Written Answers Nos. 151-169
151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6570/24]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date. The turnaround time for Post Passport applications is 8 weeks.
The public offices of the Passport Service in Dublin 2 and in Cork operate a four-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. The Dublin office also offers a one-day Urgent Appointment service. Applicants who have already submitted a Post Passport application can book an urgent appointment and visit the Passport Service office to apply for a passport. Once a passport has been issued, their original application will be cancelled and the fee will be refunded. Further information on the Urgent Appointment service is available at www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/urgent-appointment/
152. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he spoke with the US House of Representative Minority Leader during his recent visit to Washington DC. [6602/24]
View answerOngoing, high-level political engagement with the United States on critical issues for Ireland is a priority for the Government and building strong, strategic political partnerships is a key objective in "Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for the US and Canada 2019–2025".
During my visit to Washington, DC, this month, I had a range of political engagements with key contacts in President Biden's administration and on Capitol Hill.
I met with the bipartisan Friends of Ireland caucus, and had separate meetings with House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Majority Leader of the United States Senate Chuck Schumer and a number of US members of Congress, Democratic and Republican, to discuss key political and foreign policy matters. On this occasion I did not meet with House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries.
I also spoke at a public event at the Atlantic Council and engaged with senior business representatives.
153. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of WTE staff by grade working in the Passport Office as of 7 February 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased during 2024. [6603/24]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target and no backlogs.
In 2023, over 1 million applications were received and over 950,000 passports were issued. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 110,000 passports.
The Passport Service is well-resourced to meet forecasted demand for 2024. My Department has implemented a staffing plan to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained throughout periods of peak demand and is continuing to work to increase resources within the service.
My Department is currently running an extensive communications campaign to encourage passport applicants to apply early and to apply online. This campaign has been very successful in increasing the numbers of applications received in January and February 2024 and will help to ensure that those citizens who need to renew their passport this year or apply for a passport for a child will have their passports well before the traditional summer peak season.
The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. 99.9% of all first-time and renewal applicants worldwide can apply now online.
Currently, 100% of calls to the Customer Service Hub are being answered and customers can easily access the information they need through the Hub. The Customer Service Hub responds to an average of 10,000 queries per week.
The public offices of the Passport Service in Dublin 2 and in Cork operate a four-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. The Dublin office also offers a one-day Urgent Appointment service.
2024 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and the Passport Service is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for this year.
I would ask the Deputy to encourage his constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online, as the quickest, easiest and most cost effective way to apply for a passport.
The numbers of Passport Service staff by grade are outlined below in tabular form
Passport Service Staff
|
Grade |
FTE |
|
Counsellor |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
10 |
|
First Secretary |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
33 |
|
Third Secretary |
2 |
|
Executive Officer |
104 |
|
Clerical Officer |
426 |
|
Services Officer |
1 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
198 |
|
Total |
777 |
154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government accepts that Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories is a breach of peremptory norms of international law, including in particular international humanitarian law; if the Government recognises the obligation of the State not to recognise the illegal situation created by this breach, and not to aid or assist in maintaining this illegal situation; his views on whether this includes a legal obligation to abstain from entering into economic or other forms of relationship or dealings with Israel or Israeli entities that purport to acknowledge Israeli authority over Palestinian territory or which would give legal effect to settlement activities or would otherwise entrench the illegal situation; his views on whether the State has a duty to dissuade Irish business from contributing to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including by developing economic relations with settlement enterprises; whether the Implementation Group of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights has considered the issue; if so, to outline its view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6653/24]
View answerI remain deeply concerned by Israeli policies regarding settlements.
All Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law. Ireland has consistently and repeatedly drawn attention to the unlawfulness of settlements.
Continuing, and indeed increasing, Israeli settlement activities dangerously imperil the viability of the two-State solution based on 1967 lines. These concerns are widely held by the international community; the UN Security Council has affirmed that Israeli settlements are ‘a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace’. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s consistent call to Israel to immediately cease all settlement activity across the occupied Palestinian territory.
In accordance with international law, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the occupied territories.
A whole of Government approach is applied to this policy of differentiation. My Department supports other Government Departments by providing guidance and clarification on the policy of differentiation and ensures that there is information available for the public and companies regarding Ireland's policy on settlements.
Regarding Ireland’s economic and trade relationship with Israel, the EU's common commercial policy is a matter of exclusive EU competence. The EU also applies a policy of differentiation, which it reiterated most recently to Israel at the EU-Israel Association Council in October 2022. Ireland is vocal in ensuring that this policy is applied consistently across all sectors of EU cooperation with Israel.
More broadly, Ireland is committed to the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights involving business activity. To operationalise the UN Guiding Principles, my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have jointly commenced policy development on Ireland’s second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
The Deputy will be aware that the UN General Assembly has sought the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the matter of Israeli practices and policies in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution and has participated in this case. The Attorney General will represent the State at oral hearings on this in The Hague on 22 February.
Respect for international law, and in particular for the UN Charter, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach, including at The Hague next week. It is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
155. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if in a scenario where broadband is running at less than the legal requirement, the steps NBI can take in order to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6047/24]
View answerNBI are required to provide a minimum service of 500Mbps to all end users under the Contract with the Minister. The network NBI have deployed is capable of delivering speeds far in excess of this minimum speed. NBI monitor the performance of their network on a 24/7/365 day of the year basis. Should speeds fall below the minimum required then NBI is required to notify the Department and provide a plan to remediate any issues arising that may have caused the breach, however no such breach has occurred to date.
156. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the Government plans to support the raising of funds for construction of community electricity generation projects; if the Government plans to create green financing packages that will allow such projects to access funds to ensure they are financially viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6125/24]
View answerThrough the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the auction based nature of RESS, along with other barriers to project delivery.
Therefore, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). This export tariff phase of SRESS, which will support small scale and community renewable projects, is due in the coming months.
A set of technical and financial supports from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are currently available under RESS to communities through the Community Enabling Framework. Similar supports will be available under SRESS. These ‘Community enabling grants’ of €180,000 were designed to support community projects reach financial close, meet all the RESS milestones, and are available for community projects to use towards grid connections costs.
In addition, in 2023, the SEAI also undertook five grid studies to support communities in identifying sites that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection. The initial focus of these studies has been on counties that are most likely to have available grid capacity for smaller generation projects. Further studies are planned for 2024.
157. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the specific Government targets and timelines for community electricity generation projects; the amount of energy that community electricity generation projects currently generate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6126/24]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan sets a target of up to 500MW of community energy by 2030. Through the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category.
Currently, there are two community projects energised under the RESS which generate an estimated 8.6 GWh of renewable energy annually in addition to other community projects operating outside the scheme.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the auction based nature of RESS, along with other barriers to project delivery. Therefore, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). This export tariff phase of SRESS, which will support small scale and community renewable projects, is due in the coming months.
The SRESS will align more closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and support a more sustainable delivery pathway to the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030.
158. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he is aware that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland free energy upgrade scheme currently has a waiting time between application and completion of works in the region of 24 months; the steps he is taking to address this unacceptably long waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6127/24]
View answer167. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is he aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who is experiencing a delay with their better energy warmer homes energy assessment with the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6247/24]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
160. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to provide recycling facilities for duvets and pillows, as opposed to current situation of placing them in the general waste bin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6146/24]
View answer'MyWaste.ie', an initiative of the Regional Waste Management Offices on behalf of my Department provides advice on how to manage waste, including duvets and pillows. See www.mywaste.ie/what-to-do-with/duvets-pillows/.
Our current plans for textile waste is set out in a Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025 which establishes our commitment to tackle the environmental degradation caused by textiles in Ireland, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders. It sets out a range of measures including to develop a separate collection of textiles waste generated by households by 1 January 2025 in line with EU requirements.
My plans for textile reuse and recycling facilities will be informed by policy developments at EU level in textiles which stem from the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022), and specifically the legislative proposal for targeted amendments to the Waste Framework Directive with respect to food waste and textiles published in July 2023. The proposal aims to introduce a mandatory EU wide Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textile waste to support the EU requirement to have a separate collection of textiles in place by 2025 in line with the waste hierarchy. Negotiations on this proposal started in January and my department is actively involved in the discussions to progress this draft legislation which will support circularity in textiles. A key focus of these negotiations is on preparing for reuse and recycling of textiles which I very much welcome.
My department has also been involved in the very recently adopted Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Textiles will be a priority product under this Regulation. Under the ESPR the European Commission plan to develop mandatory Ecodesign requirements to make them last longer, easier to repair and recycle, as well as requirements on minimum recycled content. It will also introduce a Digital Product Passport for textiles based on mandatory information requirements on circularity and other key environmental aspects so that there is clear, structured and accessible information on the environmental sustainability of products. This key legislative development will also support the recycling of household textiles.
161. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a town (details supplied) is not included in the RESS 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6150/24]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to support the delivery of the target set out in the Climate Action Plan to meet 80% of electricity demand with renewable energy by 2030. The scheme provides support to individual renewable electricity projects, rather than towns or geographic areas.
Oweninny Wind Farm was successful in the first RESS auction held in 2020. Any agreements between the Wind Farm and Mayo County Council are matters between the Project Developer, the County Council and the community involved.
More generally, all projects successful in RESS auctions are required to establish a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community. The CBF contribution is set at €2 per MW hour of electricity.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a CBF national register. A map of registered projects including further information and contact details of individual funds can be found on the SEAI website at: Search Community Benefit Fund National Register Map | SEAI.
The RESS Community Benefit Fund Best Practice Principles Handbook provides guidance and recommendations in relation to good practice for setting up and administering Community Benefit Funds, including arrangements for near neighbour payments in the case of wind projects. The Handbook can be found at gov.ie - Community Projects and Benefit Funds - RESS (www.gov.ie) .
162. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to close the post office in Phibsborough, Dublin 7. [6177/24]
View answer163. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with An Post regarding the closure of the post office in Phibsborough, Dublin 7. [6178/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.
An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network.
Decisions relating to the network , including those in relation to the future closure of post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of the company and not one in which I as Minister have any function.
164. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will consider plans to allow microgeneration on commercial buildings and farms, given that wind power accounted for 35% of the electricity used in Ireland in 2023, and that most of this wind power was privately produced. [6185/24]
View answer165. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what barriers in the State prevent the further expansion of the microgeneration scheme to encompass more businesses and larger farms. [6186/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was launched on the 21st of December 2021, with the aim of supporting 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030, under the Climate Action Plan. The scheme currently provides support to domestic applicants for renewable installations up to 50kW and to non-domestic applicants for installations up to 1000kW, in the form of grants provided through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The non-domestic microgeneration scheme commenced on 22nd September 2022, providing supports to a variety of sectors including schools, businesses, small farms and community enterprises, for installations up to 6kW.
An extended funding range of up to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support installation sizes up to 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity, on a pilot basis . This includes cohorts typically covered under the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
Since the launch of the amended nondomestic microgeneration scheme, there have been over 860 applications with committed costs of over €14 million; amounting to a total installation capacity of approximately 69 MW.
Those investing in microgeneration will also be eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff., which allows micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland 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. Tariff rates currently range from €15.89c/kWh to €25c/kWh.
The Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022 and the supporting Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022 came into effect on 5 October 2022. The regulations provide updated provisions regarding planning exemptions for rooftop solar installations.
Exemptions apply to rooftops of industrial buildings, business premises, community and educational buildings, places of worship, health buildings, libraries, certain public utility sites and farms.
All exemptions are subject to certain conditions and limitations such as minimum distances from the edge of the roof and the general restrictions on exempted development in respect of protected structures and Architectural Conservation Areas
These regulations aim to bring Ireland into line with the EU’s Solar Rooftops Initiative by making permitting procedures for installing solar on rooftops shorter and simpler.
166. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the SEAI warmer homes scheme on foot of the issuance of the energy efficiency guidance to support upgrading of older traditional buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6203/24]
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 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the scheme on behalf of my Department. The eligibility criteria for the Scheme are linked to certain Department of Social Protection (DSP) payments with those in the least efficient homes prioritised.
There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the Scheme. The upgrades that will be recommended for a property will depend on many factors, including age, size, type and condition of the property. For each eligible home, SEAI’s technical surveyor will determine which upgrades can be installed and funded. These can include:
• Attic insulation and appropriate ventilation;
• Wall insulation and appropriate ventilation – cavity wall, external wall or dry lining depending on the property;
• Secondary measures – lagging jackets, draughtproofing, energy efficient lighting;
• In certain circumstances: heating system replacements, window replacements where the wall is being insulated
The SEAI advise that it does not exclude pre-1940 homes from applying to any of its grant supported schemes. However, all of the SEAI approaches are determined by the Building Regulations, incorporating NSAI S.R.54: 2014 Code of Practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings. This means that wall insulation is not recommended on dwellings built before 1940 which are constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction. That being said, all eligible homes are assessed and where they comprise stone, SEAI will not insulate the stone walls, but will assess, for example, a post-1940 extension present, which based on the determination of the Surveyor may be deemed appropriate for insulation.
The rationale for this approach is that stone-built (traditional built) structures were designed to be vapour permeable. Therefore, the materials and techniques used in energy efficiency upgrades of such buildings must be suitable for the buildings in question including for use with vapour permeable construction where applicable. For example, a stone wall with lime-based mortar will need a lime-based plaster render to remain vapour permeable. Otherwise vapour becomes trapped leading to problems which can cause harm to the building and its occupants.
To support the appropriate upgrading of traditional buildings, the new technical Guidance Document - “ Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings” was published recently by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. This guidance will be an important resource to SEAI as well as the retrofit and wider construction industry in the appropriate energy efficiency upgrading of older, traditionally-built buildings while ensuring compliance with the appropriate building regulations.
168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a matter in relation to persons retiring from Eir (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6274/24]
View answerI have no role or function in the matter raised by the Deputy.
Pension matters including retirement age limits is a commercial matter and is relevant to the company involved.
169. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a breakdown of the number of smart metres installed in each county, in tabular form; the number of these that are active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6296/24]
View answerThe National Smart Metering Programme will roll out and install 2.1 million meters by 2025 and by doing so make available new products and services to energy consumers. It is co-ordinated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with ESB Networks (ESBN) delivering the electricity meter rollout on the ground. The meter rollout is taking place on a phased basis, with approximately 40,000 meters installed monthly. The total number of smart meters installed at present is just over 1.6 million.
ESBN tracks the progress of the rollout across its 34 planner groups nationwide. The rollout started in five planner groups at the end of 2019, with the last planner group starting in February 2023 such that smart exchanges are now happening nationally. The following is the progress of the rollout, as of 2nd February 2024:
According to ESBN data, approximately 97% of households with smart meters have had no estimated bills as a result of daily register reads transmitted by their meters since February 2021. Additionally, these households can now access their smart meter interval data via their Networks Account and the My Energy Consumption option on the ESBN portal. This allows smart meter customers to better understand their electricity demand profile and be in a position to assess opportunities to reduce their use, move their use to off-peak periods, or compare tariff options from other Suppliers.
