Written Answers Nos. 230-250
230. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on progress to accelerate the delivery of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18665/21]
View answer269. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the roll-out of fibre broadband will be accelerated; if so, the plan for the acceleration; and the new predicted completion date. [19736/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 269 together.
The 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 over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. In line with the NBP Contract, the deployment plan is a 7 year build programme which is due to be completed by the end of 2026. This remains unchanged.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. The Programme for Government commits 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 roll out to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the plan to an earlier date. I have recently written to NBI seeking to put the acceleration of the programme on a contractual footing. This will require detailed technical, commercial and financial analysis and these considerations are underway.
NBI has established a dedicated team to investigate acceleration of the roll out from its current contracted schedule of seven years. As part of that work NBI is engaging with current build partners (eir and enet) to bring forward build activities and is also actively reviewing other possible build partners where such options could also speed up the build process. Exploring the potential to accelerate the network roll out is being undertaken in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19.
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/.
231. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if ahead of rewetting a bog (details supplied) under the Bord na Móna bog rehabilitation scheme, protective works can be undertaken at an important structure in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18756/21]
View answerThe Bord Na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme includes the provision of funding of €108 million for the implementation of the Scheme over a period of 5 years. 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 will encompass approximately 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 estimated that over the period 2020 to 2050, 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided through the implementation of the Scheme. The enhanced improvements will also enrich the State’s natural capital, increase eco-system services, strengthen biodiversity, improve water quality and storage attenuation, develop the amenity potential of the peatlands as well as providing employment opportunities as part of a just transition in the Midlands. The funding of the Scheme is limited to the enhanced decommissioning, restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands previously harvested for electricity generation. Restoration works outside of these peatlands is not covered under the funding of the Scheme.
This is a matter that the Deputy may wish to take up directly with Bord na Móna, the relevant local authority or other development agencies in the area.
233. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the location of the source of electricity in view of the fact that two main power stations have closed down. [18819/21]
View answer234. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if electricity is being imported here in any form. [18820/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
The latest available figures from Eirgrid, the Transmission System Operator, indicate that in Quarter 4 of 2020:
- 3,991 GWh of electricity was generated from renewable sources within the State:
- 4,147 GWh of electricity was generated from non-renewable sources within the State;
- 468.9 GWh of electricity was imported; and
- 522.6 GWh of electricity was exported.
Information on the current generation, importation and exportation of electricity on an all-Island, Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland basis may be found by accessing the Eirgrid ‘Smart Grid Dashboard’ on the Eirgrid website
https://smartgriddashboard.eirgrid.com.
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. It is intended to complete the review by the end of 2021.
235. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if two power stations, Lanesborough and Shannonbridge, are being dismantled for export to Germany. [18821/21]
View answerMatters relating to the two power stations to which the Deputy refers are an operational issue for the Board and management of the ESB and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function.
236. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding provided by his Department to An Taisce in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18838/21]
View answer252. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated amount of State funding provided by his Department to An Taisce each year for the past five years; if he has concerns regarding An Taisce’s remit and ability to cause huge delays to developments of significant importance to the farming community in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 252 together.
While as the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I have no legal function in relation to An Taisce, my Department provides it with funding for a variety of initiatives, including the National Spring Clean; the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National Litter League; and the Green Schools programme. A total of €5.4 million has been provided between 2012 and 2020 in respect of a range of such environmental activities and public awareness initiatives, with total annual allocations set out in the table below:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Total |
|
€753,200 |
€736,800 |
€415,000 |
€403,000 |
€408,000 |
€596,280 |
€671,683 |
€697,710 |
€675,474 |
€5,357,147 |
The estimated allocation for 2021 is in line with the 2020 allocation of €675,000. Final details on payments in 2021 will not be available until the end of the year.
An Taisce is a non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment and built heritage in Ireland. The link to the website of the organisation https://www.antaisce.org/
may be helpful to the Deputy.
237. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocated by his Department from 1 January 2020 to date to each member body of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18839/21]
View answerI am very aware of the important work done by the member organisations of the Irish Environmental Network (IEN). These national environmental NGOs are active on a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity and climate change. I recognise that, in addition to the climate and biodiversity challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to communities and society. IEN members have had to adapt quickly in response to this changing operating environment, developing new skills and tools to shift activities online. The IEN are introducing contingency plans for 2021 to support its members' activities, which will include virtual events, the roll-out of a web-based communications platform, and grants to offset the costs of remote working. The IEN and its members face increased operating and administration costs to fund these activities.
In this context, I recently approved an annual allocation of funding to the IEN from the Environment Fund. I will be providing funding of €1,764,000 for the IEN and its constituent members in 2021. This is an increase of €704,000 on the level of funding provided in 2020. This funding is granted subject to the recipients complying with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 13 of 2014, “Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds”.
The IEN is an independent umbrella organisation for environmental NGOs with its own corporate governance structures. The distribution and allocation of funding to its members is decided by the IEN. Member organisations are requested by the IEN to submit funding proposals, and member applications for core funding are then evaluated by an independent panel of adjudicators.
238. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 19 November 2020, when proposals will go to Cabinet following his consideration of the Digital Hub Agency strategic review which was completed early in 2020; when the report will be published; and if he still expects the transfer of the Digital Hub Agency to Dublin City Council to go ahead in 2021 nearly a decade after it was first mooted in 2012. [18872/21]
View answerIn 2020 my Department undertook a strategic review of the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) in order to inform policy as to its future and as to whether the DHDA continues to be required to meet a socio-economic need. I have considered the outcome of the review and will shortly bring proposals to Government on the future of the DHDA. The report of the strategic review will be published following consideration by Government.
239. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of litter fines issued; the number of litter fines paid in numerical and percentage terms; the number of fines still to be paid in numerical and percentage terms; the revenues collected and revenues outstanding from same for each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18925/21]
View answer240. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of prosecutions for littering offences taken against persons, companies and or other legal entities in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of successful prosecutions; the number of unsuccessful prosecutions; the number of proceedings still to be determined with respect to same by local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18926/21]
View answer241. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent on legal fees by each local authority for the purpose of pursuing unpaid fines relating to littering offences in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18927/21]
View answer242. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the sum of awards allocated to local authorities by the courts owing to successful prosecutions for littering offences in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18928/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239, to 242, inclusive, together.
Enforcement actions against illegal waste and littering activity are a matter for local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA compiles comparative statistics on local authority performance relating to their waste and litter enforcement activity under the Recommended Criteria for Environmental Inspection (RMCEI) process. Their "Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement - Activity Report 2019" was published in March of this year and is available on their website.
Information is also available through the Local Government Management Agency's series of service indicators annual reports which are available at lgma.ie. The Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) Annual Report for 2019, available at werla.ie, also contains useful data regarding actions taken by the wider local authority sector under the Waste Management Act.
My Department encourages a multifaceted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education and provides significant funding to support the activities of both the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) and the national network of local authority waste enforcement officers.
Questions in relation to the full annual costs of litter fines imposed, prosecutions taken, court awards and legal fees incurred by individual local authorities relating to their litter enforcement activities can be directed towards those specific authorities.
243. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of funding collected for the salmon conservation fund between 2016 to 2021 by the licences distributors; the breakdown of the funding; the projects it was distributed to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19038/21]
View answerFunding held within the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund is derived from licence duties payable to the State annually by both anglers and commercial fishermen. The amounts collected for the Fund by both IFI directly and approved distributors are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Amount of revenue |
|
2016 |
€504,452 |
|
2017 |
€495,162 |
|
2018 |
€464,494 |
|
2019 |
€474,979 |
|
2020 |
€414,075 (estimated) |
Funding collected in any year is available to award to projects in the following year. I have attached a detailed breakdown of the funding awards between 2017 and 2020. This includes a summary of the number of projects that are pending approval for funding by the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland for 2021.
244. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of commission paid to fishing licence distributors; if he will review these payments and percentages considering the distributors are responsible for banking and bookkeeping and have not been compensated for the collection of the extra stamp duty attached to each licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19039/21]
View answerThere has been no increase in the salmon rod licence duty which has remained unchanged since 2012. The rod licence duty comprises a conservation element (introduced in 2007) which is 50% of the total duty and is ring-fenced for salmon and sea trout conservation works and a further 50% which is the licence payment in respect of which Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) pay commission at a rate of 10%. Permit fees have fluctuated slightly over the period but the percentage commission has been maintained at 5%. Therefore as prices fluctuate the commission percentage paid remains the same.
The decision to offer credit and debit card payment facilities to customers is a matter for each business owner. IFI introduced the online sale and delivery of licences during 2020 due to Covid 19 restrictions as many distributors were not in a position to operate.
246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter in relation to the purchase of a licence to fish (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19156/21]
View answerMany fisheries have been open this year subject to prevailing Public Health advice around travel distances. As such advice has progressed, restrictions have been eased from 12 April, allowing travel within each county or 20 km from home when crossing county boundaries. As regards its own fisheries, IFI is implementing a phased reopening in line with safe work practices, operation and public access. Many IFI owned fisheries are already open while many more will be open by 1 May. Stocking of lakes via IFI is also now underway following revised public Health advice. Salmon licences have been and remain available from
https://store.fishinginireland.info/.
Those who require a permit can purchase one at
https://permits.fishinginireland.info/
or from approved distributors who are permitted to operate under current Public Health advice.
Updates on open fisheries will appear on IFI websites and social media.
247. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects the capacity review of the National Cyber Security Centre to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19181/21]
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, is examining the current organisational structure, staffing, work processes and financing of the NCSC and will benchmark these criteria against international best practice models.
Work in relation to the capacity review is on-going and the report of the external experts is expected in mid Q2. The findings of the review will then be considered and will inform decisions to be taken on the future resourcing of the NCSC.
248. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected timeframe for the announcement of findings from the consultation on the development of new solid fuel regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19227/21]
View answer249. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the survey regarding public engagement in relation to the consultation on the development of new solid fuel regulations will be activated. [19228/21]
View answer250. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he envisages changes following the consultation on the development of new solid fuel regulations for persons who collect, dry and use waste wood to heat their homes using wood burning stoves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19229/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 250, inclusive, together.
Each year, some 1,300 people die prematurely in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning. It is estimated that there are over 16,200 years of life lost, while many people also experience a poor quality of life due to the associated short- and long-term health impacts of this form of pollution.
I remain committed to addressing this critical public health and environmental challenge through a nationwide ban on smoky coal and enhanced regulation of other solid fuels.
The recent public consultation, which sought views on how we regulate all solid fuels that contribute to air pollution, was the first step in this process. The consultation, including the public engagement survey, ran from 18 February to 2 April.
My Department received more than 3,500 responses to the technical consultation, survey and questionnaire. These submissions are currently being considered with a view to informing a new framework for how we regulate all solid fuels, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks.
As this review process is ongoing, I am not yet in a position to give an indication of what decisions will be taken in relation to the regulation of specific fuels, including wood collected by householders. I would, however, point out that it is already an offence under the Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009, to burn ‘waste’ wood which has been treated, painted, varnished, lacquered, glued, or had any similar substance added, as this causes the release of toxic and cancer-causing air pollutants.
