Written Answers Nos. 162-181
162. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a premises (details supplied) is included in the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56047/21]
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 at 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 5 November, almost 274,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed or have surveys underway and over 125,000 premises have build currently underway. NBI has also advised that the first premises are connected in Cavan, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan and over 30,000 premises are available to order and pre-order across 12 counties. Surveys are complete in County Cork in the Deployment Areas of Tallow and Templemartin, main works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline. My Department has investigated the premises referred to and can confirm that the premises is part of the Intervention Area and will be delivered with high speed broadband under the NBP.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork 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.
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. This has resulted in some changes to timeframes for connection for end users.
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 5 November, 388 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. BCP’s are installed at Ballydaly Community Hall, Aubane Community Centre, Mealagh Valley Community Centre, Courtbrack Community Centre, Laharn Heritage Centre, Ballindangan Community Centre, Clogagh Community Hall, Ionadh Áise, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Bere Island Heritage Centre, Coláiste Phobal Cléire, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre (14.5km from premises referred to), Glash Community Centre, T.O. Park Labbamollaga and Sherkin Island Community Hall. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Templebrady National School, Ballycroneen National School, Clogagh National School, Educate Together Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour National School, Scoil Naomh Fionan Na Reanna, Ballygarvan National School and Shanbally 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/.
163. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a decision has been made on an application for approval of a thermodynamic solar hot water system under the better energy homes grants scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56056/21]
View answerMy Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since 2000, over 450,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier to heat and light.
Under the Better Energy Homes scheme, a grant of €1,200 is available for Solar Water Heating installation. The installation must meet the minimum annual solar renewable energy contribution based on the floor area of the dwelling. Full details of the technical criteria can be found in the Domestic Technical Standards and Specification (DTSS) publication available on the SEAI website.
Applications under SEAI schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. However, my officials have made further contact with SEAI in relation to the case referred to by the Deputy.
I have been informed by the SEAI that an application was submitted on behalf of the applicant on 14th October and is with SEAI’s technical team for review. A request for further information was sent to the applicant by SEAI on 28th October and they have received no response to date. SEAI contacted the applicant again on 12th November offering their assistance.
164. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the date by which the microgeneration support scheme will be ready for individuals, community groups, business owners and farmers to sell eligible electricity to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56086/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to expanding and incentivising micro-generation, to allow people to generate their own electricity for their own use and to sell excess electricity to the grid. The Climate Action Plan 2021 reaffirms the Government's commitment to delivering a micro-generation policy framework.
The pending introduction of a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff will represent the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland. This will allow them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid, reflective of the market value of that electricity. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlined the details for the introduction of the CEG payment. I understand a decision is expected to be published this month and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.
My Department is also developing a final scheme design for a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) that incorporates the feedback from a public consultation held earlier this year, and subsequent additional analysis. A proposal on the supports to be offered to individuals, community groups, business and farms under the MSS, which may include grants or premium tariff payments for new installations, will be submitted to Government before the end of the year. It is intended that a final scheme design will be published early next year.
Supports under the MSS will be introduced on a phased basis, taking account of the need to develop appropriate support mechanisms for relevant cohorts of micro-generators.
165. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the date on which his Department will publish the summary responses to the public consultation in relation to the microgeneration support scheme which closed on 18 February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56087/21]
View answer166. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the date on which his Department will publish the findings from the submissions to the public consultation regarding the microgeneration support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56088/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
A summary report of the submissions to the public consultation on the Micro-generation Support Scheme has already been published and is available on my Department's website at gov.ie - Public Consultation on a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in Ireland (www.gov.ie).
167. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of times that the Micro-generation Working Group met in each month of 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56089/21]
View answerUnder the Climate Action Plan, a Micro-generation Working Group, chaired by my Department, has been developing an enabling framework for micro-generation that addresses existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments.
A meeting of the group has been held in each of the following months of 2021 to date: February, March, April, May, June, August, and October.
168. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of dates of meetings and attendees at the meetings that he or his officials have had with either the Commission for Regulation of Utilities or EirGrid since he took office, in tabular form. [56090/21]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy shortly.
171. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to define a set of metrics to accurately quantify the cost of extreme weather events to the State in terms of both revenues lost and the cost of repairs as per action 293 of the Climate Action Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56022/21]
View answerI would like to thank Deputy Hourigan for asking this question. Climate adaptation is a very important topic which is often overshadowed by climate mitigation.
When developing the ‘Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Transport’, my Department identified that a common set of metrics to accurately quantify the cost of extreme weather events to the transport sector was needed. Currently, no such set of metrics exists and each transport entity uses its own set of metrics to quantify costs. This can make it difficult to accurately quantify the costs after extreme weather events such as Storm Ophelia. This was a key action arising from the Adaptation Plan. It was also deemed to be an important action for the Climate Action Plan 2021.
To progress this action, my Department will begin this work in 2021 with a view to having it completed within a 12 month timeframe. In doing so, we will engage with the relevant stakeholders where necessary.
172. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the beneficial ownership of the land reservation that had been designated for the Dublin eastern bypass given the decision of the National Transport Authority not to proceed with plans for the site. [56116/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and 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.
The proposed Eastern Bypass is not included in the new National Development Plan 2021-2030. The draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) published recently by the National Transport Authority states that the Eastern Bypass is no longer required to be developed. A public consultation on the draft strategy is ongoing and will be concluded in December. The Southern Port Access Road is included in the NDP and the draft GDA Transport Strategy also includes this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a more detailed, direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
173. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to facilitate charging of electric vehicles by public sector staff working in publicly owned buildings to which limited public transport exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56173/21]
View answerThe use of EVs within public sector vehicle fleets and the installation of associated EV infrastructure is an important exemplar and market driver, providing the necessary public leadership and raising consumer awareness of EVs.
There are several initiatives and programmes underway across the public sector that encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.
- The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy encourages public sector fleets to test new technologies and facilitate/accelerate their market uptake.
- Green Public Procurement can act as a driver for innovation and competitiveness in the industrial sector, encouraging the development of new technologies.
- The recast Clean Vehicles Directive set minimum Member State procurement targets, with the main objective of increasing the uptake of clean (low- and zero-emission) vehicles.
- The Local Authority Climate Action Charter is a key action in the Climate Action Plan and will ensure every local authority embeds decarbonisation, sustainable development and climate resilience into every aspect of the work they do.
Preparations are underway to establish an Office of Low Emission Vehicles. This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.
On foot of the Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway Report published in September, it was recommended that having regard to the public leadership role their transition to Low Emission Vehicles can play,ensure that the requirements placed on State bodies through their Climate Action Mandates prioritise the provision of adequate EV charging infrastructure where parking is provided for employees and the public.
The full report of the EVPP Working Group is now available online.
My Department is currently developing a national charging infrastructure strategy that will set out a pathway to stay ahead of EV demand over the critical period out to 2030.
In addition, a destination charge point scheme is being developed by my Department, in association with the SEAI, which will include commonly accessed destinations. In this regard, I am minded to allow certain key publicly owned facilities at which members of the public access state services to apply for funding under this scheme and help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.
174. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department officials' attention has been drawn to, or if they have entered into correspondence with, the RSA to notify his Department that 32 contracted driver testers employed by the RSA are due to see their contracts terminated between December 2021 through to April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55466/21]
View answerIn order to deal with the backlog in driving tests created by Covid, the RSA received approval in 2020 to rehire 36 temporary testers. In addition, the RSA received sanction to hire 40 additional testers on a temporary basis to assist with the backlogs. These new testers have completed their training and have been conducting tests since July 2021. Sanction has also been granted to recruit a further 40 testers.
Procedures require approval for hiring of staff from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and we have responded to the needs of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) by giving the approvals mentioned.
I am aware that the 36 temporary testers rehired in 2020 are on contracts which are due to expire in December, March, and May. I am happy to say that my Department has approved a further extension of contracts for those due to expire in December and March. The RSA will conduct a review next year to see how the service is performing and to reassess its needs in light of evolving demand.
175. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the use of no idling signs of which the purpose would be to prevent cars from idling in certain places while leaving their engines running thus reducing unnecessary carbon emissions being emitted into the atmosphere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55467/21]
View answerThe planning, design, and implementation of individual road projects and features is a matter for each respective local authority for regional and local roads and for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for national roads.
At a national level, my Department is responsible for the legislative basis and for developing supporting guidelines and policy in regard to traffic matters and to reducing carbon emissions from transport.
The Government is strongly aware of the close link between certain air pollutant emissions and negative public health impacts. Idling vehicles can contribute to local air pollutant emissions levels at particular locations, in particularly in dense urban areas where it is difficult for air pollutant emissions to disperse. The Urban Transport-Related Air Pollution (UTRAP) Group interim report (2021) examines this issue and recommends on how best to reduce vehicle emissions in Irish towns and cities.
Among the best ways to reduce emissions from private vehicles across the road network as a whole, is to remove older more polluting vehicles from our streets, and to encourage modal-shift to sustainable travel, walking and cycling, and electric vehicles. In addition, Part 1 of the Five Cities Traffic Demand Management Study published earlier this year proposes a range of measures to combat overreliance on cars. The report includes a tool kit of measures that local authorities can use to help them to reduce emissions, tackle congestion, improve air quality, and improve the overall urban environment in our five major cities. The final study report is expected to be published before the end of 2021.
With regard to the heavy-duty vehicle sector, which includes buses, trucks, and coaches, engine shut-off systems are available in the market that can be fitted to minimise engine idling. Most of the public service obligation (PSO) bus fleet currently in operation in our cities and towns have these shut-off systems. Best practice for professional drivers, to avoid unnecessary engine idling time, is part of the Road Safety Authority’s Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training.
176. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the reason private bus operators are to be excluded from the new young adult travel card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55468/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares.
Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the NTA has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
As part of Budget 2022, I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a youth travel card (YTC). The YTC will allow any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years old to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs and to increase the level of discount over and above the current student discount to an average discount of 50% across all services, including city, intercity and rural services.
The NTA have commenced work in relation to the implementation of the new fares structures for young adults. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
177. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Road Safety Authority may be contravening EU employment law by not facilitating contracts of indefinite duration for driving testers by letting those testers leave after 35 months' continuous employment and then hiring new testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55489/21]
View answerIn order to deal with the backlog in driving tests created by Covid, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) received approval in 2020 to rehire 36 temporary testers. In addition, the RSA received sanction to hire 40 additional testers on a temporary basis to assist with the backlogs. These new testers have completed their training and have been conducting tests since July 2021. Sanction has also been granted to recruit a further 40 testers.
Procedures require approval from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for hiring of staff, and we have responded to the needs of the RSA by giving the approvals mentioned. However, the RSA is the employer of driver testers and contractual terms are a matter for the RSA.
I am aware that the 36 temporary testers rehired in 2020 are on contracts which are due to expire in December, March, and May. I am happy to say that my Department has approved a further extension of contracts for those due to expire in December and March. The RSA will conduct a review next year to see how the service is performing and to reassess its needs in light of evolving demand.
The RSA is the employer of driver testers and is required to comply with employment law, as is any other State agency.
178. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate an immediate review of the failures identified in a report (details supplied); if he will bring forward proposals to address each failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55490/21]
View answerI fully accept the recommendations contained within the report and I and the Department of Transport will continue to evaluate the findings of the report in the coming weeks. The completion of the investigation and the publication of the report is a key step in ensuring that such accidents are prevented in the future.
I have received from the Air Accident Investigation Unit 14 transmittal letters, each containing a separate safety recommendation. I am obliged by Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation to "inform the safety investigation authority which issued the recommendation within 90 days of the receipt of that letter, of the actions taken or under consideration, and where appropriate, of the time necessary for their completion and where no action is taken, the reasons therefore" and I will do so. The deadline is 3rd February 2022 and the safety recommendation and my response will thereafter be published by the Air Accident Investigation Unit.
179. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons on waiting lists for driving tests in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath and nationally to date; the length of time they have been waiting in tabular form; the stage they are at in the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55499/21]
View answerThis information is held by the Road Safety Authority, as it has direct responsibility for the driving test service.
I have passed the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply; if a response has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office directly.
180. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles is allowable under EU legislation; if his Department has sought legal advice on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55501/21]
View answerA national ambition has been firmly established that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emission capable.
The European Commission have indicated that a complete ban of the marketing, import or registration of new ICE vehicles in a Member State is not compatible with EU law. The Treaty of the Functioning European Union (TFEU) and the Maastricht Treaty ban the imposition of unjustified barriers (quantitative or otherwise) on the sale/import of goods lawfully marketed in another Member State. The treaties do not preclude bans or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security; the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value; or the protection of industrial and commercial property. The conditions under which motor vehicles can be placed on the market in the EU have been harmonised through the EU’s internal market competence under Article 114 TFEU; in principle any vehicle meeting the requirements of the Type Approval Framework under Directive 2007/46/EC2 should be permitted to be sold anywhere in the EU.
Ireland was signatory to a non-paper to the Commission earlier this year requesting a phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the EU in line with the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 as well as the introduction of a legal framework that allows Member States to move ahead by taking action at national level to incentivise early phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans. The paper can be viewed at www.permanentrepresentations.nl/permanent-representations/pr-eu-brussels/documents/publications/2021/03/10/non-paper---transition-to-zero-emission-light-duty-vehicles
In addition, on Transport Day at COP26, I signed a sponsored declaration to accelerate the transition to 100% zero emission cars and vans. The declaration is an important signal of ambition at a global level. In line with our Programme for Government commitments, Ireland has even greater ambitions, targeting a switch over of one million electric vehicles by 2030 to bring us on a trajectory to achieving electrification of all new car sales well ahead of 2035
These declarations are consistent with Ireland’s ambitions to tackle transport emissions. They follow the recent publication of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) ’21 which outlines a pathway to a radical and equitable transformation in Ireland’s transport sector over the next nine years as it moves towards decarbonisation.
181. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the management of the Irish Coast Guard; if his attention has been drawn to media reports claiming that volunteers including volunteer officers in the Irish Coast Guard have been subjected to unfair disciplinary inquiries and actions; if his attention has been further drawn to other media reports claiming that staff working in this organisation have been bullied; if concerns regarding safety issues raised by the volunteers will be addressed; if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55518/21]
View answerThe Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is committed to supporting the near 900 dedicated volunteers who help provide the important and life-saving services of the IRCG. Ongoing consultation with the Coast Guard volunteers is key to the success of the Coast Guard. For this reason, Coast Guard volunteers have for some time had a representative body called the Coastal Unit Advisory Group. This group represents Irish Coast Guard volunteers and provides advice and input to the Coast Guard under agreed terms of reference between management and the volunteers. This group meets regularly and are involved in working with Coast Guard management to deliver a world class service while protecting the safety and wellbeing of the volunteers within the Coast Guard units.
While managing nearly 900 volunteers, HR issues are bound to arise in a very small number of instances. The Coast Guard's Code was recently reviewed by an external professional HR consultancy and its procedures are deemed to be best practice. In the event of difficult HR cases, external professional advice is sought to assist with the cases and adherence with procedures, and also to provide mediation or team building and training on HR management.
