Written Answers Nos. 102-126
103. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the research that has been conducted by his Department into the carbon emissions embedded in the materials used to retrofit homes; and the timeframe for them to be offset by the associated energy savings. [44534/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government recognises that the next ten years are critical if we are to address the climate crisis, and commits to a 51% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions over the decade and to achieving a climate neutral economy no later than 2050. To meet these ambitious targets, we must reduce the level of carbon emissions across every sector in our economy, including the residential sector. The 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. The value of sustainable building practices is recognised in the new EU policy framework known as the European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave – which focus on the multiple benefits arising from the energy efficient upgrade of homes and buildings more generally. Ireland welcomes and supports these initiatives.
The European Commission has also initiated discussion on an implementation plan for a future environmental life cycle assessment framework for construction products, looking at the impacts on the wider environment that occur during the whole life cycle of a construction product. The objective is to identify the strategic issues that need to be addressed with a view to the implementation of the current and the future revision to the Construction Products Regulation. Ireland will be obliged to follow this procedure via harmonised technical specifications for construction products, when a consensus of approach emerges. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department on the Construction Products Regulation.
My Department has not conducted any research into the embedded carbon in retrofit construction materials. However, the SEAI will examine life cycle analysis and embedded energy in buildings to compare the use of sustainable materials.
A new National Retrofit Plan will be published in quarter 4 of this year. The plan is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: customer proposition and demand generation, financing and affordability, supplier capacity, and governance.
104. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when projects on the 4th Projects of Common Interest will cease to benefit from having PCI accreditation. [44535/21]
View answerEU Project of Common Interest (PCI) status provides a range of benefits for energy infrastructure projects, with a new PCI list established every two years. The 4th PCI list will remain in place until a 5th list is formally approved by the European Council in Spring 2022.
105. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the State’s position on reform of the Energy Charter Treaty has changed in response to the recent ruling C-741/19, by The Court of Justice of the European Union which held that EU climate polluters could not use the ISDS arbitration system under the Energy Charter Treaty to claim compensation in disputes between member states for legislating for changes in social and environmental laws. [44537/21]
View answerThe Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is a political declaration on international energy cooperation with fifty-three Signatories and Contracting Parties, including all EU member states, except Italy. It is designed to promote energy security through the operation of more open and competitive energy markets, while respecting the principles of sustainable development and sovereignty over energy resources. The Treaty provides for dispute resolution procedures both between states and between states and investors in said states. Negotiations to modernise the Treaty are currently underway, led by the European Commission, primarily to align with Paris Agreement objectives and reforming the protections provided by the Treaty to carbon-intensive energy infrastructure. The ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union referenced by the Deputy has since determined that the arbitration system under the ECT cannot be used to claim compensation in intra-EU disputes. While there have been further calls from several Member States since the ruling for a co-ordinated withdrawal from the Treaty, it should be noted that there exists a 20-year sunset clause under which Treaty terms would continue to apply. A co-ordinated withdrawal would therefore need to manage this risk.
Ireland's position remains to support the Commission's effort to negotiate meaningful reform of the Treaty in the first instance, while reserving the option to support a co-ordinated withdrawal should these efforts fail and if considered appropriate by Government to achieve our national renewable energy and climate ambitions.
106. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of warmer homes schemes units that have been sold within five years of receiving the grant; and the breakdown of the costs recovered. [44538/21]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100. Eligibility for the scheme is based on being in receipt of one of the following payments:
- Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme.
- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age.
- Working Family Payment.
- One-Parent Family Payment.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance.
- Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for.
SEAI has a Sale of Property process in place to review and assess each home which may potentially be in breach of clause 41 and 42 of the Scheme’s Terms and Conditions which relate to the selling of a property following a WHS upgrade.
The process involves:
1. Discovery of the sale: To establish if the scheme terms and conditions published on 2 August 2018 (as updated) apply to the homeowner and if, since receiving works under the WHS, they have sold or intend to sell their property within 5 years of receipt of funding.
2. Review of the works: To establish whether a demand for payment should be made.
3. Assessment on proceeding: To establish what payment amount should be demanded of the homeowner.
4. Collection of assessed monies due: To demand payment of the agreed amount and establish how payment will be made.
To date, the Sale of Property process has been applied to four homes. No case has resulted in a claim of monies to date.
107. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA report Packing Waste in Ireland in 2019 that Ireland has had a gradual fall in packaging recycling rates in recent years from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018 and 62% in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/21]
View answer115. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA report Packing Waste in Ireland in 2019 that Ireland has had a gradual fall in packaging recycling rates in recent years from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018 and 62% in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44897/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 115 together. 107 and 115 together
The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was published in September 2020, details a range of measures that will be adopted to achieve optimum results in the area of plastics and packaging over the coming years. The over-riding objective is to ensure that all packaging placed on the Irish market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.
The announcement on 6th September that soft plastics can now be disposed of in the domestic recycling bin is one example of the very significant steps Ireland is taking to increase recycling rates while also helping to reach EU recycling targets.
Other measures contained in the Plan include:
- The introduction of eco modulated fees whereby producers’ fees will reduce in line with the recycling content of their packaging products;
- A ban from the 3rd July this year on a range of single-use plastic items;
- The introduction next year of a deposit and refund scheme on plastic beverage bottles and aluminium cans;
- An environmentally ambitious approach to the European Commission’s review of the essential requirements for packaging reduction- with proposals due by the end of this year; and
- A commitment to drive higher levels of segregation and to support investment in treatment capacity.
108. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that all commercial waste companies offer customers compost bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44592/21]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, contains some 200 measures which will be delivered on a phased basis over the 5 year lifetime of the Plan. Since the plan was launched my officials have been working on advancing priority measures, including measures relating to plastic waste, end of waste, and food waste. The Plan commits to a number of specific measures which will support the expansion of the brown bin service to all households in the State, including:
- Continuing to commit resources nationally to the prevention of food waste and to the regulation of optimal food waste collection and treatment practices;
- Making the provision of an organic waste bin mandatory as part of a waste collection service for all households;
- Through changes to waste collection permits, and working with the Local Authority sector, ensuring that every householder and business has access to a reliable, clean and sustainable way of managing food waste;
- Working to improve waste segregation in the commercial sector, including an awareness campaign and enforcement actions requiring segregated bins and incentivised charging to ensure waste minimisation and proper segregation;
- Using National Waste Collection Permit Office and other ‘brown bin’ data to develop strategies and investigate how new technology can support greater usage.
My officials have already commenced the process of engaging with the key stakeholders, including the waste collection industry, with a view to delivering on these commitments in as short a time frame as possible. Part of the work will ensure that delivery of the national rollout of organic bins is consistent with other measures in the Waste Action Plan.
109. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will make available any assessment of the impact of data centres on national energy consumption and their impact on Ireland’s carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44593/21]
View answerIn 2020, data centres were approximately 11% of the total electricity used in Ireland, demonstrating that the impact of data centres on Ireland’s energy demand, and the related electricity emissions, is significant. EirGrid, in their Generation Capacity Statement 2020-2029, project that demand from data centres could account for 27% of all demand by 2029.Earlier this year, EirGrid carried out a public consultation on 'Shaping our Electricity Future'. The aim is to make the electricity grid stronger and more flexible so that it can carry significantly more renewable generation as well as meet increasing demand from high volume energy users such as data centres. This may include potential geographic restrictions or incentives of large demand customers closer to the generation of power, potentially giving a more regional balance of locations. The Government will shortly publish the Climate Action Plan 2021 which is underpinned by a public consultation and detailed analysis covering all sectors of the economy. The Climate Action Plan will set out the range of measures and actions required across all relevant sectors, including electricity, to deliver on Ireland's emissions reduction targets.
110. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the schemes available to retrofit redbrick and stone-built houses; the insulation products approved by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44602/21]
View answerMy Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties including redbrick and stone-built houses. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the grants are available subject to the scheme eligibility criteria being met. The National Home Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) Scheme - facilitates home upgrades for private households, registered Housing Associations and Local Authorities. More details of this scheme are available at: www.seai.ie/grants/national-home-retrofit/ The Communities Energy Grant Scheme makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area and is applicable to homes, community facilities, and businesses. More information is available at: www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/ The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides grants to homeowners to improve energy efficiency in their homes on a staged basis. Further information on this scheme is available at:www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
Stone-built houses and many red brick houses (generally those constructed before 1940) would mostly be categorised as traditionally built buildings. The materials used in traditional construction are often vapour permeable. Energy efficiency upgrade solutions appropriate to such materials and methods are needed in these cases – e.g. a stone wall with lime based mortar will need a lime based plaster render to remain vapour permeable. To support the proper upgrade of such buildings a new Guidance Document - “Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings” is being developed. This project is being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with input from my own Department and the SEAI. Public consultation on the draft guidance was open until 17 September. It is intended that the Guidance would be finalised and published by the end of this year.
There are numerous NSAI Agrément certified insulation products/systems listed on the NSAI website (www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/search-agrements-certificates/) which are suitable to be installed on redbrick and stone built houses. It is recommended that these products/systems should be checked for their compatibility for a specific wall construction type. When considering externally applied thermal insulation products it is essential to engage a company that is listed under the NSAI ETICS scheme www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/agrement-registered-installers/search-registered-etics-installation-companies/
111. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to compensate drift and draft net fishers affected by the ban on commercial salmon fishing; his views on whether the hardship scheme introduced following the ban should be reopened to relevant fishers who did not avail of it at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44719/21]
View answer112. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration has been given to a buy-out scheme for salmon fishery licence holders; if so, the position regarding same; if a compensation package will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44720/21]
View answer113. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to allowing draft salmon licence holders the option of transferring licences or offer them for public sale; if consideration will be given to making a compensation package available for draft salmon licence holders who previously declined a compensation package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44725/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 112 and 113 together. I propose to take Questions Nos 111, 112 and 113 together
Commercial salmon fishing licences are public licences which must be taken out annually under the provisions of the Fisheries Acts. Such licences are also entirely permissive in nature, confer no fishing rights on the licensee, are not the property of the holder nor can they be held on a permanent basis. In the circumstances, transferring or offering such an annual licence for sale is not appropriate.
In 2007, the Government established a €25m hardship scheme open to all holders of a commercial salmon licence. In relation to such schemes, as no fishing or property rights are conferred on the holder of an annual licence, the issue of “buyout” or compensation does not arise. The majority of active fisherpersons availed of payment under the measure and the scheme closed in 2008 with all funds expended.
There are no plans to introduce a similar scheme.
For the information of the Deputy, I have asked my Department to set out a Roadmap towards a revised policy for the Inland Fisheries sector which will be subject to consultation. While I cannot pre-empt the policy review or consultation, I intend the review will be comprehensive and focused on conservation imperatives. Measures for salmon conservation will be included among a wide range of issues and there will be an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the consultation and to potential policy initiatives.
114. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the introduction of an annual grant for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence that will help persons meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44851/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No 60 of 9 September 2021. The position is unchanged.
116. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the locations of all offices and buildings either owned or used by his Department or by public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit which are usually open to the public to access services. [44911/21]
View answerMy Department's offices are not public offices. Members of the public attend the offices which are located in Dublin, Wexford and Cavan by appointment as necessary. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each organisation.
The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
117. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the way in which the Budget 2021 allocation of €221.5 million for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes has been allocated and spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44970/21]
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. The development of the national retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway. Some €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes, including the Solar PV scheme and the Building Energy Rating programme. 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 residential and community grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.
Of the overall capital allocation for 2021, €48.9 million has been spent as of 16 September. It is important to note that extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between January and mid-April had a significant impact on activity this year. Output has also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead times for materials. Every effort is being made to maximise output now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.
118. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work done with SEAI to update the comprehensive assessment of the potential for efficient heating and cooling in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44971/21]
View answerA new National Comprehensive Assessment of the Potential for Efficient Heating and Cooling in Ireland, as required by the Energy Efficiency Directive, has been developed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at the request of my Department. The assessment was submitted to the European Commission at the end of July and is published on gov.ie at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/e4332-introductory-text-for-publication-of-the-national-comprehensive-assessment-on-govie/
119. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the policy framework aimed at encouraging the development of district heating in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44972/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government has committed Ireland to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.
The work that is underway in developing the Climate Action Plan 2021 has identified the potential of district heating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, key elements of the planned policy framework are being reviewed and will be included in Climate Action Plan as opposed to a separate policy framework. The Climate Action Plan will also set out a range of actions to support the development of district heating in Ireland.
120. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45035/21]
View answerI have not deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications since taking office.
121. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises in each county connected under the National Broadband Plan in the past 12 months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45065/21]
View answerAs of the 10 September, over 14,500 premises are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork, Galway, Limerick, Cavan and Monaghan. Build works are continuing across the country in 19 Deployment Areas covering townlands in Clare, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary, Tralee, Wicklow, Wexford and Carlow and "make ready" work is underway in a further 11 Deployment Areas. The following table shows a breakdown of premises passed and available for connection per county:
|
County |
Premises Passed |
|
Cavan |
3523 |
|
Cork |
4500 |
|
Galway |
4194 |
|
Limerick |
329 |
|
Monaghan |
1972 |
NBI is a wholesale provider which means they make the network available to Retail Service Providers (such as sky, Vodafone, Pure Telecom, Westnet, Regional Broadband, BBnet, eir, IFA telecom, Eurona broadband, Nova, Digiweb, Viatel, Mayofibre, Ripplecom etc) to connect and provide the service to end users. Retail Service Providers are actively selling on the NBI Network with almost 23,000 premises (across Cavan, Cork, Limerick, Monaghan and Galway) now available for order and pre-order through local broadband service providers. Premises are available to pre-order where the build will be completed in the coming months.
Further details are available on specific areas 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. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
122. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems; and if the review will examine the cost of a ban on the importation of fracked gas within the timeframe included in that review. [45137/21]
View answerMy Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems. The review is being carried out for the period to 2030 in the context of net zero emissions by 2050. Consultants are currently conducting a technical analysis which will be published to help inform a public consultation. The review will consider a range of options to ensure continued security of electricity and gas supply. There options will be considered in the context of the Programme for Government commitments.
I expect the review to complete in the first half of next year and I intend that the findings of the review will be submitted to Government.
As set out in the Government's Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas, it is not possible to place a legal ban on the importation of fracked gas at this time. The policy statement commits the Government to work with like-minded European States to promote and support changes to European energy laws in order to allow the importation of fracked gas to be restricted.
123. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated annual cost of including glass bottles in the proposed deposit return scheme of his Department. [45138/21]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy sets out the roadmap for the introduction of a national Deposit and Return Scheme in 2022. Materials to be included in the scheme will be those for which there are challenging EU recycling and separate collection targets. The scheme will therefore focus on plastic bottles and aluminium beverage cans. Recycling rates in Ireland for glass are significantly above current EU targets While other materials may be considered for inclusion in the Deposit and Return Scheme when the scheme is fully established no analysis of associated costs of inclusion have been undertaken at this point in time.
126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the way the exchange of a driver licence for a person (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/21]
View answerDetails of how to apply to exchange a foreign driving licence issued by a recognised state can be found on the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) website here: www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/exchange-my-foreign-driving-licence.html
All enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the NDLS, the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to individual applications.
