Written Answers Nos. 46-61
46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the three-year delay in delivering an up-to-date long-term climate strategy, specifying how the Government aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as required under domestic and EU climate law; when he expects to be in a position to deliver this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20355/23]
View answerIreland’s current Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions was approved by Government on Tuesday, 25 April 2023 and is available on gov.ie
While a comprehensive draft was prepared in 2019, publication was deferred in order to reflect the enhanced ambition brought about by the 2020 Programme for Government. That enhanced ambition includes:
• a legally binding national 2050 climate neutrality target;
• provision for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 compared to 2018 levels;
• national Carbon Budgets and Sectoral Emissions Ceilings and an updated Climate Action Plan published in December 2022, which sets out the policies, measures, and actions to achieve our climate targets.
The current Long-term Strategy now complements and builds upon these climate policy developments ensuring coherent and effective climate policy. It is underpinned by analysis of transition options across each key sector of the economy and sets out indicative pathways that provide a crucial link between Ireland’s 2030 climate targets and the long-term goal set by Ireland’s ‘National Climate Objective’ and the European Climate Law.
The current strategy has been shaped by cross-departmental input and responses received to an extensive public consultation in 2019. Notwithstanding this, my Department will shortly launch a second consultation on the strategy in light of important climate policy developments since then. This will form the basis for preparing an updated Strategy by the end of this year as committed to in the Annex of Actions that accompanied Climate Action Plan 2023.
47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, in the context of budget 2024, he would consider the restoration of the 50% SEAI grant rate on solar PV for community groups facing extreme pressure on running costs, with many facing closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20399/23]
View answerMy Department has a range of supports for solar PV installations by homeowners, community groups and businesses of all sizes. The various Schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The SEAI Community Energy Grant Scheme provides funding for a range of improvements to existing buildings – to drive energy efficiency and facilitate the installation of renewable technologies. These include the installation of insulation, heat pump systems, replacement windows/doors, solar PV (Photo-Voltaic) technology, energy-efficient lighting, and energy monitors, as well as other energy upgrades. Capital funding of €68 million has been provided for the Community Energy Grant scheme in 2023, which is the largest ever budget for the Scheme.
The Community Energy Grant Scheme guidelines for 2023 have been updated to reflect the changing environment and ensure that the programme continues to target and support our communities by delivering significant energy savings as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer.
Non-domestic Solar PV projects will continue to be supported in 2023 through grant funding up to a maximum of 200kWp installed. As in 2022, larger systems can continue to be installed but with grant support limited to the maximum size. A grant support rate of 20% will be available to the commercial, agriculture, industry, warehouse, community entities. The criteria for non-domestic solar PV projects in 2023 has been informed by SEAI economic analysis which shows that while the viability gap after the clean export guarantee for solar PV systems varies across the size of system and sector, overall an industrial 250kWp system is considered already financially viable.
In addition, the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) provides grant funding up to a maximum of €2,400 towards the installation of solar PV (Photovoltaic) technology up to a maximum of 6kWp (Approx. 16 solar panels, 25m2). This includes small to medium-sized businesses, public organisations and community groups. Any excess energy can be exported to the grid with customers compensated for same by their electricity provider under the Clean Export Guarantee. The final phase of the MSS will involve the introduction of a Clean Export Premium (CEP) feed-in tariff, to support non-domestic applicants for installation sizes greater than 6kWp up to 50kWp. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will consult on an implementation plan for the CEP tariff later in 2023.
The Climate Action Plan also commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generators (SSGS) – i.e. above 50kW but smaller than those supported by the auction-based, utility-scale, Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). My Department is progressing the SSGS this year and is expected to become available later in 2023. This scheme will enable larger businesses, farms and community projects to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
Decisions regarding the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes next year will be considered as part of the Estimates 2024 process later this year.
48. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on the rules surrounding the issuance of fines by local authorities for fly tipping or illegal dumping; if he will also clarify in terms of GDPR whether a fine can be issued where a member of the public finds contact details in illegally dumped materials; and, if this is not the case, if he will consider implementing changes to encourage this type of action by members of the public. [20427/23]
View answerUnder both the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution and illegal dumping lies with the local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate enforcement actions in relation to illegal dumping taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
Penalties for illegal dumping contained in the Waste Management Act are significant. Persons who are found to be responsible for the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €5,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years. There is also scope under current waste legislation to seize vehicles involved in the carrying out of suspected unlawful waste activity and in the event of a successful prosecution to have such vehicles disposed of as the competent authority sees fit. It is also open to a local authority to issue an on-the-spot fine under the Litter Pollution Act depending on the nature of the offence.
The evidentiary value of material presented by members of the public is a matter for the enforcement authorities concerned, but my Department has not been made aware of any specific issues in this regard.
49. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline his Department’s work in advancing the opportunity for Ireland in terms of offshore renewable energy. [20433/23]
View answerUnder the Climate Action Plan 2023, the Government has committed to achieving at least 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 to support the national target of 80% renewable energy by the end of the decade. This initial target represents the first steps in achieving a long-term plan, set out in the Programme for Government, to take advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of offshore wind in Irish waters post-2030.
The Government’s approach to offshore wind development involves several workstreams which are underway simultaneously:
• Phase One, which corresponds to the first offshore renewable electricity auction (ORESS 1), for delivery by 2030,
• Phase Two, which involves an accelerated work programme for the delivery of the remainder of the 5GW target by 2030, as established by the Phase Two Policy Statement in March 2023;
• Phase Three, which targets an additional 2GW of floating wind capacity to be in development by 2030 specifically for the production of green hydrogen; and
• the Future Framework for offshore wind post-2030.
Significant work has been undertaken by my Department and aegis bodies since 2020 to develop the regulatory framework to enable offshore wind, highlights of which include:
• The National Marine Planning Framework, which was adopted by Government in May 2021, is Ireland’s first Marine Spatial Plan;
• Also in May 2021, the Government agreed to the Framework for Offshore Grid which established the phased transition towards a plan-led offshore system.
• In December 2021, the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 was enacted and established the legislative foundation for the new marine planning system.
• Under the MAP Act, a new Maritime Area Consent (MAC) regime for offshore energy projects was developed over 2022 by my Department to replace the foreshore lease system.
• Following a detailed assessment process, I awarded MACs to seven Phase One projects in December 2022. The MACs have been carefully designed to ensure the speedy progression of only the most viable offshore wind energy projects to meet Ireland’s energy targets, while protecting the State’s interest in its valuable maritime resource.
• A new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will manage and award MACs for subsequent phases of offshore wind deployment. The board of MARA is fully appointed and the body is due to be formally established in the coming months.
• To provide a route to market for Phase One offshore wind projects with MACs, the Government approved the terms and conditions of the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) in November 2022. The auction process is currently underway and final results will be available in June 2023.
• The draft spatial strategy for post-2030 offshore wind deployment, known as the draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II (OREDP II) recently completing the public consultation stage.
• A number of other policies relevant to offshore wind have completed consultation stage, such as the update to the Interconnection policy and a Hydrogen Strategy. These policies will be published in the coming months.
• The final OREDPII, updated Interconnection policy and Hydrogen Strategy, in addition to other policy areas and analysis are feeding into a draft Future Framework for post-2030 Offshore Wind deployment which will be published by my Department for consultation by year end.
Lastly, at an overarching level, my Department chairs the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, which is responsible for co-ordinating all relevant Departments and agencies towards mobilising our economy towards the offshore wind opportunity, including, among others, the Department of Transport, the Irish Maritime Development Office, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Government approved the first report of the Taskforce in March and a summary was published of the key actions for 2023 across the eight workstreams including ports, skills and workforce, supply chain and regulatory consenting.
50. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the statutory obligation imposed on An Post under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (details supplied); if he is aware that retired postal workers are now being treated less favourably in terms of their pension entitlements in apparent contravention of the obligation in the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20487/23]
View answerUnder section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes. I have asked An Post to correspond directly with the Deputy on this matter.
51. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 19 April 2023, the reason the total percentage(s) for the better energy warmer homes, better energy warmth and well-being, better energy homes, solar PV and national homes retrofit (on-stop shop) SEAI schemes do not add up to 100%; if there are data missing; and, if so, if the absence can be explained. [20561/23]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 19 April 2023 (18595/23) and the data provided to the Deputy in my response.
The SEAI has advised that in their administration of the residential and community energy efficiency schemes, instances can arise whereby the post works Building Energy Rating data may not be available at the time of reporting the home as complete. This can occur for a range of reasons including when works are completed under the Warmer Homes Scheme but a BER is not yet published; quality assurance processes which require an updated BER certificate when the previous certificate was revoked following review; a number of applications which received a BER waiver due to the Covid pandemic; and a small number of administrative errors whereby payments were processed without the BER certificate.
The SEAI has provided the updated table at the link, which sets out the latest data for the various schemes and includes additional BERs received since the last response. Figures are rounded to 2 decimal places.
54. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive perch in Derryclare Lough under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, to the detriment of the marginalised native Arctic char population and other native salmonids, particularly Atlantic salmon and brown trout (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/23]
View answer55. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive perch in Lough Shindilla under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, to the detriment of the marginalised native Arctic char population and native brown trout population (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20606/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
The Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 referred to by the Deputy relates to measures concerning the catching and retaining of all coarse species including perch. The Bye-Law is in force for the last 17 years on a National basis.
As recently advised by my officials at a meeting of the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland, a review of Bye-Laws in force for 10 years or more and their application will be commenced shortly. It is intended that Bye-Law 806 of 2006 will be reviewed early in that process.
56. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of plans by a company (details supplied) to significantly increase fees for waste collection across black, green and brown bins; if he is also aware that there is no competition in terms of waste collection across large swathes of north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20608/23]
View answerThe waste management market is serviced by private companies, where prices charged are matters between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. As Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications I have no role in setting prices in a private market.
Since mid-2017, all authorised household waste collection companies, under the terms of their permits, have been required to charge fees which incentivise households to reduce and segregate their waste.
Within these rules, the structure of pricing plans is a commercial decision for the waste collection companies and as Minister I have no power to intervene in this. Given the significant market reforms due to be delivered this year, including introduction of incentivised waste collection charging in the commercial sector, the introduction of a "recovery levy" and the nationwide expansion of kerbside bio-waste collections, I have however instructed my officials to reinstitute the Price Monitoring Group to monitor whether fair and transparent pricing is consistent in the market, in line with commitments given in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE).
The recommendations of the 2018 Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) report on the Operation of the Household Waste Collection Market, which considered issues such as market structure, competition and charges to households, were fully considered during the process of drafting of the WAPCE, launched in September 2020.
While the WAPCE does not envisage a change to the current market structure, it does contain a range of measures to empower households through enhanced consumer protection requirements.
57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national energy and climate plan will be published. [20642/23]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the cross-Government coordination and development of the National Energy and Climate Plan with the first NECP being developed and submitted to the EU Commission in 2019.
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 states that each Member State must finalise its latest notified integrated NECP by June 2024 with a draft submitted in 2023 to allow the Commission adequate time to analyse the draft Plan.
Since the publication of the 2018 Regulation new climate and energy regulations and targets have been introduced, which have dramatically changed the scope of the NECP. Many of these changes in targets have been as a result of the unjustified Russian aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine which caused an energy crisis across the EU and a subsequent EU-wide effort to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy supply. For example, the Renewable Energy Directive was reviewed to increase the renewable energy target from 32 to 40%, and on 30 March 2023 a new provisional agreement was reached, increasing the target to a minimum of 42.5%, but aiming for 45%, by 2030. The Energy Efficiency Directive Recast (EED recast) has recently been agreed but hasn’t yet been published and similarly will impact the content of the NECP.
The NECP is a complex exercise involving multiple Departments and Agencies. At this moment my Department is instituting the necessary tools and governance arrangements to ensure all data is gathered in an accurate and timely manner. My Department will aim to meet the timelines set in the Regulation, but with the pace of change of, in particular, energy targets, meeting these deadlines will be challenging for all member states.
We are aiming to publish a draft NECP later this year prior to running a public consultation and necessary environmental assessments. Regardless of the continuously evolving targets and complexities, I am hopeful that we will meet the deadline of June 2024 for publication of the final NECP.
58. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures undertaken by local authorities in terms of CCTV monitoring of illegal dumping, including dog fouling, since the enactment of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, in tabular form. [20689/23]
View answerLocal authorities are currently not in a position to use CCTV to monitor illegal dumping.
In order to address data protection concerns, Sections 22 & 33 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 require that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) prepare and submit to me, in my role as Minister, for approval, draft codes of practice for the purpose of setting standards for the operation of CCTV and other mobile recording devices, in order to deter environmental pollution and facilitate the prevention, detection, and prosecution of littering (Section 33) and illegal dumping (Section 22) offences. The preparation of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) is also required as part of this process, which the LGMA are currently progressing.
The draft Codes of Practice will be submitted to me by the LGMA for approval as soon as practicable. Once approved, local authorities will then be able to put in place both litter and waste enforcement measures involving the GDPR-compliant use of technologies such as CCTV.
59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the schemes of grants and eligibility conditions for improving energy efficiency in private homes, including upgrading work such as insulation and installation or replacement of boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20698/23]
View answer60. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if persons who need to carry out energy efficiency works in their private homes can avail of grant aid under existing schemes where some years ago small-scale grant aid was availed of by homeowners to carry out improvement works and further additional improvement works are now needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20699/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number of schemes in place to support homeowners to upgrade their properties including the fully funded Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and a number of part-funded schemes such as the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme, as well as the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) which was established last year. This allows homeowners to choose the best home upgrade option to suit their particular needs.
Details of the various energy upgrade schemes are available on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/
Under the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes, the general principle applies whereby grant funding can only be issued once per measure per property.
However, under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, where the One Stop Shop determines through the Home Energy Assessment and Heat Loss Indicator assessment that a second wall insulation is required to meet the heat pump requirement, then grant support for a second measure is permitted as follows:
• Internal Wall Insulation is eligible where cavity has previously been funded.
• External wall insulation is eligible where either cavity or internal wall insulation has been funded.
In addition, as part of the enhanced package of measures announced by Government in February 2022, changes were introduced to the eligibility criteria for the fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme to open the Scheme for homeowner ‘revisits’ thereby allowing them to apply for deeper energy upgrade measures under the scheme.
Following the introduction of the new measures, 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, which represents a 79% increase year-on year.
My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance achieved in 2022 and so far this year. A record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI for residential and community retrofit for 2023 to support the delivery of 37,000 retrofits this year. Figures to end of March 2023 show 9,946 home energy upgrades have been delivered so far this year.
61. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline Government policy on the importation of LNG and the commercial development of LNG infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20722/23]
View answerIn May 2021 the Government published its Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas. This policy sets out that pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for Ireland to permit or proceed with the development of any LNG terminals.
The Review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. The range of measures being examined as part of the Review include the need for additional capacity to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification, demand side response and renewable gases. My Department is now at an advanced stage of completing this review. A detailed technical analysis has been published and an extensive consultation process has been carried out. The response to the consultation was extensive with over 450 submissions received from a broad range of individuals and organisations. The consultation responses were reviewed and analysed, and they have provided important insights on a number of aspects such as risks, mitigation options and policy measures.
My Department is currently preparing energy security recommendations. I will bring my recommendations arising from the review to Government in Q2 for their consideration.
