Written Answers Nos. 163-183
163. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants that are employed by the Chief State Solicitors Office for each of the past three years; the grade of each; and the budget allocated to the Office for each of the past three years. [54624/21]
View answerThe number of civil servants employed in the Chief State Solicitors Office is set out in the attached table, along with the budget allocated to the Office for each of the past three years.
|
Number of Civil Servants |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
294 |
303 |
311 |
|
|
Grade Breakdown |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
CSS |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
ACSS |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
DACSS |
11 |
12 |
11 |
|
Principal Solicitor |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
State Solicitor Higher |
26 |
27 |
28 |
|
State Solicitor |
95 |
92 |
98 |
|
Temp State Sols |
9 |
9 |
13 |
|
Trainee Solicitor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Principal Legal Executive |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dep. Prin. Legal Executive |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
AP Legal Executive |
5 |
5 |
4 |
|
Higher Legal Executive |
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
Legal Executive |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Trainee Legal Exec |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Assist Principal |
3 |
8 |
11 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
12 |
10 |
10 |
|
Executive Officer |
30 |
29 |
28 |
|
AO – Legal Researcher |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Clerical Officer |
51 |
54 |
57 |
|
Temp Clerical Officer |
1 |
4 |
2 |
|
Service Officer |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
2019 €000’s |
2020 €000’s |
2021 000’s |
|
|
Budget Allocation |
35,571 |
38,191 |
38,495 |
|
A1-Payroll Allocation |
18,113 |
19,233 |
19,537 |
164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [54412/21]
View answerThe Economic Division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas to support sustainable economic development including job creation, infrastructure, housing and climate action, digital issues, quality of life and well-being, and social dialogue. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a coordinated approach to the delivery of the Programme for Government and issues that cut across multiple departments.
The Division supports the work of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Recovery and Investment, Housing, and the Environment and Climate Change, as well as associated Senior Officials Groups. The Division also maintains an overview of progress in key policy and sectoral areas in line with Government priorities, leads Ireland's participation at the annual European semester process, liaises with the Central Statistics Office, and provides me with briefing and speech material on economic and related policy issues.
165. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagement with the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland. [54770/21]
View answerI spoke with both First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill last week at the COP26 Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow.
I had last spoken with them in Belfast on the 8 October, when we all attended and addressed a conference on climate action.
During that visit to Belfast, I also, separately, had meetings with the leaders of the main political parties on current political developments including the Protocol and legacy issues. I also took the opportunity to brief them on the record €3.5bn budget for collaborative cross-border investment announced with the publication of the National Development Plan, including the doubling of the Shared Island Fund to €1bn to 2030.
One of many drawbacks of Covid was the loss of face-to-face engagement, and it was positive to be able to have in-person contact again.
166. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 12 October 2021, when specific allocations for 2021, 2022 and 2023 will made for Project Ireland 2040 cross-Border funding to support key infrastructure projects committed to in the National Development Plan, including projects (details supplied). [53734/21]
View answer167. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of the funding commitments for 2021, 2022 and 2023 for all projects, initiatives, services, goods and works committed to from the Shared Island Fund; and the amount and recipients of the funding in tabular form. [53735/21]
View answer169. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the details of the cross-Border Project Ireland 2040 infrastructure projects and the funding allocated for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [53853/21]
View answer170. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the details of his Department’s current cross-Border initiatives, goods and or services committed to and the funding allocated to each for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [53871/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167, 169 and 170 together.
Delivering on key cross-border infrastructure commitments and developing new North/South investment projects to implement Programme for Government objectives on Shared Island is a priority for the Government.
On 4 October, under the revised National Development Plan (NDP), the Government made allocations for the Shared Island Fund from 2021-2025, as set out in tabular form below, and committed to allocate ring-fenced, multi-annual capital resourcing for all-island investment out to 2030, at least at the current level of the Shared Island Fund.
Funding allocations for cross-border investment projects referred to in the revised National Development Plan are managed in each case by the relevant line Department. The Government’s contribution to the A5 Road Transport Corridor upgrade; the upgrade of the Dublin-Belfast rail connection to an hourly service, including new rolling stock; and, cross-border greenways, including the Sligo Enniskillen greenway are managed by the Department of Transport. Establishment of all-island research centres is being progressed by the Department of Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has lead responsibility for the renovation of the Ulster Canal.
Government Departments are working closely with counterpart Departments in the Northern Ireland Executive to progress cross-border investment commitments, including on the timing of funding allocations, which in some cases is dependent on the progress of planning and other regulatory requirements in Northern Ireland.
Funding commitments made by Government under the Shared Island Fund to date are set out in tabular form below.
Shared Island Fund allocations are transferred to Departmental Votes on a phased basis, as required for the progress of specific projects in 2021, 2022, 2023 and subsequent years. This is managed by the responsible Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in accordance with Public Financial Procedures.
The Shared Island unit in my Department acts as a driver and coordinator of a whole of Government initiative, including to support delivery of commitments on Shared Island set out in the Programme for Government. The unit engages with Government Departments and Agencies which have the policy responsibility and resource management functions in respect of sectoral and thematic areas of cross-border cooperation.
|
National Development Plan allocations (€m) |
|||||
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
Shared Island Fund |
50 |
50 |
100 |
150 |
150 |
Shared Island Fund commitments
|
Project |
(€m) |
Responsible Department |
|
Ulster Canal (for Phase 2 delivery and Phase 3 development) |
7 |
Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government |
|
Narrow Water Bridge (to progress to tender stage) |
3 |
Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government |
|
North South Research Programme (over five years) |
40 |
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Total commitment to date |
50 |
168. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of all external consultancy fees paid by his Department in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [53737/21]
View answerMy Department has had no expenditure on external consultancy in 2020 or to date in 2021.
171. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reverse a decision to exclude homecare workers from the critical skills exemption to the non-EEA employment permit system to ensure that community-based care is adequately resourced in line with commitments made in the Programme for Government. [53990/21]
View answer172. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a decision was taken to exclude homecare workers from the critical skills exemption to the non-EEA employment permit system. [53991/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
The State operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market.
The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for an employment permit where there is a surplus of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market.
In order to maintain the relevance of these lists of occupations to the needs of the economy and to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo twice-yearly evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU), SOLAS and involves public/stakeholder consultation. Account is taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and known contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID-19 and their impact on the labour market. Consideration is also taken of the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, chaired by my Department and of the relevant policy Departments, in this case the Department of Health.
The results of the most recently concluded review were announced on 28 October 2021. The review did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/home carers from the Ineligible Occupations List as the evidence suggested that the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions being offered are significant factors in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector, rather than a demonstrable labour market shortage. The sector has also previously been advised that a more systematic and structured engagement with the Department of Social Protection needs to be demonstrated.
The next Occupational Lists Review will open in the coming months and submissions from sectors will be invited through a public consultation.
173. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the proposed industrial park for Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54033/21]
View answerIDA Ireland actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Business Parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership through their network of overseas offices. The IDA owns approximately 10.6 hectares of industrial zoned land on the Sligo Road in Quignashee, Ballina.
Planning permission was previously obtained for infrastructural development, although this has since expired. IDA Ireland continues to market the site to existing and prospective investors that may be interested in expanding or locating in County Mayo. The Agency is working in collaboration with Mayo County Council to review the best potential for the IDA Ballina lands to further support the objectives of IDA’s new strategy 2021-2024.
I am advised that IDA Ireland is at the final stages of completing its new planning application. A number of external factors delayed submission, namely Covid-19 restrictions for geotechnical site surveys and data analysis required to finalise the planning application details. IDA Ireland awaits a final confirmation of feasibility response from key stakeholders to include in the planning application and it is IDA's intention to lodge the planning application on receipt of same.
IDA Ireland will work with Mayo County Council to ensure the infrastructure development will be complementary to the wider development plans for Ballina and that the site, once developed will be positioned and marketed as a suitable location for indigenous and FDI developments.
174. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a valid work permit application has been received in respect of a critical skills visa for a person (details supplied); the timeline for the processing of this application; and when the applicant company will be informed of the outcome. [54559/21]
View answerThe Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that a Standard application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit was received on the 2 September in respect the person referenced in the Deputy’s question.
Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order, as Employment Permits Section are currently processing Standard applications received on 19 July 2021 this application should be considered within the next six weeks.
The company will be notified of the outcome regarding the Critical Skills Employment Permit application once a decision has been made.
Applicants can keep track of Employment Permit applications current processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/Current-Processing-Dates-for-Employment-Permits.html.
175. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person (details supplied) qualifies for an SEAI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54026/21]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to lower income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. During the first 6 months of 2021, the approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was €17,100.
There are currently over 7,000 homeowners on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme who have never received any upgrade works under the scheme. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in the first half of 2021, the average time from application to completion was almost 26 months. The SEAI has advised me 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.
Revisits under this scheme are currently not available. This enables the work programme to prioritise eligible homes that have not previously received free upgrades under the scheme. Recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need will be finalised and published shortly.
It is important to note that under the Warmer Homes Scheme, windows are only replaced, when deemed necessary by an SEAI surveyor, and in certain circumstances where existing windows are single glazing and where the walls are being insulated. The grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer.
176. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications for the SEAI warmer homes grant; the current average length of time persons are waiting for SEAI warmer homes grant works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54079/21]
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, 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. There are currently over 7,000 homeowners on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. Data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that for homes completed in the first half of 2021, the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months. The SEAI has advised 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 average wait times have increased significantly due to the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in place during much of 2020 as well as between January and mid-April this year when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Wait times have also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead time for materials. However, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020.
Funding for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased significantly to over €109 million in 2021, with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget is available to support people vulnerable to energy poverty. The funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government. I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.
177. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps that have been installed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54080/21]
View answerA heat pump system harnesses energy from free renewable sources outside the building in order to heat both the house and its hot water. Heat pumps are an environmentally friendly, decarbonised and extremely efficient alternative to oil, gas and solid fuel heating systems. The most common heat pumps work by converting energy from the air outside of the home into useful heat inside. The Climate Action Plan sets a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps by end-2030 of which 400,000 are to replace existing heating systems.
The number of homes fitted with a heat pump from 2010 to 2020 is set out in the table below. The information is based on Grant Schemes and Building Energy Rating (BER) data available to SEAI and as such includes the great majority of heat pumps installed.
|
TYPE OF HOME |
TOTAL |
|
New homes |
29,840 |
|
Existing homes (Retrofit) |
5,560 |
|
TOTAL |
35,400 |
178. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the resources and staff that will be available for the National Retrofit Delivery Body; the cost of establishing the Body to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54081/21]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has been designated as the National Retrofit Delivery Body and has been mandated to drive the delivery of our national retrofit targets of 500,000 home upgrades to a BER 2 energy rating and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems. The responsibilities of the SEAI in this capacity include: promoting retrofit uptake through marketing campaigns; enhancing the appeal of the retrofit supports and schemes as well as improving the customer journey; setting standards for and registering retrofit one-stop-shops; increasing the number of BER assessors; monitoring and managing the quantum and quality of retrofit service provision; and supporting the supply chain in the area of retrofit.
The National Retrofit Plan identifies an unprecedented €8 billion to support homeowners to retrofit their homes through SEAI retrofit schemes including energy poverty schemes. Significant additional funding is being provided by the Government to continue to increase the capacity of the agency. The process of developing, restructuring and recruiting the necessary expertise commenced in 2021 and will continue in parallel with the delivery of the National Retrofit Plan. SEAI received an additional €2.9m in Budget 2021 and a further €3.1 million in Budget 2022 to increase the staffing resources in the organisation, with the bulk of this assigned to retrofit activity.
179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the cost to EirGrid of funding wind farm operators for times when there is a curtailment or dispatch is down, for example, in cases in which more electricity is produced than can be consumed at that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54085/21]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for EirGrid, the transmission system operator. Nevertheless, I am advised that EirGrid prepare an annual report outlining the levels of dispatch-down of renewable energy on the island of Ireland.
The latest such report can be found here: www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/Annual-Renewable-Constraint-and-Curtailment-Report-2020.pdf.
This report contains information on historic dispatch down quantities dating back to 2011. As contained in this report, the dispatch-down energy from wind resources in 2020 was 1,448 GWh in Ireland. This is equivalent to 11.4% of the total available wind energy.
In order to meet Ireland's target of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030, very high penetration of variable renewable electricity on the grid will be required. Currently EirGrid operate the power system with up to 70% of renewable power at a given time, including onshore wind and solar. By 2030, this will need to rise to 95% in real time and higher.
Increasing storage and strengthening the network will be critical to minimising the levels of renewable energy sources that are curtailed or constrained down. The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a number of actions to address storage policy and higher levels of renewable electricity on the network.
180. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current estimates of his Department and of the agencies under his remit of the amount of CO2 created in the transport sector when vehicles are travelling at speeds, by category of vehicle and by fuel type (details supplied) in tabular form. [54090/21]
View answerAccording to the latest inventories of greenhouse gas emissions published by the Environmental Protection Agency, in the period between 2007 and 2020, emissions from the transport sector have decreased from 21% of total emissions to 17.9%. Road transport was responsible for 96% of transport sector greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 and 94% in 2020. As set out in the table below, transport emissions in 2020 were 28.5% below peak levels in 2007 primarily due to the short-term effect of COVID restrictions, as well as longer-term improving vehicle fuel efficiency, the increased use of biofuels and a significant decrease in fuel tourism in recent years. The impact of electric vehicles in reducing transport emissions is still low given the size of the vehicle fleet but they are projected to contribute substantially to emissions reductions towards the latter half of this decade.
Greenhouse Gas emissions (Mt CO2e) in the Transport Sector 2007-2020.
|
2007 |
2010 |
2013 |
2016 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
|
Transport Sector |
14.4 |
11.5 |
11 |
12.3 |
12.2 |
10.3 |
|
Road Transportation |
13.9 |
11 |
10.6 |
11.8 |
11.6 |
9.7 |
The Environmental Protection Agency has also published a breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector by vehicle type for the years 2019 and 2020. This is set out in the table below, with figures in Mt CO2e.
|
Vehicle Type |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Passenger Car |
6.612 |
5.238 |
|
HGVs |
2.32 |
1.94 |
|
LGVs |
1.74 |
1.746 |
|
Buses |
0.812 |
0.679 |
Work is ongoing across the transport sector to encourage lower speeds, employ stronger speed limit enforcement and to review road speed limits. In the Climate Action Plan 2021, the Department of Transport has committed to continuing this work and to engaging with drivers, particularly in the HGV sector, to promote the use of eco-driving.
181. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the contribution that floating offshore wind can make in contributing to producing renewable energy and further enabling climate action in line with Programme for Government commitments. [54095/21]
View answerIreland’s increased climate and energy ambition is reflected in the Government target to achieve 5 GW of installed offshore wind generation by 2030. There is a further commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a longer-term plan to utilize the potential 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. The 5GW target will be primarily met through development of offshore renewable energy (ORE) in Ireland’s eastern and southern coastal regions. This reflects the suitability of water depths in these regions for deployment of conventional fixed bottom offshore wind turbines and existing electricity grid infrastructure to connect these projects to the onshore grid.
Subsequent cost-effective deployment of renewables in deeper waters off the west coast, to take advantage of stronger and more consistent wind speeds, should be increasingly feasible through future advances in floating turbine technology.
Development of the Maritime Area Planning Bill (MAP) Bill is being led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with my Department providing input on provisions specific to ORE. The enactment of this Bill will provide a modern, up-to-date regulatory framework that will enable ORE developments beyond the limits of the current foreshore regime. This Bill is currently at Committee stage in the legislative process, with enactment anticipated by the end of the year.
Work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) has also been initiated by my Department. This will provide an evidence base for the identification of areas most suitable for the sustainable development of both fixed and floating wind, wave, and tidal technologies, and will include an assessment of other maritime activities and marine biodiversity. The OREDP, in tandem with a planned economic analysis, will set out the path-way for the development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030.
182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of the 183 actions in the Climate Action Plan 2019 that have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54113/21]
View answerReporting and publication of progress under the Climate Action Plan is carried out by the Department of the Taoiseach. The most recently published quarterly progress report on the Interim Climate Actions, which continues the reporting of the Climate Action Plan 2019, shows a delivery rate of 64%. The reports can be found here www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/.
The Government is committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, equivalent to a 51% reduction over the decade, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, in line with EU ambitions.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 significantly strengthens the overarching climate governance framework, places in law a national climate objective of achieving climate neutrality no later than 2050, and embeds a process of carbon budgeting, including sectoral emission ceilings. Putting these requirements in legislation places a clear obligation on this and future governments for sustained climate action.
Last week the Government published the Climate Action Plan 2021. This plan will continue to maintain a whole-of-government focus on implementation. It is envisaged that a similar reporting mechanism will apply to the new Plan together with the statutory oversight arrangements set out in the 2021 Climate Act.
183. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline for the recruitment of a director of the Irish National Cyber Security Centre; when the job specification was supplied to the Public Appointments Service for the first time; the length of time before this was published the first time and then on the second round; the date on which the latest version of the job specification was supplied to the Public Appointments Service; the length of time before it advertised this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54135/21]
View answerA competition for the post of Director of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was held in 2020. The job specification for that competition was sent to the Public Appointments Service (PAS) 6 August 2020 and the position was advertised by them on 18 September 2020. No candidate was appointed from this competition.
A new competition at the level of Civil Service Deputy Secretary level is currently underway with the role having been advertised by PAS on 23 September 2021; this followed Government approval in July this year to a comprehensive package of measures following the external capacity review of the NCSC. I expect the process to be completed in the coming weeks.
