Written Answers Nos. 234-254
234. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the model that is used in relation to the price regulation of network charges that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities employs is the RPI minus X formula, is similar to that used in Britain. [37613/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators, including the matter referred to in this Parliamentary Question. Therefore the Minister has no statutory function in this matter.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
235. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the setting of the X factor as part of the price regulation formula is comprised of estimated operational costs, capital expenditure and finance costs over a five-year period; and if he will identify any other costs associated with the regulation of energy networks. [37614/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators, including the matter referred to in this Parliamentary Question. Therefore the Minister has no statutory function in this matter.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
236. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the X factor does not change once this has been established until the five-year revenue cap period has changed in relation to the price regulation of network charges that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities employs; and the five-year revenue cap that is set. [37615/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators, including the matter referred to in this Parliamentary Question. Therefore the Minister has no statutory function in this matter.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
237. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current revenue cap that has been set for the transmission network; the period that it applies to; and the associated costs that comprise the X factor calculation. [37616/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators, including the matter referred to in this Parliamentary Question. Therefore the Minister has no statutory function in this matter.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
238. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views that it is appropriate to have an electricity pricing system in which rural customers are paying a 25% higher rate of standing charge for electricity and a 6% higher rate per unit for electricity in comparison to urban customers; if he will seek a review of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37626/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation.Prices in the electricity retail market have been fully deregulated since April 2011 and in the gas market since 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. An electricity supplier can increase or decrease the rates charged to customers in line with what has been signed up to in the contract. This may include increasing/decreasing the unit rate, the standing charge or any additional charges on bills.
CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and has a dedicated email address where Oireachtas members can contact the CRU directly for a timely response at oireachtas@cru.
239. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 10 May 2022, if he has received in electronic or hard copy or by verbal description any information in relation to the contents of the review of the security of energy supply; if he has seen or been briefed on any draft of the document; the reason for the delay in this document being published; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to clarify future Government policy on energy security given the seriousness of the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/22]
View answerAs set out in the National Energy Security Framework published in April 2022, my Department is carrying out a review of the energy security of Ireland's gas and electricity systems.
The review is which is focussing on the period to 2030 in the context of net zero emissions by 2050, is considering the risks to both natural gas and electricity supplies, and a range of measures, including the need for additional capacity to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification and renewable gases (such as hydrogen).
As part of this review consultants are carrying out a technical analysis and the underpinning analysis has been updated, to reflect changing circumstances following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. My Department has received a preliminary draft of the consultant’s report. The completion of the review is scheduled for delivery in Q3 of this year, following which the results will be brought to Government.
240. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the electricity credit payment of €200 will be issued as a matter of urgency to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37683/22]
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 credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) has been applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June, and includes prepay meters. The scheme is operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of an electricity meter point registration number (MPRN), to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible this year, without any additional means testing. The payment has been applied to domestic electricity accounts i.e. those which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2), as set out in section 1 of the Act.
Queries in relation to the eligibility of individual cases are, in the first instance, a matter for the service provider.
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/
241. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the input his Department has had in the framing of the national development plan in relation to ensuring the viability of the rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37706/22]
View answerMy officials were involved in a strategic dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree the new five-year capital allocation and a 10-year capital ceiling to 2030 for the revised National Development Plan which will enable the Department to deliver its vision of a climate neutral, sustainable and digitally connected Ireland. 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. Government recently agreed that an amount of €10 million/annum will be provided from within the existing capital provision of my Department over a three-year fixed term 2023–2025 to An Post to support a sustainable, nationwide post office network in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. This aims to ensure access to important services of social value across the Post Office network and that there is a network of sufficient scale in place for the public to access these services across the country.
The funding is subject to State Aid clearance being received and funds being dispersed in accordance with a methodology to be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
This is the first time Government has agreed to introduce such a package. The funding will aim to ensure access for all our communities to important services of social value across the Post Office network. These include banking services, social welfare and State savings as well as SME services and support. It will also seek to support a network of sufficient scale across the country; with currently around 900 Post Offices providing these essential services nationwide.
This intervention by Government will provide certainty for Postmasters, their families and their communities in terms of any business decisions Postmasters need to make about their future. The funding will afford An Post more time to develop new commercial strategies and services that can support the viability of the network. The Transformation Agreement reached between An Post and the IPU in 2018 will continue be implemented and this proposal is without prejudice to the terms of that agreement.
242. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of contact that he has had with the domestic waste industry regarding waivers being available for persons with health issues and who have to use incontinence products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37717/22]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No 60 of 9 September 2021. The position is unchanged.
243. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide funding to local authorities to allow them to distribute the €200 electricity credit directly to members of the Travelling community who were excluded from this payment due to them paying their electricity bills directly to their local authority, or in cases in which they share a common electricity meter in a halting site and did not therefore received the €200 credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/22]
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 credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) has been applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June, and includes prepay meters. The scheme is operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of an electricity meter point registration number (MPRN), to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible this year, without any additional means testing. The payment has been applied to domestic electricity accounts i.e. those which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2), as set out in section 1 of the Act.
This Scheme is in addition to the Government’s long-standing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget, subsequently and most recently in the National Energy Security Framework. I continue to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further action.
244. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if additional support will be provided to people to support them with the cost of rising electricity and gas, particularly those on social protection payments and pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37805/22]
View answerGovernment is acutely aware of the impact of high electricity and gas prices, and has introduced a range of measures to mitigate their impact. The most immediate factor affecting electricity prices in Ireland and Europe is high international gas prices where we are a price taker. Gas prices are now unprecedentedly high, which feeds directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas.
Such measures include the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment which credited domestic electricity accounts with €176.22 (excl. VAT), in addition to the range of measures introduced on 10 February to address increasing costs of living, including the lump sum payment for people on the Fuel Allowance of €125, which was paid to recipients in March. This fuel allowance year recipients received a total of €1,139, compared to €735 in 2020/21.
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. The wider package of energy efficiency supports, available from SEAI, make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. These include changes to the Warmer Homes scheme which sees a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those most as risk of energy poverty - from 177 upgrades per month last year to 400 per month.
On 13 April, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Government published the National Energy Security Framework, which details of consumer supports and protections that are already in place and that are being enhanced including:
- an additional €100 Fuel Allowance payment,
- a new targeted €20 million scheme for the installation of Photo Voltaic (PV) panels for households that have a high reliance on electricity for medical reasons
- a reduction in VAT from 13.5% to 9% on gas and electricity bills from the start of May until the end of October.
In addition, under Response 6 of the Framework the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will implement a package of measures to enhance protections for financially vulnerable customers and customers in debt by quarter 3 - ahead of the next heating season.
Furthermore, on June 14th Government announced a package of measures to secure electricity and an indicative annual saving of €75 on household bills through a further reduction in the PSO levy.
Government continues to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further action.
245. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide further details on the efforts to accelerate the roll-out of the national broadband plan; the steps that are being taken to address and recalibrate the targets for 2022 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37881/22]
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 almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 1 July 2022, over 312,800 premises are design completed and over 70,700 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties. NBI has further advised that over 63,600 premises are passed with a high speed fibre broadband service across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. Construction is complete or underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections with some areas exceeding expectations.
My Department has worked with NBI to agree an Updated Interim Remedial Plan (UIRP) which recalibrated the targets for 2022 to take account of the knock on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other delays to the programme. The revised target is 102,000 premises passed by the end of January 2023 (cumulative). My Department continues to work closely with NBI to determine the targets for 2023 and this target will be agreed later this year.
NBI are implementing a number of measures to help lessen the impact that delays have had on the rollout. Such measures include:
- Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month
- Bringing in additional NBI resources
- Earlier procurement of materials used in the build stages
- Bringing in additional subcontractors.
The focus will continue to be on ensuring that the NBI build programme gets back on track and is gaining momentum month on month.
246. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the schemes, areas and projects to which carbon tax funds were allocated by the Government and subsequently re-allocated; the amount allocated and re-allocated; the schemes or projects to which they were allocated and re-allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37945/22]
View answerThe carbon tax is one of many policies in place that is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Oireachtas has legislated, through the 2020 Finance Act, to progressively increase the rate of carbon tax each year so that it will reach a rate of €100 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.
As set out in the National Development Plan, over the period 2021 to 2030 the planned carbon tax increases may allow for €9.5 billion in additional revenue.
€5 billion of the expected €9.5 billion in additional carbon tax receipts will be invested in energy efficiency, including the National Residential Retrofit Plan. Grant supports available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme were announced by the Government in February of this year, and these will be financed by carbon tax revenue. €1.5 billion of additional current funding will be made available for new schemes that will assist farmers in the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector. The remaining €3 billion in funding will be used to ensure that increases in the carbon tax are progressive by tackling fuel poverty and providing for a just transition
Decisions on the allocation of carbon tax revenue are taken each year by the Government in the context of the Budget and Estimates processes. The projected carbon tax revenue available for investment in 2022 amounts to €412 million. Full details on the allocation of this projected revenue is set out in the publication, ‘The use of carbon tax funds 2022,’ published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and available on www.gov.ie/budget.
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a matter in relation to an Eircode (details supplied) will be investigated and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37977/22]
View answerCapita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns Eircodes to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on all new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi), issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Eircode in accordance with their licence agreement.
An Post have advised my officials they have corrected the spelling of the address as per the Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping and the amended address data has been recorded in the latest An Post database which An Post GeoDirectory release to Eircode on a quarterly basis. Updated address information will be provided to Eircode by An Post GeoDirectory and made available by Capita on the Eircode Finder www.finder.eircode.ie/#/
248. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the inquiry into Inland Fisheries Ireland has been completed; if he has received a copy of the report; if he will publish the report when completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37978/22]
View answerI have appointed Mr. Conleth Bradley Senior Counsel, under Section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, (which section is entitled “Removal of Members from Office”, members being members of the Board of IFI) to carry out an independent review of the exercise by the Board of its functions under the Act.
The completion of a report of the Section 18 review and submission to me is a matter for Mr. Bradley. I have not yet received the report.
249. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38021/22]
View answerAs Minister I have no function with regard to individual applications to the grant schemes administered by SEAI on behalf of my Department. 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.
250. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of the €23 billion figure cited as a potential cost for the MetroLink in an extreme case scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37620/22]
View answer276. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of the €23 billion figure cited as a potential cost for the MetroLink in an extreme case scenario; if he will publish the source of this potential costing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37619/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 276 together.
MetroLink is at a relatively early stage of development and final construction costs will not be known until after the planning and procurement processes. On 4 July, Government approved the project in principle at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code. This decision was informed by a range of potential costs. These costs were developed in line with international best practice and combine reference class forecasting and expert assessment. The estimated construction costs at P50, with medium inflation, and P95, with high inflation, are set out in the table below; the 'P' value indicates the probability that the project will be delivered at or below a certain cost.
|
P50 (with medium inflation) |
P95 (with high inflation) |
|
|
Base Cost (Q4 2021 Prices) |
€5.80bn |
€5.80bn |
|
Risk Uplift |
30% |
182% |
|
Risk Allowance |
€1.74bn |
€10.55bn |
|
Inflation Forecast |
€1.96bn |
€7.03bn |
|
Total Cost |
€9.50bn |
€23.39bn |
As shown in the table, the base cost for MetroLink remains the same in both scenarios but the risk allowance and inflation forecast is much higher for the P95 figure. To be clear, the P95 figure of €23.39 billion is not considered representative of the expected project cost. The independent review of the preliminary business case conducted by JASPERS notes that the risk uplift at P50 is already high compared to similar projects but prudent for a project at this early stage of development. The P50 risk allowance is 30% of the base cost whereas the risk allowance at the P95 level is 182% of the base cost.
I intend to publish the Preliminary Business Case and supporting documentation in the coming weeks, with commercially sensitive information appropriately redacted.
251. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport when the recoupment of moneys owed to Wexford County Council (details supplied) is expected to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36975/22]
View answerWexford County Council submitted a request for payment of costs in relation to the testing facility to the Department of Transport in May 2022. The Department subsequently requested additional detail from Wexford County Council - latest material in reply was provided by the Council on 04 July. This information is currently being reviewed by the Department and payment will be processed on completion of that review.
252. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans or a timeframe to upgrade the Garda technology that is used to read number plates to identify if the car owner has paid road tax and hence make paper discs obsolete. [36976/22]
View answerEnforcement of motor tax, insurance and roadworthiness obligations and equipment used for enforcement measures, including the application of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, are matters for An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána currently utilise a number of technologies for enforcement of road traffic legislation. A mobility app allows members of the force to check the status of vehicles/drivers at the roadside, including whether or not a vehicle is taxed, or if a driver is insured or disqualified from driving. The fixed charge notice app allows for the issue of fixed charge notices on a paperless basis. ANPR cameras can be fixed or mounted on roads policing vehicles.
There are no plans currently to remove the requirement to display a paper motor tax disc. The requirement to display motor tax discs on vehicle windscreens will be kept under review in the context of the application of roadside enforcement technology by An Garda Síochána, in order to ensure that adequate enforcement levels are maintained.
253. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 19 January 2022, the reason for the delay in completing this work (details supplied); the new proposed date for completion of this project by his Department and the Road Safety Authority; the proposed date for this new system to go live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36989/22]
View answerThe disqualification of drivers and the enforcement of the various provisions is a shared responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and my Department. Given the number of bodies involved, and the integration of various IT systems, finalisation of the technical solution has taken a little longer than originally envisaged. In addition, the nature of the data being shared has required appropriate due diligence on both the legal and data protection governance arrangements required to be put in place. This has required a number of engagements between officials in all the organisations, with the Data Protection Officers of same; and the signature of the President of the District Court on the data sharing agreement itself.
I can however confirm that the proposed solution to automate the current manual process for sending notifications of driver disqualification court orders by the Court Services to my Department’s National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) has now been developed. All governance arrangements have also been completed. The new solution is currently in the final stage of testing, and pending successful conclusion of that stage of the project, we would envisage the new solution being live by the end of the current quarter.
254. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will explore the potential for Kerry Airport to cater to additional flights and routes given the excessive delays and operational difficulties affecting inbound and outbound flights at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37023/22]
View answerDuring my engagements with airlines on the security queues issues at Dublin Airport, I did discuss the possibility of moving capacity to other airports with them, however, it was not considered to be a viable solution in the short term, given the network operations and route planning and logistics such as crew and other ancillary services that need advance planning.
It is a commercial matter for the airlines to decide to put on additional capacity at other airports.
