Written Answers Nos. 138-146
138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the updated roadmap guidance to reflect updates to Public Sector Mandate, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31184/23]
View answerClimate Action Plan 2023 action PS/23/1/A requires the SEAI to update roadmap guidance to reflect updates to the Public Sector Mandate 2023.
The SEAI and the EPA previously published guidance for public sector bodies preparing Climate Action Roadmaps in order to implement the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate 2021.
I am advised that the SEAI is preparing updated roadmap guidance which is expected to be published shortly. CAP23 action PS/23/1/A will be reported on in the context of the Department of the Taoiseach’s Q2 quarterly progress reporting on the Climate Action Plan.
139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the engagement with OneLearning on the provision of climate related training and upskilling; the expected timeline for delivery for the proposal for a training programme content and structure, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31186/23]
View answerClimate Action Plan 2023 action PS/23/9/A requires the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to engage with OneLearning on the provision of climate related training and upskilling.
My Department is engaging with One Learning and other stakeholders regarding provision of climate-related training and upskilling.
CAP23 action PS/23/9/A will be reported on in the context of the Department of the Taoiseach’s Q2 quarterly progress reporting on the Climate Action Plan.
140. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many prospect mining licences have been issued in County Clare on a yearly basis for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; how many are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31206/23]
View answerIn relation to Prospecting Licences issued in respect of County Clare, the following is the case:
• One existing licence was renewed in 2021;
• Zero licences were issued in 2022; and
• One new licence was issued in 2023.
Currently there are five licence renewals applications with the Geoscience Regulation Office that are under consideration.
In relation to State Mining Facilities, no such facilities have been issued in County Clare in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what environmental impact is expected in County Clare following the issuance of mining prospect licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/23]
View answerProspecting has been occurring within Co Clare for over half a century. Despite such a prolonged period of exploration activity, significant effects on the environment have not arisen from previous prospecting. There are no significant adverse effects that are likely to arise from the issuance of Prospecting Licences (PLs) in Co Clare.
All mineral exploration activities take place within a framework of Irish and EU legislation that has been implemented to ensure that the environment is protected. Prospecting Licence holders must comply with all relevant legislation including:
• EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011 (SI No 477 of 2011)
• EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (SI No 9 of 2010)
• EC Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations, 2009 (SI No 272 of 2009)
• EU (Appropriate Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2018 (SI No 385 of 2018)
• EU (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2018 (SI No 384 of 2018)
• EU (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2019 (SI No 164 of 2019)
In compliance with the terms and conditions of Prospecting Licences, all exploration activities carried out by a Licensee must be undertaken in such a manner as to avoid damage to the environment and the amenities of a PL Area and also to avoid or minimise disturbance of local residents. The licensee is also obliged to follow the guidance for good environmental practice in mineral exploration as part of its Licence conditions as set out by my Department.
Furthermore, all proposed exploration activities are the subject of environmental screening assessments to ensure that they will not give rise to any significant adverse effects on the environment. The majority of prospecting activities undertaken by licensees (e.g. geological mapping, hammer prospecting, geochemical sampling and ground geophysical surveys) are temporary, low impact and cause minimal disturbance. Where they are undertaken outside of the footprint of designated sites, these activities are not likely to have a significant effect on the environment.
In the event that drilling is proposed, the activity will be subject to detailed environmental screening assessments undertaken by environmental consultants on behalf of the Geoscience Regulation Office. Drilling also requires the consent of the relevant landowner/tenant. Drilling will only be permitted where screening assessments indicate that there is no potential for significant environmental effects.
It is important that a distinction be made between the activities of prospecting and mining which are very different in terms of their scale and potential environmental impact. Prospecting relates only to exploration for minerals and a Prospecting Licence does not confer the licensee with any rights to mine. Mining as the activity of removing minerals from the ground requires three State consents from three different bodies: planning permission; an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) or an Industrial Emissions (IE) Licence; and a State Mining Lease or Licence. Prospecting does not inevitably lead to mining. While approximately one fifth of Ireland’s land area is covered by active PLs. Despite such wide-ranging exploration activity, only a small number of metal mining operations have been developed in the ‘modern’ era.
142. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what incentives are in place to attract foreign investment into the domestic mining industry; the logic behind same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31208/23]
View answerMining is economically important to Ireland, particularly in rural areas as it provides direct and indirect employment as well as Exchequer funds. Mineral exploration and mining involve high levels of financial risk. In accordance with the Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining, Ireland’s policy is to attract international investment to these sectors, by providing investors with confidence through a stable regulatory environment, a competitive fiscal framework and high-quality national geoscience data.
Progress towards this objective is undertaken via Implementation Principles and Actions contained in the Policy Statement, specifically:
• Principle C2: To facilitate investment by private companies in exploration and mining activities, the regulatory process should be clear and transparent, fair, stable, with permissions obtained on a timely basis and providing security of tenure.
• Principle C3: Maximise the value to the Exchequer from mineral exploration and mining by ensuring that Ireland is competitive in attracting investment in the mineral exploration and mining sectors. In the context of the Geoscience Bill and the establishment of the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) independently of the Department, Fiscal Framework for Mineral Exploration and Mining will be reviewed to ensure it is fair, equitable and consistent.
• Principle D3: Ireland’s geoscience data analytics and research capacity should be supported to deepen the available knowledge of Ireland’s geology for geothermal energy, minerals and water and other uses. Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) will, in discussion with GSRO, examine ways to further promote the compilation, availability and accessibility of mineral data, including to the public, and highlight the role that geoscience and technical data and can play in attracting investment.
• Principle E1: Promote our industry abroad as world class in terms of our expertise, sustainable mining practices and skilled workforce in order to continue to attract inward investment and facilitate Irish companies and personnel to compete for international contracts. Officials from the Geoscience Policy Division (GSPD) and GSI in my Department will represent Ireland at international conferences, exhibitions and other mineral related fora, such as the annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).
My Department will discuss the implementation of this Policy Statement at regular intervals with the Advisory Group on Mineral Exploration and Mining.
143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the workforce plan for Inland Fisheries Ireland; how many bailiffs are currently employed; if there are plans to recruit more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31228/23]
View answerWorkforce planning in Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is an operational matter for IFI. Any requirement for additional staff resources identified in IFI’s internal workforce planning would be considered in the Estimates and Budgetary processes.
IFI employs a range of operational field staff in the protection, conservation, research, environmental and habitats areas. IFI does not employ bailiffs.
145. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what financial supports are available to individuals and communities seeking to develop renewable energy in their communities, such as wind turbines, solar panels and other focuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31303/23]
View answerThere are a wide range of capital supports for renewable energy 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 Climate Action Plan 2023 also commits to the development of a small-scale generation scheme to support non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). This scheme will enable larger businesses, farms, public buildings, and community projects to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS. The new scheme will not include an auction process and is therefore expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.
Government has now approved the high level design of the new scheme, to be called the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and it will be published shortly. I expect to launch the scheme later this year.
