Written Answers Nos. 72-88
77. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Local Government Management Agency has submitted draft codes of practice so that standards can be set for the operation of CCTV by local authorities to tackle illegal dumping; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28614/23]
View answerIn order to address data protection concerns, Sections 22 and 33 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 require that separate Codes of Practice for the operation of CCTV schemes under both the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act and a further Code of Practice for the use of “mobile recording devices” under the Waste Management Act are prepared by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and submitted to me for approval.
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) continues to work on the preparation of these draft Codes of Practice, which are fundamental to the future operation of CCTV schemes aimed at assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts in a manner which is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant. This is a complex process which requires consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister for Justice and the Data Protection Commission. Data Protection Impact Assessments must also be carried out as part of this process. I will assess and approve these draft Codes of Practice as soon as they are submitted to my Department by the LGMA.
Timescales regarding submission are a matter for the LGMA but my officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the LGMA with a view to expediting the process.
80. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress of the expansion of the national air quality monitoring network under the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28883/23]
View answerThe national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme is operated, maintained, and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). My Department has provided funding for a significant upgrade to the network in recent years, and as a consequence the number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 113 today. The expansion will be complete when the remaining stations are connected in 2023 which will bring the final number of stations to 116.
All stations collect air quality data for a range of pollutants to provide information to the public, and for assessment against European legal limit values and World Health Organisation guideline values. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in operation, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at: www.airquality.ie. The EPA produce an annual report on Air Quality in Ireland which provides an overview of our air quality and key issues that impact upon it.
Following on from this expansion, the LIFE EMERALD project, which commenced in 2021, will use the information from our monitoring network to provide a national 3-day air quality forecast and near real-time mapping of air pollutants throughout the country, and create historical maps of air pollutants. The project will improve Ireland’s ambient air quality management capabilities, by using an air quality modelling system to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to poor air quality and develop a system that will provide better information to the public.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the potential of universal broadband connectivity to transform livelihoods and the delivery of services; if he will indicate the discussions and the planning which he is undertaking to deliver this potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28743/23]
View answerIn December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023.
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The National Broadband Plan State intervention provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
I am advised by NBI that, as of 02 June 2023 the project is progressing well, with 147,159 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. And there are over 42,000 premises now connected to NBI’s network with a significant number of new connections being made every month.
Strategic Connection Points are a key element of the project. They provide high-speed broadband to certain locations in every county in advance of the roll out of the main fibre to the home network. As of 02 June 2023, 926 sites (283 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 643 schools) have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/
Commercial investment continues to be strong over the last few years with a number of providers rolling out gigabit services. Eir is rolling out fibre to the home to some 1.9 million premises. SIRO has passed more than 490,000 premises with gigabit services and has recently announced plans to extend its network to an additional 280,000 premises. Virgin Media plans to bring gigabit broadband upgrades to over 1 million premises.
Of the 2.4 million premises across Ireland, 83% of premises now have access to high-speed broadband leaving Ireland well placed to achieve our Digital Connectivity targets by 2028.
83. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding improving measures to avoid disconnections for energy customers. [24647/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring vulnerable people are protected during the cost-of-living crisis.
Energy suppliers are required by their license conditions to adhere to rules in their dealings with customers as outlined in the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities Supplier Handbook. These rules are in place to ensure that all customers experience a high standard of protection when interacting with energy suppliers.
These customer protections are complemented by the supplier led Energy Engage Code that provides a further level of security for domestic electricity and gas customers. Customers who are having difficulty in paying their bills are encouraged to engage with their supplier regarding the management of debt. Under this code, suppliers will not disconnect customers who engage with them and must provide every opportunity to customers to avoid disconnection. There are also additional protections for vulnerable customers who register as such with their energy suppliers
More information about this can be found in the Electricity and Gas Suppliers' Handbook 2023, and on the CRU website.
The Government introduced €2.5 billion in once-off measures to support households in Budget 2023. including an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme which credited €600 to every electricity account nationwide over three billing cycles.
Communication on how to manage energy and access the supports available is crucial for how we support people at risk of energy poverty in the long term. Research commissioned by my Department is showing very high levels of awareness and support for the Reduce Your Use/Stay Warm & Well campaign which provides information on energy saving measures and where to go for help with meeting the cost of energy.
My Department is continuing to monitor the effect of existing supports, completing the implementation of the Energy Poverty Action Plan, and exploring future measures to support consumers in the context of Budget 2024.
85. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail the actions that the Climate Action Plan for 2024 will take that will address the projected overshoot in the first carbon budget identified in the Environmental Protection Agency projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28757/23]
View answerThe EPA’s latest GHG emissions projections highlight the challenge Ireland faces in meeting its highly ambitious climate objectives and legally-binding emissions targets. While the EPA’s projections show that emissions are expected to decrease in almost all sectors over the next two decades, it is clear that we still have considerable work to do.
The recent EPA report has projected that Ireland is on course to reduce emissions by 29% by 2030 under its ‘With Additional Measures’ scenario. In relation to the EPA projections I should point out that they do not fully reflect the pathway set out in the 2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP23), as sufficient data is not yet available to allow all policies and measures in CAP23 to be modelled. Policies and measures need to meet strict criteria regarding detail for inclusion in the EPA‘s 'With Additional Measures’ scenario. The EPA’s own Projections Report acknowledges that if all of the unmodelled policies and measures in CAP23 and the, as yet, unallocated emissions savings are included the reduction in emissions could equate to 42% by 2030. Further detail on these will be provided through annual updates of the Climate Action Plan.
With these additions, and continuing increased climate ambition in our forthcoming annual national Climate Action Plans, we are setting a pathway to reduce overall emissions by 51% by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.
Under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, our Climate Action Plans must specify the policies and measures that will be required to meet our current carbon budget.
Under the Act, Ireland is also legally required to update its Climate Action Plan on an annual basis, allowing for regular and frequent opportunities to improve, refine and strengthen the Plan’s effectiveness by integrating new policies and learning, while responding to changes in our emissions profile.
The annual update of the Plan also acts as a review and monitoring mechanism, and an opportunity to re-adjust or refocus actions to ensure targets are achieved, while also considering the strengthening of delivery structures.
Work has already commenced in my Department on Climate Action Plan 2024 and it is clear from the EPA projections that we must continue to act with increased scale and ambition in our response to the climate crisis, fully involving other Departments across government and key external stakeholders.
It is expected that CAP24 will build upon last year's Plan, further developing and implementing key policies and measures required to meet our climate ambition, while also taking account of progress made and responding to areas where accelerated action or alternative pathways must be considered.
On 22 May 2023, my Department launched this year’s Call for Expert Evidence to support and inform the preparation of Climate Action Plan 2024. The call seeks submissions and evidence-based views from expert stakeholders, academic institutions, researchers, and analysts in the climate, energy, environment and industry sectors. This feedback will be incorporated into CAP24 where appropriate.
