Tuesday, 25 Jul 2023

Written Answers Nos. 146-150

Renewable Energy Generation

Questions (146)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

146. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when, following the report on the feasibility of geothermal as an option for communal heating at places (details supplied), progress will be made on the implementation of the report; if there has been engagement with the SEAI on a possible grant scheme for this and other projects; if the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37131/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

At the request of the District Heating Steering Group a research project was initiated to assess the viability of retrofitting an existing communal heating system with a shallow geothermal energy source. An independent consultancy was commissioned by SEAI to undertake this research. The issue of assessing low-carbon technology applications for district heating schemes in an Irish context is a complex one and required a detailed investigation.

The report has been drafted and it offers a set of recommendations which can be undertaken in the short, medium and long term. It will be reviewed and published shortly.

The scheme in question is in private ownership and management, and implementation of any recommendations would be a matter for the relevant parties to consider.

In relation to funding of any renewable energy installation, there are a range of funding programs that could co-fund appropriate installations that may be proposed.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (147)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

147. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the working group on district/communal heating schemes will next meet; when it is expected that it will complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37132/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The District Heating Steering Group was established under the Climate Action Plan 2021 to ensure structured development of district heating. The recommendations of the Steering Group were approved by Government in July 2023 and the report will be published shortly.

The Steering Group recommendations to Government identify key principles to facilitate and underpin the rollout of district heating to 2030 and beyond, with a number of recommendations outlining actions necessary to develop this sector in Ireland.

Having fulfilled its initial mandate, the Steering Group will now be reconstituted to focus on delivery and implementation reporting directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce. The remit of the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce is to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock.

Renewable Energy Generation

Questions (148)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

148. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the current grant schemes available for anaerobic digestion; if enhancements to these grants are being considered; if he will outline the guidelines for those considering AD, including to avoid displacement farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37133/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) produces biogas which can be captured and used for renewable heat and electricity generation.

My Department has developed a number of schemes and initiatives designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. These schemes include the grid scale, auction based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), for smaller installations, up to 50 kW in size (30kWe for micro-renewable Combined Heat and Power), and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH).

The RESS and MSS schemes both include AD for electricity generation with High Efficiency Combined Heat and Power as an eligible technology.  Under the RESS, there are a range of measures in place to support increased community ownership, participation in, and benefit from, renewable electricity projects, including an Enabling Framework for Community Participation. However, no AD projects have come through the RESS auctions to date. 

AD and the production of renewable gas has a key role to play in the decarbonisation of our energy sector and will provide an opportunity for land use diversification and income for farmers. Any support for production, or use, must take due account of the level that can be produced from indigenous sustainable feedstocks, as set out in the National Heat Study.

Recycling Policy

Questions (149)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

149. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the number of retailers and producers currently signed up to the deposit return scheme (DRS) and a website (details supplied); if he will outline any challenges faced in the introduction of the scheme; what is being done to overcome them; if he will provide a detailed timeline and targets for the work to be done in 2023 to get the scheme up and running by 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37134/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

A national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle drinks containers. It works by charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the plastic bottle or can that it comes in, which is refunded when the container is returned for recycling.

DRS will increase the quantity of bottles and cans collected for recycling and will result in less going to landfill, incineration or becoming litter and, when captured in a separate collection stream, will also improve the quality of recycled material.

In July 2022, I approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (trading as Re-turn) to operate as an approved body under the DRS Regulations.  Re-turn is a new, not-for-profit company set up by beverage producers and retailers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational matters relating to the DRS.

I launched DRS in November 2022 when online registrations for producers and retailers opened (www.re-turn.ie). To date, over 90% of producers have registered with Re-turn and about 2,500 retail stores, including all major retail chains, have completed Phase 1 of the registration process. 

DRS is a major project involving the development of complex IT, infrastructure and communication systems and Re-turn has been working with me and all relevant stakeholders to prepare for go-live in February 2024. Significant progress has been made to date including:

• A Communications Plan  for Business-to-Business engagement, targeting producers and retailers is underway and a Business-to-Consumer campaign will start in Q4 2023,

• Producer fees were published in January 2023,

• Retailer handling fees were also published in January 2023, along with exemptions and a financial support package for small retailers,

• Specification for reverse vending machines (RVM) and list of approved RVM suppliers was published in January 2023,

• Planning exemption regulations for RVMs were signed in May 2023,

• Contracts for an integrated IT system and for the collection, counting and processing of returned containers are in place.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (150)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

150. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the efforts to progress plans to deal with the issue of sophisticated spyware (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37135/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has no role in relation to the investigation or prosecution of offences relating to the use of spyware technology, or in relation to the manufacture, distribution or export licensing of such technologies by companies registered in Ireland.

It is important to highlight that responsibility for securing data and networks rests with the owners of  networks. The role of the National Cyber Security Centre is to provide advice and guidance to public sector bodies, operators of critical national infrastructure and other constituents to support them to identify and mitigate risks to their networks and devices. Earlier this year the NCSC distributed advice to public service bodies on Mobile Device Management which considered the risk of spyware and outlined ways for organisations to mitigate this risk. The NCSC partners with the Garda Cyber Crime Bureau to prepare and distribute advice to the general public, including an annual campaign as part European Cyber Security Month in October, which includes advice on security for mobile devices.

In addition, Part 2 of the Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 makes further specific provision for the security of telecommunications networks, including stronger obligations on network operators under Section 6, and the provision for the Minister to issue specific guidelines under Section 7. Consultation on these guidelines has taken place and further engagement with industry will take place shortly.