Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
39. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under national strategic outcome 8 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30880/23]
View answerI ask the Minister to provide an overview on the progress to date under national strategic outcome 8 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and to make a statement on the matter.
This refers to our focus on the transition to a lower-carbon and climate-resilient society. The next decade is critical in order to address the climate crisis and this is a core part of the national development plan.
In terms of the figures in the plan, through the period out to 2030 an additional €5 billion of the expected €9.5 billion in carbon tax receipts will be invested in energy efficiency. In terms of strategic investment priorities for the sector, this includes supporting the delivery of offshore renewable energy, retrofitting homes and the installation of heat pumps.
I will provide examples of what is now happening. More than 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, an increase of 12,000 homes compared with the previous year. The first renewable electricity support scheme auction for onshore wind and solar projects was held in 2020, with 63 projects progressing through delivery milestones in 2021 and 2022. More than 5,000 ha of Bord na Móna peatlands were rehabilitated in 2022 as part of the enhanced decommissioning, rehabilitation and restoration scheme, which is co-funded under this heading by the EU recovery and resilience facility. From a transport perspective, 172 new buses for public service obligation, PSO, bus fleets were delivered in 2022, including 107 fully electric vehicles and 24 hybrids. There is a huge selection of themes under that heading but I have provided a sample of some of the areas of progress.
One of the areas included under that heading is the roll-out of smart meters. The Minister may not have the figures in front of him and if he does not, that is understandable. It is a big part of transitioning to more sustainable energy in particular. The target is for 2.2 million or 2.25 million smart meters to be rolled out. We are at approximately 1.2 million of them, which is slightly more than 50% of the target. That is certainly an improvement. Key to this, however, is encouraging people to use those smart meters. For example, only 6%, or 80,000, of those 1.2 million smart meters are being used. I believe that is down to the simple fact that the night-time rate, through which people can avail of cheaper energy, kicks in at 11 p.m. People do not put on appliances after 11 p.m.; many of them are in bed at that hour. I know it is not directly under the Minister's Department but I appeal to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to ensure the night rate kicks in earlier in order that more people make use of it through their smart meters, thereby saving emissions.
One thing that is for certain is that the Deputy and I will not be in bed by 11 p.m., given the questions we are dealing with here. The night rate is but a dream for us.
The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, has just informed me that there is good news in terms of the roll-out of smart meters as the figure is now up to 1.5 million meters. I understand there is every prospect that we will deliver on the target next year. To be frank, I was not familiar with the issue raised by the Deputy, which will obviously influence the use of the meters. I can see the point he is making. I am sure the CRU is involved in making that decision but I will certainly pass the point on to the Department. Given all the effort we are making to make these meters available and their potential to have a good and positive impact, I can see the point the Deputy is making regarding incentivising their use. I will pass it on and I thank the Deputy for raising it.
The Minister and I will turn on our washing machines as soon as we go home. We will be able to avail of the night rate.
To clarify the point I am making, of the 1.5 million-odd meters that have been rolled out so far, only 80,000, or 6%, of them are being used to avail of that cheaper rate. The smart meters are not being used to their capacity and that is because the night rate kicks in too late. If it was brought in earlier, such as at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., which are after peak time, more people would use their appliances then, thereby saving money, but also saving energy and emissions. That is the point I am trying to make. There would be a far bigger uptake in use of smart meters.
The Minister referred to retrofitting. Is he confident the State has the skilled tradespeople to deliver that retrofitting? He stated we are currently at approximately 27,000. Do we have the materials to deliver the 500,000 target? Are we on course? Is the one-stop-shop system operating?
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has a green skills programme under way to help ensure we have the best chance of getting people available to deliver our retrofitting programme. I have an update in respect of where we are with our overall apprenticeship programme. As regards construction, we now have 8,286 total apprenticeship registrations and our total construction apprenticeship has grown to 19,550. The Deputy will be aware that the CAO options portal has been amended to include applications for traineeships. We are making progress in getting the right people together to further support our retrofitting programme. I will get that information from the Minister, Deputy Harris, for the Deputy. I anticipate, however, that a shortage of people to do this work will continue to be a difficulty.
