Written Answers Nos. 179-199
179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has evaluated the loss of a day’s gas supply to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30775/21]
View answerThe loss of natural gas supply to Ireland is considered by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities by way of Risk Assessment and the preparation of Preventive Action Plans and Emergency Plans which ensure that all necessary measures are taken to safeguard an uninterrupted supply of gas. The risk assessment and plans are required by Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is Ireland’s designated Competent Authority for this EU regulation. The Risk Assessment takes into account various scenarios, both short and long term gas supply disruptions and assesses the likely consequences. The Preventive Action Plan and the Emergency Plans contain measures to remove or mitigate identified risks to gas supply disruption.
Furthermore, 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 includes a technical analysis which will help inform a public consultation.
The technical analysis includes identification and examination of the key risks to the security of supply in the electricity and natural gas systems; identification of options that could address or mitigate these risks in the period to 2030; and appraisal of these options in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050.
It is planned that the technical analysis will be published and the public consultation undertaken in the second half of this year. The review, once completed, will be submitted to Government.
180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he plans to deal with the growing energy needs of data centres with Eirgrid’s generation capacity statement of 2020 to 2029 projection that demand from data centres could account for 27% of all demand in Ireland by 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30776/21]
View answerThe Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy (2018) acknowledges the role of data centres as part of the digital and communications infrastructure for many sectors of our economy. They have become increasingly important in the context of remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic and also support high-quality jobs. The Statement also noted that data centres pose considerable challenges to the future planning and operation of Ireland’s power system. In 2020, data centres represented approximately 11% of the total electricity used in Ireland. EirGrid, in their Generation Capacity Statement 2020-2029, project that demand from data centres could account for 27% of all demand by 2029. EirGrid has recently launched a public consultation, 'Shaping our Electricity Future', which considers potential geographic restrictions and incentives for large demand users such as data centres to locate in areas of the network closer to where electricity is generated. In addition, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities issued a consultation last week on a proposed direction to the system operators regarding data centre grid connections.
Furthermore, 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 net zero emissions by 2050. The review will consider the impact of increased demand, including from the data centre sector, and will identify and appraise policy options that could be implemented to ensure security of electricity supply.
There is significant opportunity through innovation, renewable generation, demand flexibility and storage to drive a clean digital economy to underpin our economic success into the future, and data centres must play their part in supporting our net zero climate ambitions.
My Department is evaluating policies to encourage the development of renewable energy projects by the data centre sector to meet their own demand and to contribute to the target set out in the Climate Action Plan of meeting 15% of electricity demand through Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) by 2030. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland launched a public consultation on policy options for meeting the target, which closed on 14 April 2021. Based on the consultation feedback and other considerations, a recommendations paper on a roadmap for CPPAs will be developed later in 2021.
181. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of plans to make Ireland a leader in hydrogen storage; and the estimated cost of a hydrogen 50 MW hydrolyser. [30811/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out the need for research and development of hydrogen from renewable sources, known as ‘green hydrogen’, for use as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport.In July 2020, the European Commission published a hydrogen strategy for a carbon-neutral Europe. Ireland supported the hydrogen strategy, including the need to deploy green hydrogen in line with the Programme for Government. Ireland also supported the publication of the Council Conclusions on a hydrogen market for Europe in October 2020. In the development of these conclusions, Ireland strongly supported the need to focus on green hydrogen.
My Department is working with relevant Departments, agencies and stakeholders to inform Ireland's future policies in relation to hydrogen. The role of hydrogen, and actions needed for its development, are being considered as part of the development of the next Climate Action Plan which is currently underway. The Interim Climate Actions 2021 include hydrogen related actions such as testing the technical feasibility and safety of hydrogen blends in the natural gas grid.
As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, I assume he is referring to the production of green hydrogen by the process of electrolysis. While my Department does not produce estimates of costs, I note that the EU Commission's hydrogen strategy included an estimate of the capital cost of an electrolyser in 2020 to be €900 per kilowatt. The EU strategy also included an expected decline to €450 per kilowatt or less in the period after 2030, and €180 per kilowatt after 2040. I would note these estimates refer to capital costs only and do not include the operational costs.
182. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of responses to the public consultation on the microgeneration support scheme. [30812/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation of electricity. Under the Climate Action Plan, 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. My Department outlined proposals for a new Micro-generation Support Scheme in a public consultation that closed on 18 February.
An analysis of the almost 900 submissions received is underway by my Department, with a view to publication of a summary of responses on my Department's website in the coming weeks. The findings from the submissions to the public consultation will inform the final design of the Micro-generation Support Scheme.
183. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the costed breakdown of the supports, that is, seed funding, technical capacity, through RESS and otherwise for the development of community renewable energy projects. [30815/21]
View answer186. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a line by line breakdown will be provided of the current and capital expenditure of the renewable energy support scheme communities and the renewable electricity support scheme communities; and the associated outputs from those programmes. [30828/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 186 together.
Community renewable energy projects are important in our transition to an electricity grid that is 70% powered by renewables by 2030. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is the main government support to help deliver on this target.
The first RESS auction included a dedicated community projects category in which seven projects have been selected for support, five of which are collaborations with commercial developers. 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 to apply.
In order to ensure an adequate pipeline of community renewable electricity projects I have allocated €3.2 million in funding this year for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to stimulate locally-owned community energy projects, €3 million of which is capital expenditure and €200,000 of which is current expenditure.
The funding allocated will enable SEAI to deploy a range of capacity-building supports including information dissemination, trusted intermediary and advisor services, and financial supports. I will announce further details of this enabling framework shortly.
My Department outlined proposals for a new Micro-generation Support Scheme in a public consultation that closed on 18 February. It is envisaged that a suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all renewables self-consumers, including smaller scale community renewable energy projects, in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory arrangements, in line with Articles 21 and 22 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
184. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the National Broadband Ireland broadband hub (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30816/21]
View answerBroadband 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 10 June, 325 BCP sites have been installed by NBI across the country for public and educational use.I am advised that the public BCP site in question (Inch Community Hall) will see the necessary infrastructure installed by NBI prior to the end of Q3 2021. The site will then be connected by Vodafone through a contract with the Department for Rural & Community Development. Other public BCP sites already installed in Cork include Ballydaly Community Hall, Aubane Community Centre, Mealagh Valley Community Centre, Coláiste Phobal Cláire, Bere Island Heritage Centre, Sherkin Island Community Hall, Glash Community Centre, Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre, T.O. Park Labbamollaga, Clogagh Community Hall, Laharn Heritage Centre and Courtbrack Community Centre. Further details can be found at www.nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Primary school sites already installed in Cork are Clogagh and Ballycroneen National Schools. 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 www.nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
185. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme; and the number of households by the qualifying social welfare payment. [30827/21]
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. The approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to a household under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,800 in 2020. There are currently over 7,800 homes on the Warmer Homes work programme. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months nationally. 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 have 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.
The below table provides the approximate share of homes on the work programme for each qualifying payment.
|
Qualifying Payment |
% Breakdown |
|
Carers Allowance |
12% |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10% |
|
Fuel Allowance |
71% |
|
Job Seekers Allowance, and child under 7 |
1% |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
1% |
|
Working Family Payment |
5% |
187. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of item demand generation-national retrofit; and the breakdown of the current and capital expenditure. [30829/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the 2019 Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to upgrade 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or cost optimal, and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by 2030. Generating additional demand for energy upgrades will be necessary in order to achieve these targets. SEAI has conducted qualitative and quantitative research among homeowners in order to clearly identify the most important benefits and most significant challenges associated with retrofit. This research shows that we need to convince homeowners of the comfort, cost and environmental benefits of home energy upgrades. We need to inform them of the availability of grants to support their efforts as well as free services for eligible energy poor homes. Finally we need to mitigate misgivings homeowners may have about cost of works and disruption.
SEAI Home Retrofit Demand Generation activity is constantly developing with successful programme promotion and awareness building ongoing. One recent example was actively targeting Heat Pump installations following the lifting of Covid lockdown restrictions in April. SEAI are also currently preparing a comprehensive national demand generation campaign which will commence in quarter three 2021. The campaign is currently being developed and is being informed by the insights above as well as the expertise of the Authority’s behavioural economics team. SEAI will also undertake a number of community based social marketing events in various locations around the country. These are targeted marketing campaigns underpinned by theories of behaviour change.
In 2021 the budget allocation for demand generation is €1.05 million (current expenditure) with approximately 10% of budget expended to date.
188. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the de-risking of a low-cost residential retrofit loan scheme; and the proposed eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. [30830/21]
View answer189. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered making low-cost loans available to families who wish to retrofit their homes. [30850/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
The Programme for Government and the 2019 Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to upgrade 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or cost optimal, and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by 2030. These targets represent a very significant increase in both the volume and depth of retrofit activity in Ireland. The development of the national retrofit framework to achieve these targets is well underway.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland in relation to the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. This project has been selected for inclusion in Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The specific features of the scheme and the financial model of the guarantee are still under development.
The part-Exchequer and part-EU funded loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. As a result, households will be able to enjoy more comfortable and healthier homes with a lower carbon footprint.
The loan guarantee is expected to help to increase the volume of retrofit activity within the State and improve the recovery and resilience of the supply chain within the retrofit sector. The scheme will also signal to the banking sector new viable business opportunities associated with the transition to a low carbon economy.
190. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the expenditure incurred by staff in his Department under the heading of travel and subsistence from 1 January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30864/21]
View answerExpenditure on travel and subsistence by staff in my Department from 1 January 2020 to date amounts to €373,105 as shown in the table below. This includes management fees of €2,970 payable to the Departments travel agent.
|
Expense Type |
€ |
|
Home Travel |
57,447 |
|
Home Subsistence |
108,536 |
|
Foreign Travel |
58,781 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
145,371 |
|
Total Travel and Subsistence |
370,135 |
|
Management Fee to Travel Agent |
2,970 |
|
TOTAL |
373,105 |
191. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2019 to date; if external costs were incurred; if so, the details of such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30881/21]
View answerMy Department oversees a very diverse portfolio of projects and schemes that are related to the Environment and Digital landscape of the Irish economy. These areas are regularly reviewed in association with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and in some cases external consultants are commissioned for an independent review. In the period from January 2019 to present day my Department undertook five Policy reviews and a further four Spending reviews were carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). Only one of the nine reviews have incurred external costs to date; this policy review related to the Digital Hub Development Agency at a cost of €58,400(ex.VAT). The details of all 9 reviews have been included in the table below.
|
DECC Project/Area Reviewed |
Review Type |
Total Costs Incurred ex.VAT |
Method of Review |
|
A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management in Ireland |
Policy Review |
N/A |
Public Consultation |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
Policy Review |
€58,400 (ex VAT) |
Independent Consultancy |
|
Security of Energy Supply of Ireland's Electricity and Natural Gas Systems |
Policy Review |
No Costs incurred to date |
Independent Consultancy |
|
Incentives for personal Electric Vehicle purchase. |
Spending Review |
N/A |
DPER - IGEEs |
|
Grant Schemes for Energy Efficiency |
Spending Review |
N/A |
DPER - IGEEs |
|
Non-Exchequer funding |
Spending Review |
N/A |
DPER - IGEEs |
|
Social Impact Assessment - SEAI Programmes targeting Energy Poverty |
Spending Review |
N/A |
DPER - IGEEs |
|
Strategic Review of the Geological Survey Ireland 2021 |
Policy Review |
No Costs incurred to date |
Independent Consultancy |
|
Geoscience Ireland Programme |
Policy Review |
No Costs incurred to date |
Independent Consultancy |
192. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount granted and-or drawn down in the context of the additional €5 million fund established to tackle littering, by each local authority, in tabular form; the heading under which each application was made (details supplied). [30913/21]
View answer202. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 12 May 2021, the amount allocated to each local authority from the €5 million additional funding for litter prevention and cleaning announced on 5 May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31324/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 202 together.
A Circular issued to local authorities on 5th May 2021 informing them of the additional €5 million to be provided in support of their anti-litter efforts in the context of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions and the consequent need to provide additional anti-litter facilities in support of a predominantly outdoor summer season. The Circular set out the broad range of activities that could be supported under the programme and asked the local authorities to appoint a litter prevention lead in each local authority by 14th May 2021 to act as a contact point with the Department to assist with the development of specific funding proposals.
The Department then circulated a questionnaire to the nominated litter leads for return by 28th May 2021 in order to better understand the precise infrastructure and servicing requirements of the individual LAs. These questionnaires have now all been received and are being collated by the Department. A further Circular relating to the exact nature of the scheme and detailing individual local authority allocations, which have yet to be finalised, will be issued in the coming weeks.
In advance of the June Bank Holiday weekend, local authorities were informed by email that the additional servicing of existing bins and the funding of a visible staff presence at main litter pressure points would also be supported under the scheme as an interim measure.
193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount granted to each local authority in respect of anti-littering, clean-up and recycling initiatives in the past five years to date, in tabular form. [30914/21]
View answerThe table below provides a full listing of the amounts granted to each local authority under the Local Authority Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme over the past 5 years.
|
Local Authority Name |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Carlow County Council |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
Cavan County Council |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,606 |
|
Clare County Council |
18,000 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
28,000 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
31,400 |
31,360 |
|
Cork County Council |
28,000 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
31,500 |
31,500 |
|
Donegal County Council |
20,000 |
25,960 |
26,000 |
22,700 |
22,700 |
|
Dublin City Council |
56,000 |
72,000 |
72,000 |
63,000 |
52,257 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
27,442 |
35,960 |
35,938 |
31,500 |
31,500 |
|
Fingal County Council |
28,000 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
31,500 |
31,500 |
|
Galway City Council |
28,000 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
31,400 |
31,400 |
|
Galway County Council |
20,000 |
26,000 |
26,000 |
22,700 |
22,700 |
|
Kerry County Council |
20,000 |
26,000 |
26,000 |
22,700 |
22,700 |
|
Kildare County Council |
18,000 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
17,850 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Laois County Council |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
9,996 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
12,500 |
16,000 |
16,000 |
14,000 |
14,000 |
|
Limerick City & County |
40,000 |
51,000 |
51,000 |
44,500 |
44,500 |
|
Longford County Council |
12,500 |
16,000 |
16,000 |
14,000 |
14,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
18,000 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
18,000 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
20,000 |
26,000 |
26,000 |
22,700 |
22,700 |
|
Monaghan County |
15,000 |
18,900 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
Offaly County Council |
14,630 |
13,860 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
Roscommon County |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
Sligo County Council |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
South Dublin County |
28,000 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
31,500 |
31,500 |
|
Tipperary County |
33,000 |
42,000 |
42,000 |
36,500 |
36,500 |
|
Waterford City & County |
33,918 |
35,391 |
48,793 |
42,700 |
33,320 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
15,000 |
19,000 |
19,000 |
16,600 |
16,600 |
|
Wexford County Council |
22,000 |
28,000 |
28,000 |
24,400 |
24,400 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
18,000 |
23,000 |
23,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
194. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if approval will be given for the unit price for the export of solar units to the national grid in relation to the young farmers initiative for the installation of solar photo voltaic panels to promote green energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31003/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to expanding and incentivising micro-generation, including solar energy, to help citizens, farms and businesses generate their own renewable electricity for their use and to sell excess electricity back to the grid. Under the Climate Action Plan, 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.While the primary aim of a micro-generation scheme is to enable electricity users, including farmers, to meet their own electricity needs, it is envisaged that a suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all renewable generators in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory arrangements, in line with Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED II).
Article 21(2)(d) of RED II provides that the rate of remuneration for exported renewable electricity shall be one which reflects the market value of that electricity and which may take into account its long-term value to the grid, the environment and society. This provision will be reflected in the transposition of the Directive into Irish law.
195. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target set for the number of premises passed and available for connection in County Mayo in 2021 under the National Broadband Plan; the number of premises passed and available for connection in 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31124/21]
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.
There are 84,299 premises in County Mayo of which 47,684 (57%) are in the commercial area and 36,615 (43%) premises are within the NBP Intervention Area. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 3 June 2021, nearly 223,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed and in County Mayo, 8,281 (23%) premises have been surveyed. Surveys are completed or ongoing in the areas of Aghagower, Ballyhean, Breaghwy, Burren, Castlebar, Clogher, Cloonkeen, Croaghmoyle, Islandeady, Killavally, Manulla, Pontoon, Strade, Tawnynagry, Turlough, Drumsheen, Bunnyconnellan, Ballina Town, Carrowntreila, Ardagh, Campbells Crossroads, Rosserk, Shanvoley, Derryhick, Kilhale, Tawnylaheen, Turlough, Ballyvary, Keeloges, Castlebar Town, Rinnaseer, Bellaburke, Killawullaun Mountain, Carn, Carnacon, Ballyglass, Belcarra, Balla and Ringarraun, Newport, Carrowbeg, Inishgort, Inishcottle, Myna, Fahy, Ashbridge, Glenisland, Srahmore, Glenhest, Comploon, Slogger and Tawnameeltoge.
Build works are currently underway in the Deployment Area that covers Castlebar and the surrounding townlands including Turlough, Ballyhean, Clooneen, Kilhale, Tawnylaheen and Burren. I am advised by NBI that the it expects premises in these areas to be passed and available for connection before the end of 2021. The number of premises anticipated to be passed by NBI in Mayo by the end of 2021 is some 2,100 premises.
While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays (both nationally and internationally), as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale, up including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. Inevitably, like many other organisations, NBI and contractor staff are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact posing further challenges. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract to address the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic on the project.
Further details are available on specific areas within Mayo 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 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 June, 322 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. BCPs installed with high speed publicly accessible broadband include Keel Community Centre, Clare Island Community Centre, Kilmovee Community Centre, Belderrig Community & Research Centre, Cushlough Community Centre, Taugheen Community Centre, Killaser Community Centre, Bofeenaun Community Centre and Islandeady Community Centre.
Cloghans National School, Scoil Néfinn, Midfield National School, Meelick More National School, Kinaffe National School, Facefield National School, Errew National School, Shraigh National School, Rathbane National School, Rathnamagh National School, Dookinella National School, Tavraun Central National School and Saint Coleman’s National School are also installed 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 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 www.nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
196. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the launch of an updated SEAI retrofit scheme. [31222/21]
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/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Some €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance of €112.5 million to be spent on expanding existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new initiatives. One such initiative is the National Home Retrofit Scheme (One Stop Shop Development Call). This new support scheme is designed to encourage the development of retrofit One-Stop-Shops, to support home retrofit on a larger scale, and support the growth of the retrofitting industry. The scheme facilitates home upgrades for private households, registered Housing Associations and Local Authorities who wish to participate in delivering home energy efficiency upgrades. More details of this scheme, which has been well received by the market, are available on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie/grants/national-home-retrofit/National-Home-Retrofit-Scheme-Guidelines.pdf
My Department is also currently working with SEAI to develop other initiatives including a further scheme that will facilitate the retrofitting of homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2, at scale and managed by one stop shops. It is intended to launch the scheme later this year.
197. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding a request by a union (details supplied) for funding for An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31238/21]
View answerAn Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including those in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are operational matters for the Board and management of the company. 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. As with any business the post office needs to develop commercial strategies to enable it to grow and maintain its relevance for its users.
A Capital Expenditure programme was approved at Ministerial level which, as part of the Company’s commitment to the sustainability of its network, is designed to develop the newer elements of An Post’s Financial Services business and mitigate declining core mail volumes and revenues on the Retail side of the business. €30m in State funding was made available to the company, of which €15 million is to support the renewal of the post office network and a further €15 million towards the continued fulfilment of a five-day per week mail delivery service. Government has faith in the ability of An Post and the postmasters to deliver on that renewal process.
Government is committed to working with An Post and postmasters to ensure that the network continues to play a strong role in delivering State services. Government recently approved the Report on the Provision of Offline Government Services and the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group, co-chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of directing more Government business to the post office network. The Group has already met three times and will report back to Government by the end of July.
All options will be considered fully to give effect to our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and viable post office network, while respecting the commercial mandate of An Post.
198. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form on each retrofitting programme; the spend to date on each scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31256/21]
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/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation has facilitated the expansion and improvement of existing SEAI grant schemes and the introduction of new initiatives. A further €65 million has been allocated to retrofit social housing administered by the Department of Housing.
The number of homes retrofitted in 2020 and to date in 2021 with SEAI support, and the spend to date on each scheme in each year is set out in the table below. In 2020, SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes supported the upgrading of over 17,600 homes. The number of retrofits last year were unfortunately, negatively impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions. Enhanced COVID restrictions between January and April also had a significant impact on activity this year. Every effort is being made to maximise activity now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.
|
Programme |
2020 No. of Homes retrofitted |
2020 SEAI capital spend (€M) |
2021 No. of Homes retrofitted (to end May) |
2021 SEAI capital spend (€M) (to end May) |
|
Better Energy Homes Scheme |
12,227 |
€18.3 |
3,177 |
€ 5.46 |
|
Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme |
1,524 |
€23.4 |
323 |
€7.44 |
|
Community Energy Grant Scheme (homes only)** |
656 |
€8.7 |
- |
- |
|
Warmth and Wellbeing |
91 |
€2.1 |
17 |
€0.56 |
|
Better Energy Finance(merged with One Stop Shop Development Call for 2021) |
5 |
€0.3 |
Not in operation |
Not in operation |
|
Deep Retrofit Pilot (closed) |
196 |
€8.2 |
3 |
€0.4 |
|
Solar PV (domestic only) |
2,917 |
€7.35 |
984 |
€2.26 |
|
National Home Retrofit One Stop Shop Development Call (new scheme 2021)** |
Not in operation |
Not in operation |
- |
- |
* Local authority retrofits are in addition to the table above.
** The deadline for completion of projects under these schemes is October. Activity under these schemes will therefore be reported in the coming months.
199. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are meeting the requirement to have a statement on the compliance of their websites and mobile applications with the regulations under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31282/21]
View answerMy Department’s digital content migrated to a central platform, gov.ie, in September 2020.Gov.ie – which currently hosts 15 of 19 Government Departments has a compliance accessibility commitment statement available at www.gov.ie/en/help/accessibility/#statement-of-commitment as well as information on its compliance status. Our agencies have been made aware of their obligations under this directive and compliance is a matter for each individual organisation.
