Written Answers Nos. 154-177
155. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm the exact mechanism by which the €200 credit will be applied to those households with prepay electricity meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11016/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 aims to establish a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. This Bill is currently before the Houses, with a view to the scheme becoming operational by the end of Quarter 1. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s ongoing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget.The scheme will apply to all domestic accounts and will include pre-pay customers.The mechanism by which pay as you go customers will receive the credit is currently being finalised in discussions between the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), ESB Networks and suppliers. The CRU has indicated that it is expected that this would happen by way of the credit being applied towards the account of the pay as you go customer, who would then receive the credit when they vend for credit. My Department is engaging closely with the CRU on this matter, and will continue to do so.The Deputy may also wish to note that regular information updates, including frequently asked questions, are being made available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.
156. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of the salmon conservation limit that was achieved on the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir in relation to inland fisheries in each year from 2007 to 2021 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11031/22]
View answer157. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the rod harvest of salmon or rod catch and release returns on the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir in each year from 2007 to 2021 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11032/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
The information sought by the Deputy is an operational issue for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). I and my Department have no role. IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI's objective to delivery services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
158. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made on the equality objectives of his Department specifically in relation to women. [11072/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing an inclusive work environment for all colleagues. Our Statement of Strategy, Le Chéile 23, is underpinned by the values set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan and is committed to human rights, equality and anti-discrimination. A key action for 2022 arising from this is Ag Obair Le Chéile. This is a comprehensive action plan to develop the Department's people, culture and organisation to deliver, improve and transform the Department.
As part of Ag Obair le Chéile, my Department will develop and deliver a People Strategy in 2022 and adopt a new blended working policy. Gender equality is a key focus within these deliverables.
The Department’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group was established last year with the aim to promote an inclusive and diverse workplace. This Group is a cross representative group and will play an integral role in driving forward the Department’s vision for inclusion, diversity and equality to create a fairer and more inclusive workspace. A gender equality sub group has been established as part of EDI group. Work is currently progressing on a Gender Equality Plan for the Department. This work, the recommendations of the EDI group, and all staff, will feed into the Department’s People Strategy.
A programme of events has been scheduled around International Women’s Day, including a focus group on the Gender Equality Plan and seminars on Menopause in the Workplace, Inclusive Parenting, and Addressing Bias. My Department provides private and comfortable rooms in each of its locations that can be used by staff for lactation breaks if they choose. My Department makes feminine hygiene products available in bathrooms in it’s headquarters location and will work with anchor tenants and other locations to make products available in the near future.
159. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when offline service for post offices will be rolled out; his plans for post offices beyond December 2022 when Covid payments to postmasters cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11095/22]
View answerAn Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including those in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are operational matters for the Board and management of the company. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network. An Post provides important services to its customers and key Government services to citizens; including through contracts with the Department of Social Protection and the National Treasury Management Agency. Government is committed to working with An Post and postmasters to ensure that the network continues to play a strong role in delivering State services. The work of the Inter-Departmental Group, which was established to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of additional Government services being provided through to An Post and the post office network, is being considered by Minister Naughton and its report will be submitted to Government in due course.
160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will publish the findings of the review into the North-South Interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11099/22]
View answerThe North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island Integrated Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also facilitate the achievement of the goal of generateing up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland's economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers. The option of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions. Most recently, the key finding from the International Expert Commission's report of October 2018 was that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this critical electricity infrastructure.
Notwithstanding this, I decided to commission a further short review to assess if the overall finding from the 2018 report remains valid. Formal procurement of international experts in electricity grid infrastructure was completed last September. Whilst my Department had hoped to receive their report before now, the experts have informed my officials that they plan to submit it to the Department this month. I will move to publish it shortly after I have received and considered it.
162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when guidance on decarbonising zones will be issued to local authorities following them identifying suitable locations in 2021; and his views on the support that will be provided to ensure these initiatives prove successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11116/22]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2019 mandated that each Local Authority was required to develop proposals to establish a ‘Decarbonizing Zone’ within its functional area. These zones will provide for a range of climate measures to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate adaptation needs. 29 out of the 31 Local Authorities have now submitted plans for Decarbonisation Zones. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 was commenced on the 23 July 2021. Section 16 of the Act requires each Local Authority to prepare a climate action plan, specifying the mitigation and the adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority. Local Authorities will have 12 months to complete their individual plans once requested by the Minister, with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Act.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 mandates that the guidelines for the implementation of Decarbonising Zones are to be incorporated into the statutory guidelines for Local Authority Climate Action Plans.My Department is currently working closely with the Climate Action Regional Offices, Local Authorities, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to finalise a set of statutory guidelines detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of these Local Authority Climate Action Plans.
163. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will intervene to ensure that residents in multi-occupancy units and full-time residents in mobile home parks will be in a position to apply for the electricity rebate in cases in which they pay landlords and operators and have individual private meters in their own right but do not have an account in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 provides for the establishment of a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices.This is an exceptional and urgent response which uses the single eligibility criterion of having a meter point registration number, to ensure payments are targeted to each domestic electricity account as early as possible in 2022. The payment will be applied to the domestic electricity account rather than an individual. The scheme will also include pre-pay customers. The type of coin operated meters referred to by the Deputy are not installed by ESB Networks (ESBN) and are not regulated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). I understand that such devices are usually installed behind the electricity meter, and their use for payment of electricity is a contractual matter between residents and their landlords or the operators of mobile home parks. While the majority of tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the payments directly, others would have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion would have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. With the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, my Department is working closely with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on a public information campaign to ensure that all tenants are aware of the scheme. Disputes relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments can be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution.
164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered funding deep retrofits for older persons with the recovery of their share of the costs from a later transfer of the property which is the principle underpinning the fair deal scheme in health. [11149/22]
View answerThe National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030. The Plan is designed to address barriers to retrofit across four key areas: driving demand and activity; financing and funding; supply chain, skills and standards; and governance. In line with commitments in the Plan, the Government recently approved a package of significantly enhanced supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will provide increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard. A network of One Stop Shops will offer a new end-to-end project management service for homeowners. 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.
In addition, increased grants for attic and cavity wall insulation have also been made available, covering 80% of the cost to homeowners of these highly cost-effective upgrade measures. Free upgrades are available for households at risk of energy poverty. My Department is also developing a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme which will enable financial institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates for retrofit projects.
In light of the foregoing, an additional funding model such as that used for the fair deal scheme was not considered in the context of these recent changes.
165. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the retrofitting grant is available for rental properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11255/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery 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. These new measures include:
- The establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering unprecedented grant levels, increased from circa 30% to circa 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump.
- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades.
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.
I recognise that rental properties can present a specific challenge for energy efficiency improvements. This is an issue found in most countries where the incentives to invest in energy upgrades can be misaligned between landlords and tenants. Therefore, homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by non-corporate landlords are eligible for these new measures.
It is also intended that non-corporate landlords will be able to avail of the planned low-cost loan scheme for retrofit when it is launched later this year.
Furthermore, the Housing for All Strategy which is being implemented by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage includes a commitment to introduce minimum energy standards for rental properties from 2025.
166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is an average wait time for a contractor to be appointed in circumstances in which approval has been granted under the warmer homes scheme; if these wait times are consistent throughout the country; if the case of a person (details supplied) in this regard will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11266/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most 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 Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. This includes homes that are:
- 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,
- Currently undergoing works.
Activity under the Scheme, and the associated expenditure, were significantly impacted in both 2020 and 2021 by the COVID pandemic. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2021, the average cycle time from application to completion was approximately 26 months. While this delay was largely driven by COVID related issues, the deeper measures being provided under the scheme since 2018, also involve more substantive works.
In order to reduce this timeline to completion, the following key actions are being taken:
- The budget, at €109 million, is nearly three times the 2021 outturn (€38 million) and funding has also been sought through the European Regional Development Fund;
- The number of homes retrofitted under the scheme are due to increase from 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month in 2022;
- SEAI has allocated additional staff for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme;
- SEAI is working to increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management.
Works under the Scheme recommenced in line with activity in the residential construction sector and activity did ramp up again towards the end of last year. Based on the foregoing, SEAI target clearing the homes currently on the waiting list in approximately 18 months. The status of individual applications is an operational matter for SEAI and they have established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members in this regard; oireachtas@seai.ie.
167. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if all homeowners will avail of all grants available through the SEAI whether availing of the one stop shop service or the individual energy upgrade grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11344/22]
View answerThe 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 and a number of part-funded schemes such as the Community Energy Grant Scheme, the Solar PV Scheme and the recently announced National Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme. Following the recent Government announcement increased grant levels of up to 50% are now being applied to the part-funded schemes. In addition to the establishment of the new scheme targeting full upgrades, Government also made it clear that households that want or need to carry out the upgrade over time, should be supported at the enhanced grant levels. For that reason, many of the new 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.An increase in the funding allocation for the fully funded Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme will support monthly completions to more than double from 177 last year to 400 this year. Further details with respect to each of the schemes are available at www.seai.ie.
168. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views that a limited number of approved contractors will lead to delays in accessing SEAI grants for many customers; if steps are being taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11345/22]
View answerThe process to register as an SEAI approved contractor is open to any contractor that agrees to adhere to SEAI standards, guidelines, procedures and codes of practice. This registry is necessary to protect the customer and Exchequer funding by ensuring registered contractors agree to the SEAI Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures for Contractors.To support the highly ambitious scale up of activity and to help grow the supply side the National Retrofit Plan includes "supply chain, skills and standards" as one of the four key pillars. The plan includes measures to expand the capacity of the supply chain and increase the number of skilled workers while maintaining quality and driving demand. Crucially the new Plan provides for a step change in the approach to supporting home energy upgrades. New measures announced recently include: - The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme with substantially increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical home upgrade to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% previously);
- One Stop Shops providing an end-to-end project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades; and,
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.These enhancements are designed to drive sustained realisable demand and will complement the Exchequer commitment to invest €8 billion up to 2030 and the streamlining of SEAI grant processes, to transform the retrofit sector into an all year round business. In turn this will encourage, facilitate and enable the supply chain to scale up and grow, creating thousands of high quality jobs and delivering on this critical national objective.
169. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of names of relevant bodies under the Climate Act 2021. [11355/22]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, establishes a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments, and provides that the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis to ensure Ireland achieves its national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. In order to achieve our statutory objectives, the Act also introduces a number of new policy instruments, including a series of successive carbon budgets and sectoral targets, annual revisions to the Climate Action Plan, and a National Long Term Climate Action Strategy. The Act establishes a clear relationship, and a requirement for consistency, between these policy instruments and our 2050 national climate objective. Local Authorities are also required to produce individual climate action plans.
In this regard, relevant bodies are defined under Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 as meaning ‘public bodies’ and ‘prescribed bodies’ as defined in Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
‘Public bodies’ refers to, among others, Government Departments, agencies and public higher education institutions. ‘Prescribed bodies’ refers to entities declared by order, following consultation with relevant Ministers and/or Committees, to be relevant for the purposes of the 2014 Act.
The Deputy will appreciate that the number of bodies covered by this legislation is vast and subject to change, which is why they are defined as opposed to set out in a Schedule to the Act which would go out of date over time. However, in order to assist the Deputy, I would point out that the Central Statistics Office regularly publish a list of public bodies which is available on: www.cso.ie/en/methods/governmentaccounts/classificationdecisions/registerofpublicsectorbodiesinireland/.
Relevant bodies will have a general obligation, under section 15 of the 2015 Act, to perform their functions, in so far as practicable, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the various plans and strategies under the legislation, and furthering the achievement of the national climate objective.
170. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to invite councils to prepare Local Authority Climate Action Plans under Section 15 of the Climate Act 2021; when the guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11356/22]
View answer185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 16 February 2022, and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the status of the promised statutory guidelines on the development of local authority climate action plans; if the guidelines have been finalised to date; when these guidelines will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 185 together. These zones will provide for a range of climate measures to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate adaptation needs. 29 out of the 31 Local Authorities have now submitted plans for Decarbonisation Zones.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 was commenced on the 23 July 2021. Section 16 of the Act requires each Local Authority to prepare a climate action plan, specifying the mitigation and the adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority. Local Authorities will have 12 months to complete their individual plans once requested by the Minister, with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Act.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 mandates that the guidelines for the implementation of Decarbonising Zones are to be incorporated into the statutory guidelines for Local Authority Climate Action Plans.
My Department is currently working closely with the Climate Action Regional Offices, Local Authorities, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to finalise a set of statutory guidelines detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of these Local Authority Climate Action Plans.
171. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the category of Public Service Obligation customers for public lighting that is charged a PSO levy broken down by domestic, small commercial or medium, and high commercial category. [11359/22]
View answerThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is charged to all electricity final customers in Ireland and is collected from customers by electricity suppliers. The PSO levy is a vital policy support for the development of renewable electricity and to enable Ireland reach national and EU renewable energy and climate targets. The money raised from the levy is paid, via suppliers, to qualifying generators eligible for support under a number of Government schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) schemes. The legal basis for the PSO levy and its method of calculation are set out in regulations made under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and the Public Service Obligations Order 2002 (S.I. 217 of 2002). Under this legislation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for the calculation of the levy each year and ensuring that the scheme is administered appropriately and efficiently.
The PSO levy is allocated annually across three categories of electricity customer based on the maximum demand in respect of each category, as a proportion of the sum of the three maximum demand figures. The attribution of the maximum demand in respect of each category of electricity account is carried out by ESB Networks for each PSO year.
The three customer categories are defined as:
- Domestic Accounts;
- Small Accounts
- Medium-Large Accounts (30kVA, including Public Lighting)
The ESBN’s PSO Allocation Methodology is published on the CRU website and can be accessed using the link below:
www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CER17074-ESBN-Update-to-PSO-Allocation-Methodology_v1.3.pdf .
173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the roll-out for national broadband will commence in Rockchapel, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11416/22]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I appreciate people’s frustration when they are living close to a fibre network, owned by a commercial operator, but cannot obtain a connection to that network. 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 NBI that, as of 18 February, almost 303,000 premises have been surveyed or have survey underway, with over 157,000 premises constructed or under construction across all counties. NBI has also advised that premises are connected in 16 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow and almost 55,000 premises are available to order and pre-order across 22 counties . In County Cork surveying is underway in the Deployment Area of Clonakilty, surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Templemartin, Tallow, Kanturk and Fermoy, main works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline. To date over 35,000 premises in County Cork have been surveyed, with over 10,500 premises under construction and over 4,500 premises now available to order. With regard to Rockchapel, the premises located within the Intervention Area are covered by the Meelin Deployment Area and will be delivered with high speed broadband as part of the NBP, ensuring the premises will not be left behind.
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.
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 18 February 2022, 493 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. In County Cork 22 BCP’s have been installed to date including Glash Community Centre which is approximately 9km from the Rockchapel area. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Cork 15 schools have been installed by NBI to date 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. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
174. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fisheries assessment of the River Liffey, County Kildare prepared by a company for an organisation (details supplied) and the heritage section of Kildare County Council and its findings in respect of the decrease of fish stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11423/22]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the statutory body responsible for the protection, conservation and development of the inland fisheries resource. IFI is supported in its role by the Technical Expert Group On Salmon (TEGOS) which carries out annual scientific assessments on each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon stocks, including the Liffey. I am advised by IFI that despite ecological pressures, the river Liffey remains one of only a handful of rivers in European Capitals through which a self-sustaining population of Atlantic salmon actively migrate. IFI have also advised that they initiated a large scale River Liffey Catchment fish population survey during Summer 2021 mobilising a cross-agency response to concerns expressed by local angling groups. IFI are currently analysing these data for compilation in a report which will be publicly available during 2022. A review of the the report referred to by the Deputy - ‘Fisheries Assessment of the River Liffey, County Kildare (December 2021)’ - is underway at IFI.
Reviewing both sets of data is an operational matter for IFI and I and my Department have no role in this matter. IFI have established a dedicated e-mail address: oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie where direct queries may be made by members of the Oireachtas.
175. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures put in place by his Department to alleviate fuel and energy poverty in County of Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11447/22]
View answer176. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will list the methodologies, reports, databases, statistics and all other relevant sources used by his Department to measure fuel and energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11448/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. Energy poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home and the cost of the energy they use. Recent measurements of the share of households likely to be experiencing energy poverty include:
- In 2019 and 2020 the Economic and Social Research Institute assessed the number of households likely to be spending more than 10% of their income on energy needed. In the 2020 analysis, this was estimated to be 17.5% of households;
- The Survey of Income and Living Conditions is carried out annually by the CSO and gives an indication of the number of households experiencing difficulty in keeping their homes warm. In the most recent survey results (for 2020, published in 2021), the proportion of people who reported that they were unable to afford to keep their home adequately warm was 3.4%.
A research network on fuel poverty chaired by the Economic and Social Research Institute has been established to examine the data and metrics needed to improve existing measures for fuel poverty in Ireland. The group consists of representatives from my Department, the Department of Social Protection, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Central Statistics Office.
The Government has put a range of policies and measures in place to alleviate fuel and energy poverty. These measures supplement lower income households through the Fuel Allowance and other payments, as well as providing free energy efficiency upgrades through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland schemes and the Social Housing retrofitting programme. This year, 58% (€203 million) of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million will be spent on dedicated energy poverty retrofit supports and local authority retrofits.These supports are available nationwide and are linked to a household’s individual circumstances.
In addition, a payment of €200 (inclusive of VAT) will be paid to all domestic electricity accounts as part of the Government’s package of measures to provide further support to households in the context of increased living costs.
