Written Answers Nos. 126-141
126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the maximum fine administered for breaches under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10505/24]
View answer127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions reported by local authorities in each of the years 2019 to 2023, and to date in 2024, under the updated Solid Fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
My Department does not compile or maintain statistics in relation to the levels of enforcement actions by Local Authorities under the Solid Fuels Regulations. Local Authorities report this information as part of their enforcement activities under environmental legislation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on an annual basis.
Details of Local Authority environmental enforcement are available from the series of Local Authority Environmental Performance Assessment reports compiled by the EPA. These reports can be accessed at: Compliance & Enforcement: Public Authorities Publications | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)
Further questions in this regard may be addressed directly to the EPA or to individual Local Authorities.
Prosecutions under the Solid Fuel Regulations are brought in accordance with the Air Pollution Act, 1987 which provides for a range of fines of up to €500,000 on conviction on indictment.
128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the updated average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10509/24]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.
To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, in February 2022, Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. As part of the new measures, grants including those for heat pumps were significantly increased.
The SEAI advises that the cost of a retrofit depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended.
Local Authority social housing energy upgrades are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, Approved Housing Body (AHB) properties are supported under the SEAI National Home Energy Upgrade and Community Energy Grant Schemes. Most recent data available from SEAI shows that under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme the average cost of energy upgrade works for AHB dwellings was €30,046 in 2023 with an average grant of €15,900. This brought the properties from an average pre-works BER rating of C3 to post-works rating of A3.
129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted, and heat pumps installed to date as part of the national retrofitting programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/24]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.
To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, the Government has put in place a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
In recent years and since the introduction of the new enhanced supports, demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes has been exceptionally high. Data from SEAI shows that in the period 2019 to end-January 2024, over 136,000 property upgrades, including the Solar PV scheme, and 10,773 heat pump installations have been supported through the SEAI residential and community energy efficiency upgrade schemes.
A record capital budget of €437.2 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes has been allocated for 2024. The overall allocation will mean that the progress made in recent years under the National Retrofit Plan will be further built on in 2024.
A more detailed overview of the SEAI performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes, including an annual breakdown of the home retrofits and heat pump installations supported under the SEAI schemes, can be found in their Quarter 3 2023 published report, which can be found on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Quarterly-Report-Q3-2023.pdf. The 2023 SEAI Annual Review will be published shortly and made available for viewing/downloading from the SEAI website.
130. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the public consultation on disposable vaping devices; the timeline for the proposed ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution or free offer of disposable vaping devices under the Waste Management Act, 1996, Section 28(4)(i); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10512/24]
View answerIn 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 use of valuable materials in disposable devices is not consistent with circular economy principles. The public consultation closed on 11 August 2023. and a summary of responses was published in October 2023 at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/826a1-public-consultation-on-disposable-vaping-devices/.
Over 3,000 submissions were made by individuals and organisations, including retailers, and around 85% of respondents supported the banning of disposable vaping devices.
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.
I continue to engage with stakeholders regarding the most appropriate course of action to address these devices, and am working with my colleagues the Ministers for Health and Finance to ensure a consistent approach that meets various Government policy objectives in relation to vapes, including environment protection.
132. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the defective concrete block scheme managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, specifically the next steps being finalised with his Department, the process for qualifying for affected homeowners to access grant funding, and the measures in place to keep homeowners informed and supported throughout this process. [10518/24]
View answerHomeowners eligible for works under the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme may apply for energy upgrade grants administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Homeowners’ whose applications are in line with the existing SEAI Scheme criteria and guidelines can access SEAI grants in line with the usual application processes that apply. Further information in that regard is available at Energy Efficient Homes - Home Energy Upgrades And Grants | SEAI.
My Department and SEAI are aware however of the particular issues arising for DCB homeowners that do not currently comply with the SEAI scheme terms and conditions. Examples of such situations include homeowners that previously received SEAI grant support to upgrade a home which now needs to be demolished due to defective concrete block and wish to avail of further SEAI grant supports for their new home.
The Department is working with SEAI to develop an approach to address these matters. SEAI submitted its most recent proposals to the Department at the end of January regarding how such applications can be managed as seamlessly as possible. The Department is actively engaging with SEAI in relation to the proposals which are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
SEAI continues to engage directly with impacted homeowners on a case by case basis to discuss their particular circumstances. A specific page on the SEAI website provides further information for DCB affected homeowners (Defective Concrete Blocks Affected Homeowners | Individual Energy Upgrades | SEAI). Homeowners can also contact the SEAI at a dedicated DCB phone number 01-8082004 or by email at dcb@seai.ie.
133. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a draft net fishery in Cork Harbour when two rivers flowing into the harbour are not reaching their conservation limits, with the Owenacurra river in Middleton listed as catch and release only and the upper Lee closed with the knowledge that netting should not proceed in what is a mixed stock fishery in Cork Harbour until a survey is carried out to indicate which river the salmon caught are from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10527/24]
View answer134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a draft net fishery in Castlemaine harbour when two of the rivers flowing into the common embayment area are closed to angling, namely the Behy river and Emlough river, which has been closed for a few years, now given Castlemaine harbour is a mix stock fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10528/24]
View answer135. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a commercial net fishery in the Munster Blackwater when three rivers are closed, namely the rivers Lickey,Tourig and Womanagh, and the river Bride (north) is catch and release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10529/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134 and 135 together.
Salmon stocks in each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon rivers are assessed annually by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) based on each river's conservation limit (CL) - the number of adult spawning salmon required to ensure a healthy stock above safe biological limits. These assessments support Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) annual management advice to my Department regarding commercial fisheries.
IFI, as the statutory body tasked with the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource, has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on legal analysis to be provided to the Minister on Ireland’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty following Departmental engagement with the Office of the Attorney General in 2023; the scope and status of this OAG analysis and timeframe on when it will be brought to Government [10673/24]
View answerI have publicly stated on many occasions that the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is not fit for purpose and the modernisation programme of the ECT has been inadequate and has resulted in an unsatisfactory outcome. Therefore, Europe has signalled that the bloc should initiate a full exit from the Treaty. Ireland supports this position.
Throughout this process Ireland has expressed strong views within the EU on the compatibility of the Paris Climate Agreement and the ECT dispute resolution mechanism. We continue to express our views within the EU on these issues; I believe that our views carry more weight in international negotiations by advocating them as part of the European Union.
Ireland is among nine EU Member States who have indicated their decision to withdraw from the ECT, Italy left in 2015.
There is ongoing engagement with the Office of the Attorney General and other Departments on this matter and while I have clearly signalled domestically and at EU level that Ireland is withdrawing from the ECT, departing an international treaty in coordination with our EU partners needs to be done carefully as it is a complex matter. We are committed to departing in the most collaborative way possible, mindful that while many of our EU partners also wish to leave, not all Member States are of the same opinion. It is important that a mechanism to satisfy both positions is found. The EU Commission is actively working on this.
137. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of applications received in 2023 to the SEAI one-stop shop for home retrofits; and the number of these projects which have commenced. [10709/24]
View answer138. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many contractors are registered with the SEAI to undertake work as part of the one-stop shop retrofitting scheme. [10710/24]
View answer139. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what the current wait time is for retrofitting under the one-stop shop. [10711/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 138 and 139 together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) on behalf of my Department.
The NHEUS supports homeowners wishing to undertake a whole home energy upgrade to achieve a BER of at least B2 through SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops (OSSs). OSSs provide an end-to-end service for homeowners, which includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance.
There are now 20 OSSs registered by SEAI, two of which were registered in February 2024. SEAI will continue to actively engage with the construction sector this year, with the aim of attracting more companies to register as a OSS. It is important to note that the OSSs are typically large entities and shouldn’t be considered a ‘single contractor’. Instead, the OSS contracts and manages retrofit contractors and sub-contractors to deliver the project.
SEAI data shows that there were a total of 1,336 property upgrades completed under the NHEUS in 2023 and the average application cycle time (from letter of offer to grant paid) was approximately eight months. Data from the SEAI also shows that all registered One Stop Shops continue to report strong pipelines of work and growing demand with 2,629 home energy assessment applications in 2023 and 1,752 One Stop Shop applications for home upgrade works.
140. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he shares concerns that the west Waterford Gaeltacht may be left without a post office service as the terms of the contract offered by An Post are seen as unviable; if he accepts that this unique Irish language community requires the maintenance of a local post office service; and if he will engage with An Post to ensure that a fair and viable offer is made that facilitates the maintenance of this essential service to the community. [10732/24]
View answerOperational matters relating to the post office network are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.
141. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Communication to provide the electric credit announced in Budget 2024 to an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10772/24]
View answerAs part of Budget 2024, Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, which over 2.2 million households will benefit from, totalling €450 per household.
Three payments of €150 (including VAT) are being made between December 2023 and April 2024.
The payments are being 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).
Under Scheme III, usage levels are assessed to ensure that payments are withheld in relation to low usage electricity accounts identified by the distribution system operator, to prevent the payment from being applied to vacant houses.
ESB Networks identified accounts which consumed less than 150 kilowatt hours of electricity per quarter for four consecutive quarters between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. Domestic electricity accounts flagged as low usage accounts, will not be allocated a payment for that payment period. The payment will not be withheld for accounts with a financial hardship meter, accounts held by registered as a vulnerable customer or accounts which have low usage due to the exporting of energy to the grid through microgeneration.
The Scheme allows for review by a customer’s electricity supplier, if contacted by a customer who has not received the payment. The customer can seek further review by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which has oversight of the Scheme, following the decision of the electricity supplier. I would encourage any customer who thinks that they should have received the credit to contact their supplier at the first instance, and then the CRU if they have still not received the credit.
The CRU confirmed that as of 12 January 2024, 95.2% of the accounts not designated as low usage accounts received the December payment.
