Written Answers Nos. 1-18
1. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Taoiseach the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within his Department and any agency or body under the remit of his Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis. [36307/22]
View answerThere are no former county managers or CEOs of local authorities working in my Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office, the only body under the aegis of my Department.
2. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within his Department and any agency or body under the remit of his Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36296/22]
View answerI'm informed that it is the practice of my Department and its agencies not to hold records of the details of employees’ former employments.
Such information is required for recruitment purposes, including by the Public Appointments Service, but in line with GDPR cannot be maintained for other purposes, with the exception of public service pension compliance and membership. Once pension scheme membership has been determined, records relating to former employments aren’t maintained or recorded.
I am therefore not in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy.
3. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the whole-time equivalent vacancies by job title in the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement as of 28 June 2022, in tabular form; and when each of these vacancies will be filled. [36467/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) as a stand-alone statutory body, the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA).
The Commencement Order, commencing the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 will be signed shortly, with the Establishment Order which is required to set up the CEA being signed soon thereafter.
As an Agency, the CEA will have more autonomy, particularly the ability to recruit required skills and expertise. My Department has worked with the ODCE to ensure the CEA will have the necessary human resources required, both Civil Service and members of An Garda Síochána, to undertake its statutory functions.
In preparation for the establishment of the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), my Department approved an additional 14 civil servants to be assigned to the CEA. In addition, the new CEA’s full-time Garda complement will increase by 50% from 7 to 16 officers (comprising of 1 Detective Inspector, 3 Detective Sergeants and 12 Detective Gardaí). This is in line with the Director of Corporate Enforcement’s assessment of the staffing needs of the CEA. Recruitment of additional Gardaí is underway.
As of 29 June 2022, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (“ODCE”) has 47 staff in situ, including 10 Gardaí on secondment.
As a result of a combination of new sanctions, retirements, and internal and external promotions, 20 civilian vacancies are being carried by the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) at present. Candidates to fill 3 of these vacancies have been identified and will take up their posts in the coming months. In terms of recruitment for the remaining positions I am informed that priority is being given to filling the more senior posts in order that incoming senior staff can participate in the recruitment of more junior staff. Regarding senior staff, several competitions have been run over recent months. Those competitions have seen varying degrees of success and recruitment competitions are ongoing.
Details of current civilian vacancies are set out below:
- Head of Legal
- Head of Civil Enforcement & Advocacy
- Forensic Accountant
- Insolvency Supervision Manager
- Enforcement Lawyer
- HR Manager
- Governance Manager
4. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an employment permit application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36692/22]
View answerThe Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that a standard General Employment Permit application for the person concerned (details supplied) was received on 12th May 2022.
Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order. The Employment Permits Section of my Department is currently processing standard new General Employment Permit applications received on 04 April 2022.
The Employment Permits processing times are updated on a weekly basis and applicants can keep track of Employment Permit application processing dates at the following link: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/Current-Processing-Dates-for-Employment-Permits.html
If a permit is urgently required, an applicant may request to have an application expedited. An expedite request will only be considered in exceptional cases. The Department can only consider such a request where a detailed business case is provided.
Details of the exceptional case must be submitted to the Department on the attached expedite request form.
Once the business case is completed it should be submitted to Employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie for consideration. It is important to point out that the completion of a business case does not guarantee that an expedite will be facilitated, or that a permit will be granted on review.
There is also an Online Status Update Enquiry - where details on a particular application can be accessed: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Employment-Permit-Status-Form/
5. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within his Department and any agency or body under the remit of his Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36297/22]
View answerMy Department does not currently employ any staff members or contractors that fit the criteria outlined in this question.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
6. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when customers who have completed the microgeneration registration process will receive payment for supplying the national electricity grid; if his Department has communicated with the suppliers regarding the timeframe that the payment should start; if the Department has confirmed the rate per Kwh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36325/22]
View answerOn the 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. More information is available here: Clean Export Tariff - Commission for Regulation of Utilities (cru.ie).
Over 32,000 micro and small scale generators have successfully registered for export and 22,000 of this cohort have smart meters, which means they are already accruing the value of the CEG tariff for their exported electricity. Payments will be backdated to the date of eligibility or the 15th February 2022, whichever is the latest.
The CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis. Once eligible, customers can expect an initial payment or credit from their suppliers from 1 July depending on billing cycle. The CRU has asked suppliers to communicate their decision to their customers on when initial CEG payments will be made at the earliest opportunity. I am aware of several suppliers advertising their rates, ranging from €0.14 per kWh to €0.17 per kWh. Others are yet to publish their offerings and my Department is in regular contact with CRU monitoring the situation.
The CRU encourages customers to contact their supplier to obtain information on their suppliers' CEG tariff arrangements.
7. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to reduce reliance on Russian energy on a European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/22]
View answerThe European Commission’s RePowerEU Communication of 18 May 2022 sets out measures to end dependence on Russian energy, including: saving energy, diversifying supplies away from Russia, substituting fossil fuels by accelerating Europe’s clean energy transition, removing financial and regulatory barriers to rolling out needed infrastructure, and ensuring Member States have contingency plans to deal with any disruption in supplies from Russia. The European Council meeting of 30 and 31 of May 2022 called on the Council to rapidly examine the Commission proposals to deliver on the REPowerEU objectives and this work is ongoing.
The National Energy Security Framework, published in April 2022, provides a single overarching and initial response to address Ireland’s energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine. It coordinates work connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a ‘Whole-of Government’ response to the challenges posed to energy security and energy affordability.
Although Ireland is not as dependent on Russian gas as other Member States, it is important that we continue to be vigilant and cooperate closely with our European and UK counterparts. In recent weeks, Russia has disrupted supplies to an increasing number of EU Member States. Regularly tested emergency plans are in place which could be activated, if necessary, by Gas Networks Ireland - Ireland’s gas transmission system operator (TSO) and designated National Gas Emergency Manager. In addition, there are protocols in place between the UK and Ireland TSOs to deal manage gas supply emergencies.
The short to medium term oil supply outlook is positive, with petroleum product availability having improved somewhat in the last few weeks and no major supply difficulties expected by industry in the immediate term. NORA (the National Oil Reserves Agency) currently holds approximately 85 days of oil stocks, the overwhelming majority of which is in the form of physical product, with approximately 85% stored on the island of Ireland.
8. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to promote the installation of non-fossil fuel heating sources in homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36355/22]
View answerThe 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP21) committed to reducing emissions from the residential sector to between 3.5 - 4.5 Mt CO2eq. by 2030, from 7 Mt in 2018. As part of the achievement of this reduction, the CAP set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. As part of the implementation of the Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan, the Government recently announced a package of supports to make 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 was the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering significantly increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with heat pump. Information on all SEAI schemes is available on the SEAI website www.seai.ie.
Near Zero Energy Building requirements for new dwellings were introduced into the Building Regulations in April 2019 by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The NZEB requirements make it more attractive for builders and homeowners to further incorporate renewable technologies and move away from fossil fuels for heating. There are options for meeting compliance including heat pumps and/or solar PV.
Another important development was the publication of the National Heat Study in February 2022. The study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels, solid biomass, biogases and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks. The Study, which was prepared at my Department’s request, contains detailed analysis which will now facilitate the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050.
9. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to promote the use of wind energy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36356/22]
View answerThe 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 including an increased target of up to 5 GW of offshore wind and 8 GW from onshore wind. 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.
Approximately 1.4 TWh of new onshore wind generation annually was secured in the first RESS auction in 2020. Three wind projects are now in commercial operation with the remainder expected to reach commercial operation before the end of 2023 at latest. The recent second RESS auction has secured a further estimated 1.2 TWh of renewable wind generation to deliver by the end of 2024. A roadmap of future auctions which sets out the indicative timelines and volumes for onshore and offshore auctions over the coming decade, was published in December 2021.
In addition, my Department is working with colleagues across Government at national, regional and local level to deliver a supportive spatial planning framework for the further development of onshore renewable energy technologies, including onshore wind, as set out under Action 102 of the Climate Action Plan 2021 and Response 25 of the National Energy Security Framework to align all elements of the planning system to fully support accelerated renewable energy development.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a suite of specific actions to realise the potential of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential. The Programme for Government commits to the achievement of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 and to producing a long-term plan to take advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of floating wind thereafter.
At least three ORESS offshore auctions are currently planned for this decade. My Department carried out a public consultation on the Terms and Conditions of the first offshore RESS auction (ORESS 1) in late 2021 and a provisional ORESS 1 Auction calendar was published in June 2022. In addition, a further phase of offshore wind projects (Phase 2) is required to meet our targets, comprised of projects which can deliver by 2030. The Department is currently reviewing submissions on a recent consultation to gather views on the scale, make-up and sequencing of Phase 2.
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.
10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a list of reports used and consultants availed of in the preparation of the sectoral emission ceilings broken down by the reports used for each sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/22]
View answer11. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish all the modelling and economic analyses used in the preparation of the sectoral emission ceilings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36369/22]
View answer13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a list of reports used and consultants availed of in the preparation of the sectoral emission ceiling for transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36371/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 13 together.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, relative to 2018 levels, and achieving net zero emissions by no later than 2050. The Act also significantly strengthens the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge, including the establishment of a system of carbon budgeting, with sector-specific emission ceilings operating within the five-year carbon budget periods.
The process to prepare and deliver the sectoral emissions ceilings for Government approval is currently ongoing. This process involves extensive engagement at various levels with all relevant Departments and Agencies. This process is also informed by research and analysis provided by members of the Climate Action Modelling Group, as well as external technical support service providers.
As the preparation of the sectoral ceilings is still being ongoing, it is not possible at this stage to provide a complete list of all reports used and consultants availed of as part of the process.
Once the process is completed, analysis used to prepare the ceilings can be published.
12. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish a report (details supplied) on the estimated cost of decarbonisation up to 2050; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36370/22]
View answerMy Department contracted technical support and input from a range of bodies and organisations to support and inform the preparation of a Long Term Climate Action Strategy (LTS) in 2019, in line with the then climate ambition set out in Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. This included analysis on potential decarbonisation pathways. However, with the Programme for Government commitment to substantially increase our climate ambition, including our 2050 objective, submission of Ireland’s draft LTS to the European Commission was paused to ensure it fully aligned with our enhanced climate ambition.
While preparing the LTS, we are ensuring that the ambition aligns with our recently legislated for national climate targets, as well as making a strong contribution to the overall EU ambition of achieving climate neutrality no later than 2050, and achieving an interim reduction in overall EU greenhouse gas emissions of 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Similarly, the LTS will support our commitment to the international objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels, as established under the Paris Climate Agreement, and reaffirmed in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
As the process to finalise Ireland’s LTS is continuing, analysis, including reports from consultants, is still ongoing and, once completed, it can be published.
14. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a list of stakeholders he met during the preparation of the sectoral emission ceilings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36374/22]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, relative to 2018 levels, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The Act also significantly strengthens the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge, including the establishment of a system of carbon budgeting, with sector-specific emission ceilings operating within the five-year carbon budget periods.
Under Section 6C(3) of the Act, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications shall, when preparing a sectoral emissions ceiling, consult with such Ministers of the Government as he or she considers appropriate.
The process to prepare the sectoral emissions ceilings for Government approval is currently ongoing. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage of the process to provide a complete list of all stakeholders I have met as part of the preparation of these ceilings.
15. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider decoupling Ireland’s electricity pricing from wholesale gas and price it based on the proportion of the sources of energy generation as was done by Spain and Portugal following European Union approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36377/22]
View answerOn 18 May 2022, the European Commission published REPowerEU with the overarching objective of phasing out EU reliance on Russian fossil fuels. As part of the suite of measures accompanying REPowerEU, the Commission published a communication “Short-Term Energy Market Interventions and Long Term Improvements to the Electricity Market Design – a course for action”. The communication proposes further short-term measures in the gas and electricity sectors to tackle effectively the impact of sustained high energy prices on consumers and companies.
One measure identified within the communication relates to subsidising the cost of gas used for power generation, which the Commission highlights, depending on its design could entail significant costs and may have State aid implications. This measure has been identified for regions with very limited interconnection capacity, high influence of gas in price setting and consumers particularly exposed to the wholesale market. This measure has been adopted in Spain and Portugal and, while those electricity markets differ significantly from the Irish electricity market, Ireland are closely monitoring the implementation of this measure and examining it and all measures proposed under the RePowerEU communication.
16. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the reduction in VAT from 13.5 % to 9% will be passed onto the customer in relation to the electricity account credit payment of €200 or if it has been retained by the electricity supplier; if each supplier received €200 per account; or if he will confirm the amount that they received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36463/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established 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.The scheme was operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
This was an exceptional measure which used the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number, to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible this year, without any additional means testing. The scheme included pre-pay customers. The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment was €176.22, exclusive of VAT as set out in section 5(2) of the Act.
The benefit payment was allocated to billed costs in the first bill issued after 31 March 2022. Suppliers credited domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June. VAT was applied at the date the bill was issued to the customer.
VAT has been reduced from 13.5% to 9% on gas and electricity bills from the start of May until the end of October as part of the suite of measures introduced in the National Energy Security Framework.
The impact of the reduction of VAT to 9% has resulted in a reduction in the overall bill inclusive of VAT for customers. As the benefit payment was applied excluding VAT this reduction in rate had an impact on the total estimated benefit of €200 which was based on a 13.5% VAT rate as the VAT rate that applied in March 2021.
The Deputy may also wish to note that Frequently Asked Questions are available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/
17. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a connection to fibre broadband can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) given that cables have been run up to their gate but despite numerous attempts to secure connection, service remains outstanding; if outstanding service will be facilitated as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36505/22]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. 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 National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 24 June 2022, construction is complete or underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. Over 70,700 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties, with over 61,500 premises passed across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections with some areas exceeding expectations. In County Kildare, NBI has advised that 1,242 premises are available to order or pre-order and 796 premises are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare 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.
NBI has made recent improvements to their website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members. NBI has now completed a suite of changes, creating a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie.
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. Some 636 BCP sites have been installed by NBI to date 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 Kildare 3 BCPs have been installed by NBI to date. The site at Lullymore Heritage Park is located approximately 16km from the premises and is fully connect with a high-speed broadband service. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Kildare 4 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/.
18. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 240 of 14 June 2022 and 169 of 23 June 2022, if he will address a matter in relation to the name of the 100 fuel stations in the event of a national fuel scarcity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36596/22]
View answerOverall, Ireland is reasonably well insulated from direct supply shocks linked to Russian oil supply, as few imports of crude oil and a comparatively small proportion of Ireland’s refined product are imported from Russia. In addition, since the outbreak of the war Irish importers have indicated that they are working to voluntarily move away from Russian oil.
The short to medium term supply outlook is also positive, with petroleum product availability having improved somewhat in the last few weeks and no major supply difficulties expected by industry in the immediate term. NORA, the National Oil Reserves Agency, currently holds approximately 85 days of oil stocks, the overwhelming majority of which is in the form of physical product, with approximately 85% stored on the island of Ireland.
Notwithstanding the improved supply position, my Department, in conjunction with NORA, continues to work closely with the petroleum industry to monitor supplies of oil into the Irish marketplace. NORA is ready to release strategic stocks to the market, if required. Some reserves were released by NORA in early March and early April as part of a co-ordinated global release of reserves agreed by members of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In the context of contingency planning, work continues on operational planning for all scenarios. The activation of any such plans is not envisaged, however, as is the case for other jurisdictions across Europe, such planning is appropriate and prudent in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Detailed operational matters around contingency planning are not published. I can assure the Deputy that, in the unlikely event that worst-case scenarios arise with respect to oil supply disruptions, the public will be notified of contingency arrangements in good time.
