Written Answers Nos. 136-156
136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of submissions received as part of the public consultation process on carbon budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9385/22]
View answerCarbon budgets are a key component of the new climate governance arrangements set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The Act, which was signed into law in July 2021, commits Ireland to reach a legally-binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 (the “National Climate Objective”), and to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The carbon budget programme (2021-2025; 2026-2030; and 2031-2035 [provisional]) will, once adopted, determine the level of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in Ireland in each given five-year carbon budget period and will be consistent with furthering the achievement of the national climate objective.
Under the Act, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) is tasked with preparing a proposed carbon budget programme based on the most up to date scientific evidence and analysis, and then presenting its proposal to the Minister. The CCAC submitted its first proposed programme of three consecutive carbon budgets to the Minister on 25 October 2021.
Before making recommendations to Government, the Minister launched a public consultation on the CCAC’s proposed carbon budget programme. The consultation opened on 22 December 2021 and closed on 8 February 2022.
In total 148 submissions have been received, comprising 117 from individuals and 31 from organisations.
137. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant for lighting available for schools to switch to more carbon-friendly LED lighting; if not, if such a grant is planned for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9538/22]
View answerCapital funding for Schools is generally a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills and my Department does not provide specific broad based grant support for the type of works indicated. However, my Department does fund a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy supports to public bodies, including schools, to educate and enable them to improve their energy efficiency and decarbonise their activities.
The Climate Action Plan sets the public sector ambitious 2030 targets of achieving 50% energy efficiency improvement (increased from 33% by 2020) and 51% emissions reduction. Relevant, initiatives to support the achievement of these targets include:
- The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programme, an energy management and advisory programme, which provides comprehensive support and engagement, including training and the sharing of best practices, to guide public sector bodies and schools in delivering energy efficiency improvements; and,
- The Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education and Skills, which provides capital supports to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise school buildings. My Departments' contribution to the 2022 schools initiative is over €11 million, which will see 6 schools benefiting from a selection of energy efficiency works.
Further information is available on the SEAI website, www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/). Information for schools is also available: /www.seai.ie/community-energy/schools/save-energy-at-school/
138. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the inclusion of standalone grants for windows and doors, which does not seem to be supported as part of a deep retrofit. [9549/22]
View answerThe new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). The Scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.
Homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.
Window and door replacements are available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, as well as under the Community Energy Grant scheme, as part of a whole house upgrade solution, as required, to achieve an energy efficient home to B2.
Window and door replacement are also available in some circumstances under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme which delivers free upgrades to eligible homeowners in low income households vulnerable to energy poverty.
Window and door replacements are not supported under the Better Energy Homes Scheme, where homeowners can choose to carry out works on a step by step, self-managed basis.
139. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the low-interest loans and the one-stop shop are intended to support all energy upgrades or only those deep retrofits designed to get to a B2 BER rating. [9550/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions.
Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased and very generous grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
In addition, Government have been clear that it is important that households that want to undertake a deep retrofit but do not have the financial means to carry out the upgrade in a single project, should be supported at the enhanced grant levels. For that reason, many of the new higher grant rates are also now available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach or self-manage the project. The One Stop Shops can support homeowners under either scheme.
Window and door replacements are available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, as well as under the Community Energy Grant scheme, as part of a whole house upgrade solution, as required, to achieve an energy efficient home to B2. Window and door replacement are also available in some circumstances under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme which delivers free upgrades to eligible homeowners in low income households vulnerable to energy poverty.Window and door replacements are not supported under the Better Energy Homes Scheme, where homeowners can choose to carry out works on a step by step, and/or, self-managed basis.
The residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and Exchequer funding. The target for introduction of the scheme is Q3-2022. The loan guarantee will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades even more affordable and accessible to more consumers.
The parameters for the loans under the guarantee have not been finalised yet. However, the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility funding sets a number of conditions the guarantee must comply with. One of those is that at least 75% of loans issued under the guarantee are used for medium-depth retrofit projects. Medium-depth level renovation is defined as upgrades achieving primary energy savings of between 30% and 60%, as per Commission Recommendation on Building Renovation (EU) 2019/786. Consequently, the low-cost retrofit loans under the guarantee will predominantly, though not exclusively, target comprehensive home energy upgrade projects.
140. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount his Department has paid for advertising, features and so on in a magazine (details supplied). [9573/22]
View answerMy Department was established on 27th June 2020 and there has been no payments since the establishment of the Department.
Prior to the establishment of my Department, a payment was made in 2017 by the Geological Survey Ireland of €1,968 for an advertisement in the construction industry special issue.
141. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if retrofitting grants will be available to persons with solid fuel central heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9623/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030.
The Government has recently approved a package of improvements including increased grants of up to 50% and other supports as part of the accelerated delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions.
Persons with solid fuel central heating systems who wish to install heat pumps are eligible for retrofitting grants available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
Grants for heat pumps are available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme as well as under the Community Energy Grant scheme as part of a whole house upgrade solution, because in these instances they tend to be required to achieve an energy efficient home to B2.
Grants for heat pumps are also available as individual measures under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.
142. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding provided for the aggregated housing upgrade scheme; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9661/22]
View answerThe Government has recently approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
In this regard, the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will offer increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
The total capital funding cost for the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is €97 million with a €40 million allocation in 2022 and €57 million in 2023. This is expected to deliver 2,000 deep energy retrofits, to B2 level with a heat pump, in 2022 and an additional 3,000 in 2023.
A key feature is the new one stop shop model, that is suitable to bringing together groups of homes for aggregated projects thereby creating efficiencies in delivery and fostering new innovation in processes and technologies.
The Community Energy Grant Scheme also continues to make grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area. The Scheme is designed to support cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings but with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
The total budget for the Community Energy Grant scheme will be €43 million in 2022, of which approximately €15 million will relate to home retrofits. The new grant rates announced under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will also be available under the Community Energy Grant scheme for homeowners wishing to undertake their energy upgrades as part of a community project
Registration for companies wishing to apply to be a one stop shop is now open. I expect the first one stop shops to be registered within the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades. The call for projects under the Community Energy Grant scheme will be launched shortly.
143. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding provided for the Just Transition Fund; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9662/22]
View answerThe Government remains committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat extraction by Bord na Móna.To date, my Department has finalised grant agreements with 55 National Just Transition Fund projects. The total value of projects in delivery is approximately €30 million, with €20.5 million of this to be provided by the National Just Transition Fund. These projects have reported that they will create an estimated 154 direct jobs and 932 indirect jobs.
Up to 25% of the approved grant amount, in the form of prefunding, may be available to certain projects, particularly in the community and voluntary sector, that may require funding to initiate their projects. In general, however, payments of grant assistance from the Just Transition Fund are based on vouched expenditure by projects, in line with Government policy in relation to the management of, and accountability for, grants from Exchequer funds. To date, approximately €1.15 million has been paid to approved projects. My Department is working with a small number of remaining applicants with a view to finalising grant agreements with these projects in the coming weeks. Further information on approved projects is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund
144. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding provided for the peatlands rehabilitation scheme; the amount spent to date; if his Department has created the targeted number of jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9663/22]
View answerThe Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) was approved by the Government in 2020 for the enhanced rehabilitation of 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation. Initially funding was from the Climate Action Fund up the value of €108 million, but subsequently, the full funding was secured from EU Recovery and Resilience Facility on completion of agreed milestones.
My Department has paid €7,636,517 to Bord na Móna to date in respect of works completed for this project.The funding of the EDRRS supports a just transition by maintaining jobs in the Midlands, as well as laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. All available permanent and seasonal employees who had been involved in peat production have been provided an opportunity for employment by Bord na Móna on rehabilitation and greenway activities, including EDRRS, or other Bord na Móna activities. The peak number employed on EDRRS to date is 225. As is normal with Bord na Móna, due to the seasonality of the work and the available workforce, this has reduced in recent weeks. However the number employed is in line with the expectation for the first year of the programme. Rehabilitation plans for 2022 are currently being finalised and employment will ramp up again in April and May to deliver the 2022 rehabilitation measures.
145. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding grant eligibility for energy efficiency and retrofitting works on private residential housing stock; if it will be a requirement to use contractors registered with the SEAI to secure this grant aid; the assistance that will be available for other verifiable works carried out that add to energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9667/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
These new measures include:
- The establishment of the new demand-led National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a new end-to-end project management service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant processes; helping with access to finance; engaging the contractors to deliver the work and then quality-assuring that work.
It is expected that the One Stop Shops will be distributed across Ireland, with a considerable number capable of offering services nationwide, due to the network of contractors they are working with throughout the country. Other One Stop Shops will work within geographic regions. This will ensure that every home can benefit from the One Stop Shop service on offer.
The SEAI registration portal for companies to apply to be a One-Stop-Shop is now open. It is expected that the first One-Stop-Shops will be registered in the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number of schemes in place to support homeowners to upgrade their properties including the fully funded Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme for those most at risk of energy poverty and two significant part-funded schemes, the Better Energy Homes Scheme and this recently announced National Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme. The increased grant levels have been standardised across all Schemes as appropriate.
Applicants to the Better Energy Homes Scheme must use SEAI Registered Contractors who are active on the registered Contractor List at the time of works. The Contractor List is available at www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants or on request from 01 808 2100. The Contractor must be registered for the particular measure that they are undertaking for the homeowner. The National Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme is managed by the SEAI registered one stop shops.
Further details with respect to each of the schemes are available at www.seai.ie.
146. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total value of uncollected plastic bag levy since 2002; when these levies will be collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9717/22]
View answerReceipts from the plastic bag levy for each year are published in the Environment Fund Annual Accounts. Full details of the Environment Fund accounts are available at the following link: Environment Fund Accounts. Final accounts for 2020 are not yet available.
Environmental enforcement inspections in relation to the plastic bag levy are undertaken by local authorities. In addition to the role of local authorities in carrying out environmental enforcement inspections, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners is responsible for compliance in relation to the collection of the levy. Such responsibilities include, inter alia, the identification of accountable persons; carrying our verification checks relating to the accuracy of the returns received; and pursuing accountable persons who fail to deliver returns and payments within the statutory time limits. Information in respect of tax collection, including the amount collected for the environment levy on plastic bags, is available on the Commissioner’s website at the following link: Revenue Net Receipts by Taxhead.
147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person who was left a property from a family member can access the 50% and 80% retrofitting grant on their own home and the house that they were left in a will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9740/22]
View answer148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person who owns more than one house can access more than one 50% and 80% retrofitting grant under the new national retrofit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9741/22]
View answer149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 50% and 80% retrofitting grants under the new national retrofit scheme can be accessed by persons who will also apply for the new grant to renovate derelict properties being brought forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/22]
View answer150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 50% and 80% retrofitting grants under the new national retrofit scheme can be accessed by a person who has a semi-built house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9743/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 150, inclusive, together.
The Government has recently approved a package of improvements and supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions.
The new measures include:
- The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
- The introduction of a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation. The grant offering will be available across all part-funded schemes and will be available to all households in 2022, as a sustainable and enduring response to the current exceptionally high energy prices.
Homeowners may apply across more than one home, under the new measures, subject to the properties meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
151. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if wireless broadband services are available at Ireland West Airport Knock using its metropolitan area network; the telecommunications operators using the metropolitan area network infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9800/22]
View answer152. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if engagements have taken place within his Department in relation to the possibility of providing wireless broadband services at Ireland West Airport Knock using its metropolitan area network to local households in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9801/22]
View answer153. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the newly established Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has plans to consider the efficient use of the infrastructure and assets based in the Knock metropolitan area network specifically and the possibility of connecting more customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9802/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.
I am advised by enet, the company that manages the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) on behalf of the State that three telecommunications operators are currently using the fibre based Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) infrastructure at Knock. While the services provided by these operators are a commercial matter between the operators and their end customers, I am advised that some of these operators are providing wireless/ broadband services in the general area.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established on 15 December 2021, which included attendance from key state stakeholders including ComReg and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland. The meeting, which was co-chaired by myself and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, served as an orientation discussion, providing each of the stakeholders in attendance with an opportunity to propose actions under a number of priority areas to form the focus of the new Work Programme, including efficient use of infrastructure and assets; permit granting, planning and licensing issues; improving outdoor mobile phone coverage in both rural and urban areas; and consumer protection measures.
As part of considerations regarding how best to optimise the efficient use of infrastructure and assets into the future, the Taskforce will seek to build on work that is already underway at Local Authority level, focusing on measures aiming to remove remaining barriers affecting the openness and ease of access to infrastructure and assets, to further support the timely rollout of telecoms networks.
154. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9831/22]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has produced some innovative and ground breaking work over the last few years. Our teams have been nominated for, and won, several awards through the official Civil Service Awards, organised by Our Public Service in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.My Department does not subscribe to the Public Sector Magazine and, to the best of my officials’ knowledge, has never received any award from the publication.
155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown from 2022 to 2030 of the €3 billion funding for the national retrofit plan not funded by carbon tax receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9850/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030.
The planned annual allocations for Residential Retrofitting as outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021 are set out in the table below with adjustments to the 2022 figure reflecting the recent Government decision on specific supports to aid the delivery of Ireland's National Retrofit Programme.
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
|
Planned Allocation (€m) |
267 |
291 |
380 |
469 |
641 |
898 |
1,257 |
1,760 |
2,000 |
In addition, the Department has been successful in its application for a further €111.7m for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme to be included in the draft European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Co-funded programme 2021-2027. The draft programme is currently being reviewed by the Regional Assemblies.
This year, total funding allocation of €267 million has been allocated to the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes and the Solar PV scheme in 2022, of which, €202 million is carbon tax receipts.
The breakdown of funding allocations between exchequer funding and carbon tax receipts will be agreed annually as part of the Estimates process.
156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target number of homes to be completed under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9851/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. In 2021, the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household had increased to €17,100.
There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. This includes homes that are at various stages of the process: awaiting the initial survey of their home; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor; have been allocated to a contractor for works; or, are currently undergoing works. It is important to note that activity under the Scheme in 2020 and 2021 was significantly impacted by COVID-related restrictions on the construction sector, given the nature of retrofit works, and this led to a large increase in the number of homes awaiting works.
The 2022 budget, at €109 million, is the highest ever and is nearly three times the 2021 outturn (€38 million). This will support an increase in the number of homes retrofitted under the scheme from 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month (or a total of 4,800) this year. The level of activity to be undertaken in 2023 will be determined , taking account of progress this year and as part of the 2023 Estimates process.
