Written Answers Nos. 74-93
74. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the hydrogen strategy for Ireland and the role that green hydrogen will play as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport. [45778/22]
View answer119. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to develop green hydrogen storage facilities and infrastructure to support the green hydrogen economy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45765/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 119 together. 7
Green hydrogen has the potential to support decarbonisation in “difficult-to-decarbonise” sectors where energy efficiency and electrification are not feasible solutions. For example, in heavy transport for goods vehicles, or maritime and aviation craft, or as a source for high-temperature heat in industry. Hydrogen storage could also have a significant role to play in power generation as a form of long-term electricity storage, where hydrogen would be used as a backup to renewables to generate electricity during periods of low renewable availability. On 12 July, my Department 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 set out various areas of interest to be considered in the development of the hydrogen strategy and invited stakeholders’ responses on specific questions to be answered in this regard. Stakeholder views were sought on the broad landscape of potential hydrogen supply, infrastructure, storage, and demand in Ireland, as well as the potential export opportunities for hydrogen. Among the issues addressed was the question of storage and responses were invited on a range of questions as to how Ireland might best develop hydrogen storage capacity. The consultation ran for an 8-week response period, which concluded on Friday 2nd September, following which analysis of the responses received and preparation of the strategy document has begun, with a view to publication of the strategy before year-end.
75. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in County Cork from 1 January 2022 to the 31 August 2022; the number of premises connected including schools and Broadband Connection Points during this timeframe in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45776/22]
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 over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by NBI that, as of 9 September 2022, over 88,000 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 75,500 premises passed 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 or exceeding projections.
NBI has advised that to date in Cork over 15,000 premises are passed by the NBP highspeed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. 10,620 premises were passed in Cork in 2022 to date. Some 2,765 premises in Cork have been connected to date with 1,185 of those connected in 2022.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP high speed broadband network. As of 9 September, 716 BCP sites have been installed by NBI 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 Cork 24 BCPs have been installed to date, of which 2 were installed in 2022.
In County Cork 93 schools BCPs have been installed by NBI to date for educational access of which 55 Schools were installed in 2022. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area.
76. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that he is proposing to support households struggling to meet rising energy bills. [45551/22]
View answerThe unprecedented increase in international wholesale gas prices have continued as result of the volatility in the international gas market driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war. These gas increases feed directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas.Government is acutely aware of the impact on consumers of high electricity and gas prices, and has introduced a range of measures to mitigate their impact, including the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme with a payment of €176.22 (excl. VAT) made to almost 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts between April and May of this year at a total cost of just under €377 million. The Scheme was part of a package of measures, which included further increases in the Fuel Allowance, seeing it increase from €735 in winter 2020/21 to €1139 and a reduction in VAT on electricity bills from 13.5% to 9%.Under Responses 6 and 7 of the National Energy Security Framework the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) announced enhanced consumer protection measures to be implemented by electricity and gas providers ahead of the coming winter. This means that from 1 December 2022 until 28 February 2023 no domestic customers can be disconnected while vulnerable customers cannot be disconnected from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2022. These measures also include a requirement that customers with a financial hardship meter will be placed on the cheapest tariff available from their supplier from 1st December. This is in addition to the existing protections for vulnerable customers registered as being critically dependent on electrically powered assistive devices who cannot be disconnected for reasons of non-payment at any time. Full details of CRU’s enhanced measures is available at: CRU202285-CRU-Decision-on-Additional-Customer-Protection-Measures-for-Household-Electricity-Gas-Custsomers_.pdfOn energy efficiency, the Government supports are considerable. Earlier this year the government 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. €118 million has been allocated to SEAI to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to households that are in, or at risk of, energy poverty. It is estimated that over 5,100 upgrades will be provided under SEAI Energy Poverty schemes in 2022. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will invest a further €85 million as part of the Local Authority Retrofit Programme in 2022. This will deliver approximately 2,400 B2 retrofits of Local Authority homes this year. This means that of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million, €203 million (58%) will be spent on dedicated energy poverty schemes and local authority retrofits.Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets is statutorily a matter for the CRU. It ceased price setting for electricity in 2011 and gas in 2014. Therefore, the setting of prices and charges is a commercial matter for individual supply companies. Government has already put a €2.4 billion package of measures in place to support people to meet the cost of energy and continues to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further action, particularly in the context of the imminent Budget 2023. The best long-term approach for Ireland to insulate consumers from volatility on international wholesale energy markets is to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and expand interconnection with European and neighbouring markets and deepen internal market integration.
77. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to reduce the cost of insulating homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45548/22]
View answer82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to bring measures forward to make energy-saving easier for people to achieve over the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45646/22]
View answer106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to promote the insulation of homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45547/22]
View answer117. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to address the affordability of retrofitting under SEAI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45748/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 82, 106 and 117 together.
The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving our national targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.
Earlier this year the Government approved a package of significantly enhanced supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. This included increases in grant rates from circa 30% to circa 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 standard and up to 80% of the typical cost for cavity and roof insulation. Data from the SEAI shows that since the launch of the new measures, demand across the retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high. As of the end of last month, over 30,000 applications for support had been received by SEAI. This is more than double the number received during the same period last year. This demand is translating into delivery with 13,400 home energy upgrades completed with support from across the range of schemes, up 70% when compared to the same period last year. Full details on the range of SEAI supports available can be found at www.seai.ie.
My Department is also engaging with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and the European Investment Bank in relation to the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. It is intended that the loans under the guarantee available in the coming months.
Response 5 of the National Energy Security Framework introduced the nationwide Reduce Your Use campaign which is a programme of communications informing consumers and businesses what actions they can take to reduce their energy demand, how they could lower energy bills and what supports, including retrofit and insulation grants, are available to them. Further information can be found at www.gov.ie.
78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that he is taking to increase public and community-owned and led renewables projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45787/22]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) includes a dedicated community category developed specifically to allow communities and citizens to participate in and benefit from the development of renewable electricity generation. In the first RESS auction, seven community projects were successful, two of which were 100% community owned, the remainder being at least 51% community owned. Of the RESS-1 Community Projects, five were solar projects and two were wind, with four of the solar and both wind projects currently progressing through the scheme's delivery milestones to commercial operation this year or at the latest by the end of 2023. For the second RESS auction onwards, all community projects must be 100% community owned. Ten community projects were successful in the second RESS auction, eight of which are solar projects. These projects are expected to deliver by 2024 or at the latest, by the end of 2025.
Alternatively, the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants for both domestic and non-domestic applicants, such as public and community bodies, for solar PV installations up to 6.0kW, primarily for self-consumption, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available. These solar PV grants are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and will become available to non-domestic applicants by the end of September.
Suppliers are now obliged to offer a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators, so that they receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. More information is available at: Clean Export Tariff - Commission for Regulation of Utilities (cru.ie).
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is due to consult on an implementation plan for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff by the end of 2022. This guaranteed export tariff support for new non-domestic installations greater than 6.0kW up to 50kW in size, is fixed for 15 years. For 2023 the rate will be 13.5c/kWh.
The Climate Action Plan commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generators (SSG) above 50kW to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV. Supporting the development of public and community led projects will be a central focus of the scheme design. The scheme is expected to come into effect in 2023. A public consultation on proposed design elements of the SSG scheme is open until the 29th September.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which progress is being made towards emission reduction in line with targets while ensuring that food production continues to avoid food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45692/22]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.
Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. On 28 July, the Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, (i.e. 2021-2025 and 2026-2030), with the exception of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which will be determined later.
There is target for a 25% emissions reduction for our agriculture sector by 2030. The Climate Action Plan 2021 has outlined how emission reductions can be achieved in this sector in the coming years, which involves offering farmers the means to reduce carbon emissions at farm level by becoming more carbon efficient, while also diversifying toward the production of energy and less carbon intensive practices such as organic farming. These measures, and the extent to which progress is being made, will be reflected in the next Climate Action Plan, which is due to be published by the end of 2022.
In the meantime, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our carbon emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. This is a key opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our family farms will fully exploit the opportunities of this transition without compromising on sustainable food production .
80. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding reporting from the Inter-Departmental Working Group to explore the skills deficit and existing climate change expertise and training; the position regarding the gap analysis in climate training across the civil service as outlined in the Climate Action Plan Annex of Actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45722/22]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that developing policies to tackle the climate crisis requires a significant transformational challenge for the whole of government. Our public servants must, therefore, be capable of leading effective transformation in respect of the climate agenda. It is within this context that it is fitting to assess capacity across the civil service in order to ensure the civil service is able to deliver on the significant challenges that the system faces in implementing current and future Climate Action Plans.
In this regard, Action 5 of the Climate Action Plan 2021 contains a number of interrelated tasks for different Government Departments that seek to examine the capacity and capability of the civil and public service to oversee the delivery of envisaged emissions reductions across society and to enhance Ireland’s resilience to climate impacts.
Specifically, the tasks referred to by the Deputy relate to skills gaps and training needs. All Departments were tasked with undertaking related analysis. For the purposes of efficiency, it was decided to pursue these actions together in a single review of climate action capacity in the civil service. The Institute of Public Administration has been commissioned to undertake this work which commenced earlier this year. The work is examining relevant capacity across all Government Departments and key agencies, including consideration of skills gaps and training needs. This work is due to be completed early in 2023.
It is envisaged that this research will also support priorities being identified under the new public service reform programme. In particular, the need for future public service reform to be directly aligned with policy in respect of the climate action challenge.
81. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered a directive to install PV or solar panels on public buildings; and if he will support community groups and sporting organisations to do same. [45673/22]
View answer
Question No. 82 answered with Question No. 77.
83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 2 June 2022, the details of any engagement he or his Department has had since May 2022 with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45772/22]
View answer107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 1 June 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines for Local Authority climate action plans, which will include the guidelines for the implementation of Local Authority decarbonising zones; the timeline for the publication of the statutory guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45771/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 107 together.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 was commenced on the 23 July 2021. Section 16 of the Act requires each Local Authority to prepare a climate action plan, specifying the mitigation and adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority. Local Authorities will have 12 months to complete their individual plans once requested by the Minister, with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Act. Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and will include both mitigation and adaptation measures to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans and I have allocated €3.5 million for Local Authorities to assist in this work this year.
My Department is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), Local Authorities, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to finalise a set of statutory guidelines detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of Local Authority climate action plans. Decarbonisation zones are also being incorporated into the statutory guidelines for Local Authority plans. The guidelines will be issued to Local Authorities in the coming weeks.
While I have had no direct engagement with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action, my Department continues to work with the four CAROs and stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group which meets regularly. The CAROs continue to work with Local Authorities to both facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local adaptation strategies and the climate charter developed under the 2019 climate action plan.
My Department also continues to fund the implementation of the Local Authority Climate Action Training Programme. This programme is increasing knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff, and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level.
84. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the progress of the national retrofitting programme. [45689/22]
View answerThe National Retrofit Plan, which was published last year as part of the Climate Action Plan 2021 is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: driving demand and activity; financing and funding; supply chain, skills and standards; and governance.
Earlier this year in February, Government announced an enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades.
- A new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.
- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades.
- A significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades provided to those at risk of energy poverty alongside changes to the operation of the Warmer Homes Scheme. This includes ensuring the Scheme prioritises those in the worst performing homes first and opening the Scheme for homeowner ‘revisits’ thereby allowing them apply for deeper energy upgrade measures now available under the scheme.
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation has also been introduced for all households. This will help to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.
Since then, demand across the SEAI retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high with a very significant increase in the number of applications, year to date when compared to the same period in 2021. This strong pipeline of projects is translating into delivery.
This year there is a target to complete almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2. This compares to output of 15,500 upgrades last year. Figures provided by the SEAI show that to the end of August 13,406 homes have been completed across the residential energy efficiency schemes and of these, 4,234 have been upgraded to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better.
The number of free upgrades provided under the Warmer Homes Scheme each month has more than doubled versus last year. Of the overall home completions, above, 2,642 homes have been completed under the Warmer Homes Scheme, and of these 86 have been upgraded to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better.
Under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, 11 One Stop Shops have been registered with a 12th OSS expected shortly. SEAI continues to support a number of other organisations through the registration process.
85. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will work to ensure that EU plans for decoupling gas from setting the overall price of electricity will not be replaced by a situation where nuclear and coal set the prices for cheaper to produce renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45723/22]
View answerI recently attended an extraordinary meeting of the European Energy Council, where Ministers emphasised the need for coordinated European action, both in terms of short-term exceptional emergency measures, and medium/longer-term improvements to the market framework. Ministers agreed that immediate action must be taken to ensure the EU's security of supply and alleviate pressure on customers, while maintaining consistency with the current efforts to reduce gas demand and the objectives of the European Green Deal and REPowerEU.The Commission has proposed a number of short-term exceptional emergency measures in recent days which includes capping the revenues of inframarginal electricity producers with low costs of production and introducing a solidarity contribution from fossil fuel companies to be used to mitigate the impact of high energy prices on customers. The cap proposed in the Commissions Regulation is based on a fixed figure of 180€ /MWh, rather than inframarginal rent being capped based on the price of coal or nuclear. The Commission’s proposed legislation is already under urgent negotiation by Member States with the aim to have agreement by the end of the month.
86. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the support scheme for energy audits; the number of SMEs that have successfully applied for this scheme to date; the initiatives that are in place to increase the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/22]
View answerLaunched in July 2021, the Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) has had over 500 vouchers redeemed to date. This equates to €1,000,000 of direct grant funding, and the data show that the retail, manufacturing, accommodation and food services sectors make up over 70% of the audits completed. Feedback indicates a strong appetite for the scheme and, following direct engagement with the SME sector in May of this year, the SEAI has seen a significant spike in applications.
Furthermore, in keeping with the responses set out in the National Energy Security Framework (NESF), the SEAI has undertaken comprehensive reviews of all its business capital support schemes in 2022, including the SSEA.
87. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the development of a regional approach to noise enforcement as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45721/22]
View answerMy Department and the Local Government Management Agency are continuing to work together on a comprehensive business case assessment to scope out the resource requirements that will ensure that the most appropriate and effective structures are put in place to support the provision of enhanced co-ordination, expertise and advice that will deliver consistent implementation of both environmental noise and noise nuisance legislation across the country.My Department is continuing to engage with Local Authority personnel as the authorised bodies under S.I. 549/2018 EU (Environmental Noise) Regulations 2018, to develop the required strategic noise maps, and to support the sharing of resources and best practices in a coordinated, centralised approach.
88. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for further electricity costs credits in coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45749/22]
View answer118. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department have given any further consideration to support full time residents in mobile homes for future rounds of energy rebates considering that they were unable to access the €200 payment earlier this year; if the Minister will issue a statement of intent to support this vulnerable cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45756/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 118 together.
The unprecedented increase in international wholesale gas prices have continued as result of the volatility in the international gas market driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war. These gas increases feed directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas.Government is acutely aware of the impact on consumers of high electricity and gas prices, and has already put a €2.4 billion package of measures in place to support people to meet the costs. This included the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme, under which a payment of €176.22 (excluding VAT) was made to over 2 million domestic electricity accounts, including prepay meters, between April and May of this year at a total cost of just under €377 million. The Scheme was part of a package of measures, which included further increases in the Fuel Allowance, seeing it increase from €735 in winter 2020/21 to €1139 and a reduction in VAT on electricity bills from 13.5% to 9%.Government continues to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further measures, including their practical implementation and operation, particularly in the context of the imminent Budget 2023.
89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the sectoral ceilings for greenhouse gas emissions as announced are compliant with the Climate Act 2021 and with the states obligations under the Paris Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45737/22]
View answerThe 2021 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 requires the introduction of carbon budgets that must provide for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, relative to 2018 levels. The 2021 Act also provides for the introduction of sector-specific emission ceilings that must operate within the carbon budgets.
In July 2022, following an extensive process of engagement and analysis, the Government approved sectoral emission ceilings. These approved ceilings included unallocated savings in the second carbon budget period. This approach acknowledges that we are not yet in a position to identify all the emerging technologies, changing scientific consensus or policies to meet our full ambition and this consideration is provided for in Section 4(8)(h) of the 2021 Act.
As preparation of the ceilings was being finalised, important additional scientific information in relation to Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) emerged. As a result, the finalisation of this ceiling has been temporarily deferred. This deferral is provided for under the Act as section 6C(4) notes that the Minister shall, “as soon as may be after a carbon budget takes effect” finalise and submit each sectoral emissions ceiling to the Government for approval. By taking this approach, the Government has acted positively to give certainty and direction to most sectors of the economy by providing sectoral emissions ceilings for those sectors as well as a clear target for emissions reduction. Further certainty will be provided following the settling of the emissions ceiling for the LULUCF sector as soon as may be, in parallel with the ongoing Land-use Strategy.
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Ireland is committed to holding global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings place Ireland on a pathway to 51% emission reductions by 2030 and becoming net-zero by no later than 2050, thus contributing to the global effort to remain under the 1.5 degrees target.
90. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his plans to deal with the increase in the cost of energy. [45691/22]
View answerThe unprecedented increase and volatility in international wholesale gas market prices has continued as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This in turn has led to increases in energy bills given the link between the wholesale price of gas and electricity. Government has already put a €2.4 billion package of measures in place to support people and further measures are being considered for Budget 2023.Government is acutely aware of the impact on consumers of high electricity and gas prices, and has introduced a range of measures to mitigate their impact including the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme, with a payment of €176.22 made to almost 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts. The Scheme was part of a package of measures, which included further increases in the Fuel Allowance, seeing it increase from €735 in 2020 to €1,139 and a reduction in VAT on electricity bills from 13.5% to 9%.Under Responses 6 and 7 of the National Energy Security Framework the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) announced enhanced consumer protection measures to be implemented by electricity and gas providers ahead of the coming winter. Earlier this year the Government increased the grant rates significantly to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. In particular, SEAI is being supported to focus on free energy upgrades for those at greatest risk of energy poverty. Business supports are also available to support businesses to improve energy efficiency. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets is statutorily a matter for CRU. It ceased price setting for electricity and gas in 2011 and 2014. The setting of prices is a commercial, competitive matter for individual supply companies.Any major interference in the energy market would need to be carefully considered to avoid potentially disrupting a market that is already facing significant challenges and exposing the Exchequer, and ultimately the taxpayer, to potentially unquantifiable costs. In this regard, direct assistance to consumers, like the Domestic Electricity Payment, and targeted measures like the Fuel Allowance, are a better approach.Following an Emergency Energy Council Meeting on the 9th of September the EU Commission is proposing potential additional measures which include capping the revenues of inframarginal electricity produces. These are very important developments, and I will be working very closely with my EU counterparts over the coming weeks on these proposals.
91. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the provisions in place for Budget 2023 to include a windfall tax on energy providers profiteering from the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45750/22]
View answer101. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he will take to address the situation where a domestic gas producer is making record profits selling into the Irish market driving up domestic energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45724/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 101 together.
Increased wholesale gas prices, which are mainly caused by Russia reducing supplies to Europe and the war in Ukraine, are leading to unprecedented increases in electricity and gas prices for households and businesses.
They are also leading to windfall gains for some energy companies across Europe, particularly those companies involved in the production of fossil fuels and those who are producing energy at a much lower cost that the cost of gas.
My Department and the Department of Finance have been exploring the potential to collect a portion of these windfall gains with a view to using the proceeds to support energy consumers.
Recently, there have been significant developments at European level in relation to windfall gains. At the Council of Energy Ministers meeting on 9 September, which I attended, the issue of windfall gains was discussed in some detail. Outline proposals were discussed and the Council of Energy Ministers invited the European Commission to make formal proposals.
On 14 September the European Commission published a proposed regulation which includes measures aimed at addressing windfall gains in the electricity sector and in fossil fuel production. These proposals are expected to raise additional revenues which will be used to reduce the cost of energy for households and businesses. It is important that this proposal captures the windfall gains and minimises negative impacts on consumers.
The proposal will be negotiated throughout the remainder of this month with a view to being approved at a meeting of the Council of Energy Ministers on 30 September. I fully support the objectives of this proposal and am working to ensure it fully addresses the issues of windfall gains in Ireland.
92. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of Ireland’s level of energy security ahead of this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45732/22]
View answerThe Commission of Regulation of Utilities, which has a statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply, currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. The Security of Supply Programme of Actions, published in September 2021, contains a number of both demand-side and supply-side mitigation measures to address any potential shortfall. These actions include; procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; additional use of grid-scale batteries; and improved demand side measures.
The Department has been working with both the CRU and EirGrid since the programme of actions was published in September 2021. On 27 June 2022, the CRU published an update on the actions within the programme and this is available on their website.
Margins will remain tight during this coming winter period (2022/2023). The CRU is continuing to work with key stakeholders to implement additional appropriate mitigation measures to further reduce risks during this winter and lower peak demand during this period.
93. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected requirement for gas and oil in the State up to 2050, allowing for the full implementation of our climate targets; the percentage of this that is likely to come from indigenous sources; the efforts that have been made to increase this percentage in order to provide security of supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45733/22]
View answer110. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the energy security review will be published; the immediate actions that he will take to improve the State’s energy security and independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45784/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 110 together.
The 2021 Climate Action Plan sets out clear renewable energy targets to 2030 in the context of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Harnessing Ireland’s renewable energy potential and reducing demand for fossil fuels through improving energy efficiency is the best way to reduce our energy import dependency. Actions to achieve this are set out in Climate Action Plan 2021.
There will be a continued need for fossil fuels and in particular natural gas during the transition, including gas-fired generation to back-up and support the rollout of renewable electricity. This has been set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021, the National Development Plan and in the policy statement on security of electricity supply which was approved by the Government and published in November 2021.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction. This commitment was made effective immediately upon the current Government taking office, and was placed on a statutory footing on commencement of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
Holders of existing authorisations are not affected by these changes, and may apply to progress their authorisations through the licensing stages towards a natural conclusion – which may include expiry, relinquishment or production. This means that a future commercial discovery in an existing authorisation could potentially reach production. Any applications for follow-on authorisations or applications to conduct petroleum activities in the Irish offshore under an authorisation require Ministerial consent, and are required to meet environmental, technical and financial standards as appropriate. If no further gas and oil is discovered in line with the above process, it could be assumed, given the decline of Corrib, that indigenous gas production will be relatively small post 2030.
This week, my Department launched a public consultation on the medium to long-term security of our electricity and gas systems. This review is considering the risks to both natural gas and electricity supplies and is examining a range of measures (including the need for additional capacity to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification and renewable gases – such as hydrogen). The public consultation will help inform the review and the outcome of the review will be brought to Government for its consideration.
