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Wednesday, 2 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 26-45

Environmental Policy

Questions (35)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

35. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach the amount and value of fossil fuel subsidies paid by the State in 2020 and 2021; the proportion of that expenditure that applies to the exemption of jet kerosene used for commercial flights from excise duty; and the proportion resulting from other subsidies. [9450/22]

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Awaiting reply from the Department.
Questions Nos. 36 to 38, inclusive, resubmitted.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (39)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

39. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount budgeted for the Digital Ireland Framework; if he will review the framework on an annual basis; and if he will open a public and or stakeholder consultation on the framework. [12020/22]

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Written answers

In February the Government launched the new National Digital Strategy called "Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework". The Strategy sets out a high-level framework to support our ambition for Ireland to be a digital leader, at the heart of European and global digital developments.

Ireland’s digital ambition is aligned with EU priorities, under the EU’s Digital Decade, and our national priorities, as reflected in the 2021 Economic Recovery Plan and Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which had digitalisation and decarbonisation at its core with investments to a total value of €291 million.

The National Digital Strategy draws together the substantial amount of digital work progressing across Government, to ensure a renewed coherent and joined up approach to Ireland’s digital offering. As such, it does not have a specific amount of funding allocated for its implementation. However, it does include different initiatives that have funding allocated through either the NRRP or Budget 2022. Within my Department's remit, €85 million is allocated through to 2026 for the Digital Transition Fund which will drive the adoption of digital technologies across enterprise. There are other commitments where the funding required will be agreed. 

Implementation of the Strategy will be overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment, supported by the Digital Issues Senior Officials Group. They will review progress annually. 

To inform its development, a Stakeholder Roundtable discussion was held on 9th November 2021. The National Digital Strategy also relied on the public consultation process originally carried out in 2018/2019. This consultation invited members of the public and interested stakeholders to make submissions that would inform the scope and delivery of the new strategy and the completed document takes into account the views expressed by stakeholders during that consultation process. 

The Government will shortly establish the new Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, which will include expert stakeholders to support the implementation of the National Digital Strategy as well as advising on the digital transformation of enterprise. The Digital Transition Fund will also be reviewed after the first pilot year to take into account the feedback of enterprise. 

EU Directives

Questions (40)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

40. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review on the transposition by primary legislation of EU Directive 2019/1152 on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions will be completed following the recent public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12037/22]

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Written answers

Work is on track to transpose the Directive by the deadline of 1 August 2022.  Officials in my Department are currently examining and considering the necessary amendments so that proposals can be brought to Cabinet for approval to draft legislation as soon as possible.  

A public consultation on EU Directive 2019/1152 on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions was published by the Department on 17 September 2021, seeking views on issues including probationary periods at the beginning of a job; the right to predictable working hours; the right to redress; and the right to protection against adverse treatment.  

The consultation process ran for five weeks until 25 October 2021. Engagement with the process was limited and a total of eleven submissions were received from a range of stakeholders including one representative trade union, two employer representative bodies, one individual employer and seven employees. These submissions have been reviewed.  

My Department will in the next few weeks publish a summary of the responses received to the questions asked in the public consultation.

Data Centres

Questions (41)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

41. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if officials in his Department will engage with a person (details supplied) regarding setting up a data centre strategy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12166/22]

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Written answers

My Department is aiming to complete the review of the 'Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy' in the first half of 2022, in line with the commitment made in Climate Action Plan  2021. The Statement was first published in 2018. 

My Department has begun engagement with key stakeholders in this regard, and will continue to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, EirGrid, the CRU, IDA Ireland and others. 

I will ask my officials to contact the person identified, as requested by the Deputy. 

Environmental Policy

Questions (42)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

42. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to formulate planning guidelines in relation to battery storage units (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11866/22]

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Written answers

The Climate Action Plan 2021 recognises the important role of energy storage, including battery storage, in facilitating the transition to higher levels of renewable energy on the system. The Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications has committed to developing a storage policy that supports the 2030 CAP targets with a decision to be published early next year. In combination, the CRU will be reviewing the regulatory treatment of storage, including licensing, charging and market incentives, which is to be completed by the end of 2023.

EirGrid has reported that a number of battery projects have been contracted via two mechanisms: SEM Capacity Auctions and DS3 Systems Services. These routes offer different but essential services to the power system on the island of Ireland.

Planning policy and related guidelines are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) in the first instance and not one in which I have any direct function. As such, it would ultimately be a matter for the Minister of that Department to bring battery storage guidelines forward, in consultation with my Department, in the event they are required. To date, there have been no discussions between DECC and the DHLGH on this subject and any decision to engage in such dialogue would arise following a determination of the need for such guidelines.

North-South Interconnector

Questions (43)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

43. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if a response will issue to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/22]

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Written answers

The 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 to generate 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.

Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure which states: ‘The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies’. The question relates to operational matters in which I have no role.

Question No. 44 withdrawn.

Energy Policy

Questions (45)

Dara Calleary

Question:

45. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the eligibility criteria for the energy credit by those paying a flat rate electricity fee in caravan parks. [11900/22]

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Written answers

The aim of the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 is to establish a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, of an Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices.This exceptional measure uses the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number, to ensure payments 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. 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 RTB for dispute resolution.

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