Written Answers Nos. 121-137
121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the plans to install fibre optics in the Foxrock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30837/23]
View answerThe area referred to in the Question is currently served by commercial operators and is identified as a BLUE area on the Government NBP High-Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE/commercial areas are not included in the State intervention area as commercial operators are already providing high-speed broadband and have also indicated future plans to upgrade these areas to full fibre to the home.
Under State aid rules, the State is not permitted to displace commercial investment by intervening in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned.
There are 556K premises in the Dublin city boundary served with Gigabit broadband from Openeir, Virgin Media and Siro.
• Just over 88% of Dublin premises are Gigabit capable, with over 30% having a choice of 2 or more providers.
• All three commercial operators are in various stages of fibre rollouts and the remaining non-gigabit capable premises should be passed in the coming years.
The area referred to in the question is currently or is in the process of being serviced with Gigabit or full fibre to the home broadband services through the following service providers:
• Virgin Media, partially serve Foxrock with Gigabit broadband
• Siro are currently rolling out fibre to the home in parts of the Foxrock area, and
• Openeir are also rolling out fibre to the home across the entire Foxrock area; this rollout started in mid-2022 and they have indicated that the majority of this fibre rollout will be completed in the coming 3 years.
In 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 namely:
* 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.
The majority of digital connectivity across the State will be delivered through commercial investment by the telecommunications industry and this will be complemented by the rollout of fibre across mainly rural areas under the State subsidised scheme by National Broadband Ireland.
122. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if additional resources will be provided to the SEAI to ensure that applicants for the warmer homes scheme are not waiting more than eight months to be allocated a surveyor, as is the case for one applicant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30857/23]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The primary aim of the scheme is to provide upgrades to those living in, or at risk of, energy poverty. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and as quickly as possible is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI.
Increased awareness of the multiple benefits of retrofit and improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme are driving demand for the scheme. This can be seen in application numbers with over 9,900 applications received in 2022 and over 7,000 applications received up until the end of May 2023.
It should be noted that the scheme has been delivering a greater volume of deeper and more complex upgrades in recent years. This is reflected in the average cost of upgrades which have increased from €2,600 in 2015 to €24,000 in 2023. The increase in depth of retrofit is also reflected in the waiting times as more significant works take a longer time per home to complete. It is important to note that the scheme was also impacted significantly by construction sector closures and restrictions on home visits associated with COVID-19 in recent years which resulted in a build up of applications.
Currently the average waiting times from application to survey is approximately 9 months.
My Officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate output of free energy upgrades delivered. An unprecedented budget of €148.5 million has been allocated to the scheme this year which will deliver 6,000 home upgrades. Additional funding of €248 million has also been secured for the scheme from the European Regional Development Fund and will supplement the annual allocations over the period from now until 2027. Importantly, a new contractor panel for the scheme will be established later this year. It is intended that the panel will be in place for 4 years, with an estimated contract budget of €700 million for that period, which will be a very strong signal of intent.
123. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 14 June 2023, if he will reveal the cause of death of a critically endangered sturgeon that was captured in the River Suir near Clonmel; if the fish had any injuries relating to fishing activities; and if the removal of the fish from the water constitutes a breach of Article 12 of the EU Habitats Directive which prohibits the deliberate capture or killing of this species (details supplied). [30898/23]
View answerAs reported recently a distressed sturgeon of, as yet, unconfirmed origin was discovered in the River Suir in June 2023.
Significant efforts were made by IFI staff to revive the fish but these proved to be unsuccessful. IFI authorised the removal of the fish from the river for species genetic identification to support determination, if possible, of origin. It was 1.47 m in length and weighed 22kg.
I am advised by IFI that, while the matter is still under investigation, initial indications are that the specimen genetically is a hybrid between A. gueldenstaedtii (Russian Sturgeon) and A. baerii (Siberian Sturgeon). Such hybrids are common in caviar (sturgeon) farms. It is likely, therefore, that this fish was an escapee from a fish farm.
The authorised removal of the fish from the water does not constitute a breach of Article 12 of the EU Habitats Directive as the fish was not a wild protected species and was not deliberately captured, killed or disturbed. The fish was found in a distressed state in the river and did not survive. There were no obvious injuries relating to angling or other anthropogenic interactions identified.
124. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many micro-generators are exporting to the grid. [30899/23]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister; has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.
As part of this, a renewables self-consumer must have installed microgeneration and must have informed ESB Networks (ESBN) of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form.
ESBN then notify the relevant supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customer’s meter point and to provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company to obtain more information relating to export payments through the clean export guarantee. Once a valid NC6 Form is processed, this triggers a ‘market message’ to the registered supplier for that MPRN, informing the supplier that there is export capability at that site.
While there is no single register to record the number of microgenerators exporting to the grid at any one time, NC6 submissions record the number of micro-generators who have registered their export capabilities. As of June 2023, ESBN have received 61,260 valid NC6 form applications from micro-generators nationwide.
126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address concerns that there are insufficient financial incentives for persons to apply for options such as wood pellet boilers when compared with options provided by other EU member state governments (details supplied) the application criteria are too restrictive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30918/23]
View answerIn order to reduce the carbon footprint of domestic heating, Climate Action Plan 2023 includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in buildings.
The National Heat Study, published in February 2022, found that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also identified as a competitive option that can be widely deployed. These approaches are being actively prioritised by Government.
To facilitate the use of these technologies in the decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of our building stock, the Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce and will publish a National Policy Statement on Heat to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors.
The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. The budget of €8 billion to the end of the decade and annual allocations set out in the National Development Plan and National Retrofit Plan, underlines the Government’s commitment to achieving these targets.
A particularly important aspect of the Retrofit Plan was the launch, last year, of a new package of enhanced SEAI retrofit supports. Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including Solar PV) was exceptionally high following the introduction of these measures. Over 50,000 applications were received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.
To support the overarching policy objectives, the grant rates to homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use and reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, grant supports for wood pellet stoves will not be available under the SEAI residential energy upgrade schemes.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) which funds the retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works is within the remit of the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage.
127. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 13 June 2023, to publish the monthly reports on the financial status of the special fund. [31021/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
128. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 789 of 13 June 2023, to outline the locations of the activities undertaken by IFI to improve habitat for salmon, including, but not limited to, habitat enhancement, barrier mitigation, stream maintenance and stock management; the amount spent annual on these activities; the systems in place to monitor the impact of these activities; any reports or findings from said monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31076/23]
View answerThe issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
IFI has 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.
129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the review of greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31170/23]
View answerThe Economic and Social Research Institute’s recently published working paper ‘The Global Emissions Impact of Irish Consumption’ noted that despite the high level of emissions embedded in Irish agricultural products, Ireland imports considerably more emissions than it exports. While Ireland’s climate policy primarily focuses on reducing production-based emissions in line with international accounting rules for national greenhouse gas inventories, it also considers the wider impacts of climate policy, including consumption-based emissions.
Our 2023 Climate Action Plan sets out a series of cross-cutting and circular economy policies which will shape public procurement and the use of resources in our economy. Other policies included in the 2023 Climate Action Plan aiming to target production-based emissions can also reduce our carbon footprint. For example, policies designed to stimulate demand for alternative construction materials will lower the use of high carbon intensive products.
A well-established circular economy provides more access to better designed products, which can be shared, reused, repaired and remade thereby minimising the use of resources. This provides opportunities for local manufacture and remanufacture, supporting jobs and services while reducing the impact on the quality of our water, air, soil and health. Moving to a circular economy will play an important part in reducing global carbon emissions and protecting our natural resources, environment and health. The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 is a key step in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and provides a robust statutory framework for moving from a focus on managing waste to a much greater focus on adapting patterns of production and consumption.
At EU-level, agreement has been reached on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In addition to reducing carbon leakage and enabling a reduction in the free allocation of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System, the policy will also incentivise emissions reductions in third countries. This protects Irish and EU industries facing carbon pricing from cheaper carbon-intensive imports, while ensuring that high emissions production processes are not simply relocated to third countries.
130. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery task force has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-government collaboration in all relevant departments in the land use, land use change and forestry sector, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; if he will report on their progress to date and the participation of his Department in the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31172/23]
View answerOur 2023 Climate Action Plan contains several actions to deliver on the decarbonisation of our economy, supported by a robust governance structure. The Climate Action Delivery Board has an enhanced role in relation to delivery, including providing recommendations for overcoming barriers, while taskforces are being established to focus on key specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration.
Government published in March this year the first phase of the Land-use Review, which focused on the evidence. The first phase was chaired by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several other agencies and bodies across government setting out the evidence base for the land use, land use change and forestry sector.
The final report consists of 10 documents and 19 recommendations indicating the need for more monitoring, enhancing of our mapping capability and better application of these tools to inform decision-making.
Building on Phase 1 of the Land-use Review, Phase 2 will seek to optimise land use across key Government objectives such as improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes. To deliver this phase as with the first phase, several working groups are being established to deliver on the review’s technical, policy and engagement needs. These groups will be composed of subject matter experts drawn from the relevant civil, industry organisations, agencies, and bodies from across government. This critical second phase will soon commence.
131. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery taskforce has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and all relevant departments in the public sector, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; if he will report on their progress to date and the participation of his Department in the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31175/23]
View answerCAP23 action GV/23/2/E provides that in Q2 2023 DECC will establish a climate delivery taskforce or similar appropriate structures which focus on specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in the public sector.
A public sector sub-group of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce as been established in this regard.
CAP23 action GV/23/2/E will be reported on in the context of the Department of the Taoiseach’s Q2 quarterly progress reporting on the Climate Action Plan.
132. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery taskforce has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in all relevant departments in the electricity sector, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; if he will report on their progress to date and the participation of his Department in the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31176/23]
View answerOur 2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP 23) contains several actions to deliver on the decarbonisation of our economy, supported by a robust governance structure. The Climate Action Delivery Board has an enhanced role in relation to delivery, including providing recommendations for overcoming barriers, while taskforces are being established to focus on key specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration.
An Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce has been established to identify, coordinate, and prioritise the required policies to achieve the onshore renewable electricity targets, and to ensure that barriers to the implementation of such policies are removed or minimised to the greatest extent possible.
The establishment of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce was a Q1 2023 action. The Taskforce membership is comprised of senior officials from the relevant Departments and State Bodies and has held two meetings to date, the first in March and the second in June.
To ensure a consistent approach across Government with respect to offshore wind roll-out, the inter-Departmental, inter-agency Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was established in April 2022. This Taskforce was formed in order to accelerate delivery and capture the wider and longer-term economic opportunities associated with the development of offshore wind in Ireland.
Its membership comprises senior officials from the Government Departments and agencies that are vital to the delivery of Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy ambitions. This includes the Department of Housing. Local Government and Heritage with respect to marine planning; the Department of Transport with respect to ports infrastructure; and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with respect to supply chain matters. Further information is available at gov.ie - Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (www.gov.ie), including the Key Actions for 2023 across the across the workstreams the Taskforce has identified.
133. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery taskforce has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in all relevant departments in the built environment sector, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; if he will report on their progress to date and the participation of his Department in the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31177/23]
View answerThe Heat and Built Environment Taskforce has been established to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat, decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of the building stock. The overarching aim of the Taskforce is to: identify work on the critical paths to key targets under each area; ensuring alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments; and, proactively managing risks to ensure targets are achieved. The Taskforce has met four times this year, in January, February, March, and May, and will meet again this week. The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce and notes of previous meetings have been published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/097fa-heat-and-built-environment-taskforce/.
The membership of the Taskforce aligns with the initial allocation of Ministerial responsibilities for the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, as agreed by Government. The Taskforce is supported by working groups established to examine specific aspects of its remit including groups on industry, public sector, residential retrofit, biomethane, and district heating.
134. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery task force has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in all relevant Departments on citizen engagement, as outlined in the climate action plan annexe of actions; if he will report on its progress to date and the participation of his Department in the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31180/23]
View answerThe Climate Literacy and Citizen Engagement Taskforce was established in 2022. The taskforce meets quarterly and provides strategic support for the coordination of climate communications, engagement and related policy across government.
I attend the Taskforce meetings, and it is at Assistant Secretary level in my Department.
It includes participants from the Department of the Taoiseach, other Government Departments, the EPA, the SEAI, and other Agencies, including the ESRI and NESC.
135. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a climate delivery taskforce has been established to focus on the specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in all relevant departments in ensuring a just transition, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; if he will report on their progress to date and the participation of his Department in the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31181/23]
View answer136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the expected timeline for delivery for a Just Transition Commission, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31182/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
The Government has adopted, through the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), a framework for a just transition, comprising four principles:
An integrated, structured, and evidence-based approach to identify and plan our response to just climate transition requirements.
People are equipped with the right skills to be able to participate in and benefit from the future net zero economy.
The costs are shared so that the impact is equitable and existing inequalities are not exacerbated.
Social dialogue to ensure impacted citizens and communities are empowered and are core to the transition process.
As set out in CAP 2023, all relevant Ministers should consider this framework in the process of climate action policy formulation and implementation, so that policies are informed by the need to ensure a just transition. This includes creating sustainable employment opportunities, providing reskilling and retraining opportunities, and providing appropriate supports for those most vulnerable as part of Ireland’s transition to a climate neutral economy.
The Government has committed, through CAP 2023, to establishing a statutory Just Transition Commission, whose purpose should be to provide strategic advice to Government, integrating its role with existing governance and engagement structures, on how Government policy can further a just transition. I am continuing to progress the development of proposals in relation to the establishment of the Commission. This work has included engagement with relevant stakeholders to inform my approach to the mandate of the Commission, including through the National Climate Stakeholder Forum, the most recent meeting of which took place on 10 May last. The Government has also committed, through CAP 2023, to establishing a climate delivery taskforce, to focus on specific areas or initiatives of climate delivery that require cross-Government collaboration in ensuring a just transition.
137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected timeline for delivery of a regulatory framework for district heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31183/23]
View answerThe appropriate regulation of District Heating will be critical in providing clarity in relation to the rights and obligations of consumers, and providing market certainty to operators. It will also allow for currently unregulated group heating schemes, which are generally smaller than district heating schemes and single building or housing scheme focussed, to be brought into the regulatory framework.
The report from the District Heating Steering Group, established by my Department last year, will be brought to Government in the coming weeks. The Report will contain recommendations for the development of the district heating sector underpinned by an appropriate policy and regulatory environment.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has been appointed as Regulator for district heating networks in accordance with requirements under the Renewable Energy Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive. As regulator for District Heating networks, CRU will initially be responsible for ensuring that relevant provisions arising from EU and national legislation are met.
The role of the regulator requires further development beyond the functions assigned under EU legislation and my Department is liaising with CRU in this regard, to ensure the development of an appropriate regulatory framework for district heating into the future.
