Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 73-85

Departmental Schemes

Questions (73)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

73. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of grant funding paid out under the warmer homes scheme in 2020 and to date in 2021 to homeowners in County Tipperary; the amount paid for buildings which are not privately owned homes during the same period; the average waiting period for an application under the scheme; the reason for the increase in waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27698/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The 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. The scheme is available to owner-occupied homes built before 2006 where the household is in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments. The following table sets out the amount of grant funding paid out under the scheme for homes in Tipperary in 2020 and to date in 2021 when the scheme was fully paused in line with COVID-19 restrictions on construction activity between January and mid-April:

County	2020 Data €	2021 Data €
Tipperary	287,569	61,849

There are currently 292 homes in Tipperary on the Warmer Homes work programme. The scheme operates nationally on a first come first served basis. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months. The average wait times are expected to increase significantly in 2021 due to the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between March and June of last year as well as between January and 12 April of this year when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Works under the scheme has now recommenced in line with activity in the residential construction sector.

The SEAI has advised me that the average wait times should only ever be used as a general guide and that wait times vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application as well as other factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials and the weather.

It is important to note that 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.

My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the local authority retrofit programme. However, funding for retrofitting local authority homes is also available under the SEAI’s community grant schemes. In 2020 Tipperary County Council received funding of €88,6324 from SEAI under this scheme.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (74)

Denis Naughten

Question:

74. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date on each of the measures outlined in the implementation plan of actions set out in the current National Cyber Security Strategy; the measures that are presently behind the timeline set out in the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27911/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

An inter-Departmental Committee chaired by my Department oversees the implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019 - 2024. The Committee meets quarterly to review progress. Good progress is being made in delivering the 20 measures identified in the five-year strategy, with 6 measures completed by Q1 of this year. The majority of the other 14 measures are multi-year actions.

Delivery of the overall strategy is dependent on progress made with respect to the capacity review envisaged by the strategy. That capacity review, which is being conducted by expert international consultants, is due to report in the current quarter and will inform decisions to be taken on the future organisation and resourcing of the NCSC to enable it to continue to deliver on its mandate.

Regulatory Bodies

Questions (75)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

75. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 11 May 2021, when the proposals to strengthen the enforcement regime of the Commission for Communications Regulation will be published; the reason that these proposals have been in draft form for the past two years; if the proposals will strengthen enforcement in the area of both mobile and broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27916/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

ComReg currently has a suite of enforcement and sanction powers available to it in regulating the telecommunications sector. Transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code, a new European regulatory framework will, inter alia, further ensure effective consumer protection and includes enforcement measures which should in turn further enhance competition and innovation. Against the backdrop of the transposition of the Code, my Department, in collaboration with ComReg, is developing proposals to further strengthen ComReg's enforcement regime, as committed to in the Programme for Government, with a view to developing draft legislative proposals.

Energy Policy

Questions (76)

Neale Richmond

Question:

76. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the ban of the importation of fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27963/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Programme for Government set out that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and committed to developing a policy statement to establish that approach. On 18 May, the Government approved Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas was published. The policy statement provides that:

- pending the outcome of a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems being carried out by my Department, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with;

- the Government will work with like-minded European States to promote and support changes to European energy laws – in particular the upcoming revision of the European Union’s Gas Directive and Gas Regulation – in order to allow the importation of fracked gas to be restricted; and

- the Government will work with international partners to promote the phasing out of fracking at an international level within the wider context of the phasing out of fossil fuel extraction.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (77)

Peter Burke

Question:

77. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection for a location (details supplied). [27964/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

The 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. From an initial check by my Department the indications are that this premises should have access to high speed broadband from commercial service providers with download speeds of up to 70 Mbps. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in the area referred to and further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.

Complaints about service provision are a matter between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.

In the event that, having exhausted the above options, a premises located in the BLUE area still cannot get high speed broadband from service providers in the area, they should contact my Department at [e-mail] with full details and the matter will be investigated by my officials.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (78)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

78. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the case of persons (details supplied) will be expedited with regard to obtaining an eircode given the fact that these persons have been waiting a substantial period of time for same. [28045/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns Eircodes to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland, issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Eircode in accordance with their licence agreement. Each new postal address assigned an Eircode is published on the free to use Eircode Finder website, a notification letter is issued to the property occupant containing the Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database is provided to licensed businesses for their use. Eircode have informed my Department that over 141,000 property addresses have been assigned an Eircode since the launch in 2015.

Eircode has advised my officials that they have raised a case with An Post GeoDirectory in relation to this address and my officials have requested Eircode to liaise directly with the individual in question regarding the assignment of an Eircode for this property address.

Early assignment of Eircodes is contingent on An Post facilitating the increased frequency of new and changed addresses in the GeoDirectory database from quarterly to monthly to Eircode through their subsidiary An Post GeoDirectory. My officials are working with An Post, Ordnance Survey Ireland, An Post GeoDirectory and Eircode to expedite the process of assigning Eircodes for new properties with postal addresses and geo-locations.

Departmental Data

Questions (79)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

79. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28117/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to IT security. The Government’s services are still actively involved in managing and remediating the recent cyberattack on the HSE. Our technical staff continue to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and are closely engaged with experts in the OGCIO and the NCSC to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of IT security. For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in IT security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT security tools and services, including those in relation to backups in the Department or agencies under our remit and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.

Exploration Industry

Questions (80)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a licence for the exploration of oil and gas will be sold from its holder to another entity; the impact on a licence for the exploration of oil and gas when the company which holds the licence is sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28179/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Changes to the composition of the holders of petroleum authorisations, such as assignments or transfers of interest, are not uncommon occurrences. In accordance with Section 9A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Act 1960, as amended, and Article 41 of the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007, which is available on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/en/publication/f5dcf3-licensing-terms/, any such changes require Ministerial approval and are based on an assessment of the prospective authorisations holder’s financial and technical capability to undertake the work programme and any other commitments pursuant to the relevant petroleum authorisation. The process that my Department applies in assessing the financial capability of prospective authorisation holders is set out in the Financial Capability Assessment for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Appraisal Applications Guidance Document, published on Gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/publication/fe55a-financial-capability-assessments-of-offshore-oil-gas-exploration-and-appraisal-applications/). This guidance applies to any assignments or transfer of interests or any significant changes to the shareholding or control of the authorisation holder.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (81)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

81. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises that will have broadband installed under the National Broadband Plan by county; the percentage of these homes that have been surveyed to date; the percentage of these homes in which broadband has been installed under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28227/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

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 the over 546,000 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. Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by NBI that, as of 20 May 2021, over 218,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed.

A breakdown of the premises in the intervention area by county and surveys undertaken to date is set out in the table below. The breakdown in the table reflects 215,000 surveys completed as this is the latest available analysis.

COUNTY	number of premises in the IA	surveys completed	% surveys completed
Carlow	8,190	7,772	95%
Cavan	16,274	3,738	23%
Clare	22,719	3,556	16%
Cork	79,663	22,765	29%
Donegal	32,483	6,389	20%
Dublin	13,677	2,437	18%
Galway	38,887	14,914	38%
Kerry	26,988	16,382	61%
Kildare	14,085	5,963	42%
Kilkenny	18,416	5,951	32%
Laois	12,562	9,695	77%
Leitrim	11,614	3,576	31%
Limerick	21,293	8,583	40%
Longford	8,712	3,294	38%
Louth	8,423	7,850	93%
Mayo	36,614	8,281	23%
Meath	19,824	6,926	35%
Monaghan	15,332	10,644	69%
Offaly	12,216	1,275	10%
Roscommon	19,185	8,230	43%
Sligo	14,875	3,959	27%
Tipperary	29,810	11,765	39%
Waterford	15,048	11,277	75%
Westmeath	11,761	8,656	74%
Wexford	22,552	11,231	50%
Wicklow	15,464	10,547	68%
TOTAL	546,762	215,856	39%

The first fibre to the home connections under the NBP are successfully connected in Carrigaline, Co Cork and Cavan and I am advised that almost 4,000 homes are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork and Cavan. I understand build works are continuing across the country in 12 Deployment Areas and pre build works are also underway in 15 Deployment Areas.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (82)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

82. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has had engagements with satellite companies on broadband connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28228/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

Providing telecommunication services is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. As set out in the Programme for Government, ensuring access to high-quality internet connections for people across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country, socially and economically. I recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis. My Department engages with operators regularly, including those providing broadband, mobile and or satellite services on a range of issues. My Department keeps appraised of new developments in the sector through numerous bilateral meetings, public consultations and a range of industry fora, including fora with satellite operators. Satellite operators and their representative groups consistently make submissions and share their views to European led fora (for example the Radio Spectrum Committee and Radio Spectrum Policy Group) and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) where the Department participates. In tandem with these European engagements, the Department regularly meets satellite operators where specific national activities or issues are of relevance.

Any increased competition in the market can only bring benefit to consumers, so as to ensure that in an increasingly connected world, nobody is left behind.

Environmental Policy

Questions (83)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

83. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will publish a report (details supplied) which examined the costs of decarbonisation up to 2050; his views on the importance of publishing the report while the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 is progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28232/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill sets out our national economy-wide climate targets for 2030 and 2050, and the process for setting carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings. It does not specify economy-wide or sectoral carbon budgets, and does not present options in relation to decarbonisation. Once the Climate Change Advisory Council proposes carbons budgets, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications must bring a recommendation to Government and the Oireachtas in relation to the carbon budget programme and sectoral ceilings, which will ultimately find expression in the Climate Action Plan 2021. Analysis is still ongoing and, once completed, it can be published alongside the plan.

Illegal Dumping

Questions (84)

John Brady

Question:

84. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the remediation of the illegal dump at Whitestown, County Wicklow; the timeframe for the completion of remediation; the cost of the remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28242/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

The costs of the required remediation works at Whitestown, and the timeframe for completion, are not yet known and are a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. The issue raised is the subject of proceedings before the High Court and as such it would not be appropriate for me to make any further statement on the matter at this point.

Departmental Legal Services

Questions (85)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

85. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent by his Department on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [28301/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I refer to my reply to Question No. 158 of 5 May 2021. The position is unchanged.