Written Answers Nos. 223-233
223. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if households that export renewable energy to the grid via microgeneration now receive payments for same from all electricity suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37067/22]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the Clean Export Guarantee (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)
I understand that 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 Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff for their exported electricity, and payments will be backdated to the date of eligibility or the 15th of 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 Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payments will be made at the earliest opportunity. The CRU expects all suppliers to put in place measures to make the first payment to customers at the earliest opportunity and anticipates that all suppliers will have made the first payment by 31 August 2022 at the latest.
The CRU encourages customers to contact their supplier to obtain information on their suppliers' CEG tariff arrangements.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
224. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of households that have installed solar photovoltaic panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37068/22]
View answerThere is no single register for the number of households that have installed Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Solar PV panels are installed under a number of scenarios.
Firstly, Solar PV is installed on new homes, as one of the measures to achieve compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. These panels are not eligible for Government supports.Secondly, Solar PV panels are installed on existing buildings through grant supports offered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Up to the end of June this year the SEAI has supported the installation of domestic Solar PV systems for 11,581 homes since 2018, which has resulted in an installed capacity of domestic Solar PV of 45.1 MW. This translates to an average size of an installed system of 3.9 kW. Furthermore, we expect that the SEAI will support 6,600 homes in 2022 to install Solar PV systems.
Finally, ESB Networks (ESBN) report that almost 33,000 microgenerators have registered for an export grid connection.
225. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will draft and publish a green hydrogen strategy; if the energy security review has examined the role that green hydrogen can play in Ireland's energy security going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37069/22]
View answerMy Department has launched a public consultation to gather the views of stakeholders and interested parties, in order to inform the development of a hydrogen strategy for Ireland. The consultation paper sets out various areas of interest to be considered in the development of the hydrogen strategy, and invites stakeholders’ views on specific questions to be answered in this regard. The consultation will run for an 8-week period, following which analysis of the responses received and preparation of the strategy document will begin.
My Department is also carrying out a review of the energy security of Ireland's gas and electricity systems for delivery in Q3 2022, following which the results will be brought to Government. The review is considering the potential risks to both natural gas and electricity supplies, and a range of measures to mitigate these risks including the need for additional capacity to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification and renewable gases (such as hydrogen).
226. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of one-stop-shops that have now been approved in respect of the national residential retrofit programme; the contact details for each and the geographical areas that they cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/22]
View answerEarlier this year, the Government approved a package of supports aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions. The supports included a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme introduces a new highly customer centric way to undertake home upgrades. SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops provide an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance.
The SEAI advise that eight One Stop Shops have now been registered as outlined in the table below. SEAI is actively working with other applicant organisations to support them through this registration process. One-Stop-Shops will be distributed across Ireland, with an increased number offering services nationwide through their network of contractors throughout the country.
|
One-Stop-Shop |
Region |
|
Bayview Contracts Limited |
National |
|
Electric Ireland Superhomes |
National |
|
Envirobead |
National |
|
House 2 Home Retrofit Limited |
National |
|
Integrate Home Energy Upgrades |
Leinster |
|
Kore Retrofit Limited |
National |
|
Retrofit Energy Ireland Limited |
National |
|
SSE Airtricity Energy Services Limited |
National |
Contact details for the One Stop Shops can be found on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/one-stop-shop/registered-providers/
227. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his proposals to reduce the amount of polyethylene terephthalate plastic exported from Ireland; if options are available for the domestic recycling of that waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37083/22]
View answerIreland’s infrastructure does not allow it to manage all of the waste material generated for recycling and there is a reliance on exports to manage the waste we produce. Irish recyclers are competing for waste materials, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, in an open market.
There are recycling facilities for PET plastic in Ireland. While my Department does not have the power to direct waste to a particular facility or to keep it within Ireland for recycling, there are funding measures in place to encourage domestic recycling and discourage the export of waste for recycling.
Repak, the national packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, has a funding system in place which promotes the proximity principle and ensures that maximum funding is available to operators who collect, separate and reprocess PET plastics in Ireland:
- For household collections, an additional reprocessing subsidy was introduced in 2020 and is only available to plastic reprocessors with operations in Ireland. In 2022 this subsidy increased from €35/tonne to €50/tonne.
- For commercial collections, there is a stepped system in place with the highest subsidy payable where material is recycled in Ireland, mid-range funding where material is recycled in EU/UK, and a reduced subsidy for material sent outside Europe.
The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy sets out a roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans. The Scheme will be launched later this year and will increase the quantity of those materials being collected for recycling. Open tendering processes will be used to source operators for the separate collection, sorting and recycling of this material and DRS will adopt green procurement principles to ensure those services are provided with minimal impact on the environment.
228. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to using a portion of the funds to the Exchequer to invest in collaboration with the telecoms industry on a shared rural network, including all three operators to address coverage black spots that have occurred in other jurisdictions in the context of the next spectrum auction for the telecoms sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37128/22]
View answerIreland’s digital connectivity strategy aligns with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030, to improve connectivity for all.
Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by the independent regulator, ComReg, to mobile operators who advises that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years came to €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile services enhancing the availability of services, both voice and data, throughout Ireland, including in rural areas.
ComReg is currently in the process of running another Multi-band Spectrum Award to assign rights of use in four spectrum bands. The award comprises 470 MHz of spectrum and represents a 46% increase in the harmonised spectrum assigned for the provision of wireless broadband services in Ireland. This will enable the market to provide improved services to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile data and new services. The proposals include significant coverage obligations for prospective winning bidders.
To assist consumers in choosing a network provider, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at this link) to provides consumers with clear information on where operators have good 2G, 3G and 4G coverage.
The Shared Rural Network programme sees the UK Government working in partnership with four UK mobile network operators to improve digital infrastructure and increase connectivity.
Here in Ireland the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, which has been in operation since 2016, has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide with over 70 targeted actions completed to date to alleviate connectivity barriers. The Taskforce continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of mobile and fixed connectivity. It is co-managed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). The new work programme and Terms of Reference will be available on Gov.ie shortly.
229. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a solution will be provided for a person who availed of a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for a new home heating system that it did not sign off on, given that it believed that the works carried out were defective before being awarded same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37159/22]
View answerThe administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.
230. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that he has not signed off on a 2% pensionable increase for An Post pensioners, which was effective from 1 January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37183/22]
View answerUnder section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.
Under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 and the rules of the An Post Pension Scheme, pension increases or alterations to the schemes are subject to the authorisation of the Minister given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
In accordance with the Remuneration and Superannuation Protocol of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and Circular 16 of 2021 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, An Post has formally sought Ministerial approval on 4 May 2022 to increase pensions in payment and deferred pensions for members of the An Post Superannuation Scheme by 2% per annum with effect from 1 January 2022 and up to a further 2% per annum with effect from 1 January 2023.
In line with the Code of Practice, NewERA’s views on the current proposal have been sought. This will inform the business case required under DPER Circular 16/2021, setting out the strategic, policy and financial rationale for providing the increases. The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will then be sought.
231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have engaged the services of two organisations (details supplied) at any point from 1 January 2020 to date; the costs associated with or incurred by the provision of services from these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37281/22]
View answerMy Department has incurred the following costs during the period 1 January 2020 to-date in relation to the two organisations below:
|
Organisation |
€’000 |
|
Carr Communications |
24.5 |
|
Kinzen |
Nil |
The information requested in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
232. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has made a determination on the percentage target of greenhouse gas reduction that each sector must achieve; and his views on the role to be played by the agricultural sector. [37581/22]
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 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.
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 and the ceilings have not yet been finally determined. Therefore, it is not possible to provide detail on the targets for any sector at this time.
233. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the numbers of agricultural users who applied for the support scheme for renewable heat, the numbers who were deemed eligible and the numbers who received payment under the scheme, per county, in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37599/22]
View answerThe Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), which is administered by the SEAI, provides financial support for the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the emissions trading system. The total number of agricultural users that completed the application process and were deemed eligible for the SSRH is 54, 11 of whom have already received payment, with 3 to shortly receive payment. It is expected that the remaining 40 applicants will join the payment cycle as they complete construction and installation over the coming months.
The breakdown by county is set out in the table below.
|
Applications received |
Projects on payment cycle |
|||
|
2019/2020 |
2021 |
2022 (to end June) |
||
|
Carlow |
2 |
|||
|
Cavan |
8 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Cork |
4 |
1 |
||
|
Kerry |
1 |
|||
|
Limerick |
2 |
|||
|
Mayo |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Meath |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Monaghan |
19 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
|||
|
Tipperary |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Wexford |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
