Written Answers Nos. 88-107
88. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 3 March 2021, if he will contact An Post given that An Post has contacted a person (details supplied) but the issue has not been resolved to date; if he will again highlight this with the relevant authorities in order to get the issue rectified for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40199/22]
View answerThe matter referred to in the Question is an operational matter for An Post.Following receipt of the Deputy’s previous Parliamentary Questions the issue was brought to the attention of An Post.
I understand An Post were subsequently in contact with the individual concerned and with the Deputy directly. The matter has been referred to An Post for direct reply to the Deputy .
89. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that an additional step network design has been added into the connection process by National Broadband Ireland; and the average length of time that this phase is expected to take. [40215/22]
View answer90. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that an extra step has been added to the connection process by National Broadband Ireland in the roll-out of broadband; the length of time this step is expected to add to the roll-out process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40231/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
Regarding the query raised in the Question my Department contacted National Broadband Ireland (NBI) who has advised that It has always been the case that there is a phase of the NBP rollout that allows time for ‘Network Design’. On the NBI website there is a page entitled ‘Steps to getting the network connected’ Steps to getting the network connected - NBI
This lists the phases of the project for the public as follows:
-Phase 1: Surveying
-Phase 2: Design
-Phase 3: Build
-Phase 4: Order you connection
-Phase 5: Getting connected
The page also explains how the various phases of the project are progressed and what is involved in the network build. NBI has further advised that they will separately reach out to the Deputy and offer a briefing update for her area.
91. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises connected in the broadband roll-out in counties Roscommon and Galway to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40232/22]
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 15 July 2022, over 313,600 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 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. NBI has advised that in County Roscommon there are currently 4,191 premises passed with a high speed fibre broadband service and available for immediate connection and in County Galway there are 8,069 premises passed.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Roscommon and County Galway 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/reps.
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 657 BCP sites have been installed by NBI, as of 15 July 2022, 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 Roscommon 9 BCPs have been installed by NBI to date. In County Galway 20 BCPs have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/broadband-connection-points/.
In County Roscommon 6 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. In County Galway 32 schools have been installed. 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/
93. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the cancellation of an application for the warmer homes' scheme (details supplied) despite the applicant being eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40286/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to lower income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 145,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level.
Applications under grant 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.
SEAI operate under a Customer Charter and a complaints and appeals procedure is in place. If following this procedure an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can seek an independent review from the Office of the Ombudsman of the complaint. Further details are available here: www.seai.ie/customer-charter/.
94. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if capacity has been reached at a waste management facility (details supplied); the measures that are in place for private operators to dispose of materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40344/22]
View answerAs Minister, I set the policy and legislative framework for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model in Ireland and this includes the farm plastics scheme. Irish Farm Film Plastics Group CLG (IFFPG) operates under an approval granted by my Department however I have no role in operational matters. The relationship between IFFPG and the Littleton recycling facility is a commercial matter for IFFPG.
Environmental permitting of the Littleton plant is the responsibility of the local authority under the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. Under section 60(3) of that Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority or local authorities of their statutory functions under the Act.
95. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline for the transposition of Article 9 of the EU Broadband Cost Reduction Directive into Irish law and specifically for his Department as it relates to the introduction of building regulations which make it mandatory for all new housing developments to have broadband infrastructure installed on-site as part of the wider construction process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40350/22]
View answerDraft Regulations to effect transposition of Article 8 of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD) are under development and my Department continues to engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the necessary measures to transpose this outstanding provision, in order that they can be finalised as a matter of urgency.
It is expected that the necessary Regulations, to be made by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will be transposed by the end of this year.
96. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of revenue generated through the Public Service Obligation levy each year since its introduction in tabular form. [40351/22]
View answerI refer to the response to Question number 178 of 5 April 2022, which sets out the requested figures.
97. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will comment on an estimated percentage of the renewable electricity generation capacity that is in public ownership. [40352/22]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein such markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. State owned enterprises and private sector companies operate within this competitive framework to deliver the overall lowest cost to consumers over the lifetime of the investment. This includes competitions for support for investment in the generation of renewable energy such as the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).
As such, while state-owned bodies may own and operate renewable energy developments, these bodies do so on a commercial basis and the State itself does not directly own or operate any such generation assets.
98. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that a person (details supplied) did not receive the €200 electricity allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40357/22]
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/
99. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department plans to oversee the removal of an illegal dump at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40445/22]
View answerIndividual local authorities deal with cases of the illegal disposal of waste in their functional areas and it is matter for them to take the appropriate enforcement and clean up actions under the Waste Management Act. The National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee (NWESC), which is co-chaired by my Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has provided assistance to Dublin City Council (DCC) in relation to this site, in bringing together relevant NWESC member agencies such as An Garda Síochána (AGS), Revenue and the Department of Social Protection to assist DCC in their efforts.
The operation to date has resulted in the impounding of vehicles used for alleged unauthorised waste activities and the initiation of prosecutions. There are investigations underway by DCC, with the assistance of the AGS, into ongoing breaches of the Waste Management Act. Patrols, together with regular clean-up and maintenance operations by DCC are continuing.
The ultimate objective is to clean and secure the site as part of an overall and sustainable solution, which will include the development of the site and surrounding area by DCC. Specialist Environmental Consultants have been engaged by DCC to undertake Environmental Assessments in order to gauge the scale and types of waste involved and the subsequent means and level of clean-up that might be required. The clean-up of this site will be carried out in conjunction with the overall development of the area by DCC and my Department officials will receive further reports from DCC via the NWESC as this progresses. In the interim, DCC are actively engaged at a senior level with An Garda the AGS in ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal dumping in this area.
Tackling illegal dumping and other waste crime is a priority for my Department, which continues to provide substantial support to local authorities dealing with challenging waste enforcement cases.
101. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide an ndearnadh aon teagmháil idir a oifig agus an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán chun tabhairt faoi shárú a Roinne ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, atá aitheanta ag Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, a chur ina cheart maidir le hÉirchód; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [40550/22]
View answerIs é Capita, ag trádáil mar Eircode, a shannann Eircode do sheoltaí nua áitribh trí úsáid seoladh bailí poist agus geoshuíomhanna deimhnithe. Bailíonn An Post faisnéis ar gach foirgneamh nua agus reatha, chomh maith le hathruithe ar sheoltaí reatha agus soláthraíonn Suirbhéireacht Ordanáis Éireann na geoshuíomhanna do na foirgnimh seo. Eisíonn An Post GeoDirectory (APG), fochuideachta de chuid An Post agus Suirbhéireacht Ordanáis Eireann (OSi), eagrán nua de chomhad bunachar sonraí GeoDirectory ar bhonn ráithe le Eircode, de réir a gcomhaontú ceadúnais.
Mar fhreagairt don tuairisc a tháirg Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, rinne mo Roinn beart ar gach moladh agus bhí an Roinn i dteagmháil le Brainse na Logainmneacha sa Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spórt agus Meán, chomh maith le forais eile Ghaeilge le go méadófar an líon seoltaí poist a aistrítear go Gaeilge i mbunachar sonraí GeoDirectory.
D’fhonn Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiula, Acht na Logainmneacha agus Orduithe Logainmneacha achtaithe agus ár Scéim Teangacha Oifigiúla a chomhlíonadh, tá na socruithe cuí déanta ag mo Roinn chun a chinntiú go n-úsáideann mo Roinn logainmneacha oifigiúla ceantair Ghaeltachta mar an réamhshocrú le haghaidh cúiseanna oifigiúla i bhfoilseacháin, i mbunachair shonraí srl. de chuid na Roinne. Tá sé seo amhlaidh fosta maidir le córas Eircode agus dáileadh ráithiúl Eircode nua.
Tá curtha in iúl ag APG do m’oifigigh go bhfuil an Coiste Logainmneacha ag leanúint de chomhad de logainmneacha Gaeilge, ar cuid de sheoladh iad a athraíodh nó a uasdátaíodh, a chur ar fáil do APG. Tá curtha in iúl ag APG do m’oifigigh fosta, go gcuimsítear i mbunachar sonraí GeoDirectory sonraí ar logainmneacha oifigiúla faoi mar atá curtha ar fáil ag an gCoiste Logainmneacha agus go nuashonraítear an bunachar sonraí go rialta le faisnéis a chuireann an Coiste ar fáil.
102. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current and capital funding allocated to the National Cyber Security Centre in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40570/22]
View answerThe budget allocation for the National Cyber Security Centre for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are set out below.
|
2022 Budget € |
2021 Budget € |
2020 Budget € |
2019 Budget € |
|
|
Current |
2,500 m |
2,500 m |
1,500 m |
1,500 m |
|
Capital |
2,600 m |
2,600 m |
200 k |
200 k |
103. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of plans for a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans; if contracts have been signed with an operator for the scheme; if so, the timeframe for the implementation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40582/22]
View answerOn 1st July 2022 I approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (DRSI) to act as an approved body under the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021. This approval is a vital foundational element for the project, giving DRSI the legal standing to establish a deposit return scheme and commence formal engagement with producers and retailers.
DRS will be launched Q3 of this year, when the scheme will open for registrations from producers and retailers. DRS is a major project involving the development of complex IT, infrastructure and communication systems, which will be implemented by DRSI over the course of 2023.
104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount currently in the Climate Action Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40629/22]
View answer105. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of the projects that have received funding from the Climate Action Fund to date in 2022; the amount of funding awarded to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40630/22]
View answer106. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for the funding to be allocated to projects from the Climate Action Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40631/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 104 to 106, inclusive, together.
The Climate Action Fund (CAF) was established under section 37B of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act 2020 (the Act). The purpose of the CAF is to provide financial support to projects which will help Ireland achieve its climate and energy targets. The CAF will provide at least €500 million in Government funding up to 2027 towards this objective, and will allow for the development of innovative initiatives which, without this support, may not otherwise be possible to accomplish. My Department is responsible for the Fund's implementation.
€139 million has been committed in total from the Fund for a range of projects, including in relation to district heating, EV infrastructure, creative climate action, co-financing for EU LIFE projects, and a Community Climate Action Programme. The current balance in the CAF is just under €138.7 million.
To date in 2022, the following projects have received funding in the amounts specified from the CAF:
- Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS)* - €4,453,000
- ESB E-Cars - €542,000.
*Initially, funding was secured from the Climate Action Fund to the value of €108 million. However, this will be reimbursed from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility on completion of agreed milestones.
Section 37B(9) of the Act sets out the types of projects and initiatives that may be funded by the CAF, including
projects that seek to reduce, or support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the State; projects that seek to increase the production, or use, of renewable energy in the State; projects that seek to improve energy efficiency in the State; and projects and initiatives in regions in the State and within sectors of the economy impacted by the transition to a low carbon economy.
107. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will amend the scheme policy and eligibility criteria for the better energy homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40640/22]
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 install 600,000 heat pumps in homes by 2030, of which 400,000 will be in existing homes.
My Department funds a range of grant schemes which are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides a financial incentive to private homeowners to improve the energy performance of their home. Grants for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes have been significantly increased in line with the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme. Under the scheme a home cannot receive grant funding twice for the same energy efficiency measure.
However, under the National Home Energy Upgrade scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme, where a property is being fully retrofitted homeowners can receive grants for the measures recommended to achieve a B2 BER standard and heat pump as outlined in the Home Energy Assessment. Where a home previously received grant support for insulation and the Home Energy Assessment determines that a second insulation measure is required as part of an overall property upgrade to attain a B2 BER standard/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and meet the heat pump requirement, this is allowed as follows:
- Internal Wall Insulation is eligible where cavity has previously been funded.
- External wall insulation is eligible where either cavity or internal wall insulation has been funded.
- Two wall insulation measures cannot be grant funded under the same Home Energy Upgrade Scheme application.
It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer. The improved grant schemes provided by SEAI are the subject of significant interest from households.
