Written Answers Nos. 150-169
150. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the compensatory measure that will be put in place for a business (details supplied) following weather events in February 2021. [33395/21]
View answerMy Department’s Humanitarian Flooding Relief Scheme may be invoked, following a Government Decision, to provide funding on the basis of confirmation received from the local authority and the National Emergency Coordination Group that relevant damage has occurred.
My Department remains ready to assist should there be the necessary justification to do so. In that regard my Department is awaiting further instructions on this matter.
151. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workers employed by his Department and in each office or agency under the aegis of his Department that earn less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33588/21]
View answerCurrently there is no official living wage in Ireland. The Living Wage Technical Group, which comprises members including Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, TASC, NERI and SIPTU calculates a living wage by calculating the cost of a basic basket of goods, services and expenses required to maintain a “minimum essential living standard (MESL)”. The Partnership estimates the living wage for 2020/21 as €12.30 per hour.
The Programme for Government commits to “progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government”. Following my request earlier this year, the Low Pay Commission has formally begun work on examining how Ireland can move towards a living wage.
Remuneration for staff within my Department, Offices and Agencies is governed by instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy.
Based on the Civil Service 37-hour standard net working week, the suggested €12.30 per hour equates to an annual salary of €23,747. Based on the payroll as of June 2021 there are 2 permanent staff of the Department and its Offices on a wage of less than €12.30 per hour.
It should be noted that the maximum point on the incremental scales for these staff is above the hourly suggested rate of €12.30, over time and based on satisfactory performance, each staff member in these grades would proceed to earn more than the living wage through incremental progression.
Additionally, those currently identified on basic annual salary of less than €23,747 could be receiving remuneration in excess of the suggested living wage through additional payments in respect of specific allowances particular to the grade or atypical working hours.
The number of workers employed by the Agencies under my Department’s remit earning less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour are set out in the table below.
|
Agency |
No. of workers earning less than €12.30 per hour |
|
IDA Ireland |
11 |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland NSAI |
1 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
13 |
|
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission - CCPC |
0 |
|
Health and Safety Authority - HSA |
0 |
|
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority - IAASA |
0 |
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board - PIAB |
0 |
It should be noted that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is self-financing and does not receive any pay provision through my Department’s Vote. The staff of Inter-Trade Ireland, which is part-funded through my Department's Vote, are all based in Northern Ireland and therefore their pay is subject to different rates and regulations.
Recruitment by each of the Agencies listed above is conducted in accordance with the instructions of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy, with new hires starting employment at the minimum of the relevant scale.
152. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to update the Best Practice Guidelines on the Preparation of Waste Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects which dates back to 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33027/21]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency recently concluded a public consultation on draft “Best Practice Guidelines for the Preparation of Resource management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects”. When finalised in September, these will replace the 2006 guidelines.
153. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration has been given to community renewable projects for offshore wind developments. [33436/21]
View answerMy Department is currently developing terms and conditions of the first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), which will support the first phase of offshore wind development in Ireland.
The levelised cost of energy produced by offshore wind has fallen steadily over the past decade, driven in part by technological advances and competitive auction pressures, but also by scale increases in both offshore turbines and the quantity of turbines installed in a given offshore windpark. A medium-size offshore windpark now entails installed capacity of circa 500MW and a corresponding capital expenditure of over €1.5 billion, according to the latest estimates provided by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The RESS is intentionally designed to leverage the greater energy production capabilities of offshore wind in favour of coastal and marine communities through the community benefit fund. This revenue-sharing mechanism mandates a community payment of €2 for every MWh of energy generated. In practice, this will mean multi-million euro contributions per project, per annum, to offshore communities.
In order to ensure good governance and the sustainable use of these funds, guidance will be provided by my Department or a nominated body, complementing the RESS terms and conditions themselves, and firmly establishing local community benefits in their administration.
154. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of current and capital expenditure for each climate action in the Climate Action Plan. [32832/21]
View answerThe European Green Deal commits to delivering net zero greenhouse gas emissions at EU level by 2050 and increasing the EU-wide emissions reduction target from 40% to up to at least 55% by 2030. This ambition aligns with our Programme for Government commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions no later than 2050. The Climate Action Plan, currently being updated, will set out the measures and actions required to meet our 2030 target.
Delivering the actions in the Climate Action Plan and ultimately achieving the transition to net zero will require both public and private investment, complimented by taxation, regulatory and behavioural change measures. In terms of Exchequer investment, the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, which is currently being reviewed, allocated €30.4 billion for investment in climate action, while the Programme for Government commits to allocating all additional carbon tax revenue, estimated €9.5 billion over the next ten years, for climate action with a particular emphasis on ensuring a just transition. In addition, the EU’s €750 billion Next Generation EU recovery package and €1 trillion budget require that money can only be spent on projects that meet certain green criteria, with 30% of all funding to go on climate change mitigation.
Failure to rapidly move to a carbon-neutral economic model will have far reaching negative impacts on the economy and the public finances; undermine the long-term, sustainable competitiveness of the economy; and lock Ireland into a redundant fossil-fuel based economic model. Embracing the transition will support further job creation through the development of new and emerging sectors. The green economy, including the retrofitting and renewable energy sector, the circular economy, clean mobility, green and blue infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and the bio-economy will create high quality employment opportunities that will be a source of significant employment growth over the coming decades, as well as supporting a stable tax base. In addition, failure to meet our legally binding EU targets could result in a cost to the Exchequer of up to €1.75 billion.
155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current holders of the oil and gas licences for the Barryroe oil and gas field off the Cork coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32955/21]
View answerInformation on all petroleum authorisations is updated and published on a quarterly basis on gov.ie (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/10d43-acreage-reports-and-concession-maps/). The most recent such report was published in respect of the three month period ending 31 March 2021.
In addition, Section 57 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 requires that I lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas every six months a report detailing all petroleum authorisations extant and granted during the period of the report. The last such report laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas was in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2020.
156. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the position of director of the National Cyber Security Centre will only be advertised within Ireland or worldwide. [33094/21]
View answerThe process to recruit for the position of Director of the National Cyber Security Centre will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The PAS is recognised as a centre of excellence for public service recruitment and selection across a range of posts from entry level to professional, technical and senior executive positions.
The recruitment process will be conducted in accordance with the codes of practice of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, and the PAS will ensure that the process adheres to the principles of fairness, quality and recruitment on merit.
As is typically the case with specialist and senior roles, and was the case when the position of Director was originally advertised in 2020, the role will be advertised internationally through a range of websites and through the PAS’s social media connections, or any other channels that the PAS feel would be beneficial to ensure the best candidates are encouraged to apply.
157. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes which have been retrofitted since January 2020 to date; and the number of homes that have received funding as part of the retrofitting scheme in this time by month in tabular form. [33180/21]
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, Local Government and Heritage.
The number of homes retrofitted with SEAI support by scheme and by month of drawdown in 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in the tables 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.
158. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether it is appropriate for wind farm developments to hand the distribution of community funds to local organisations; if or the way in which a local community would benefit from this; the level of oversight that he views would be appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33271/21]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) supports communities in a variety of ways including via a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme, typically over a 15 year lifetime.
These funds will be aligned to incentivise investment in local renewable energy, energy efficiency measures and climate action initiatives as well as supporting a wide variety of other local activities such as those practised by clubs and societies. The community benefit fund mandate 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 near the RESS-1 Projects.
My Department has already committed to the publication of a National Register of Funds and a Good Practice Principles Handbook. A draft version of this document was opened for public consultation in March and also consulted on through a number of townhall webinars and stakeholder workshops. My Department is now assessing the feedback received and drafting the final version for publication 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 fund committee.
A number of commercial entities are already active in community benefit fund operation and administration, but, in keeping with my firm commitment to the principles of local decision-making and local administration, the Handbook will also point to a range of local administration opportunities. Local input in the RESS community benefit funds will be key to maximising the impact of these funds in the years ahead.
159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of Vote 29 with headings and subheadings for 2021, in tabular form. [33275/21]
View answerThe 2021 allocation for my Department is €141m current and €579m capital. A further €37.7m capital was carried over from 2020. The table underneath provides a breakdown of these figures across each programme and subhead.
|
REV – 2021 Estimate |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
Vote 29 – Environment, Climate and Communications |
€140,798,000 |
€579,178,000 |
€719,976,000 |
|
Programme Expenditure |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A.Communications |
14,988 |
218,262 |
233,250 |
|
A.1 Administration – PAY |
8,141 |
0 |
8,141 |
|
A.2 Administration – NON-PAY |
1,756 |
239 |
1,995 |
|
A.3 Information and Communications Technology Programme |
|
211,823 |
211,823 |
|
A.4 Multimedia Developments |
1,911 |
3,600 |
5,511 |
|
A.5 Information Society |
3,180 |
2,600 |
5,780 |
|
B. Energy |
44,405 |
270,033 |
314,438 |
|
B.1 Administration – PAY |
7,845 |
|
7,845 |
|
B.2 Administration – NON-PAY |
1,717 |
239 |
1,956 |
|
B.3 SEAI – Admin and Gen. Expenses |
18,373 |
|
18,373 |
|
B.4 Sustainable Energy Programmes |
14,975 |
240,300 |
255,275 |
|
B.5 Energy Research Programmes |
1,160 |
17,200 |
18,360 |
|
B.6 Gas Services |
45 |
|
45 |
|
B.7 Subs to Int’l Organisations |
290 |
|
290 |
|
B.8 Renewable Energy Compliance |
|
12,294 |
12,294 |
|
C. Natural Resources |
11,126 |
12,879 |
24,005 |
|
C.1 Administration – PAY |
6,089 |
|
6,089 |
|
C.2 Administration – NON-PAY |
1,688 |
229 |
1,917 |
|
C.3 Petroleum Services |
214 |
|
214 |
|
C.4 Mining Services |
2,200 |
550 |
2,750 |
|
C.5 GSI services |
800 |
12,100 |
12,900 |
|
C.6 Subs to Int’l Organisations |
135 |
|
135 |
|
D.Inland Fisheries |
31,138 |
3,095 |
34,233 |
|
D.1 Administration – PAY |
660 |
|
660 |
|
D.2 Administration – NON-PAY |
210 |
19 |
229 |
|
D.3 Inland Fisheries |
30,268 |
3,076 |
33,344 |
|
E. Environment& Waste Management |
50,219 |
74,909 |
125,128 |
|
E.1 Administration – PAY |
8,579 |
|
8,579 |
|
E.2 Administration – NON-PAY |
2,138 |
251 |
2,389 |
|
E.3 Environmental Protection Agency |
34,656 |
15,521 |
50,177 |
|
E.4 Carbon Fund |
|
300 |
300 |
|
E.5 Int’l Climate Change Commitments |
|
5,000 |
5,000 |
|
E.6 Landfill Remediation |
|
26,250 |
26,250 |
|
E.7 Climate Initiatives |
1,350 |
6,727 |
8,077 |
|
E.8 Subs to Int’l Organisations |
3,096 |
|
3,096 |
|
E.10 Waste Management Initiatives |
400 |
9,860 |
10,260 |
|
E.12 Just Transition |
|
11,000 |
11,000 |
The detailed breakdowns of my Department's vote in 2021 are published and available at Revised Estimates Volume 2021.
160. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the State agencies, organisations or boards under the responsibility of his Department or that receive funding from his Department that have been charged interest for savings on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced; the amount of interest that has been charged to each State agency, organisation or board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/21]
View answerMy Department complies with the requirements set out in Circular 13/2014 on Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds in relation to the agencies which receive grant funding from the Department – to limit cash held by the agencies, it is a requirement of the Circular that payments should be made in instalments over the year as needed by each agency and should be no more that is necessary for the period the advance relates to.
The information requested in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
161. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason there is no stand-alone retrofit grant for community groups akin to the better energy homes grant; and the reason they must apply in block grants with homes and businesses under the community grant. [33326/21]
View answerThe Communities Energy Grant Scheme (formerly known as the Better Energy Communities Scheme) makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area. This popular scheme supports partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits to support Climate Action Plan objectives. The 2021 budget for the scheme, at €30 million, is a 50% increase on the 2020 allocation and demand for the scheme has been very strong.
The partnership approach used by the scheme has proved to be successful for a number of years. By bringing together groups of buildings under the same retrofit programme, community projects facilitate community-wide energy improvements more efficiently and cost effectively than might otherwise be possible.
My Department is also currently working with SEAI to develop additional supports for community based projects and Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs). Details of the initiative will be announced later this year.
162. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the breakdown of the cost of the just transition commissioner. [33327/21]
View answerThe Government appointed Mr Kieran Mulvey as Just Transition Commissioner in November 2019 to facilitate discussions and work with stakeholders to develop, mobilise and deliver opportunities for the Midlands for both the workers directly affected and the wider community. The Commissioner has prepared three progress reports to date and the first two reports are available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/decc, with the third report to be published shortly.
The Commissioner is undertaking his work with administrative support provided by my Department. To date, the Commissioner has been paid a total of €25,253.02, including expenses, for his work for the period up to the end of December 2020.
163. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for national broadband roll-out in the area of Meentulla, Murroe, County Limerick; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the urgency of the roll-out is now more critical than ever, as the only company that can supply a sufficient broadband strength of 7mb in the locality is now withdrawing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33354/21]
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 advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 17 June 2021, over 226,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Limerick, premises have been surveyed or surveys are ongoing in the areas of Pallaskenry, Toreen, Old Kildimo, Askeaton, Adare, Croagh, Rathkeale, Kilfinny, Croom, Ballingarry, Patrickswell, Crecora, Banogue Cross, Granagh, Lees Cross, Ballykennedy and in outlying parts of the city, including Killalee, Caherline and Ballynanty. Main works are ongoing in townlands outside Limerick City including Mungret, Patrickswell, Crecora, Castleconnell and Caherconlish. The area of Meentulla, Murroe is located in the Intervention Area and will be provided with access to highspeed broadband under the NBP.
The first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected in Cavan and in Carrigaline, County Cork. I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 June, nearly 4,400 homes are passed and available for connection in both Counties Cork and Cavan. A further 15,000 premises can also pre-order via retail service providers (RSPs) in Counties Cork, Cavan, Galway and Limerick and will be able to get a connection in the coming months.
Further details are available on specific areas within Limerick 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.
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 17 June, 325 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 Cappamore Community Centre (6.68km from Meentulla), Caherline Community Centre, Glenmore Community Centre, Coolcappa Community Centre, Galbally GAA Club, Glenroe GAA Club, Kildimo GAA Club, and Patrickswell GAA Club.
Gerald Griffin National School, Anglesboro National School, Knocknadea National School, Limerick East Educate Together National School, Coolcappa National School, Killinure National School, Tinnatarriff National School and Mountcollins National School are 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 https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
I note from the Question that a service provider in the area intends to withdraw its service, however, I understand that access to broadband should still be available through another existing service provider pending roll out of the National Broadband Plan in the area.
164. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the European Electronic Communications Code legislation will be implemented into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33359/21]
View answerMy Department has been working to implement Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code. The Code represents a revision of the entire EU regulatory framework and will repeal the Framework Directive, the Authorisation Directive, the Access Directive and the Universal Services Directive. Elements of the Code came into effect on 18 December 2020.
The transposition process has included extensive and ongoing engagement with relevant key stakeholders, including industry, the Regulator and the European Commission. In keeping with that stakeholder engagement, my Department has shared the text for the end user rights element with industry which is available to view on gov.ie. The Department has decided that the transposition of the enforcement provisions of the Code should be given effect to through primary legislation. However, it remains the Department’s intention that much of the transposition will still be effected by way of statutory instrument.
The Department is currently preparing Heads of Bill for a General Scheme for the proposed primary legislation with the aim of finalising the transposition process as early as possible.
165. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of workers employed by his Department and in each office or agency under the aegis of his Department that earn less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33589/21]
View answerMy Department currently has 14 staff members who earn less than €12.30 gross per hour. This is in line with the current Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Civil Service pay scales.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
166. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the current approximate costs of a motorway from Cork to Limerick using the N20 corridor; the way in which this differs to costs estimated a decade ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32840/21]
View answer167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if a current cost-benefit analysis exists for a motorway from Cork to Limerick using the N20 corridor; the way in which this differs to a cost-benefit analysis for the same route from a decade ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32841/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.
In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the costs of the proposed N20 Cork to Limerick scheme and how they compare with the estimated costs a decade ago. TII will also advise you on the status of any cost-benefits analysis carried out on the scheme.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 12 May 2021, if he will clarify the schedule 8 referred to and the location the recently amended SI No. 489 of 2020 mentions qualification of testers. [32848/21]
View answerI would be happy to clarify this for the Deputy.
The regulations in this area are the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006).
Regulation 2(i) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 483 of 2011) amended S.I. No. 537 of 2006 by inserting a new regulation 23(2) requiring driver testers to meet the standards set out in Schedule 8 of S.I. No. 537, while regulation 2(o) of S.I. No. 483 of 2011 amended S.I. No. 537 of 2006 by the insertion of that Schedule 8, which lists the standards in question. Schedule 8 was subsequently amended when paragraph 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 8 was substituted by regulation 2(i) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 8) Regulations of 2020 (S.I. No. 489 of 2020).
As all of these regulations are in the public domain and may be consulted on the Irish Statutebook website, referred to in my answer to Question 79 of 12 May 2021, I trust this clarifies matters.
169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 80 of 12 May 2021, if initial basic training has now been fully resumed. [32849/21]
View answerI can confirm that Initial Basic Training resumed on 10 May 2021.
