Written Answers Nos. 61-75
61. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will be allocating additional permits for dairy farm workers given the various reports of skills shortages in this industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53429/21]
View answerThe employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, in circumstances where there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
The system is managed through the use of lists designating highly skilled and ineligible occupations. The lists are reviewed twice a year to ensure their ongoing relevance to the State’s human capital requirements. Consideration is also taken of the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, chaired by my Department and of the relevant policy Departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The reviews involve a public consultation with submissions invited from sectors.
In the most recent review ten submissions were received from the Agri-Food sector referring to occupations in the horticulture, dairy, pig and poultry industries and meat processing.
The outcome of the most recent review was announced on 28 October. A press release is available on my Department’s website.
As a result of the review and in light of the continued labour shortages in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector, I decided to extend previous quotas to release 1000 general employment permits for horticulture operatives, 500 for meat deboners, 1500 for meat processing operatives and 100 for Dairy Farm Assistants. The quota for Dairy Farm Assistants of 100 General Employment Permits is subject to the minimum annual remuneration threshold of €30,000. This quota, as with all the agricultural quotas will be followed by a strategic review of labour attraction and retention.
The Dairy Farm Assistant quota is expected to assist with the challenges of the sector in securing sufficient labour, particularly during the busy spring 2022 period when it is expected that family labour will become less available than in 2020 and 2021 as the economy reopens following the pandemic.
62. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Workplace Relations Commission and his Department are monitoring the number of workplaces adopting the Workplace Relations Commission Code of Conduct on the Right to Disconnect; if so, the number of employers that have adopted the code of conduct; if his Department and the Workplace Relations Commission plan to report on its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53479/21]
View answerIn November 2020, I requested that the WRC prepare a draft Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect, in accordance with section 20 (2) of the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect was launched on 1st April 2021. I believe it is too early to review its application, though I am open to doing so at a later stage.
Codes of Practice are written guidelines, agreed in a consultative process, setting out guidance and best practice for employers and employees with respect to compliance with employment legislation. Employers, employees, and their representative bodies find Codes of Practice particularly useful as reference points and they often serve as the basis for internal policies and procedures within firms and across sectors.
While failure to follow a Code prepared under section 20(1)(a) of the Workplace Relations Act, 2015 is not an offence in itself, section 20(9) provides that in any proceedings before a Court, the Labour Court or the WRC, a Code of Practice shall be admissible in evidence and any provision of the Code which appears to the court, body or officer concerned to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be considered in determining that question.
The Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect is a best practice guide and template to remind employers of the statutory obligations around record keeping and ensuring compliance regarding maximum average weekly working hours permitted for employees and employees statutory rest period entitlements. The Code is also aimed at ensuring employees are aware of their statutory entitlements and how to raise concerns in relation to non-compliance.
Whilst the WRC does not have a role in monitoring implementation of any Code of Practice, ensuring employers compliance with their statutory obligations is part and parcel of every WRC Inspection undertaken.
63. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects to bring forward legislation to give workers a right to work remotely; if he is undertaking engagement with employers and trade unions on the draft legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53548/21]
View answerThe pandemic presents an opportunity to make a permanent change in the way we work - to make remote and blended working a much bigger part of normal working life and achieve a better work-life balance. After the pandemic, I believe people should have a choice to work from home or in the office, so long as the work gets done and business and service needs are met.
The right to request remote work is part of the Government vision to make remote working a permanent feature of Ireland’s workforce in a way that can benefit all – economically, socially and environmentally. The commitment to introduce legislation to underpin employees' right to request remote work was made in the national Remote Work Strategy published last January.
Currently, all employees can ask their employers for the right to work remotely, but there is no legal framework around which a request can be made and how it should be dealt with by the employer. This new law will set out a clear framework around which requesting, approving or refusing remote work can be based.
I carried out a public consultation in April and there was significant engagement. Informed by the public consultation, which included submissions from both employer and trade union representative groups and also a review of international best practice, the drafting of the General Scheme of the Bill has commenced. I will be seeking Cabinet approval for the drafting of Heads of a Bill this quarter and the Bill will be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible thereafter. The intention is to introduce a mechanism for employees to request remote working that is fair but does not place an undue burden on employers.
In the meantime, there is plenty of advice and information available. The Government launched the #MakingRemoteWork campaign in June this year. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the advice and information available from Government to help workers and employers facilitate more remote and blended working.
This includes guidance for employers and workers and a Remote Working Checklist which are all available on the DETE website.
64. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of current applicants for the SEAI warmer homes scheme by age profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53453/21]
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. To date, my Department has provided funding for free upgrades to over 143,000 homes under the scheme. €109 million in capital funding has been provided this year to support lower income households to retrofit their homes with €100 million of this funding allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents a €47 million increase on the 2020 allocation and is the highest ever budget for this scheme. The scheme is currently available to households in receipt of:
- Fuel allowance under the National Fuel Scheme;
- Job Seekers Allowance for more than six months (and having children under 7);
- Family Income Supplement;
- One-Parent Family Payment;
- Domiciliary Care Allowance;
- Carer’s Allowance where you live with the person you are caring for.
The SEAI does not collect information on the age profile of beneficiaries supported.
65. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the renewable energy support scheme will be extended to include offshore wind projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53510/21]
View answerMy Department is currently developing terms and conditions for offshore wind-specific auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). Owing to the specific scale and nature of typical offshore wind farms, dedicated auctions are initially required to support the longer-term potential of this technology in Ireland.
A number of milestones are required before the launch of the first offshore wind auction (ORESS 1) namely the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Bill together with the commencement of subsequent enabling secondary legislation. The Bill is currently in Committee stage in the Oireachtas. This will enable the establishment of the Maritime Area Consent (MAC) process for the first phase of projects which can then proceed to enter the full planning process with An Bord Pleanala.
A public consultation on the draft terms and conditions for ORESS 1 auctions is now underway. The closing date for submissions is 6 December.
66. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the seven representatives from the academic and community sectors who are members of the renewable energy support scheme community steering board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53511/21]
View answerThe community commitments in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) seek to support sustainable community energy projects and ensure that local communities benefit from all RESS projects.
A RESS Communities Steering Board has been established by my Department to advise on the policy and implementation of the community features of RESS. The representatives from the academic and community sectors come from a variety of backgrounds including Sustainable Energy Communities, Public Participation Networks, community energy co-ops, community generators, research and third level institutes and international community energy advocacy.
The members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from across the community and academic sectors, ensuring a broad range of views are represented and heard. The Board will be decisive in shaping the tremendous opportunity for the development of community energy in Ireland that will be important in achieving a just energy transition and our national energy and climate policy goals.
I will write separately to the Deputy and provide further details of the steering group.
67. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Climate Action Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53512/21]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, enacted in July 2021, commits Ireland to achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050, and provides for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The Act also significantly strengthens the overarching climate governance framework and embeds a process of carbon budgeting, including sectoral emission ceilings. The plans and strategies established on a statutory footing under the Act will require that policies are put in place to ensure carbon budget ceilings are not breached. Putting these requirements in legislation places a clear obligation on this and future governments for sustained climate action.
I am currently finalising an ambitious set of climate actions, through a new Climate Action Plan, that will set indicative sectoral emission ranges for 2030. This will mean more renewable energy, decreased transport emissions, changes in how we heat our homes and how we grow our food and look after our land. The Climate Action Plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with specific owners, timelines and steps needed to achieve each action. Under the new legislation, my Department will update the Climate Action Plan every year so that our actions keep step with the trajectory required to achieve our targets.
68. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the calculations used by his Department to set the direct annual monetary contribution by the developer into the fund in a renewable energy support scheme at €2MW/h; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53513/21]
View answerAll projects successful in a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction must establish a Community Benefit Fund and the contribution for each project is set at €2 per Megawatt-hour.
The contribution level of €2 per Megawatt-hour was set after research by international consultancies in the design of the scheme and was publicly consulted on with relevant stakeholders through the RESS consultation process. This contribution will provide higher benefits to local communities than was standard across the industry prior to RESS.
For the first RESS auction alone this means almost €4 million being made available annually for the benefit of local communities. These funds will be aligned to incentivise investment in local renewable energy, energy efficiency measures and climate action initiatives in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is anticipated that the first RESS projects will commence operation by the end of this year following which communities can look forward to receiving benefit fund payments in their areas.
My Department has published the RESS Community Benefit Fund Good Practice Principles Handbook which lays out 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 committee.
In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has activated the Community Benefit Fund National Register. This register will track all projects and payments made over the lifetime of the Community Benefit Funds and it will be publicly available. This will provide clarity and transparency as to how the Funds are being allocated in communities across the country.
69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the review of the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53514/21]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2021 will bring forward policies and measures to support the delivery of the 51% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and put us on a pathway to climate neutrality no later than 2050. The Plan will include specific actions for large energy users, including data centres.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is committed to reviewing the 2018 'Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy' to align with our renewable energy targets, sectoral emissions and climate priorities.This is part of a suite of actions to ensure that Ireland is planning appropriately for new energy demand in the context of our electrification and decarbonisation ambitions, while facilitating growth in digitalisation and our technology sector. This review is expected to commence in 2022.
Government is working with the relevant state agencies to ensure that there is a plan-led, regionally balanced approach to large developments such as data centres in future taking into account existing grid availability and the opportunity to co-locate significant renewable energy opportunities.
70. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review of data centre connection policy by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53515/21]
View answerIn June 2021, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a proposed direction to EirGrid and ESB Networks that would require each of the system operators to prioritise data centre connections based on location, the availability of on-site generation and flexibility in reducing demand when required. The consultation process is now closed and the CRU is considering the responses received.
The CRU is an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions.
71. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an area (details supplied) will be able to avail of e-fibre broadband. [53524/21]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 27 October, almost 273,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed or have surveys underway and over 115,000 premises have build works currently underway. The first premises are connected in Cavan, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan. Surveys are complete or underway in County Westmeath in Mullingar, Sonna, Stonehall, Taghmon, Jamestown, Hopestown and Athlone. Pre-build works have commenced in the areas around Athlone and main build works have commenced in the areas around Mullingar. I am advised by NBI that it expects the premises referred to in the Question to be passed and available for connection in H1, 2022.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Westmeath 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 as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. NBI has recently published details of its full deployment schedule on its website which enables all premises within the intervention area to have an anticipated service activation date range. Given the scale and complexity of delivery of the new high speed broadband network under the NBP, I am advised that any dates provided by NBI on its website are based on the best available information at the time and may be subject to change.
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 27 October, 386 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCPs are connected at Ballycomoyle GAA Club, Milltown Emper Community Centre, Whitehall Community Centre, Streete Parish Park & Community Hall, Castledaly Community Centre and Clonkill Hurling Club (4km from the premises referred to). Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride, Naomh Micheal, Dalystown National School and Scoil Náisiúnta Aodha Naofa have been installed by NBI for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
72. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his Department has been notified of all energy supply traffic light warnings; if so, when those warnings were issued over the past 12 months to date in tabular form; the cause of the individual alert; and if there was a tailored mitigation plan put in place for each alert. [53562/21]
View answerThere have been seven system alerts (previously know as amber alerts) on the electricity system in Ireland in the past 12 months. These occurred on 9 December 2020, 6 January 2021, 13 April 2021, 17 May 2021, 6 September 2021, 9 September 2021 and 28 October 2021. EirGrid notified my Department of each of these system alerts on the day they occurred.
There have been no system emergencies (previously known as red alerts) on the system in Ireland in the past 12 months or in recent years.
The system alert on 13 April 2021 related to the temporary failure of some of the systems in EirGrid's control centre. This failure occurred during the testing of backup systems and was quickly resolved. The other six system alerts were due to reduced margin between the level of electricity generation and demand.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (the CRU) has statutory responsibility to monitor and take measures necessary to ensure the security of electricity supply in Ireland. On Wednesday 29 September the CRU published an information note setting out the programme of actions being progressed to ensure security of electricity supply. The actions include:
- increasing the availability of existing generators;
- developing of new generation capacity – including temporary generation capacity in advance of winter 2022;
- extending the operational life of some existing generators;
- new rules for the grid connection of data centres; and
- actions to enhance demand-side response, including large consumers reducing demand when the system margin is low.
My Department and EirGrid are working closely with the CRU to implement their programme of actions in order to ensure the security of electricity supply.
73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the National Broadband Plan will be rolled out across County Donegal by townland and yearly quarter in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53603/21]
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 some 699 schools.
There are over 32,000 premises in the Intervention Area in County Donegal that will receive access to high speed broadband under the NBP and Government investment in Donegal under the NBP will be in the order of €128 million. I am advised by NBI that, as of 27 October, some 12,942 premises in County Donegal have been surveyed. Surveys are complete or underway in County Donegal in the areas of Letterkenny, Creeslough, Tamney, Bunbeg, Arranmore, Rutland Island/Burtonport and Inisfree Island/Burtonport. Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and informs design solutions for provision of the fibre network. I am further advised that pre-build works are underway in Letterkenny.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Donegal 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 as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. Given the scale and complexity of delivery of the new high speed broadband network under the NBP, I am advised that any dates provided by NBI on its website are based on the best available information at the time and may be subject to change.
In addition to the challenges to the delivery of the NBP due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has faced a range of other challenges due to the sheer scale and complexity of rolling out fibre to the home in a rural environment. These include significant tree trimming to ensure cable can be placed on overhead poles, remediation of ducting that has been in place for many decades, the co-ordination of hundreds of contracting crews and addressing the many issues arising week on week which could not have been foreseen until the build crews commenced work on the ground. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract. This plan addresses delays experienced by NBI, primarily arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and re-baselines milestones for 2021. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond.
Given the nature of the build and ongoing work to address the impact of Covid-19 related delays, it is not possible to give specific details on a per townland and quarter year basis out to 2026.
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 27 October, 386 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCPs are connected at Rathlin Knitwear, Dunree Military Museum, Ray Community Centre, Glenveagh National Park, Malin Head, Tory Co-Op, Leghowney Community Centre, Meenreagh Hostel, Sliabh Liag Ranger Station, The Gweedore Theatre and Cranford Coole Community Centre. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Urbalreagh National School, Scoil Naomh Cholmcille, Drumfad National School, Scoil Naoimh Colum and Doaghbeg National School have been installed by NBI for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list.
74. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has adopted the Workplace Relations Commission Code of Conduct on the Right to Disconnect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53812/21]
View answerThe WRC’s Code of Practice provides guidance on best practice to organisations and their employees on the Right to Disconnect. It is not a question of organisations adopting the WRC Code of Practice but a question of working up their own tailored policy. As stated in the Code of Practice, employers should engage proactively with employees and/or their trade union or other employees’ representatives to develop a Right to Disconnect Policy that takes account of the particular needs of the organisation and its workforce. Discussions are underway among several departments to develop cross-departmental guidance in order to support individual departments to develop their Right to Disconnect policies.
75. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the rationale behind the removal of SEAI grants for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; the measures that will be put in place to counteract the removal and continue to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53443/21]
View answerThe SEAI grant scheme aims to encourage behavioural change and support the Government’s commitment to achieving a 51% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. The grant schemes are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.
To date in 2021, almost €65m has been provided in grants to support the purchase of electric cars. By year end, this will represent almost a doubling of supports to EVs in 2020.
As a result, the EV percentage of overall car registrations has increased significantly this year and represented over 15% to end Q3 2021. Government is on track as regards the number of vehicles which need to be sold in 2021 to reach its projected annual EV target as set out in the CAP 2019. As of 30 September, there were 45,423 EVs registered in the national fleet.
In the past year, many new BEVs with ranges of over 400km on a single charge have been introduced to the Irish market. Range anxiety is no longer an issue for electric vehicle purchasers, and while PHEVs provided an interim option, but emit both CO2 and air pollution emissions, this interim option is no longer necessary. Government supports should be provided to full electric vehicles, which will be the most effective means of reaching our carbon reduction pathway.
I announced after the budget that grant support for PHEVs will be removed from 1 January 2021. Any PHEV which registers for the grant in accordance with the scheme rules before this date will be approved and the commitment carried forward into Q1 2022. However, from 1 January 2022 the SEAI will no longer accept grant applications in respect of PHEVs.
For the top 10 PHEVS sold in 2020, four are high cost vehicles for which a grant would not be applicable and two have a direct BEV equivalent, that would be more useful in terms of decarbonizing the car fleet. Of the four remaining, three are made by manufacturers that have an equivalent size BEV model and only one model has no BEV alternative in its range.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the grant process, drawdowns normally need to be made by year end (31 Dec). However, due to the slowdown in global car manufacturing, I am extending this drawdown date to 31 March 2021, to allow time for customers to take final possession of the vehicle.
A range of incentives are in place to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles including:
- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for BEVs;
- A grant of up to €600 towards the installation cost of a domestic charge point for new and second-hand BEVs or PHEVs;
- A low rate of motor tax;
- BEV and PHEVs qualify for 50% and 25% toll reductions respectively up to a maximum €500 annual threshold for private vehicles and a maximum annual threshold of €1,000 for commercial vehicles (greater off-peak rates also apply to the M50 toll);
- BEVs qualify for a 0% Benefit-in-Kind rate up to €50,000 without mileage conditions;
- BEV/PHEVs and their associated recharging infrastructure qualify under the ACA scheme and;
- A grant of up to €10,000 to support the purchase of a BEV in the taxi/hackney/limousine sector with an additional €2,500 available for those choosing to make their vehicle wheelchair accessible. Those scrapping older, more polluting, or high mileage vehicles are now eligible for double the normal grant if they make the switch to electric with up to €20K available for a new BEV, €25K for a new wheelchair accessible BEV and €15K for a new wheelchair accessible PHEV.
