Written Answers Nos. 187-205
188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many of the fisheries claimed by Inland Fisheries Ireland were the subject of the Irish Land Act 1903 and, if not, what statutory basis they have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/23]
View answer189. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in the case of counties Mayo and Kerry to list the fisheries that Inland Fisheries Ireland does not claim but that were the subject of the Irish Land Act 1903; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16992/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
The Irish Land Act 1903 predates the foundation of the State and amended the law relating to “the occupation and ownership of land in Ireland and for other purposes relating thereto and to amend the Labourers (Ireland) Acts.”
Specifically, section 13 of the Act provides for retention / transfer of sporting (including fishing) and mineral rights, when land is being sold, including to the then Land Commission.
Fisheries in the ownership of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are a matter for IFI who have established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
In addition, I am advised that there are a range of fisheries in public ownership via other Ministers, Departments or Public Bodies and IFI may be able to assist in this.
190. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the final costs incurred for attendance at an event (details supplied); and if he will outline how attendees travelled to the event on behalf of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17138/23]
View answerCOP27, the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November 2022. During the first week, Ireland was represented by the then Taoiseach Micheál Martin; then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, and the then Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy. I led Ireland’s national delegation to COP27 for the continuation of the high-level segment during the second week of the conference. Ireland’s delegation included 54 representatives from across six Government Departments and three Agencies. A further 33 Irish representatives from a broad range of civil society, academic and industry groups were granted party overflow badges.
I was accompanied by two advisors and eight officials from my Department. Given the location of the event, all representatives of my Department flew to Sharm El-Sheikh.
While the costs associated with my Department's participation at the conference currently amount to just over €74,000, which includes travel and delegation office expenses, final costs are not yet available. A previous response in relation to costs associated with to my Department's participation at COP27 indicated that costs to date amounted to just over €81,000. Since then my Department has secured a reduction in costs from GL Events, the provider of Ireland’s COP27 delegation office, which has resulted in a reduction of our overall costs. The Department continues to engage with the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo in finalising outstanding costs related to COP27.
Questions with respect to the costs incurred by other Departments or Agencies in relation to COP27 should be directed to the appropriate Department or Agency concerned.
191. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of purchase orders generated by Inland Fisheries Ireland in each of the years from 2010 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [17166/23]
View answer192. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the Inland Fisheries Ireland requirement that employees obtain and record quotes for the purchase of goods and services in excess of €250; the reason for this policy diverging from general procurement guidelines, which place this requirement at a threshold of €5,000; and the estimated cost in terms of staff hours and salaries for complying with this rule. [17167/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
Procurement policy in Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the generation of purchase orders are operational matters for IFI, in which neither I nor my Department have any role.
IFI has established a specific e-mail address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
193. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if any consideration has been given to implementing a deposit return scheme for single-use paper items, similar to the trial being conducted for plastic containers; the evidence used to inform his deliberations on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17170/23]
View answerIn November 2022, I launched Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for single use PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans. DRS aims to boost the recycling rate for these beverage containers by charging a small, refundable deposit to customers at the point of sale.
Materials included in the DRS are those for which Ireland faces immediate, challenging EU recycling targets. The EU Single Use Plastics Directive sets a recycling target of 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029 for single use plastic beverage bottles. The revised EU Packaging Directive also sets 2025 and 2030 targets for individual packaging streams, including a recycling target for aluminium of 50% by 2025 and 60% by 2030.
A separate DRS for other materials is not envisaged at this time, however the department continues to assess the best approach to dealing with other materials, which may in the future include new schemes such as deposit return, extended producer responsibility, levies on single use items or outright prohibitions similar to those introduced under the EU's Single Use Plastics Directive.
194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has liaised with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities on the issue of energy companies reducing electricity and gas prices for their customers, given the significant fall in European wholesale gas prices over recent months; when it is expected such reductions will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17203/23]
View answer201. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has had any engagement with utility providers regarding a reduction in the prices they currently charge household customers, given the fall in wholesale energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17401/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 201 together.
Officials from my Department have ongoing engagement with CRU and the utility companies on the issue of prices outlook, customer protections and related matters.
Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) the independent energy regulator. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It is a function of the CRU to regulate the electricity market. CRU ceased price setting for electricity and gas in 2011 and 2014 and prices are set by suppliers.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices has had on households and has prioritised action across Government to support people to stay warm and well. 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 included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and the third is being credited by suppliers to accounts since 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.
On the 21st of February Government announced a further €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients from April to July and an extension to the reduced VAT rate on electricity and gas bills until October.
The CRU accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU also has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members oireachtas@cru.ie.
195. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 7 March 2023, if he will provide the details of the main subcontractors involved in the delivery of the NBP; the extent of the oversight put in place by his Department to ensure that all subcontractors are compliant with the laws of the State and the terms of the main contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17256/23]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention is being delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, signed in November 2019 and which came into effect in January 2020, 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.
The Minister has a contract with NBI to provide and operate a Gigabit broadband fibre network. The Minister does not have a direct contractual relationship with NBI’s subcontractors.
To protect the State investment and ensure that the NBP milestones and deliverables are met, the contract has been designed to include extensive protections, quality checks and reporting and monitoring obligations. The Department, as the contracting authority, will manage all of the elements of contract governance. The Department has a core existing team, which is augmented by specialist external services to effectively manage the contract. These include technical, commercial advisory, business process and legal services.
NBI has a suite of subcontractors to deploy and manage the operation of the network. As these subcontractors are managed directly by NBI, any queries in relation to their subcontractors may be directed to NBI. NBI have a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which may be used by Oireachtas members to raise specific queries.
196. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what measures are in place to regulate the financial technology sector; what regulation is in place to ensure that robust security measures are used by financial technology services offered in Ireland to counteract scams and fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17278/23]
View answerTo safeguard the efficient functioning of our banking system as well as the security of the personal and other data held by banks and financial services companies, it is vital that robust cyber security measures are implemented by the entities concerned.
The European Union Directive 2016/1148 concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems, the NIS Directive, established a regulatory framework to safeguard Operators of Essential Services in specific sectors of Critical National Infrastructure, including banking and financial market infrastructures. The NIS Directive was published in the Official Journal of the EU in July 2016 and was transposed into Irish law on the 18th of September 2018 by way of Statutory Instrument No. 360 of 2018 (hereafter “the 2018 Regulations”).
The 2018 Regulations place a number of significant responsibilities on the State and on critical infrastructure in respect of cyber security. These responsibilities are wide ranging, but, inter alia, require the State to identify Operators of Essential Services (OES) in specific sectors of Critical National Infrastructure. These OES are required to take appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to manage security risks to their network and information systems; to take steps to prevent and minimise the impact of any incident that affects the security of their network and information systems to ensure the continuity of the services they provide; and to report serious incidents to the National Competent Authority and the national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), and to comply with instructions of these authorities in this regard.
The Directive obliged the State to designate National Competent Authorities (NCA) in respect of the security of network and information systems. These entities ensure that the implementation of the Directive is monitored on an ongoing basis within the State and formalise channels of communication both with the relevant authorities of other Member States and with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Regulation 7(2) of the 2018 Regulations designates the Central Bank of Ireland as the NCA in respect of operators of essential services in the Banking and Financial Market Infrastructures sectors. I am designated as the NCA for the other five sectors within scope of the NIS Directive, and Ireland’s CSIRT is in the National Cyber Security Centre.
In the years since 2018, the global cyber threat landscape has deteriorated and many significant cyber security incidents have occurred, including the ransomware incident which impacted the HSE’s systems in May 2021. The European Union and its Member States, recognising the need for an enhanced regulatory framework, initiated at the end of 2020 a review of the NIS Directive and a revised NIS Directive, “NIS2”, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union as Directive (EU) 2022/2555 on 27 December 2022. NIS 2 will bring a broad expansion of the scope of the Directive as well as a strengthened supervisory and enforcement regime for existing sectors, underpinned by a set of sanctions and fines. The transposition and implementation of the NIS2 Directive will enhance further the resilience of Ireland’s banking and financial services sector to cyber security incidents, and officials in my Department are in ongoing contact with colleagues in the Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland.
The prevention and investigation of financial and other fraud offences is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The National Cyber Security Centre has partnered with An Garda Síochána to develop and publish advice and guidance to help citizens and businesses identify fraudulent communications such as so called phishing and smishing messages, and to implement appropriate cyber security measures.
197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming introduction of a 0% VAT rate on the supply and installation of solar panels; and how the VAT will be treated with respect to the current grant offering. [17316/23]
View answerThere are a wide range of capital supports funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants through the SEAI for both domestic and non-domestic applicants (under the Domestic and Non-Domestic Solar PV schemes respectively) for Solar PV installations up to 6.0kW, primarily for self-consumption. Grant amounts are €900/kW up to 2kW and an additional €300/kW between 2kW and 4kW; which brings total grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400.
The grant awards are based on the size of the installation, not on the costs. Moreover, the grants are applied for by the applicant and are paid directly to the applicant. As such, the recent announcement of a 0% VAT rate on the supply and installation of solar panels does not impact on the current grant offering.
However, it is expected that the new 0% VAT rate will be of significant benefit to homeowners, as it will reduce the average cost of a domestic solar PV installation by approximately €1000. This is a permanent change that will come into effect from 1 May 2023. This measure underlines the Government’s commitment to help households to save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint and contribute positively to our national climate change targets.
198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether the changes announced in the Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind will hinder the progress of offshore wind projects in Ireland [17331/23]
View answerThe Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind approved by Government aims to accelerate the delivery of 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, as well as the wider Climate Action Plan objective of achieving 80% renewable electricity by the end of this decade.
Under Phase Two, offshore renewables capacity will continue to be procured through the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), with the size and regularity of auctions required to meet the 5 GW target to be determined by onshore grid and marine spatial constraints, and the outcome of Phase One. Phase Two auction participants will compete for supports to develop offshore wind capacity within Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Designated Areas, which will be designated according to legislative provisions for Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021.
The location of Phase Two ORE Designated Areas will be geographically aligned with available onshore grid capacity, in addition to being informed by environmental considerations. By aligning with and maximising scarce available onshore grid capacity, the designation of ORE Designated Areas will expedite future delivery of offshore wind, while ensuring that development is managed in a planned, strategic and sustainable way. This approach will further provide additional certainty for investment in Ireland’s offshore renewables sector due to enhanced project delivery prospects.
199. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered introducing age-related grants for solar panels for houses of elderly people in a bid to combat both fuel poverty and climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17352/23]
View answerThe Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants for Solar PV through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Applications for the Domestic Solar PV grant scheme saw record levels in 2022, with over 10,000 applicants supported. While this level of interest indicates that the MSS is working well, its operation and effectiveness will be kept under review and adjustments made where necessary.
SEAI are also currently finalising a scheme to provide Solar PV to vulnerable customers registered as being dependent on electrically powered assistive devices. This €20m scheme is targeted to provide direct support to over 3,000 vulnerable customers who may have limited opportunity to reduce their demand.
There are also supports already in place for vulnerable customers. As part of its statutory role, the CRU sets out a number of rules for suppliers to follow in the Electricity and Gas Suppliers Handbooks. These include special provisions for vulnerable customers around areas such as billing and disconnections. These include:
Extended debt repayment periods
Reduced debt burden on pay-as-you-go top-ups
Better value for those on financial hardship meters
Promotion of a Vulnerable Customer Register
A vulnerable customer is defined as a household customer who is critically dependent on electrically powered equipment, which includes, but is not limited to, life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment. This category of vulnerable customers cannot be disconnected for non-payment at any time. Vulnerable customers are also defined as those who are particularly vulnerable to disconnection during the winter months for reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental health. It is important that people who are in such a situation contact their energy supplier to register with them as a vulnerable customer. Their electricity supplier will then notify ESB Networks. ESBN maintains a Vulnerable Customer Register based on the information provided to them by suppliers.
200. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on how innovation and digitalisation is being used to tackle littering; if microchipping a percentage of disposable coffee cups is being considered as a way of identifying litterers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17353/23]
View answerUnder the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
My Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. In 2022 €750,000 was provided under this Scheme and a similar amount is expected to be made available in 2023.
Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter.
The recently enacted Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act advances several legislative provisions which will further support Local Authorities in their anti-litter efforts, including providing for the GDPR-compliant use of a range of technologies, such as CCTV for litter enforcement purposes and an increase in the level of the on-the-spot fine for littering.
I have no plans to require microchipping of disposable cups but I will be introducing a levy on coffee cups later this year as a way of reducing our reliance on single-use items.
202. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide advice to households that have already significantly reduced their energy usage but who are still experiencing difficulty in meeting costs; if further supports are to be made available to households in order to assist in meeting these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17402/23]
View answer205. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a process has been agreed by which full-time residents in mobile homes can access a much-needed electricity credit; if he can confirm that such a payment will be drawn down through the €10 million energy poverty fund to further support persons in, or at risk of, energy poverty to ensure that these vital credits are received by the thousands of full-time mobile-home residents that to date have been unable to access the Government credit, despite being one of the most vulnerable sections of society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 205 together.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices has had on households and has prioritised action across Government to support people to stay warm and well. 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 included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and the third is being credited by suppliers to accounts since 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.
On the 21st of February Government announced a further €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients from April to July and an extension to the reduced VAT rate on electricity and gas bills until October.
Government is closely monitoring the situation and it can be seen, via a nationally representative fortnightly research tracker, that Irish Families, Households and Businesses are making every effort to reduce their energy use. It can also be seen that although there is a reduction in the difficulty experienced when tackling high energy costs, there are still segments who are facing severe financial pressure caused by their energy bills. Government of Ireland public information messaging on available supports and available advice is being specifically tailored to these segments. This focused, targeted approach will urge those who need it most to ensure they are availing of relevant supports that are ongoing and open to them.
On 13 December 2022 Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan. The plan provides, inter alia, for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023. This is in addition to the existing sources of support, such as the supplier hardship funds or the Additional Needs Payment scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection. The objective of the new fund is to provide a further safeguard to help people who may not be able to access other sources of assistance.
My Department will work with suppliers, relevant public bodies and NGOs to provide financial support to citizens experiencing difficulties meeting their energy costs this winter, including Pay As You Go gas and electricity customers. The new fund will be available to bolster hardship funds which most suppliers have in place. People are advised to engage with their suppliers directly or contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) or ALONE, who can advocate on their behalf to suppliers.
Currently my Department is considering a range of options to target this fund to vulnerable groups including those in mobile homes.
203. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is concerned about the lack of competitiveness within the electricity market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17475/23]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) the independent energy regulator. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It is a function of the CRU to regulate the retail electricity market.
In 2017 CRU published a review of competition in the retail electricity and gas markets, it is available at: Review of Competition in the Electricity and Gas Retail Markets | CRU.ie.
The CRU accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU also has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members oireachtas@cru.ie.
204. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the reason there will be no broadband connection works for an area in County Offaly (details supplied) until 2025 under the NBP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17514/23]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 31st March 2023, 119,231 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. 33,354 connections have already been made to the NBP high-speed broadband network. NBI has advised that as of 31st March, 1,326 premises in County Offaly are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection with 281 premises connected.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Offaly can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. A county update can be selected to provide 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. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 network is specifically designed based on the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs) which allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible. Villages, townlands and counties are covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the rollout across county areas.
The NBP network build, that started in 2020, is scheduled to be completed by 2027. NBI advise that the premises referred to in the question is at a status of ‘Pending Survey’.
Surveys are needed to establish the condition of existing poles and ducts, to ascertain whether repairs are needed. NBI’s contractors walk the fibre route to inspect infrastructure and gather detailed information on local conditions and this work is on-going. Further steps are then required prior to fibre build and connections including:
Results from surveys are sent to NBI’s design teams who then develop detailed designs for each of the 227 Deployment Areas for submission to the Department for “Approval to Proceed” with fibre build;
Repair/activities (“Make Ready”) carried out to ensure existing infrastructure is sufficiently prepared to pass the premises with fibre;
Installation of and connection to electronic equipment in each Local Exchange building;
Laying of the physical fibre along the poles and ducts;
Fibre build quality checks, network testing and handover within NBI;
Upload of specific fibre build details by premises to computer systems within NBI, enabling retail service providers to make connection orders visible on their respective systems which in turn allows premises’ owners to place orders.
On completion of network build works customers can then place an order and request a connection to be scheduled with the retail service provider of choice.
All of these activities must be completed before the premises can be designated premises passed status.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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. As of 31st March, 882 SCP sites have been installed 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 Offaly all 9 BCPs have been installed to date. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/.
In County Offaly 14 schools have been installed to date for educational access. 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/.
