Written Answers Nos. 194-213
194. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 39 and 49 of 4 November 2021, the timeline for a decision on the granting of prospecting licences in north County Leitrim following the closing date for submissions on 7 November 2021. [57114/21]
View answerMy Department has received a large number of submissions in relation to the prospecting licence applications referred to. All valid submissions are now being examined in detail by the Department. I expect to receive a report on these submissions by the end of the year which I will then consider as part of the final decision-making process.
195. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of engagement his Department has had with youth climate groups in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57120/21]
View answerSocietal engagement and empowerment, including that of our young people, is essential if we are to reach our national and EU climate targets of net zero emissions no later than 2050. The National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) is the primary vehicle through which this will be realised. In 2021 my Department engaged with over 200 young people, through the Comhairle na nÓg network, in workshops as part of our Climate Conversations initiative. Outputs from this have informed the ongoing engagement with young people through the NDCA. Specific actions in the Climate Action Plan 2021 include:- The establishment of a National Youth Assembly in early 2022- Representation for young people on the new National Climate Stakeholder Forum - The inclusion of climate action within the national primary and secondary curricula - Increased supports for the Green Schools initiative, Young Environmental Ambassadors, Young Reporters for the Environment, and Green Campus initiatives through An Taisce - Engaging directly with youth organisations, including Comhairle na nÓg through and the annual Climate Conversations These activities will support the inclusion of the youth voice in climate action.
196. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of emissions produced in Ireland in each year over the past decade in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57121/21]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for compiling the inventories of greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland and for reporting the data to the relevant EU and international institutions. The latest report, published in October 2021, details the provisional estimates of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions figures for the years 1990 to 2020. These figures are based on the SEAI’s final energy balances released in September 2021 and are estimated using methodologies employed in the inventory in accordance with UNFCCC reporting guidelines, and the latest available input data. The report can be found online at the following link: www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/irelands-provisional-greenhouse-gas-emissions-1990-2020.php.
The following table sets out the total emissions in Ireland over the past 10 years, as per the October 2021 report.
|
Year |
Emissions (kt CO2eq) |
|
2020 |
57,698.76 |
|
2019 |
59,841.62 |
|
2018 |
62,336.88 |
|
2017 |
62,051.65 |
|
2016 |
62,703.57 |
|
2015 |
60,461.03 |
|
2014 |
57,997.79 |
|
2013 |
58,553.64 |
|
2012 |
58,767.23 |
|
2011 |
57,748.92 |
197. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the schedule that sets out each heading of the 14 categories under which the National Broadband Plan contingency subsidy can be accessed; and the amount drawn down to date under each heading. [57175/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan contract provides that the contingency funding element of the NBP subsidy can only be drawn down in 14 specific circumstances, where National Broadband Ireland (NBI) can demonstrate that additional, unanticipated costs have been proven to have occurred relevant to these specific circumstances. It would not be in the public interest for the Department to disclose the details of the 14 categories of conditional subsidy, as this information is commercially sensitive and could negatively impact on NBI’s ability to achieve value for money in sub-contractor procurement processes. I can confirm that to date no payments have been made from the contingency fund.
198. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the clean export guarantee payment for exported renewable electricity will be in place in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57176/21]
View answerThe pending introduction of a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff will represent the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-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 in the coming weeks and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.
The legal basis for the introduction of the CEG is dependent on the transposition of Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive. My Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on transposing these Articles into Irish law, and it is expected that this will be completed before year end.
199. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when high-speed broadband will be delivered to a premises (details supplied). [57381/21]
View answer206. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57616/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 206 together.
The Questions refer to 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 12 November, over 277,000 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. In County Cork surveys are complete in the Deployment Areas of Templemartin, Tallow and Kanturk, main build works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline, with 4,504 premises now available for order in Carrigaline and the surrounding areas including Douglas, Lehenagh, Ballygarvan and Liscleary.
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 12 November, 389 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, Laharn Heritage Centre, Mealagh Valley Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Courtbrack Community Centre, Ionadh Áise, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre, Ballindangan Community Centre, Bere Island Heritage Centre, Coláiste Phobal Cléire, Castlelyons Community Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Sherkin Island Community Hall, T.O. Park Labbamollaga, Clogagh Community Hall and Glash Community Centre. Further details can be found at www.nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Templebrady National School, Ballycroneen National School, Clogagh National School, Educate Together Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour National School, Scoil Naomh Fionán 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 www.nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
200. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a report on Irish peatlands and climate change by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57392/21]
View answerOn 4 November 2021, the Government published the Climate Action Plan 2021. This plan sets out indicative ranges of emissions reductions for all sectors of the economy. It also sets out the practical policies and measures that we need to take to meet our climate targets. A call for expert evidence was conducted during the preparation of the Climate Action Plan asking climate scientists, experts and industry to share their data-based, technical proposals to support the development of the plan. Over 200 responses were received in relation to this strand, including from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. The Climate Action Plan recognises the importance of our peatlands to deliver a range of climate benefits. Actions to deliver this potential include:- Restoring and rewetting raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), as set out in the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, undertaken by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Such restoration measures, and hydrological management of our protected peatlands, will halt and reduce peat oxidation and carbon loss.- Undertaking further research to assess the potential to sequester, store and reduce emissions of carbon through the management, restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands, as outlined in the National Peatlands Strategy.- Upgrading land-use and habitat mapping systems to establish the baseline condition of wetlands, and inform the development of best-practice guidelines for wetland management, including the management of degraded sites and peatlands currently exploited for energy peat extraction.- Developing further measures to help rehabilitate exploited and degraded peatlands, including as part of national land-use planning and the new Common Agricultural Policy, and recognising that strategies may need to differ between regions.
201. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his engagement with the European Commission to identify supports for the low-cost retrofit loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57437/21]
View answer202. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the low-cost retrofit loan scheme for residential retrofitting will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57438/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan have set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or carbon equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by the end of 2030. These targets represent a very significant increase in both the volume and depth of retrofit activity in Ireland.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland in relation to the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. This project has been selected for inclusion in Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and Exchequer funding. Discussions with the European Investment Bank about their participation in the scheme are also underway. The target for introduction of the scheme is mid-2022.
The loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. As a result, households will be able to enjoy more comfortable and healthier homes with a lower carbon footprint.
The loan guarantee is expected to help increase the volume of retrofit activity within the State and improve the recovery and resilience of the supply chain within the retrofit sector. The scheme will also signal to the banking sector new viable business opportunities associated with the transition to a low carbon economy.
203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the installation of fibre broadband to a business (details supplied) will proceed under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57522/21]
View answer204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the installation of fibre broadband to a business (details supplied) will proceed under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57523/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
The Question refers to 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 12 November, over 277,000 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. In County Tipperary, surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Cashel, Nenagh and Mullinamore and main build works are under way in the Deployment Areas of Tipperary, Roscrea and Clonmel. There are over 380 premises in Tipperary that can order or pre-order today in areas around Drumwood, Donohill, Oola and Monard.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Tipperary 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 12 November, 389 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 Moyglass Community Hall, The Pavillion/Ballinderry Sportsfield, Drom Community Centre, Boher Parish Hall, Rossmore Community Hall, Aglish Community Hall, Killoscully Community Centre, Curreeney Community Hall, Pairc Na Ngael/Kilcoleman, Latteragh Community Centre, Lismackin Community Hall, Killurney Community Centre, Ballinahinch Community Centre, The Apple Farm/ The Apple Camping & Caravan Park, Fanure Community Hall and Killea GAA Club. Further details can be found at www.nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Ballinahinch National School, Leugh National School, Killea National School, Killeen National School and Poulacapple 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 www.nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
205. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the installation of fibre broadband to Terryglass, County Tipperary (details supplied) will proceed under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57524/21]
View answerI 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.
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.I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 12 November, over 277,000 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. 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 12 November, 389 BCPs 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 schools. Public BCP sites installed in County Tipperary include Aglish Community Hall, Drom Community Centre, Rossmore Community Hall, Curreeney Community Hall, Killoscully Community Centre, Killea GAA Club, Moyglass Community Hall, Killurney Community Centre, Fanure Community Hall, Boher Parish Hall, Latteragh Community Centre, Ballinahinch Community Centre, Kilcoleman Community & Recreational Centre, The Apple Camping & Caravan Park, Ballinderry Sportsfield, Lismackin Community Hall and Knockanore Community Centre. NBI have informed the Department that the particular site referenced in the Question, is due to be installed next month.
207. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that have been retrofitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57629/21]
View answerMy Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. 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 and cheaper to heat and light. Some €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes, including the Solar PV scheme and the Building Energy Rating programme. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. Over 11,000 retrofits received SEAI support to end-October this year. It is important to note that extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in the residential sector between January and mid-April as well as subsequent challenges in the supply chain have had a significant impact on activity. Residential retrofit is also a major focus of the funding provided in the National Development Plan Review. €5 billion of the expected €9.5 billion in additional carbon tax receipts will be invested in energy efficiency and will underpin the National Retrofit Plan.
In addition to the schemes operated by the SEAI, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds the Local Authority Retrofit Scheme. In 2021, €65 million was allocated for this scheme.
208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he will reverse the decision to remove grants for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in view of the important role they are playing in the transition to full electric; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57470/21]
View answerThe SEAI grant scheme aims to encourage behavioral 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, over €68m 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 31 October, there were 46,615 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 2022. 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.
It should be noted that PHEV owners will still be able to avail of other incentives currently in place including:
- Tolling reductions of 25% up to a threshold of €500 per annum per household for private vehicles and a maximum annual threshold of €1,000 for commercial vehicles;
- Low rate of annual motor tax; and
- Home charger grant of €600 per household.
209. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the details of the areas in a location (details supplied) that are planned for electric vehicle charger installation over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56912/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Ireland has set an ambitious target of 936,000 EVs on our roads by 2030 that reflects the scale of the transformation needed to achieve its climate targets in the coming years. Under the National Development Plan €1bn has been allocated to specific carbon reduction measures, including vehicle electrification and provision of recharging infrastructure for low emitting vehicles.
The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. A national charging infrastucture strategy is being developed which will set out a pathway to stay ahead of demand over the critical period out to 2030. My Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders to inform this work and it is envisaged that the strategy will be published early next year.
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.
Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Charging at home is the most convenient and cheapest way to recharge. Targeting the installation of smart home chargers is a priority as we look to moving towards more energy efficient and sustainable ways to charge. A grant is available from the SEAI for those individuals seeking to install a home charger.
There is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging, and workplace charging.
€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB, with the infrastructure to be in place by the end of 2022. This intervention alone will result in:
- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles
- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers
- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points
Further details on the progression of this project can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars/our-network/network-upgrades.
In terms of existing supports for public charging, the Public Charge Point Scheme continues to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of the scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles, who do not have access to a private parking space, but instead rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes to charge their EVs. My Department has committed to reviewing the Scheme in the coming months to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.
My Department is also making €2 million available this year through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as hotels and parks. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.
210. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure a new station at Cabra, Dublin 7 is completed in parallel with the DART+ South West Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56923/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area.
The scope of the DART+ Programme as will be progressed through the statutory planning system is as set out in the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. However, the Deputy may wish to be aware that the NTA is currently consulting on revisions to the Transport Strategy and a public consultation period is open until early December. The draft Strategy published for public consultation does include proposals for a new DART station at Cabra and I would encourage the Deputy to make her views known on any such proposed stations as part of that public consultation process.
I expect to receive a final revised Strategy for my approval in Q1 2022.
211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he has established or will establish a coordination and or liaison group for sustainability officers in central Government offices and Departments; if he has given consideration to the roles and duties of sustainability officers in such offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56941/21]
View answerI am committed to ensuring the Department of Transport is operated on a sustainable basis. My Department participates in the cross-departmental steering group established under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy co-ordinated by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. As part of that strategy a dedicated Green Team was established in the Department of Transport in 2019 to implement practices to help reduce the organisation’s energy and environmental footprint and to promote resource efficient practices among employees and suppliers, along with the goals and targets identified more specifically in our organisation’s Resource Efficiency Action Plans.
The Green Team consists of volunteer representatives from management and staff and work closely with our Facilities management to ensure that recommendations are progressed. The representatives serve as ‘Green Champions’ to move towards ensuring that our buildings become carbon neutral.
212. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the role of sustainability officers in the civil service. [56942/21]
View answerIn my roles as Minister for Transport and Minister for the Environment Climate and Communications, I engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on a range of sustainability practices across the public service on an ongoing basis.
With regard to sustainability officers, the Department of Transport participates in the cross-departmental steering group established under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy co-ordinated by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. This led to the establishment of a dedicated Green Team in the Department of Transport in 2019 to implement sustainable practices in the organisation, aligned with the goals and targets identified in our organisation’s Resource Efficiency Action Plans. The Green Team, which consists of volunteer representatives from management and staff, will continue to work closely with Facilities Management to move towards ensuring that our buildings become carbon neutral. These structures have proven to be effective, and I will continue to support such measures both within my Departments and Service-wide.
213. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the rail-based proposals included in the published draft as part of the consultation process on Connecting Ireland being run by the NTA in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56980/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.
The Connecting Ireland plan is a major national public transport initiative developed by the NTA with the aim of increasing public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns. It will significantly increase both the number of routes and the frequency of existing services right across the country.
The Deputy will be pleased to learn that Connecting Ireland proposes to specifically expand the public transport network in rural areas and to increase service levels. Under Connecting Ireland, the NTA is proposing an overall increase of approximately 25% in rural bus services as part of the five-year Connecting Ireland plan. Hundreds of rural villages and areas will for the first time be served by a viable public transport link.
I joined the NTA to launch its Connecting Ireland consultation on 29 October 2021. I would urge everyone to review the NTA's proposals for their area and give their feedback to the NTA to guide the implementation of Connecting Ireland.
I have also referred the Deputy's question regarding rail services in the context of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
