Written Answers Nos. 206-213
206. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in credit awarded to solar panel holders who contribute electricity to the grid and if he can comment on the issue. [51764/22]
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, and was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The key benefit of micro-generation is the money you save on your electricity bill by consuming some of your own power, especially as we see rising electricity bills as a result of the war in Ukraine. I signed the Regulations that provide for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) on the 15th February this year and since then the necessary implementation work has been completed by ESB Networks and suppliers, under the guidance of the CRU, to deliver this benefit to micro-generators. The CRU published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. As part of this, the CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis. I am aware that while all suppliers have now advertised their rates, not all suppliers have made initial payments. The CRU has asked suppliers to communicate their decision to their customers on when initial CEG payments will be made at the earliest opportunity. However, it is important to note that microgenerators will not lose out, as payments will be backdated to the date of eligibility or the 15th February 2022 (the date the regulations were enacted), whichever is the latest. The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
207. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of the names of each special advisor employed by his Department since 2015, the relevant Minister they worked under and the date that their employment with the Department/Minister ceased where applicable. [51778/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables below: Minister Alex White 2014-2016:
|
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Madeline Mulrennan |
14/07/2014 |
7/05/2016 |
|
Bernard Harbour |
13/10/2014 |
19/03/2016 |
Minister Dennis Naughten 2016-2018:
|
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Suzie Coogan |
27/06/2016 |
12/10/2018 |
|
Ross Elwood |
13/06/2016 |
31/03/2018 |
|
Jean Andrews |
23/05/2018 |
12/10/2018 |
Minster Richard Bruton 2018- 2020:
|
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Sarah O’Neill |
16/10/2018 |
28/06/2020 |
|
Patrick Cluskey |
16/10/2018 |
28/06/2020 |
Minister of State Sean Canney 2018-2020:
|
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Robert Hughes |
02/01/2019 |
28/06/2020 |
Minister Eamonn Ryan 2020 to date :
|
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
*Paul Kenny |
8/07/2020 |
N/A |
|
*John McDonald |
29/06/2020 |
N/A |
|
*Margaret Ward |
8/07/2020 |
23/02/2022 |
|
*Edel Hackett |
7/03/2022 |
N/A |
*The advisors referenced above work across the portfolio of both this Department as well as that of the Department of Transport. As the payment is through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, all are included in this response.
All appointments were made in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Ministerial Appointments and expenses circular and guidelines and all Special Adviser contracts are co terminus with that of the Minister.
208. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 9 September 2022, if he has received the final report of the independent analysis of the warmth and wellbeing scheme carried out by the London School of Tropical Medicine; if he will publish the report in advance of World COPD day on 16 November 2022 in light of the potentially significant global impact of this ground-breaking work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51851/22]
View answerThe Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme aims to objectively measure and validate the health and wellbeing impacts of improving the living conditions of vulnerable people living in energy poverty with chronic respiratory conditions. The scheme is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Health and was jointly administered by the Health Service Executive and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Since 2016, almost 1,500 homes have received free upgrades to their homes, including attic and wall insulation, window and door replacement and heating system upgrades where needed.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) were engaged to carry out, in collaboration with the HSE, an independent analysis of the health impacts of improved energy efficiency among the participants in the research element of this scheme. The LSHTM has been working closely with the research committee for the project, which consists of officials from my Department, the HSE, the Department of Health and the SEAI since then. A draft final report has been submitted to the Department and is now subject to final reviews and comments for the project team. I will be publishing the report in full shortly when it is finalised.
The report shows positive results for the participants as a result of the energy efficiency upgrades carried out in their homes. These included:
- warmer, more comfortable homes, with heating systems that are easier to control;
- improved physical health including reduced pain;
- improved mental health and wellbeing including reduced feelings of anxiety and depression;
- reduced visits to GP and A&E and fewer incidences requiring hospitalisation;
- reduced prescription drug usage for their respiratory conditions;
- being more comfortable inviting other to their homes.
209. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied). [51876/22]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State Agency whose remit is provide scientific and management to advice to me, as Minister, on legislative measures to preserve each of the individual salmon stocks around the country. Annual legislation is enacted based on the conservation imperative that exploitation is only permitted, by the most appropriate method, where there is a sufficient surplus of fish above safe biological limits.
The use of monofilament nets was permitted in both Cork Harbour and Castlemaine following a detailed study carried out by IFI and at a time when salmon were more abundant in these areas. This study was submitted to the then Minister in the context of setting out secondary legislation for salmon management.
This method of fishing is currently under review by IFI in the light of the latest data and, for conservation reasons, there are no plans to extend its use to other areas.
210. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the grant for smart heating controls is reduced based on the BER rating of the dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51877/22]
View answerThe Government has not made any changes to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant for heating controls, available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme. Heating control grants are available to all homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2011. Summary performance requirements are available from the SEAI website at Homeowner-Application-Guide.pdf (seai.ie). Homeowners must undertake a Building Energy Rating (BER) on their home after grant aided works have been completed. The grants for heating controls and BER are €700 and €50, respectively.
211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the Government is not looking at bio-mass technology as an option (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51886/22]
View answerThe National Heat Study, published by the SEAI in February 2022, is a comprehensive analysis of the options for reaching net zero emissions from the heating sector by 2050 and contains detailed analysis which will now facilitate the development of options, policies, and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050. The Study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels, solid biomass, biogases, and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks. The Study finds that heat pumps play a significant role in decarbonising heat. The recommendation of the Study is that heat pumps are the correct decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also being a competitive option that can be widely deployed. Furthermore, in line with the recent agreement on Sectoral Emissions Ceilings to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of biomethane to further accelerate the reduction of overall economy-wide emissions, an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat will be introduced by 2024. The introduction of this Obligation will incentivise the use of renewable heat, while spreading the obligation across all non-renewable fuel types. A technical consultation will soon be undertaken, to directly inform the design of a Renewable Heat Obligation.`
212. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will introduce a ban on advertising and sponsorships by fossil fuel companies; and if not, the reasons. [51961/22]
View answerI refer the Deputy to a previous reply in relation to this matter, in response to Parliamentary Question 48164 answered on 4 October 2022. The position is unchanged.
Question No. 213 answered with No. 194.
