agreement was reached by Member States on a mandate to enter negotiations with the European Parliament on the Regulation concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC (Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications), colloquially known as the ePrivacy Regulation. Prior to this agreement being reached, discussions had been on-going in Council for over four years, a testament to the file’s complexity.
The ePrivacy Regulation will repeal and replace the existing ePrivacy Directive and aims to makes Europe’s online privacy rules fit for the digital age. It will update the rules in respect of the processing of end-users’ electronic communications data (including metadata); the storage of information on end-user’s terminal equipment; direct marketing using electronic communications services; and, inclusion in publically available directories. The ePrivacy Regulation particularises and complements the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
I look forward to the beginning of the trilogue negotiations on this important file, which my officials will be closely monitoring. Ensuring the privacy of our citizens’ online communications is vital to maintaining their trust in an increasingly digitalised world and at the same time, it is important that any agreement reached on this file is sustainable going forward.
89. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had and the plans he has considered in relation to the commitment to build the capacity of the National Cyber Security Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13247/21]
View answerThe 2019 National Cyber Security Strategy set out a series of measures to further improve and develop the capacity of the National Cyber Security Centre (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. I understand that 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.
91. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had to date with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at the local government level on climate action, particularly in relation to County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1598/21]
View answerUnder the Climate Action Plan 2019, a Climate Action Charter for Local Authorities was agreed between my Department and the Local Authorities. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government were consulted as part of this process.
The goal of the Charter is to ensure that every Local Authority embeds decarbonisation, sustainable development and climate resilience into every aspect of the work they do. The Charter acknowledges the need to take collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change, while also committing Local Authorities to being advocates for climate action.
Under the Charter, Local Authorities will measure the carbon impact of activities and implement measures to reduce carbon emissions in line with national objectives, including a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. In 2018 my Department entered into a five year financial commitment of €10 million to establish four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs). Mayo County Council is the lead authority for the Atlantic Seaboard North region, which includes both Local Authorities in County Galway, along with those in counties Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo.
My Department engages with all four CAROs on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group.Under the National Adaptation Framework each Local Authority has developed a Local Adaptation Strategy. These strategies are now being implemented, and each CARO is working with the Local Authorities in its region to both facilitate and monitor implementation of the local climate adaptation actions within the strategies.
The Climate Action Bill further strengthens the role of Local Authorities in climate action. It sets out legislative requirements for each Local Authority to produce its own Climate Action Plan (covering both mitigation and adaptation) within eighteen months of the enactment of the Bill, and then subsequently at least once every five years. These plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and Local Authorities will have to liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans
To build the necessary capacity, my Department is also funding and engaging with the CAROs in relation to the implementation of a new Local Authority climate action training programme. This programme will increase knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff, and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level
A further €65 million has been provided for retrofitting the social housing stock this year through the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is estimated that this funding will result in 2,400 retrofits to B2 or cost optimal equivalent though the final number is dependent on the initial condition and dwelling type
92. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on his Department’s recent public consultation on microgeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13278/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation to help citizens generate their own renewable electricity for their own use, for example from solar panels on their roofs, and allow people sell excess electricity back to the grid by July 2021.A Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. The proposed support mechanism was outlined in a public consultation which closed for submissions on 18 February last. Over 900 submissions were received from the general public and a broad spectrum of industry and interested parties. The assessment and analysis of the submissions is underway, with a view to publication of the final high level design of the Scheme, subject to Government approval in the coming months. Further updates can be found at gov.ie - Renewable Electricity (www.gov.ie).
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 Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive. It is intended that all relevant provisions of the Directive will be transposed into Irish law prior to the transposition deadline of 30 June 2021.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published an updated Roadmap for the Clean Energy Package’s Electricity and Renewables Directives in February, which provides for a public consultation on the regulatory framework for prosumer development later this year. The document is available on the CRU website CRU21019-2021-Roadmap-for-the-Clean-Energy-Packages-Electricity-and-Renewables-Directives.pdf.
93. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan nationally and specifically in rural areas of north County Dublin as of January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1418/21]
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.
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across every county in Ireland with over 186,000 premises surveyed as of 3 March.
This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area.
There are 13,429 premises within the intervention area of County Dublin for the National Broadband Plan. As of 3 March some 2,437 (18%) of the premises in County Dublin have been surveyed. Surveying has taken place in Skerries, Balbriggan and North County Dublin and surveys are due to commence in the areas of Lusk in Q3 of this year. Further details are available on specific areas within Dublin 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.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
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 3 March, 287 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible locations and the Department of Education for schools. Glenasmole Community Centre, Man of War GAA, Fingal Ravens GAA, and Stars of Erin GAA / Dublin Mountain Community Centre Centre have now been connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband, with more locations planned over the coming months. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Balscadden National School has also been connected for educational access only as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other 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 has been announced 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/.
95. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of retrofitting homes in the country; the number of those who have availed of the retrofitting programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45096/20]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of energy efficiency grant schemes to support homeowners to retrofit their properties. Since 2000, over 440,000 homeowners have received direct support under these schemes. Over 142,000 of these were free upgrades for lower income households. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.
Preliminary data shows that last year alone, SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes supported the upgrading of over 17,600 homes. This includes over 3,200 homes upgraded to BER rating of B2 or better. The number of retrofits last year were unfortunately, negatively impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions.
A total of €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes this year. 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. The funding has supported calls for projects under the new National Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme as well as a €47 million increase in funding for energy poverty schemes. Further SEAI administered retrofit initiatives will be launched in the coming months. In addition to the SEAI allocation, €65 million has been provided to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support the retrofitting of local authority homes.
96. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the community benefit element of the renewable electricity support scheme will operate; if funding will be available for community projects in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1423/21]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is the main government support to help deliver on Ireland’s 70% renewable electricity target by 2030. A mandatory Community Benefit Fund must be provided by all projects successful in a RESS auction. These funds will be aligned to incentivise investment in local renewable energy, energy efficiency measures and climate action initiatives. The community benefit fund under the first RESS auction which was held last year will deliver almost €4 million a year to sustainable community initiatives targeted at those communities living in close proximity to the RESS-1 Projects.
My Department has already committed to the publication of a National Register and a Good Practice Principles Handbook by July 2021. This will lay out a range of principles, including guidance on how the new funds will be managed and administered and the need to ensure community participation in fund decision-making via the establishment of a local committee. My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are now developing a draft of this handbook which will be made available for public consultation shortly with public webinars planned.
The first RESS auction also included a dedicated community projects category in which seven projects were selected for support. My aim is to ensure the delivery of some 100 community electricity generation projects by 2030. In future onshore RESS auctions, there will be additional capacity allocated to the community category and I have decided that only fully community-owned projects will be eligible.
In order to ensure an adequate pipeline I have allocated an additional €3 million in capital funding this year for the SEAI to stimulate locally-owned community energy projects. This funding will enable SEAI to deploy a range of capacity-building supports including information dissemination, trusted intermediary and advisor services, and financial supports; and I will announce further details of this enabling framework shortly.
97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify his position in relation to LNG terminals; if he supports such gas infrastructure being included on the EU Projects of Common Interests lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13285/21]
View answer121. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify Government policy in relation to the building of LNG terminals here; if such proposals are compatible with the State commitment to the Paris climate treaty; if he will consider a proposal to remove LNGs from the list in the Planning and Development Act 2000 of strategic infrastructure developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13280/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 121 together.
The Programme for Government sets out that as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop LNG projects importing fracked gas. It further commits to ensuring the Shannon LNG project is not included in the EU Projects of Common Interest list in 2021. I have previously confirmed that if an LNG project were to apply for inclusion on the 2021 list of EU Projects of Common Interest, Ireland would not provide the required Member State approval and accordingly such a project would not be included on the list. I would note that no LNG projects in Ireland have applied for inclusion on the 2021 list. Furthermore, the European Commission has proposed an update to the relevant regulation, which Ireland has supported, that will ensure no LNG projects would be eligible to be Projects of Common Interest in future.
The Programme for Government also sets out that the Government does not support the importation of 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 the 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.
In addition, my Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems which is focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review will include a detailed technical analysis and a public consultation. The review will inform future policy in relation to natural gas supplies, gas storage, electricity interconnection, emergency reserves and other measures that would enhance our security of supply. This will be done in the context of the doubling of the electricity generated from renewable sources to 70% of Ireland’s final consumption and the achievement of net zero emissions by 2050. It is in the context of this study that any changes to planning legislation could be considered. I expect that the review will be completed by the end of 2021.
98. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has concerns regarding potential negative impacts on the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, the only gold reserve in the northern hemisphere from the siting by a company (details supplied) of its pilot communications antennae project. [13091/21]
View answerThere is currently no legislation in Ireland dealing specifically with environmental light pollution, and my Department has no role in this regard. I am advised that the amount of light that might emanate from a proposed development is considered in assessing individual planning applications on a case by case basis. However, there is no specific national strategy in place in relation to 'light pollution' under environmental legislation. The designation by the International Dark-Sky Association of 700 square kilometres on the Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, as the first International Dark Sky Reserve in Ireland has been a significant addition to the county’s rich tourism profile.
I understand that officials at the Department of Rural and Community Development were contacted by a company which was interested in exploring possible sites for a small-scale pilot deployment of the company's equipment in the State, in line with the provisions of a trial license issued by the Commission for Communications Regulation.
The company was provided with the contact details for the Local Authority Broadband Officers by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.They also addressed the monthly Broadband Officers network meeting on 25 February 2021.
The decision to proceed with the pilot is a matter for the relevant Local Authority and my Department has had no role in the matter.
100. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the activity of the National Bioeconomy Forum to date since its launch; if a work programme has been developed for 2021; when such a programme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1422/21]
View answerThe National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy, published in March 2018, outlined Ireland's ambition to be a global leader in the bioeconomy. To facilitate the necessary cross-Government policy implementation, the Government established a high level Bioeconomy Implementation Group, jointly chaired by my Department, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The National Policy Statement mandated the Implementation Group to establish a Bioeconomy Forum to liaise with the relevant industry and State bodies, and community groups, across bioeconomy relevant sectors. The Implementation Group has agreed on the role of the Bioeconomy Forum, which will aim to facilitate the development of bioeconomy sectors to provide the full range of economic, environmental and societal benefits, advocate sustainable practice, and provide a link between the Implementation Group and relevant stakeholders. The Implementation Group will serve the Forum in an advisory and consultative capacity.
The BioEconomy Forum was launched during National Bioeconomy Week in October 2020. My Department is now working closely with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm a Chair for the Forum, invite and structure Forum membership, and allocate appropriate staff and resources to support the Chair in the design and delivery of a work programme. The Forum will help underpin effective and informed cross-Government strategic policy to develop Ireland's bioeconomy.
