Written Answers Nos. 96-116
96. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the terms and conditions for the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme; the timeline for the publication of the terms and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41742/23]
View answerThe Small Scale Renewable Support Scheme (SRESS) supports non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the RESS. This scheme will enable community projects, larger businesses, farms, and public buildings to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
The first phase of SRESS came into place in July 2023, when grants became available for renewable self-consumers above 50kW and up to 1MW through the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme and the Business Grants and Supports Scheme (‘Solar for Business’).
The second phase will involve supporting export applicants to install renewable electricity generators up to 1MW, with Renewable Energy Community (REC) projects to be supported up to 6MW. This support is proposed to be in the form of an premium export tariff.
My Department is currently progressing this second phase, which I expect to launch by the end of the year.
97. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to improve the monitoring of polluted air at school gates, beyond the GLOBE citizen-science project which is limited by its voluntary participation, monitoring period, methodology and indicative results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41650/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the effects that vehicular emissions can have on air quality and public health and the role that engine idling can have in this context, especially in built-up settings and in public spaces such as outside schools. My priority is to reduce air pollution and focus funding on measures that can directly improve air quality.
To address and mitigate transport-related air pollution, a broad range of national measures are already in place. These include funding instruments and supports for the uptake of low-emitting electric vehicles; a NOx tax component of the Vehicle Registration Tax to discourage the purchase of more polluting older diesel vehicles; the promotion and adoption of improved vehicle emission standards, and clean vehicle procurement policies.
Engine idling awareness campaigns are being delivered by schools through the Green Schools Programme, which is supported by a number of Government Departments. A resource pack to assist schools in running such campaigns is available at greenschoolsireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Green-Schools-No-Idling-Toolkit-for-Schools.pdf .
Emissions from private cars and commercial vehicles are also being examined in the formulation of new policies and measures aimed at protecting air quality. While an outright ban on engine idling is one option, we must also consider the actual impact of banning engine idling on local air quality, how enforceable such a ban would be, and the legislative support required. My Department will continue to work with stakeholders on traffic-related air pollution through the structures set out in the Clean Air Strategy to bring about the most effective solutions.
98. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when funding will be approved for the community climate action programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41852/23]
View answerThe Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) will see more than €61.5 million from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) invested over two phases in supporting communities across the country to run direct climate action projects and initiatives under strand 1/1a, as well as capacity building under strand 2. This funding has already been approved.
Under the first phase of Strand 1 of the CCAP, €24 million is being provided from the CAF to Local Authorities to support community climate action projects. A further €3 million is being provided from the Shared Island Fund under Strand 1a to support cross-border and all-island community climate action initiatives. Work on this strand is at an advanced stage, with 29 local authorities having a Community Climate Action Officer in place to offer guidance and support to communities who apply. It is anticipated that this programme will open for applications shortly. Interested parties should contact their local authority for more information on the programme.
Strand 2 of the CCAP involves an open call worth €5 million for education, capacity building and learning by doing projects that is being run by Pobal on behalf of my Department. On October 26 2022, 18 projects from a range of community groups from around the country were approved for funding and 17 are currently in delivery.
Strand 2 of the programme also saw €1 million from the CAF allocated to the first phase of Creative Climate Action, which was a competitive fund of €2 million supported by the Climate Action Fund and the Creative Ireland Programme. This programme aims to engage the public on climate change through the creative and cultural sectors. 14 projects were approved for funding under the first phase.
A further €5.8 million in funding for 43 successful recipients under the Creative Climate Action Fund II was announced in July 2023, which includes €2.5 million in funding from the CAF. Details of the successful projects are available on the website of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the additional measures, if any, that will be introduced to deal with littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/23]
View answer110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposals, if any, there are to have additional publicity programmes regarding the need to deal with the proliferation of littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 110 together.
and together.
Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
My Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. In 2022 €750,000 was provided under this Scheme and a similar amount is being made available in 2023.
Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter.
The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which was enacted in mid 2022, advances several legislative provisions which will further support Local Authorities in their anti-litter efforts, including providing for the GDPR-compliant use of a range of technologies, such as CCTV for litter enforcement purposes.
The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, which will go live in February 2024, is expected to have a significant impact on the amount of litter produced. More information is available on the DRS operator’s website: www.re-turn.ie.
Finally, my officials are also working towards the introduction of a levy on single-use hot beverage cups, also known as the "Latte Levy", which will incentivise people to choose to re-use and reduce single use waste. This measure is also expected to result in a significant reduction in the amount of litter throughout the country.
100. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his officials in his Department have held any meetings with a company (details supplied) or any other individuals or companies representing another company in relation to the prospect off Corrib, also referred to as the Inishkea gas prospect since January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38747/23]
View answerAs part of the normal regulatory process, officials from the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) of my Department meet with holders of such petroleum authorisations. Such meetings were held with the company in question, who currently hold Frontier Exploration Licence FEL4/19, on 7 April 2022, 2 August 2022 and 20 July 2023.
102. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can provide a timeline for the ORESS 2.1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41806/23]
View answerThe results of Ireland’s first offshore wind auction, ORESS 1, earlier this year were hugely positive, both in terms of the volume procured, over 3GW, and the average price secured, at €86.05 per megawatt hour, which is one of the lowest prices paid by an emerging offshore wind market in the world. The capacity procured in ORESS 1 will go a long way to ensuring that we achieve our Climate Action Plan targets for 2030 of at least 5 GW of offshore wind and 80% of our electricity demand met by renewable energy sources.
In line with Government’s Phase Two Policy for offshore wind, we will accelerate towards our 2030 targets via a plan-led system. The design of auctions in Phase Two will therefore differ in some key respects from ORESS 1. In particular, development will take place exclusively within the Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs), as public consulted upon and approved by Government and the Oireachtas. This change prompts a number of further auction design changes, which my Department consulted upon over the summer. The responses to this consultation are currently being assessed and will inform the drafting of ORESS 2 terms and conditions.
ORESS 2.1 will be the first Phase Two auction and will award support for offshore wind generation within the South Coast DMAP Proposal area. This DMAP is undergoing a statutory development process which is planned to complete in Q1 2024. ORESS 2.1 cannot take place until this process is completed. However appreciating the need to provide as much clarity to all stakeholders as soon as possible, the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, chaired by my Department, is coordinating all relevant Government Departments and agencies towards providing an indicative ORESS 2.1 timeline in the coming months.
103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on his recent UN visit with respect to climate finance and in anticipation of COP 28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/23]
View answerI was in New York from 18 to 22 September to attend the opening of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
While in New York, I attended several high-level events at the United Nations, including a Ministerial level meeting on funding for Loss and Damage, the SDG Leaders’ Dialogue, the Climate Ambition Summit, the UN Security Council Open Debate on Ukraine and the Preparatory Meeting for the Summit of the Future.
I also attended a number of high-level side events, including the launch of the Atlantic Cooperation Initiative, meetings of the High Ambition Coalition, the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, the Forum of Small States and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. I also participated at events hosted by the COP28 Presidency and Belgium on accelerating climate action in fragile and vulnerable contexts; Vanuatu and Tuvalu on a global just transition from fossil fuels; Germany on a global renewables goal; and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition on raising ambition for methane mitigation.
I also had a number of bilateral meetings with counterparts, including with the German Secretary of State and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, and the US Special Envoy on Climate Change.
Throughout these engagements I continued to emphasise Ireland’s commitment to delivering concrete financing outcomes for adaptation, loss and damage and mitigation at COP28, including the operationalisation of new funding arrangements to assist vulnerable developing countries respond to the impacts of climate change.
104. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what efforts are being made by his Department to reduce the 24 month waiting period for the warmer home schemes; if he will outline any further plans to review solar grants for young couples wishing to implement same. [41553/23]
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.
Increased awareness of the multiple benefits of retrofit and improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme are driving increased levels of demand for the scheme. This can be seen in application numbers with almost 20,000 applications received over the period January 2022 to end August 2023.
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 has increased to €24,000 in 2023. While more significant works deliver enhanced upgrades for homeowners, they do take a longer time per home to complete.
Despite this, the average waiting time from application to completion has reduced from 26 months for homes completed in 2022 to 19 months for homes completed in Q2 2023. The reduction in wait times follows a range of measures introduced by the Department and SEAI including enhanced budgets; increased staffing resources in SEAI; and actions to address supply chain challenges. Almost 3,500 homes have been upgraded this year to end-August. My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate output of free energy upgrades delivered.
In relation to Solar PV grants, the Government approved the Microgeneration Support Scheme in December 2021 which provides support to domestic and non-domestic applicants for renewable installations up to 50kW. These applicants will also be eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff which allows micro- and small-scale generators to receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value of the electricity.
Key changes from the previous pilot scheme for domestic solar PV, include the removal of the minimum BER C requirement and the extension of eligibility to homes built before 2021 (up from 2011). This has significantly increased the number of homes now eligible for grant support.
Domestic applicants can apply to the SEAI for a grant towards the cost of installing equipment. In 2022/23, the grants are €900/kW up to 2kW, and a further €300/kW between 2kWe and 4kWe, for a total maximum grant amount of €2,400.
105. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the current position with regard to developing a policy on 'private wires'; the number of applications made, refused and granted since the transposition into Irish law of the Internal Market in Electricity Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41157/23]
View answerCurrently my department has a public consultation open for submissions on Private Wires. Publication of this consultation represents the first step towards a final policy, which will be delivered in 2024, and completes an important action of Climate Action Plan 2023.
The aim of this consultation is to gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties alike, to consolidate our understanding of the role which Private Wires may play in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, as well as to identify the challenges and opportunities such a policy change may present.
If permitted for, Private Wires would allow private individuals and/or undertakings to install their own privately owned electricity infrastructure linking generation with demand. This would represent a major shift in electricity policy in the State and as such may impact upon all citizens while also overhauling aspects of the electricity sector which have been in place since soon after the foundation of the State.
I encourage everyone to engage with and respond to this important consultation. The deadline for responses has now been extended to Friday 27th October 2023.
As regards applications made under IMED I believe the Deputy is referring to Direct Lines which is separate to the referenced consultation and is a matter under the remit of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and ESB Networks and not something in which I have a function. As such I have forwarded this part of your query to the CRU for their direct response.
106. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the National Broadband Plan in County Meath; the number of premises passed to date; the number of connections; the planned schedule for the remainder of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41788/23]
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 a combination of commercial investments and through the State investment in National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir, as part of their IFN fibre programme currently rolling out nationwide, plan to connect over 1.9m premises to their commercial fibre network by 2026. Open eir have already passed almost 44,000 homes and businesses with gigabit services in Co. Meath, with a further c.22,000 planned connections over the next 2 – 3 years, bringing their total fibre-based investment in the county to over €32m. Other commercial operators are also continuing to increase their network footprint across County Meath, with SIRO passing more than 20,000 premises and Virgin Media passing more than 18,000 premises.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI)is currently rolling out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas through its Contract with the Minister. 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 15th September 2023, 182,250 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. 53,695 premises are already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network. Over 3,000 premises are connecting to the NBI network every month. NBI has also advised that as of 15th September, 3,413 premises in County Meath have been passed by NBI and are available for immediate connection, with 834 of those now connected to the NBP State Intervention network.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 15th September some 950 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Meath can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. A county update can be selected to provide the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2, 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing massively as it’s deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also indicates that c.40% of homes and business throughout the State now have access to gigabit services through either fibre or cable infrastructure and this continue increase month on month as operators continue to invest heavily in gigabit networks across the State.
107. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to prohibit the sale and distribution of single use disposable vapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41795/23]
View answerOn 1 June 2023, I launched a public consultation to help inform Ireland’s environmental response to disposable vaping devices. Disposable vaping devices present several challenges to our current waste collection and recycling system, and they can and should be recycled in a responsible manner. The public consultation closed on 11 August 2023.
Over 3,000 submissions were made by individuals and organisations, including retailers, and around 85% of respondents supported the banning of disposable vaping devices. A summary of results will be published shortly.
In addition to a potential ban on disposable vapes, other policy options include:
• Establish a deposit and return system for the devices.
• Enhance the producer responsibility scheme to ensure that all producers placing disposable vaping devices on the market are registered with the Producer Register Limited and complying fully in producer responsibility.
• Increase public awareness around the return of devices for responsible recycling.
The consultation responses are now being reviewed and considered by my Department. I will make a decision on the most appropriate course of action to address these devices as soon as my assessment of responses has been completed.
108. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his Department had any input into a paper produced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on culling the national herd (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41529/23]
View answerI welcome the opportunity to outline the position on these matters, but I should point out that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his Department are responsible for this policy area.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach climate neutrality by no later than 2050. This plan includes a legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture by 2030. This is equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MtCO2 of carbon dioxide equivalent from a 2018 baseline.
The agriculture sector is undergoing a significant transformation to deliver the reduction in GHG emissions required. The sector is doing this through actions in the following areas.
• Reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
• Reducing methane emissions.
• Increasing carbon capture.
• Enhancing biodiversity.
• Providing diversification options for livestock farmers.
• Enhancing adaptation.
• Supporting the development of new research.
In support of these actions, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine established the Food Vision Dairy Group and the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group last year to advance the actions for the beef, sheep, and dairy sectors identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions.
The first priority for both groups was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030. Guided by the Food Vision 2030 Strategy, Irish farmers and food producers will further prioritise delivery of environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Both the Dairy and Beef and Sheep Groups submitted their final reports towards the end of 2022, which have been published. The reports identified measures which could contribute to reducing emissions.
A key recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to explore and take forward a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials have been working to explore this further.
No decision has been taken by Government to proceed with such a scheme yet, and no exchequer funding provision is currently in place for such a scheme.
I and the Government recognise the very significant role farmers and farm families play as food producers and custodians of our environment, and their contribution to the overall success of the economy and society. The Climate Action Plan and the actions arising from it build on the skills, knowledge and momentum that farm families and their businesses have made in sustainable food production and addressing our shared environmental ambitions. The Government recognises that the measures that farmers will be asked to undertake will be voluntary and done in partnership and collaboration with Government.
As I have said, immediate responsibility for this sector is within the remit of my colleague, Minister McConalogue but as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications I am happy to assist him in any way possible to achieve our shared goals. I look forward to engaging with the Minister and his Department on this matter in the future.
109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that are being taken to ensure grid capacity to achieve our 2030 renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41787/23]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.
The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and Eirgrid, transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU. System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews.
In July 2023, Eirgrid published an updated version of Shaping our Electricity Future, a roadmap for the transmission grid out to 2030 necessary to deliver upon the current renewable energy targets and carbon budgets. Separately ESB Networks in January 2023 published their Networks for Net Zero Strategy which outlines its commitment to futureproofing Ireland’s electricity network, meeting our 2030 goals, and making the country’s goal of net zero by 2050 a reality.
Eirgrid and ESB Networks are independent of the Minister in the exercise of their functions as System Operators. The matters raised in this question are operational matters for both Eirgrid and ESB Networks, in the first instance, and the CRU, and therefore not a matter in which I have function.
111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of a recent report from global NGO Corporate Accountability that found that a majority of carbon offset projects that have sold the most carbon credits are 'likely junk'; what implications this has for Ireland's emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41792/23]
View answerThe findings of the recent analysis carried out by Corporate Accountability, suggesting that there appears to be ‘fundamental failings’ undermining leading voluntary carbon offsetting schemes is disappointing and concerning. Voluntary carbon offsetting schemes can play an important role globally in tackling climate change. To be effective, it is essential that such carbon credits are directly linked to genuine emissions reductions that would not have occurred otherwise. It is necessary that any voluntary carbon market is verifiable, transparent, and environmentally sound.
In terms of the implications for Ireland meeting our emission reduction targets, it is important to note that voluntary carbon credits are not, and cannot be, used by Ireland to meet our legally binding emissions reduction targets.
EU Member States contribute collectively to their commitments under the Paris Agreement. The EU legislative framework provides for several compliance options beyond direct emissions reductions to enable Member States achieve their targets as efficiently and effectively as possible. This includes options to bank, borrow, and trade Annual Emission Allocations units derived from the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) itself – but does not include the option of using external or voluntary carbon credits.
Government policy remains to comply with EU targets through direct emissions reductions and, if necessary, to avail of the other compliance options available under the ESR. Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out the necessary additional policies and measures that Ireland must take to meet these emissions reductions targets and Government Departments will continue to prioritise climate action and full implementation of Climate Action Plan measures.
112. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider extending the approach used for oversight of the Climate Action Plan to the complementary strategies for the circular economy and biodiversity. [41747/23]
View answerIreland’s strategic approach to the Circular Economy is currently set out in the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023. Section 7 of the Circular Economy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (‘the Act’) provides a statutory basis for future iterations of the Strategy. The Act requires that such iterations include sectoral targets aimed at promoting circularity across the range of resource-intensive economic sectors specified in the Act, and the actions necessary to meet those targets and support Government policy on the circular economy.
My Department is currently preparing the second iteration of the Strategy, which will be published on a statutory basis and will be fully in compliance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Act. The new Strategy will be submitted for Government approval, following a public consultation, and will be underpinned by an analysis of the respective resource consumption of the major economic sectors. Governance and oversight arrangements in relation to the Strategy will be considered as part of its preparation.
The National Biodiversity Action Plan comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Mr. O'Brien).
113. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the adoption of the Code of Practice that will provide for local authorities to install CCTV cameras in the vicinity of ‘bottle banks’ and other waste collection locations. [41281/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 38 of 20th September 2023. The position is unchanged.
114. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the work of the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce will look at solving issues with existing district and communal heating systems such as Carlinn Hall in Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41754/23]
View answerDistrict heating should be distinguished from group or communal heating. District Heating schemes are large-scale systems that are supplied by one or several centralised or decentralised heat sources and serve multiple buildings and multiple customers. Group, or communal, heating schemes, such as Carlinn Hall, are smaller-scale systems that typically supply single buildings or complexes.
At the request of the District Heating Steering Group established on foot of CAP 2021, 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 aims of the study were to understand how a typical communal heating system operates in Ireland and to assess options for alternative low carbon heat sources. I understand that the report is expected to be published in early October.
The District Heating Steering Group Report approved by Government in July contains a range of recommendations to set the future policy direction for development of district heating, including the development of an appropriate regulatory and legal framework for the sector.
Having fulfilled its initial mandate, the Steering Group has now been reconstituted to focus on delivery and implementation of the Government approved Report, and it now sits under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce, which has been established to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock.
115. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Celtic Interconnector; and to state if the project is on track to meet the target of a 2026 completion date. [41860/23]
View answerThe Celtic Interconnector is a proposed 700 MW electricity interconnector between Brittany and East Cork, promoted and developed by the Irish electricity Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, and its French counterpart, Reseau de Transporte d’Électricite (RTÉ). Upon scheduled completion in 2026, it will represent Ireland’s largest electricity interconnector.
The completion the Celtic Interconnector will result in the return of direct electricity interconnection between Ireland and the EU Internal Energy Market, as well as enhanced market competition and security of electricity supply, to the benefit of Irish and French electricity customers.
The project remains on target for energisation in 2026 with takeover planned for March 2027. Construction activity has commenced in France with a planned construction start date in Ireland before the end of this year. Cable manufacturing timelines remain as per contracted timeframes and some marine survey works have been undertaken this year by the cable contractor.
116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what measures he is taking to identify and address the underlying causes of high electricity prices here and the fact that Irish retail energy prices are falling more slowly in Ireland than in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41784/23]
View answerThe core driver of high retail energy prices are high wholesale energy prices. Ireland is a price taker on international energy markets; the rise in wholesale gas prices since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the strong correlation between gas and electricity prices has therefore had a direct impact on the cost of electricity here. Due to high gas storage levels, warmer than normal winter conditions and efforts to reduce natural gas demand across Europe, wholesale gas prices have fallen substantially and are currently well below the peak values of August 2022. However, wholesale gas prices are still trading significantly above their pre-pandemic levels.
There are several other long-standing reasons why Irish electricity prices have been higher than those of many other EU countries, including our widely-dispersed population, our historic dependence on fossil fuels, the small size of our market and our peripheral location. The Government has adopted policies that in the long-term will protect Irish consumers from volatility in wholesale energy markets, by investing in renewable energy technology, improving the energy efficiency of buildings, and deepening interconnection with European energy markets.
Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. In June, I wrote to CRU to investigate pricing strategies within retail energy markets, and to report on whether market failure has occurred. Their report found no prima facie evidence of market failures, and CRU will continue to monitor this going forward. In recent weeks, price reductions have been announced the main suppliers who share approximately 98% of both the retail electricity and gas markets in Ireland.
