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Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 145-165

Renewable Energy Generation

Questions (146)

Denis Naughten

Question:

146. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he has taken to date to progress the offshore renewable energy motion approved by Dáil Éireann on 8 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1759/22]

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Written answers

Government policy and the offshore renewable energy motion approved by the Dáil on 8 December are aligned in their objective to maximise Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential and associated economic opportunities, including those opportunities that will accrue to local coastal communities. In the period since 8 December, the following offshore renewable energy related milestones, which are necessary to facilitate realisation of the 5 GW of installed offshore wind by 2030 objective set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021, have been achieved by Government: - The Maritime Area Planning Act, 2021, was signed into law by the President on the 23 December 2021. The Act represents the biggest reform of marine governance since the foundation of the State and establishes in law a new planning regime for the maritime area. The new consenting regime under the Act will be a key enabler of decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy sources and the development of offshore energy.

- Government has committed to the establishment of the new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, by Q1 2023. This agency will inter alia be responsible for assessing applications for Maritime Area Consents by prospective renewable energy projects, which will be a first step that is required for development within Ireland’s maritime area.

- A public consultation on the draft terms and conditions for the first offshore wind auction has been completed. Following assessment of the many consultation responses received, I will seek Government approval on the final terms and conditions later this year. The draft terms and conditions include a mandated community benefit contribution level of €2/MWh, with these obligations to accrue to hosting communities prior to project construction. In order to capture greater local economic and employment benefits, operations and maintenance facilities for projects supported in the first offshore auction will be required to be headquartered in an Irish or Northern Irish port. 

- A public consultation was launched on 20 December regarding the process for Phase Two projects to participate in subsequent offshore wind auctions which will be necessary to meet Government’s 5GW target by the end of this decade.

- A Policy Statement setting out the strategy for commercial ports to facilitate offshore renewable energy activity in the seas around Ireland was published by the Department of Transport on 20 December.

Departmental Data

Questions (147)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

147. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a schedule of all client and or customer facing and or orientated services that his Department provide via a contracted service provider; the contractor that provides the service; and the cost of same for the past five years to date in 2022. [1798/22]

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Written answers

A client/customer facing service for the purposes of this response has been determined as a service that the Department provides to the public but the delivery of which is being outsourced to a contractor. Set out in the table below is the related expenditure incurred for the years 2017 to date.

Name of Contracted Service Provider

Details of client and or customer facing and or oriented service

2017

€000

2018

€000

2019

€000

2020

€000

2021

€000

2022 to date €000

Total Cost 2017 to date €000

BT Communications Ireland Limited (BTCIL)

Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) – answers all calls and texts to 999/112 providing a vital link between the caller and the Emergency Services (Garda, Fire, Ambulance or Coast Guard). 

The service is funded by a Call Handling Fee paid by network operators directly to the ECAS operator (currently BTCIL). 

No cost to the exchequer

NDRC Ltd

The National Digital Research Centre provides early stage supports for digital enterprises

3,933

3,500

3,630

2,919

N/A

0

€13,982

Dogpatch Labs Management DAC

The National Digital Research Centre provides early stage supports for digital enterprises

N/A

N/A

 N/A

286

3,214

0

€3,500

Morrow Communication

Communications support for GSI Tellus programme up to March 2018

42

4

0

 

0

0

0

€46

RPS Group / RPS Consulting Engineers Limited

Communications support for GSI Tellus programme since March 2018 and in particular airborne survey helpline.

0

42

55

64

45

15

€221

Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode

Eircode Project Management Licence Holder

2,043

 

1,828

 

1,514

 

1,431

 

1,423

 

0

 

€8,239

Energy Policy

Questions (148)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out energy transition modelling examining specifically the cost of transitioning to a fully electric heating and transport system including the upgrades needed to the electricity network such as the updating of transformers and pole fuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1813/22]

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Written answers

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021 sets out a roadmap to cut Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Decarbonising Ireland’s electricity system will play a vital role in this transition, and therefore the Government has agreed a more ambitious commitment to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030. This will not only reduce emissions from electricity but will also facilitate the electrification of heating and transport and reduce emissions in these sectors as well. Detailed modelling was undertaken in support of the development of CAP 2021. In terms of electricity network modelling, ESB Networks (ESBN) concluded a range of system studies and modelling in 2019. These sought to identify the requirements to achieving the electric vehicle and heat-pump electrification targets in the 2019 CAP and the National Development Plan. This included a specifically commissioned study that modelled the cost of the electricity distribution network reinforcement from 2020 to Net-Zero carbon emissions. The results were used as an evidence base in the Price Review process undertaken by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which saw approval of €3.3 billion capital expenditure on the electricity distribution network for the period 2021-25.

Action 127 of CAP 2021 requires “National distribution system analyses identifying technical requirements to achieve up to 80% renewables and electrification of heat and transport” to be completed in 2023. Already, ESBN is assessing what further energy transition modelling is necessary building on the 2019 analysis. In the meantime, it continues to innovate through initiatives such as the National Networks, Local Connections Programme, which seeks to underpin economic growth and reduce the overall cost of investment in the electricity distribution system.

Air Quality

Questions (149)

Thomas Gould

Question:

149. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to serious issues with air quality in the Glanmire area of Cork. [1942/22]

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Written answers

While there is currently no official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) station in the Glanmire area, I note that a citizen science monitoring project has reported some high levels of air pollution in this area.  

Official data from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP), operated by the EPA, has shown periodic elevated levels of emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at a number of locations across the country during early January. Particulate matter emissions are most closely associated with the domestic burning of solid fuels but can also be the result of burning of waste and other materials. While these spikes are likely linked to increased burning of fuels because of cold weather, the EPA advises that such occasional “spikes” can also be attributed to other periodic weather conditions such as still air and fog. They are not necessarily indicative of an ongoing problem.Nonetheless, the elevated levels of PM2.5 illustrate again that further action is needed to tackle this harmful pollutant. To this end, I am progressing the measures I announced in September 2021 to further regulate the sale, marketing, distribution and use of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland. New emissions standards will be introduced across a range of fuels to ensure that the most polluting will no longer be available for sale on the Irish market.  Introducing these standards will improve the quality of the air that we breathe, and the health of the public that we serve.

Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 123.
Question No. 151 answered with Question No. 123.

Mining Industry

Questions (152)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

152. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of the local community in the Inishowen peninsula, County Donegal at plans for gold mining in the area; and if he will provide an update on the current licence application for his decision. [1956/22]

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Written answers

The licence application referred to is for a renewal of a prospecting licence, not a mining licence. A prospecting licence relates to the activity of prospecting (exploring) for minerals and does not, if granted, give a licence holder permission to mine. All prospecting licence applications, including renewals, are subject to public consultation giving all stakeholders and local communities an opportunity to make an input. Where a licence holder seeks to have a licence renewed, the application is evaluated by the Geoscience Regulation Office of my Department. Where renewal is proposed, a renewal offer is made to the holder, setting out the terms and area of the prospecting licence. If the holder accepts the offer, legislation requires 21 days’ public notice of the Minister’s intention to renew a prospecting licence and for the receipt of any submissions; in practice a 30 days’ notice period is allowed, similar to that required for an environmental impact assessment. Notification is given through a printed notice in the newspaper that is most relevant to the prospecting licence area under consideration. The Minister’s Intention to Grant Notices is also sent for public display to the appropriate Garda station(s), local authority office(s) and the Geological Survey Ireland. Additional information on the process of granting prospecting licences and making submissions is available online on my Department's website

The current application remains under consideration by my Department and no decision has been made as of yet.

Bord na Móna

Questions (153)

Denis Naughten

Question:

153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that 15 Bord na Móna staff at Mount Dillon, County Longford were laid off despite funding being provided to employ staff to rehabilitate bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1979/22]

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Written answers

This is an operational matter for Bord Na Móna.

 

I have referred this matter to the Company and asked the company to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Question No. 154 answered with Question No. 108.

Energy Prices

Questions (155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164)

Barry Cowen

Question:

155. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the day ahead market accounts for over 80% of volumes in the single electricity market and is the key wholesale electricity price benchmark in Ireland. [2043/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

156. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that dispatchable generators such as gas and coal-fired plant offer in their power to the day ahead market, in price-quantity pairs with escalating price levels for various proportions of their generating capacity; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the maximum offer price in these price-quantity pairs is an important parameter in these bids given that it may either set or contribute to setting the day ahead market price. [2044/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

157. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ESB owned plants of Aghada, Coolkeeragh, Poolbeg and Dublin Bay are amongst the most efficient gas-fired electricity generating stations in Ireland and as such are key to the delivery of reliable and low-cost electricity to Irish consumers. [2045/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that plants (details supplied) significantly increased their maximum offer prices in July and September 2021 [2046/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

159. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the trading strategy of the ESB for generating plants (details supplied); and his views on whether it is appropriate in the context of the secure delivery of fair priced power to Irish consumers. [2049/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

160. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he requested the Commission for Regulation of Utilities or another party to undertake an analysis of the impact of the bidding behaviour of the ESB in Q3 of 2021 (details supplied) [2050/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

161. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the impact of the bidding behaviour of the ESB (details supplied) on Irish consumers. [2051/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

162. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he requested the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to examine the extent of the market power of the ESB in the single electricity market and the degree to which it is negatively affecting Irish consumers. [2052/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

163. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to act to reduce the extent of the market power of the ESB in the single electricity market, for example, by requiring it to sell generation plant or to prohibit it from bidding to build new dispatchable generation plants. [2053/22]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

164. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for his assertion that the generator bidding behaviour of the ESB does not bear responsibility for a material proportion of the cost rises. [2054/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163 and 164 together. 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 158, 157 and 155  together.

The all-island Single Electricity Market, which operates in Ireland and Northern Ireland, is overseen by the Single Electricity Market Committee. The Single Electricity Market Committee consists of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, their Northern Ireland counterparts and an independent member. The market operates independently from me as Minister with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities being solely accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas.

I understand that the regulatory authorities have a number of measures in place in the Single Electricity Market to mitigate market power. These include controls on generators’ bidding under certain circumstances, an obligation on ESB to sell a proportion of its generation output forward based on prices and volumes set by the regulatory authorities and ring-fencing, which is a regulatory measure that is used to separate generation and supply activities within certain vertically integrated companies that have the potential capability to exert market power. While my Department does not monitor the activity of market participants, I understand that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, through a Market Monitoring Unit monitors the behaviour of market participants in the Single Electricity Market to ensure open and transparent competition.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has processes and procedures in place that allows issues or complaints to be raised.  Any such issues would be investigated and, if breaches of competition rules were established, appropriate actions would be taken as set out in the licence terms and conditions which could include financial penalties. While such investigations are confidential, if any enforcement actions were taken, these would be made public.

Within the Single Electricity Market there are markets for energy, generation capacity and system services. The energy market includes day ahead and intraday markets. Generators bid into these markets based on market rules, a number of which the Deputy has referenced. The market price is determined by these market rules as the marginal cost of generation capacity required in each half hour of the day. The day ahead market made up 86% of the overall energy market in the last three months of 2021 – down from 93% the previous year – and thus provides a key wholesale electricity price benchmark.

The market price is reduced when there are greater levels of lower cost generation in the market. During periods when there are large amounts of renewable generation – such as on windy days – the market price reduces. Combined-cycle gas turbines are the most efficient fossil fuel power stations and so generally have a lower operating cost than other less efficient power stations. As a result, they are generally operating ahead of other power stations which may have higher operating costs. ESB owns and operates four of the ten combined cycle gas turbines currently in the Single Electricity Market. Continued reliable and safe operation of existing, and the development of new, generation capacity is vital to ensure security of electricity supply and provide value for money to consumers.

The high electricity prices being seen in Ireland and across Europe are a direct result of the significant increases in natural gas prices. The price increases have impacted gas and electricity consumers across Europe and are not unique to the Single Electricity Market in Ireland. In order to reduce the burden on households, the Government has increased the winter fuel allowance by €5 per week and plans to provide €100 support to every residential electricity consumer in Ireland to help alleviate the impact of these higher prices.

As the Single Electricity Market is operated independently from me as Minister and my Department, the oversight of its operation is a matter for the regulatory authorities. I have not raised any concerns with the regulatory authorities in relation to any specific market participants.

If the Deputy, market participants or others have any concerns in relation to the operation of the electricity market in Ireland, I would suggest they raise these matters directly with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which has processes and procedures to deal with and examine any issues raised.

Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 157 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 158 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 159 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 160 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 163 answered with Question No. 155.
Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 155.

Mining Industry

Questions (165, 167)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

165. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the Government’s position on the environmental damage caused by mining industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2072/22]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

167. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that mining activity is a significant producer of greenhouse gasses; his position on the fact that the granting of mining licences is then counterproductive to the climate action objectives and targets of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2075/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together.

In July 2021, my Department published a draft Policy Statement for Mineral Exploration and Mining, and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Appropriate Assessment Natura Impact Statement for a 10 week public consultation. The consultation closed on 15 October, 2021 and my Department is currently reviewing the submissions received. It is anticipated that the Government will consider the draft policy statement in the coming months.

The document highlights the role of minerals in our everyday lives and the critical role that they will play in our transition to net zero emissions by 2050. The draft policy recognises that we need to repair, reuse and recycle more minerals and metals, but that this alone will not supply the types and quantities of minerals required to decarbonise our energy through solar power, renewable wind energy and batteries. Relying solely on minerals sourced outside Ireland and the EU risks supporting their development in parts of the world where less stringent environmental and human rights standards apply, as well as risking our ability to secure the minerals required to make the green and digital transitions a reality.

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