Written Answers Nos. 57-67
57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is his intention to support the industrial relations provisions in respect of pension entitlements referral of the retired workers 2021 (amendment) Bill at the relevant committee after the public consultation on the Bill is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21349/22]
View answerThe consultation process on the Retired Workers Access to industrial relations mechanisms for pension related issues which was conducted by my Department has concluded in recent days.
The purpose of this was to seek views on the proposals arising from the Private Members Bill and to establish whether there is the potential for new or enhanced methods of consultation through the introduction of alternative systems, networks or for a which might assist retired workers in engaging more fully on pension related issues.
My Department officials will commence the examination of submissions received shortly and when this examination is completed, we will then determine the position which will be taken in relation to the matter.
58. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the commission on all moneys collected by fishing licence distributers will be reviewed; and if he will consider a 10% minimum increase on the existing commission on all moneys collected in 2022. [21307/22]
View answerThe salmon and seatrout licence duty comprises a conservation element which is 50% of the total duty and is ring-fenced for salmon and sea trout conservation work. The remaining 50% is the licence payment in respect of which Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) pay commission at a rate of 10%.
The commission payable to distributors is an operational matter for IFI in which I or the 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 deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
59. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the salmon licence one-day charge now stands at €36, which is one of the highest charges in Europe and acts as a deterrent to the fishing rod tourism sector. [21308/22]
View answerAngling licences attract a statutory duty and a wide range of licensing options at various duty rates is available. In relation to tourist/visiting anglers, the 21-day licence available at a duty of €50 is particularly popular.Based on the recommendations of the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), and with reference to the Consumer Price Index, the duty for certain categories of angling licences, which were reduced in the prevailing economic circumstances in 2010, were restored to 2008 levels for the current angling season. The duty for a one-day licence was restored to the 2008 level of €36. Licensing duties in Ireland are relatively consistent with similar costs internationally. In addition, unlike other countries angling licences in Ireland are required only for salmon and sea-trout over 40 cms and angling for all other species does not require a licence or attract a duty.
60. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will undertake a study into all the renewable energy options available to Ireland to examine the infrastructure development that is required and that can be achieved to help Ireland achieve the climate action goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21325/22]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a suite of actions to realise the full potential of Ireland’s onshore and offshore renewable energy resources including a commitment to the achievement of up to 8GW of installed onshore wind, up to 2.5GW of solar, and 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. Additionally, there is a further commitment to develop a longer-term plan to harness the estimated potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The RESS is an auction-based support scheme which invites grid-scale renewable electricity generation projects to compete to receive a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate.
Over 1GW of new wind and solar generation was secured in the first RESS auction in 2020, and projects are expected to reach commercial operation before the end of 2023. A significant volume of new renewable generation is expected to be secured in the second RESS auction which will take place next month. Alongside this, my Department is drafting the terms and conditions for offshore wind-specific RESS auctions. At least three offshore RESS auctions are currently planned for this decade.
Achieving the target of up to 80% of electricity coming from renewable sources will entail investment of tens of billions of euro, including in the installation and maintenance of generation assets, and associated infrastructure and services, as well as in the development of supply chains and port infrastructure. In particular, significant grid infrastructure projects will be required at both transmission and distribution level. In this context, EirGrid have committed to updating their ‘Shaping our Electricity Future’ roadmap to assess the infrastructure required to meet Ireland's up to 80% renewable electricity target and deliver on our climate ambition.
61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions that have been taken to tackle the staff shortages and delays experienced by An Post (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21333/22]
View answerOperational matters relating to An Post, including staffing issues, are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.
62. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications if a response will issue to the concerns raised by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21343/22]
View answerAn Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially and it is longstanding Government policy that postal services will not be directly subsidised by the taxpayer. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. In addition, Irish post offices are typically independent businesses that are run by postmasters. 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 as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The company fully understands the Government position and a sustainable, viable and customer-focused post office network is a key strategic priority for the company.
The transformation programme that was agreed with the Irish Postmasters Union in 2018, was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. An Post introduced the pandemic recovery fund in 2021, which was worth €8.5 million over an 18-month period. This commenced on 1 July 2021 and will continue until the end of this year. The Government recognises the importance of the high value and high quality post office network to our citizens right across the country, as well as the central and trusted role of postmasters in our communities. An Post, including through the post office network provides important services to its customers and it is contracted to provide key Government services to citizens.
The work of the interdepartmental group, which was established to consider the feasibility of the new Government services, is being considered at present and the report of the Group will be brought to Government when all options have been considered. While decisions relating to the network are matters for the board and the management of the company, they continue to engage with the IPU on operational matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Post continues to play a vital role.
Officials in my Department have ongoing engagement with the company, with other Departments and with key stakeholders to explore all options, in line with this commitment.
63. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if clarification will be provided regarding proposed regulations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21464/22]
View answerI remain committed to introducing new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland this Autumn. They will introduce minimum standards that will apply across all solid fuels, to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives. New measures are required to improve air quality and protect public health. It is estimated that each year, some 1,300 people die prematurely in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning and that there are over 16,200 life years lost. In addition, many people also experience a poor quality of life due to the associated short-term and long-term health impacts of this form of pollution. The regulations are a critical element of addressing this public health and environmental challenge and will serve to improve the quality of the air that we breathe, and the health of the public that we serve. The primary focus of these regulations is on the large-scale commercial sale of turf. I recognise that turf cutting by citizens for use in their own homes is a traditional activity across many peatland areas and the intention is to preserve customary practices in this regard. Final regulations will be agreed by Government in due course reflecting the ongoing consultation as to their exact content. We will ensure that while measures are introduced to enhance the quality of our air, they will not impinge upon traditional local practices associated with sod peat.
64. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for the reopening of the restaurant and other facilities at Cavan bus station that have been closed to the public since the beginning of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21302/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the timeframe for reopening of facilities at Cavan bus station is an operational matter for Bus Éireann.
I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
65. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of members of the design team for BusConnects Cork who have experience of living in Cork; the number of visits they took to Cork; and the number of times they travelled each of the proposed routes. [21303/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Cork.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
66. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action proposed to be taken by his Department to reduce the waiting times for cars to be assessed for NCT tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21344/22]
View answerThe operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
67. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the mechanisms that can be put in place to assist car dealers who are trading second-hand cars to help them have NCT tests carried out within a 14-day timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21345/22]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that roadworthiness testing is not automatically required at the point of sale of a vehicle. Upon registration of new or second-hand vehicles by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, vehicle data is added to the National Driver and Vehicles File (NVDF) and relevant vehicles are notified to the NCT Service.
The applicable dates for roadworthiness testing are set out under the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017, as amended (S.I. 415 of 2017). Once vehicles have reached the applicable age, they must have a valid roadworthiness certificate in order to be driven on Irish roads. In general, passenger cars that are over 4 years old are required to present for testing from the anniversary of their registration date.
There are no current plans to amend the Regulations to mandate roadworthiness testing at point of sale and correspondingly it is not intended to prioritise any particular cohort of vehicle owners.
