Written Answers Nos. 119-138
119. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if electricity credits provided for in Budget 2023 will be decoupled from MPRNs in the case where multiple individual domiciles share the same MPRN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54829/22]
View answer125. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if provisions to allocate the energy credit have been made to persons living in single units sharing the one MPRN code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54939/22]
View answer135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that his Department has taken to ensure that the €200 electricity credit is received by groups who do not have an MPRN number, including persons on Traveller halting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55319/22]
View answer136. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the electricity credit, as part of the Government’s cost-of-living measures, can be applied for tenants who purchase their prepaid meter top-up cards directly from their landlord. [55362/22]
View answer137. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the electricity credits will apply to households on coin-operated meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55401/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 125 and 135 to 137, inclusive, together.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion in Budget 2023, including a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.
The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, 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). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. This mechanism allowed payments to be made automatically to 2,138,939 domestic electricity accounts, over 99.36% of eligible accounts, under the first scheme which operated between April and June of this year.
My Department is working with the City & County Management Association (CCMA) to ensure the benefit of this scheme, of the scheme implemented earlier this year, reaches Traveller families who use Local Authority Traveller accommodation.
While the majority of residential tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the credit directly, others could have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion could have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. Where tenants have a dispute relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments, these can be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution. As there is not data set identifying this cohort, increasing awareness of entitlements of existing social protection measures, which include provision for help with household bills, is an important way of supporting people in this situation.
Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme Budget 2023 also introduced measures including:
- €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients
- €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children
- €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November
- €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability paymentThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which has oversight responsibility for the scheme, has a dedicated email address for Deputies to contact them oireachtas@cru.ie for timely replies.
120. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the full scheme design for the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54878/22]
View answerThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by government on 21st December 2021 and sets out the overall framework to support the growth of microgeneration in Ireland. The MSS Final Scheme Design (FSD) will be used by industry to understand the rationale behind the final scheme design parameters and is expected to be published in full shortly. However, the phased introduction of the key MSS supports has already begun. Domestic applicants can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing Solar PV equipment. In 2022 and 2023, capital grants are available up to a maximum of €2,400.
Non-domestic applicants including small businesses, farms, schools and community buildings are also now eligible to apply for a grant for installations up to 6kW; at the same grant amounts as domestic customers, of up to €2,400.
Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in February 2022, the SEAI have seen application levels rise sharply and are forecasting the numbers for 2022 to be more than double the application levels seen in 2021, under the previous pilot solar PV grant scheme.
The final phase of the MSS involves the introduction of a Clean Export Premium (CEP) feed in tariff, which will offer a guaranteed export tariff support for new non-domestic installations between 6kW and 50kW in size. The tariff will be fixed for 15 years and is expected to be available in 2023, following the completion of an implementation plan by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CEP will be fixed for 15 years and eligible volumes will be capped at 80% of generation capacity, to encourage self-consumption. The CEP feed-in tariff will be 13.5c/kWh in 2023.
121. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the results of the survey on the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54879/22]
View answerThe Government approved the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) design on the 21st December 2021 to support 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan. This approval was the culmination of an extensive consultation and design process, including an assessment of submissions to a public consultation on a high-level scheme design in January 2021 and a series of subsequent further detailed analysis and engagements throughout 2021. A Summary Report of Submissions Received for this public consultation was published in June 2021 and is available at the Government webpage ‘Public Consultation on a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in Ireland’ [gov.ie - Public Consultation on a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in Ireland (www.gov.ie)].
In developing the scheme design, a range of support options were considered, including the appropriate levels of export to meet the needs of all sectors and suitable payback periods that ensure citizens, businesses, farms and communities are incentivised to invest in micro-generation, primarily for self-consumption.
The MSS provides support to domestic and non-domestic applicants for renewable installations up to 50kW. These applicants will also be eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff.
Further details for the scheme can be found at gov.ie - Micro-generation (www.gov.ie)
122. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the microgeneration support scheme participants will receive payment for excess renewable electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54880/22]
View answer123. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated timeframe for future payments will be determined for the microgeneration support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54881/22]
View answer124. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the tariffs for excess renewable electricity that suppliers export to the grid; the way that these will be correlated to current market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54882/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by government on 21st December 2021 and the phased introduction of key MSS supports has already begun. Both Domestic applicants and non-domestic applicants (for installations up to 6kW) can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing Solar PV equipment . Capital grants are currently available up to a maximum of €2,400.
In December 2021 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published an interim decision for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff which outlines arrangements for implementation of the tariff, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. As part of this, the CRU decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis which must be reflective of the market, or wholesale, value of the electricity, in line with the requirements of Article 21(2)(d) of the recast Renewable Energy Directive.
I am aware that suppliers have published a range of CEG tariffs from €13.5c/kWh up to €20c/kWh which allows customers to shop around to obtain the best rates for selling and purchasing electricity. I am also aware that while suppliers have 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 15 February 2022 (the date the regulations were enacted), whichever is the latest.
It should be noted that a domestic electricity consumer is charged a retail electricity price which is set by their supplier, taking account of the cost to purchase electricity on the wholesale market, to cover the operational costs of the company and their operating margin; while also remaining competitive in the marketplace. This also includes the network charges required for use of the electricity grid. As such, retail electricity prices and CEG remuneration tariffs cannot be compared on a like for like basis.
It is a matter for the CRU to review the interim CEG arrangements with a view to putting in place an enduring solution.
126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 27 September 2022, the status of the heat and built environment delivery taskforce; if the taskforce has met to date; his plans to publish the minutes of meetings of the taskforce; the membership of the taskforce; the terms of reference of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/22]
View answer127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 27 September 2022 and a Government press release (details supplied), the status of the cross-departmental national retrofit steering group; the membership of the steering group; the terms of reference of the group; the number of meetings held to date by the group; if minutes are taken in respect of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54982/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
Building on the experience of the other taskforces already established, the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce is currently being established, with a view to the first meeting of the taskforce taking place shortly. It is envisaged that the membership of the taskforce, when finalised, will align with the initial allocation of Ministerial responsibility for the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, as agreed by Government, and that the taskforce will be supported by other groups established to examine specific aspects of its remit.
The taskforce will identify work on the critical path to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat, decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of the building stock. The aim of the taskforce will be ensuring alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments and proactively managing risks to ensure targets are achieved.
The Terms of Reference for the taskforce will be finalised with its members, as will its work programme and administrative processes.
128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the new action plan on energy poverty; the timeline for the publication of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54983/22]
View answerThe Government published a review of the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty, alongside a public consultation in August. The Review showed strong delivery with many of the original actions exceeded. The responses to the consultation helped to inform this year’s Budget as well as the development of the forthcoming Action Plan to Combat Energy Poverty.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion was included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments over the coming three billing periods.
Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme, Budget 2023 also introduced measures to support people with the increased cost of living including:
- €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients
- €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children
- €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November
- €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability payment
A total budget of €337 million was announced as part of Budget 2023 for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes next year including 6,000 free upgrades for homeowners at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes scheme. This budget allocation will also mean that the special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation will continue to be available to homeowners next year. In addition, €87 million has been allocated by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to upgrade the energy performance of 2,400 local authority social homes.
The new Action Plan will set out the measures being implemented this coming winter, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected. It is intended that the new plan will be published in the coming weeks.
129. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to groups of housing units being charged commercial rates for gas usage; if he intends to intervene in order to reduce the cost for tenants this coming winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55133/22]
View answerIn cases where apartment blocks or housing developments are supplied with heat, rather than fuel, it is the heat supplier that is the purchaser of the fuel used. Therefore, where gas is being used, a commercial tariff is applied due to scale of purchase. Gas and electricity retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein those markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that recent increases in global energy prices is having on households and implemented a €2.4 billion package of supports this year, with a further package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion in Budget 2023, which includes the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme II. Since being announced in Budget 2023 primary and secondary enabling legislation has been put in place and from Tuesday, 1st November, the first of three €200 electricity credits (inclusive of VAT) are being paid directly to over 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts, including both bill pay and pay-as-you-go customers.
This year, my Department established the District Heating Steering Group to consider the development of district heating in Ireland and the regulatory framework required to protect consumers. The Steering Group has considered the economic regulation and consumer protection needs of the district heating sector, and smaller scale group heating schemes have been part of these considerations.
In addition, in the context of developing district heating in Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has initiated a programme of pilot feasibility studies in relation to the technical potential of moving group heating schemes fuelled by natural gas to a renewable energy source. It is anticipated that the results of the first of these studies will be available in the New Year, and they will be of use to inform decisions of operators of schemes throughout the country.
Furthermore, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has been appointed as Regulator of District Heat Networks and will be responsible for development of appropriate regulation of the sector.
130. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that is being made in signing-off on pension increases due to retired An Post workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48257/22]
View answerIn accordance with the relevant Code of Practice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), An Post must seek Ministerial approval to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Paragraph 8 of DPER Circular 16/2021 states that pension approval requests should be submitted for approval well in advance of any decision to implement changes and this is in acknowledgement of the necessary processes that must be completed and in order to ensure that pension increases are not unduly delayed.
However, it should be recognised that the pension approval process does take time which is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.
In May of this year, An Post, which is an independent commercial semi-state body, requested an increase of 2% with effect from 1 January 2022. Having sought the necessary advice from NewERA, my officials submitted their recommendation on 1 September, and I granted my consent on 2 September to the payment of an increase of 2% to An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2022. The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the proposal was subsequently provided on 7 September. An Post was made aware of this and has communicated with the Group of Unions.
An Post has undertaken to submit a request for a proposed increase of up to 2% for An Post pensioners with effect from 1st January 2023, with the appropriate financial and actuarial reports required for further analysis.
As stated in DPER Circular 16/2021, such proposals require NewERA’s views, as well as a business case setting out the strategic, policy and financial rationale for the proposed increase. The process is required to ensure good governance. When all the required documentation is received from An Post the standard process will have to be followed, with NewERA’s views and assessment by officials being required for the 2023 proposed increase prior to the consent of both Ministers being sought.
This is the same procedure that must be followed for any State body.
131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views in relation to the penalties regarding new legislation around solid fuels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55225/22]
View answerThe new regulations on solid fuels do not ban the burning of any fuel in any location. The primary focus of these regulations is to ensure that only lower smoke products are available to buy through commercial, online and retail channels. The ban on burning non approved fuels, which was a feature of the previous regulations, has been removed to ensure that those with access to turf or stocks of fuels which are no longer approved would be able to continue to use them. I want to emphasise that there is no provision made in the new regulations for fines and/or prison sentences for “excessive” burning of turf or any other solid fuel. Enforcement of the regulations are a matter for Local Authorities and initial efforts will focus on working with and helping key stakeholders in understanding and complying with their obligations under the new regulations. Retailers, producers, and those transporting non-approved fuels, may face fines and/or prosecution for breaches of the regulations, but there are no offences within the new regulations that would apply directly to householders.
132. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will seek an urgent implementation of the Private Members’ Motion passed by Dáil Éireann in November 2016 which sets out an action plan enabling the sustainability of the post office network; his views on this need for urgency given that Ireland is facing 200 post office closures from January 2023 and the closure of an additional 400 post offices from January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55239/22]
View answer150. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he has taken to ensure the financial sustainability of the current post office network, especially in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55592/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 150 together.
An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. In addition, Irish post offices are typically independent businesses that are run by postmasters. Decisions relating to the network, including those in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are operational matters for the Board and management of the company. 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. The company fully understands the Government position and a sustainable, viable and customer-focused post office network is a key strategic priority for the company.Since the November 2016 Private Members' motion referred to by the Deputy was debated, a lot of work has been done to ensure An Post and the post office network remain viable.
The transformation programme that was agreed with the Irish Postmasters Union in 2018, was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. An Post introduced the pandemic recovery fund in 2021, which was worth €8.5 million over an 18-month period. This commenced on 1 July 2021 and will continue until the end of this year.
My Department will be providing funding of €10 million per annum, from within the existing capital provision of the 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. 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.
An Post and the IPU (Irish Postmasters Union) are in consultation on the methodology to be used. Exact details relating to the disbursal of funds will be released in due course, subsequent to these consultations. Amendment of the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983 will also be required to provide a legal base for the provision of funding from the Minister to An Post.The Government recognises the importance of the high value and high quality post office network to our citizens right across the country, as well as the central and trusted role of postmasters in our communities. An Post, including through the post office network provides important services to its customers and it is contracted to provide key Government services to citizens.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Post continues to play a vital role. Officials in my Department have ongoing engagement with the company, with other Departments and with key stakeholders to explore all options, in line with this commitment.
133. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on Broadband roll-out in an area of DSW, with particular reference to the rural mountains and valleys. [55244/22]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. There are 61,887 premises in the Dublin South-West constituency of which 819 premises are in the AMBER area and 61,068 premises are within the BLUE area and will be provided with high speed fibre broadband under the NBP.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 28 October 2022, over 97,000 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 87,700 premises passed across 25 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 1,858 premises in County Dublin are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
The network rollout for the NBP is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass. The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built. Villages/Townlands/Counties can be covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the rollout across county areas.
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 and connected 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.
134. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the Barryroe oilfield application for drilling licence; if a decision has been issued; if not, the reason for the ongoing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55260/22]
View answerThe application referred to in the Question is under consideration by my Department. All applications for petroleum authorisations are assessed against a number of criteria in accordance with Section 9A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, as amended, and Section 3 of the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production.
This includes the technical competence of the applicant and the financial resources available to it in order to undertake the work programme and any other commitments pursuant to the relevant petroleum authorisation.
My Department does not publish information on individual applications for authorisations whilst they are under consideration.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he has had discussions with his colleagues at EU level on the ever-increasing energy prices and supply difficulties; and the extent to which progress continues to be made in this regard to protect consumers throughout the European Union. [53199/22]
View answerThe European Council met on Thursday (20th October) to continue work on Europe’s response to the energy crisis, as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The European Union has already implemented three different laws over the course of the year, focusing on:
- reducing gas and electricity demand;
- ensuring stocks of gas storage are replenished for the winter; and
- supporting citizens and businesses through the winter. The Council has agreed to continue to work collectively on these issues. The focus of this meeting was on wholesale gas prices. The Council and the European Commission have been called on to urgently submit concrete decisions in a number of areas, including:
- voluntary joint purchasing of gas;
- a new complementary gas price benchmark, that more accurately reflects conditions on the gas market;
- a temporary ‘dynamic price corridor’ on natural gas transactions on the main European gas exchange in the Netherlands;
- a temporary EU framework to cap the price of wholesale gas in electricity generation, while preventing increases in gas consumption;
- fast-tracking the simplification of permitting procedures – to accelerate the roll-out of renewables and grid infrastructure;
- increased efforts to save energy.
More detailed work now urgently needs to be done. Ireland will work closely with its EU counterparts. Ireland secures its gas mainly from the UK, so these measures may not have an immediate impact. However, the intention is that such measures would lower wholesale gas prices, more generally.
