Written Answers Nos. 135-151
135. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the delay in the renewal of the drilling licence for an area of the operation of a company (details supplied); when a decision will be made on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46408/23]
View answerThere is no delay to any application for drilling from the company referred to in the Questions.
The company applied for the renewal of prospecting licence 4502, which expired on the 29 December 2022. In March 2023, my Department sought submissions from the general public on the renewal of PL4502. A number of submissions were received and these were considered as part of the renewal process, similar to all applications for the renewal or granting of prospecting licences. The prospecting licence was renewed on the 12 May 2023.
136. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of all agencies and bodies under the aegis of his Department; if a dedicated Oireachtas email address is available for each; if not, if he will direct that such a dedicated email address be established to facilitate more efficient communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46542/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No 149 of 1 June 2023 which outlines the details which the Deputy has requested.
www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-06-01/149/#pq_149
137. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, if he will provide a schedule of functions of his Department that have been devolved in full or in part, or are in the process of being devolved in full or in part; the date on which the devolutions commenced; and if he will indicate whether any function was returned to the Department subsequently. [46581/23]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department, and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much revenue was earned from the levy paid by holders of Maritime Area Consent in 2022 and in 2023, in tabular form; how much is estimated to be earned in 2024, in tabular form; how the proceeds from the levy have been distributed; whether proceeds are ring-fenced for any specific purposes; whether revenues raised are ring-fenced for investment in the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46594/23]
View answerUnder transition arrangements set out in the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications had the powers to assess MAC applications from a first group (Phase One) of seven offshore wind projects, until the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA).
Holders of MACs must pay an annual levy to the State, and the calculation model for the levy framework applying to Phase One projects is published on the DECC website. Please see below a table setting out the total revenue collected from Phase One projects for their first year, which was invoiced for in January 2023.
|
Name |
Year |
Total |
|
MAC Levy |
2023 |
€7,249,000 |
Given the temporary role of the Minister for the Environment in collecting MAC levies for only the first year of these 45-year consents, these funds were paid to the Exchequer as Extra Exchequer Receipts.
As MARA was established in July 2023, it now has the legal responsibility to collect and administer annual MAC levies from the Phase One projects, and all future MAC holders. The Minister for the Environment can not comment on the estimated proceeds from MAC levies beyond the first payments collected in January 2023, as he has no statutory role in this matter.
139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason behind the removal of funding for the 'getting citizens online fund'; if it will be restored going forward to assist vulnerable and isolated members of the community in accessing services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/23]
View answerIn December 2016, as a demonstration initiative under Strand 2 of the first National Digital Strategy, my Department entered Grant Agreements with 15 organisations to deliver basic digital skills training under the ‘Digital Skills for Citizens Grant Scheme’.
It was a matter for each entity to determine the number of citizens they proposed to train. Pre-funded grants were paid by way of instalment and all payments were subject to verification that specified training targets were met. My Department envisaged that 25,000 citizens, at a cost of €2.2m would be trained annually over a three year period.
Since training commenced in 2017, €5.5 million was invested in providing training to 61,000 participants. The final payments permitted under the Grant Agreements for the Scheme were paid to grantees in December 2019. The date for completion of training was extended due to Covid-19 restrictions and the scheme closed in February 2023 once all training obligations were delivered.
The Deputy might be interested to know the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) published the ‘Adult Literacy for Life – a 10-year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy’. This strategy aims to ensure every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. In addition, DFHERIS is the lead Department in delivering digital skills for the wider Society as provided in the Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework.
140. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the details of the source of the revenues paid into the Climate Action Fund, on an annual basis from 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46612/23]
View answerThe details of the revenues paid into the Climate Action Fund (CAF) is provided below in tabular format. Income from the NORA levy for 2023 is expected at the end of the year and the figure shown is an estimate only. Similarly, 2023 income relating to flight emissions offsets will not be known until next year.
|
Income (€) |
Sector |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
NORA Levy |
Energy |
28m |
96m |
92m |
80m* |
|
Energy Efficiency National Fund unspent monies |
Public Sector/Government |
- |
21.5m |
- |
- |
|
Civil Service Emissions Offsets |
Public Sector/Government |
78k |
93k |
367k* |
Not yet known |
|
Vote transfer for Bord na Mona Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme |
Public Sector/Government |
- |
7.6m |
- |
- |
|
EU Recovery and Resilience Facility |
EU funding |
- |
- |
- |
20m* |
(*estimate only)
141. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail, on an annual basis, the specific projects and associated funding allocated through the Climate Action Fund; whether the project is categorised as a climate or biodiversity one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46614/23]
View answerThe types of projects that can be funded under the Climate Action Fund are set out in the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 (as amended) section 37B(9). All the projects under the fund can be categorised as climate projects as otherwise they would not have received CAF funding. Regarding biodiversity, the Act provides that funding can be provided for projects, initiatives or research, inter alia projects that enhance biodiversity through nature-based projects, that seek to reduce, or increase the removal of, greenhouse gas emissions or support climate resilience in the State. The Act does not allow for general biodiversity projects.
The following projects have been allocated funding from the Climate Action Fund:
|
Project |
Funding allocated € |
Year Allocated |
|
ESB Electric Vehicle High Power Charging Infrastructure Development Project |
10,000,000 |
2018 |
|
GRAZE Gas – Green Renewable Agricultural Zero Emissions Gas |
8,474,340 |
2018 |
|
Hybrid Drive for Inter City Railcar (ICR 22000) fleet |
15,000,000 |
2018 |
|
Dublin District Heating System |
20,000,000 |
2018 |
|
The South Dublin County Council Tallaght District Heating Scheme |
4,447,952 |
2018 |
|
Local Authority Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project |
17,476,463 |
2018 |
|
Driving HGV Efficiently into Brexit |
1,373,400 |
2018 |
|
Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme |
108,000,000 |
2020 |
|
Community Climate Action Programme phase 1 and 2: - Strand 1 - Strand 2 - Creative Climate Action |
€60,000,000:
- €48,000,000 - €10,000,000 - €2,000,000 |
2021 |
|
Climate Action Fund LIFE Programme 2021 Co-financing Grant |
€1,712,666 |
2021 |
|
Solar Panels for Schools |
€64,000,000 |
2022 |
|
Sustainable Transport |
€50,000,000 |
2022 |
|
Supports for Business |
€50,000,000 |
2022 |
|
Creative Climate Action Phase 2 Additional |
€1,545,021 |
2023 |
Individual projects under the Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) can have elements that also support biodiversity. However, the CCAP projects are typically mixed projects with a variety of objectives and can fall under any of the allowable projects under the NORA Act.
While the Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme could be considered a biodiversity project (with significant climate benefits), it should be noted that funding for this project is to be reimbursed to the CAF through the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund.
142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that all household energy consumers including people availing of prepay systems will benefit from the energy credits announced in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46422/23]
View answerThe Budget package includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €412.83 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €137.61 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - December 2023, January/February 2024 and March/April 2024. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.007 billion.
The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2).
Following implementation of the previous two schemes, my Department became aware of a cohort that did not receive payment under Schemes I & II. This relates to properties that receive electricity through a “submeter”. This situation occurs where an existing dwelling has been divided for the purposes of accommodating additional people and provides an independent meter for this accommodation. Examples of this situation would include a secondary suite, or house being modified to contain further distinct units than for which it was initially purposed.
The Submeter Support Scheme is being introduced to ensure that €412.83 (exclusive of VAT) is credited to each such account, in three payments of €137.61 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - December 2023, January/February 2024 and March/April 2024.
Complementary measures to support traveller households on Local Authority sites will also be established and officials in my Department will engage with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) in relation to this measure.
143. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department intends to publish the minutes of the recent Government task force on offshore energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46734/23]
View answerI have established the inter-departmental/agency Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) to accelerate and drive delivery of, and to capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with, the development of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) in Ireland.
To achieve this, the OWDT has developed a system-wide plan, bringing together the work across Government Departments and agencies to deliver offshore wind . This includes matters relating to supply chain; offshore grid; ports policy; offshore auctions; skills and workforce; and regulatory consenting. This plan was approved by Government in March, with the Key Actions for 2023 published. Following a highly successful year for the progression of the ORE sector in Ireland, the plan is currently being reviewed before approval by Government and publication of the Key Actions for 2024.
Minutes of OWDT meetings are not published, but further information, including the Key Actions for 2023, membership and Terms of Reference, is available here: www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/c8749-offshore-wind-delivery-taskforce/
144. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to detail his EU counterparts he has spoken with formally to date in 2023, in tabular form. [46465/23]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have been in contact by correspondence with a number of my EU colleagues. I have also engaged with my EU counterparts in-person in the format of formal and informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers, which also provide the opportunity for short bilateral discussions.
I attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Defence configuration, which took place in Brussels, in May and the informal Defence Ministerial meeting, which took place in Toledo, Spain at the end of August.
I look forward to engaging with EU colleagues further at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Defence configuration, which is scheduled to take place in Brussels in November.
Earlier this year, I also attended the 59th Munich Security Conference, which was attended by a large number of Defence Ministers from the EU and beyond. The focus there was largely on the international response to the war in Ukraine.
145. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies, by rank currently in the Defence Forces School of Music; and when will each of the vacancies be filled, in tabular form. [46466/23]
View answerThe military authorities have provided the following details in relation to the vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music, as at 19 October 2023:
|
Rank |
Lt Col |
Comdt |
Captain |
Lt |
CS |
CQ |
Sgt |
Cpl |
Pte |
|
Strength |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
32 |
26 |
43 |
|
Vacancies |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
Vacancies will be filled in line with promotional arrangements and by recruitment. A recent recruitment campaign for instrumentalists resulted in 7 instrumentalists being inducted in September 2023 and it is planned to hold a competition for the vacancy at Captain level (Conductor) in the near future.
146. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide details of all agencies and bodies under the aegis of his Department; if a dedicated Oireachtas email address is available for each; if not, if he will direct that such a dedicated email address be established to facilitate more efficient communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46539/23]
View answerThe only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members. The Secretary to the Board is provided from the staff of my Department. Any queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to that body, as with any other matter, can be sent to minister@defence.ie.
147. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he supports adding additional or express services on the 15-bus route in the mornings to address overcrowding issues in the Knocklyon area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
148. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if he made any submissions to Dublin City Council during the development plan process calling for rezoning of land at Dublin Port, including land currently used for the storage of imported cars. [46078/23]
View answerI did not make any submission to Dublin City Council during the City Development Plan process calling for rezoning of land at Dublin Port, including land currently used for the storage of imported cars.
149. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport if additional buses will be added to the number 15 bus route (details supplied); and if not, if alternative services will be added to the route. [46085/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
150. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he and Bus Éireann will consider the reinstatement of the Bus Éireann X12 Expressway service between Dublin and Limerick, which also includes a stop in Roscrea, County Tipperary in the event that the return of the X12 service is not feasible; if not, if he and Bus Éireann will consider introducing a public bus service from Roscrea to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46133/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
Bus Éireann’s Expressway services (including route X12) are commercially operated bus services and as such responsibility for the operation of those services, including decisions regarding route provision, are an operational matter for the company.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of those services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators. As such, any decisions regarding the possible introduction of a new Public Service Obligation public transport service from Roscrea to Limerick would be a matter for the Authority.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA and Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
151. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding drawn down by Cork City Council in 2023 for footpath repair. [46147/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for the overall policy and funding of Active Travel infrastructure. The allocation of this funding to the various local authorities falls to the National Transport Authority (NTA) who are responsible for overseeing the delivery of both new projects and upgrading of existing infrastructure.
Investment in Active Travel infrastructure, including footpaths, has increased significantly in recent years, with around €290 million allocated to the NTA for such projects this year alone. While restoration and maintenance is carried out as part of the overall Active Travel budget, there is no specific funding for footpath repair.
Separately, while my Department provides grant support for road maintenance and renewal programmes under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme it does not have a specific grant programme for the restoration and repair of footpaths; however, local authorities have the option to fund these types of works from certain grant programmes.
In light of the above, Cork City Council are best placed to provide the Deputy with the amount of funding which they have drawn down in 2023 for footpath repair.
