Written Answers Nos. 106-125
106. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the formation, meetings and work of the National Just Transition Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10867/24]
View answer108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the work of the just transition taskforce; how many times the taskforce has met since it was established; who sits on the taskforce; what is the estimated timeline for delivery for a just transition commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9976/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 67 of 24 January 2024.
The Just Transition Taskforce has now concluded its work and I expect shortly to formally receive the final report of the Taskforce. It is my intention to move quickly to have the Taskforce's report and recommendations considered by Government with a view to establishing a Just Transition Commission at an early opportunity. I intend to publish the report of the Taskforce following Government consideration.
107. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the process by which premises can be added to the National Broadband Plan; the number of additional premises which have been added for each of the years since 2020 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9974/24]
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 commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
For individual queries received through the Department’s Broadband webform, the location of the premises being investigated is compared against the available commercial operators’ plans, where these plans have been voluntarily shared with the Department. This is to confirm if there are forthcoming commercial plans to provide high-speed broadband to serve the premises in question. Therefore, the current lack of high-speed broadband availability in these areas, may be resolved by commercial operators in the short to medium term. As a result of the planned commercial activity mentioned above, the Department considers it to be prudent, to only reclassify premises in the most exceptional circumstances and include them in the Intervention Area. For example, where there may be a very small number of mapping anomalies identified, adding them to the IA will not impact on the existing detailed design from NBI for the immediate area. There may also be a limited number of premises that cannot be served by the eir Commitment Agreement that are returned to the IA.
The number of premises added to the Intervention area were 17,000 in 2021, 8,000 in 2022 and 2,600 in 2023.
In order to ensure that we are meeting the "Gigabit" targets as mentioned in the Digital Connectivity Strategy, my officials are continuously evaluating opportunities for adding premises to the Intervention Area, where appropriate. Alternatively, where it is not feasible for premises to be recategorised, we are addressing the issues through the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force (the Taskforce).
The Taskforce comprises State actors and industry representatives and is tasked with identifying and overcoming barriers to improved connectivity. The Taskforce was originally established in 2016 to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, and to investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP).
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 545,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1 million premises over the next three years, to date it has passed 252,000 premises with full fibre.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2 of 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 substantially as it is 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 (576,856) or cable (359,669) infrastructure.
109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the amount of aviation fuel sold at each Irish airport for international aviation for each year from 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [9999/24]
View answer110. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the amount of aviation fuel sold at each Irish airport for domestic aviation for each year from 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [10000/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together.
The Online Levy Application (OLA) system is an application administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC) which permits oil companies to submit their monthly data for all petroleum products and renewable transport fuels, as specified under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007. While the OLA system does record the consumption of jet kerosene for Ireland, it does not distinguish between international and domestic aviation or have airport-specific data. The following table provides the available data from 2019 to 2023:
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Jet Kerosene (Litres) |
1,323,998,121 |
469,484,254 |
522,774,850 |
1,202,248,102 |
1,348,194,471 |
111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to proposed lithium drilling in Moylisha Hill, if he is aware of the strength of local feeling against this development and the opposition expressed by environmentalists; if he will oppose this proposed programme of invasive drilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10019/24]
View answerMineral exploration activities in Ireland take place within a framework of Irish and EU legislation, including those implemented to ensure that the environment, including water quality, is protected. All exploration activities must be undertaken in such a manner as to avoid damage to the environment and amenities of the Licensed Area and to avoid or minimize disturbance of residents.
All Prospecting Licence (PL) applications are made to the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) of my Department in a prescribed manner, including the provision of information on the proposed work to be carried out, the area of interest, and the mineral for which the company wishes to explore.
The Government published on 7th December 2022 a Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining, which sets out the key principles and priorities that will guide the regulation of these activities and the role minerals will play in our future. The Policy asserts that the protection of our environment and conservation of our natural heritage is paramount in how these activities will be regulated.
Lithium is included on the 2020 List of Critical Raw Materials accompanying the European Commission's Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials: ‘Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability'. The Action Plan proposes actions to reduce Europe's dependency on third countries, diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources and improving resource efficiency and circularity while promoting responsible global sourcing. The European Commission is working with Member States and stakeholders to finalise the Critical Raw Materials Act in 2024, which will address European supply issues at all levels including mining, refining, processing and recycling; and associated environmental protections and public engagement at each stage.
112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his engagement with ComReg; if he discussed the need to include a rail line coverage obligation in the MBSA2 liberalised use licences; if he will issue a direction to ComReg on such coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10093/24]
View answerComReg manages radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Multi-Band Spectrum Award 2 (MBSA2) was a significant spectrum award process run by the regulator which, in early 2023, led to the award of long term (20 years) spectrum rights across four bands suitable for providing wireless and mobile broadband services and increasing network capacity.
Significant coverage obligations apply under these licences. The issue of coverage was the subject of some discussion between my officials and ComReg with a key focus on delivering coverage to the population rather than on geographical or area coverage. Coverage at 345 key locations was included e.g., at hospitals, higher education campuses, air and seaports, and both train and bus stations, and while coverage on rail lines was considered, it was not identified as a priority.
It can be noted that the setting of coverage requirements would naturally have taken account of what would be commercially viable; the MBSA2 was the subject of a comprehensive consultation process by ComReg over a number of years; and ComReg advises that there are other mechanisms to address any coverage problems on rail lines, such as in-train WiFi, joint ventures between train operators and mobile networks, etc.
Finally, the detail of the award process and compliance with licence conditions is a matter for ComReg who is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions.
113. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is legal for shops and off-licences to add a 15 cents deposit charge to cans which have no deposit return logo on the product and which cannot be accepted by the deposit return scheme machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10121/24]
View answerA national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and cans and to deliver on our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those products.
Under the DRS Regulations, retailers are required to charge consumers a deposit for every drink sold, to take-back empty containers (unless displaying a take-back exemption) and to refund the deposit to customers.
In recognition of the stock management challenges faced by producers, distributors and retailers around the introduction of DRS and to avoid unnecessary waste, a short transition period is in place to manage the selling off of old stock and the introduction of new stock. This means that retailers can continue to sell drinks that do not have the national DRS (Re-turn) logo.
The transition period will last for 4 months and from 1st June 2024 retailers can only sell drinks containers which include the Re-turn logo.
During the transition period, customers who are charged a deposit on a drinks container that does not bear the Re-turn logo will automatically get their deposit back when they return the empty container to a reverse vending machine.
Should a retailer refuse to take-back or refund an empty container on which a deposit has been paid, Re-turn, the DRS operator, has advised that consumers should contact it by email at info@re-turn.ie or by phone at (LoCall) 1800 852 752.
114. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the situation of residents who use a coin meter for electricity; given that these residents are not registered with an electricity supplier in Ireland, do not have a unique meter point registration number, and do not receive an electricity bill, this results in no energy credit being passed onto the residents; if he will clarify what provisions are in place to allow such residents to claim the energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10139/24]
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.
The scheme is to be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then credit each domestic electricity account held with them. The scheme also includes pre-pay customers.
The type of coin operated meters referred to by the Deputy are not installed by ESBN and are not regulated by the CRU. Such devices are usually installed behind the electricity meter, and their use for payment of electricity is a contractual matter between residents and their landlords. However, I have asked my officials to investigate this matter further with both ESBN and the CRU in order to ascertain the extent of the issue outlined and report to me on the details of same.
If the landlord holds a domestic electricity account, the credit will be paid to that account. While the majority of tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the payments directly, others would have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment.
Where a dispute arises between a tenant and landlord regarding the passing on of the payment, the resolution mechanisms of the RTB are available, however, tenants will be encouraged to resolve the matter with their landlord in the first instance.
115. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify how the safety and security risks associated with a floating storage and regasification unit compare to the safety and security risks associated with geological storage of natural gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10142/24]
View answerAs part of the Department’s Review of the Security of Energy Supply of Ireland’s Electricity and Gas Systems, Cambridge Economic Policy Associates (CEPA) completed a technical analysis which included a detailed assessment of a short list of mitigation options for gas security of supply, including strategic gas storage and strategic floating storage and regasification unit (FRSU). The technical assessment of each option focused on: the impacts on physical security of supply in a shock event; the impacts on gas and electricity prices both in a shock and resulting from operation in the market in general; and the impacts on carbon emissions both in a shock event and resulting from operation in the market in general.
Their analysis determined that a strategic FSRU is the only short-listed option that can fully mitigate all security of supply impacts in the tested scenarios. The strategic gas storage option, based on the Southwest Kinsale Reservoir which operated as a seasonal gas storage facility between 2006 and 2017, can only partially mitigate unserved demand. It is also noted that the field could not be replenished in case supplies from the UK were not available over a prolonged period.
The CEPA analysis was a key input to the 'Energy Security In Ireland to 2030' report and its Annexes, which concluded the long-term approach to securing Ireland’s gas supplies will include: the development of long-term gas storage solutions which can store renewable gas, in particular hydrogen; and on a transitional basis, the creation of a strategic gas emergency reserve.
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), will complete a detailed examination of the optimal approach to deliver the emergency gas reserve, which will include a review of the safety considerations of such options. I will bring my recommendations to Government for a final decision on this in Q2 2024.
116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the measures that will be taken to prevent the import and use of fracked gas in Ireland’s energy systems should a floating storage and regasification unit be leased; how it would be verified that imported gas has not come from fracked sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10143/24]
View answerIn May 2021, the Government approved the ‘Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas’ which states “pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with”. The statement remains in place until the review of energy security has been completed in full, following consideration by Government on the optimal approach to deliver a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve.
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) will complete a detailed examination of the optimal approach to deliver the emergency gas reserve based on specific criteria determined by my Department. I will bring my recommendations to Government for a final decision on this in Q2 2024. The optimal approach will be determined by the Government’s continued commitment to the three policy objectives of sustainability, affordability and security.
117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 06 December 2023, if he will provide an update on when the LGMA Codes of Practice codes for CCTV will be approved, particularly in relation to their use by local authorities for assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts, and including the monitoring of illegal dumping and dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/24]
View answerThe Codes of Practice were formally approved on the 14th December 2023 by my colleague Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications.
The relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act allowing for the use of CCTV under the Waste Management Act and Litter Pollution Act and the use of other Mobile Recording Devices under the Waste Management Act were commenced from the 15th February.
It is therefore now open to any local authority to begin the process of putting the required procedures in place to allow for the use of such technologies to combat littering and illegal dumping, subject to adherence with the relevant Code of Practice.
The approved Codes of Practice are available at Codes of Practice for CCTV & MRD - Gov.ie
118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he could provide an update on the planned introduction of specific packaging formats and product targets, for example for beverage and food cartons, as committed to in Ireland’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy under Ireland’s progression to attaining EU packaging, recovery, and recycling targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10166/24]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) includes several measures to tackle packaging waste, a number of which have already been delivered, including the ending of self-compliance for packaging producers, the introduction of deposit and return scheme, and the introduction of eco-modulation and net necessary cost in Extended Producer Responsibility scheme producer fees.
Since the launch of the WAPCE in 2020, the European Commission has published a major legislative proposal on packaging, the draft Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Trilogue negotiations on the final form of the PPWR are nearing conclusion, and if adopted the new Regulation will set a range of ambitious targets in relation to material use, format, design, reuse, and recycled content, in respect of packaging placed on the Single Market. Ireland has played an active role in negotiations on the proposal to date, seeking the greatest alignment possible with our own objectives. There is considerable coherence between many of the proposed targets in the PPWR and the measures in the WAPCE - the PPWR mandates, for example, the introduction of deposit return schemes for all Member States who do not achieve sufficient collection and recycling rates for in-scope containers.
Once negotiations on the PPWR have concluded, and if the Regulation is approved by the European Council and the European Parliament, my officials will examine how best to implement the remaining packaging measures in the WAPCE in a manner that is consistent with the new legislative framework.
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will approve SEAI grants for heritage building retrofits in line with the recently published Department of Housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10208/24]
View answerMy Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners as well as public and commercial entities to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
It is open to owners and non-corporate landlords of pre-1940 homes to apply for any of SEAIs grant supported schemes. However, the retrofit of traditional buildings is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. 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.
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 under any of its residential energy efficiency schemes on dwellings built before 1940 which are constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction. However, SEAI will assess applicant properties under the various energy efficiency schemes for other measures.
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.
As referred to in your question, the new technical Guidance Document - “Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings” was published recently by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. The Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings publication describes how thermal efficiency of traditionally built buildings can be enhanced, whilst maintaining the conservation of architectural 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.
120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how frequently the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a floating storage and regasification unit will need to be replenished, given the inevitable boil-off of LNG over time; where this gas will be sourced; what measures will be taken to minimise the frequency of this occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10280/24]
View answerGovernment approved and published the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report last November which concludes that Ireland’s future energy will be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable energy potential, flexibility and being integrated into Europe’s energy systems. With regard to gas, the report determines that as a transitional measure, we will introduce a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.
Based on preliminary analysis of the Department, it is anticipated that a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) will best meet these criteria, a solution preferred by a range of EU Member States.
Natural evaporation, known as boil-off, is unavoidable when natural gas is liquified, and the generated boil-off gas (BOG) must be removed to preserve the tanks’ pressure. Rather than flare or release the BOG into the atmosphere, normal practice is to utilise the gas by flowing it into the gas network. Due to boil-off of stock levels, the requirement to restock an FSRU will be dependent on the overall usage of the gas, and storage capacity of the infrastructure.
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) will complete a detailed examination of the optimal approach to deliver the emergency gas reserve based on specific criteria determined by my Department. The effective management of Boil Off Gas will be a considered as part of the GNI detailed proposal. I will bring my recommendations to Government for a final decision on this in Q2 2024.
121. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the roll-out of fibre broadband at (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10313/24]
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 commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services. ?
From the records made available to the Department, the premises in question should already be capable of receiving speeds of up to 30mbps through commercial means. This premises is also included in openeir’s Fibre to the Home upgrade programme, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
The Department expects that the majority of the Blue area of the NBP Map will be served with high-speed broadband from commercial operators. The European Electronics Communications Code (EECC) requires a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to be implemented by Member States, which provides an assurance that all premises can access a high-speed broadband connection. This provides another tool to help deliver upon the NBP’s policy objectives that every home and business in the country will have access to high-speed broadband.
The EECC legislation now transposed into Irish Law provides a broadband USO, which will designate a Significant Market Power (SMP) for broadband in specific areas. Therefore, premises that do not have access to “adequate” broadband will be covered by the USO. The timeframe for implementation of the USO is yet to be finalised, however it is likely to provide some safeguards to citizens in the commercial areas, ensuring they get access to adequate broadband services from operators in these areas.
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 43,100 homes and businesses in Meath with gigabit services, with plans to pass a further c.24,900 homes and businesses 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 right across Meath, with SIRO recently passing over 34,600 premises for full fibre, and Virgin Media passing over 22,300 premises.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2 of 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 substantially as it is 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 (576,856) or cable (359,669) infrastructure.
122. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide an bhfuil sé sasta treoir a thabhairt do NBI cúram a ghlacadh de sholáthar leathanbhanda snáthoptaice do chuideachta a bhfuil géarghá práinneach acu le leathanbhanda den chineál seo (sonraí tugtha) agus nach bhfuil seirbhís sásúil acu i láthair na huaire agus nach fios cén uair a bheidh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10346/24]
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 commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
From the records made available to the Department, the premises in question should already be capable of receiving speeds of up to 100mbps through commercial means. This premises is also included in openeir’s Fibre to the Home upgrade programme, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
The Department expects that the majority of the Blue area of the NBP Map will be served with high-speed broadband from commercial operators. The European Electronics Communications Code (EECC) requires a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to be implemented by Member States, which provides an assurance that all premises can access a high-speed broadband connection. This provides another tool to help deliver upon the NBP’s policy objectives that every home and business in the country will have access to high-speed broadband.
The EECC legislation now transposed into Irish Law provides a broadband USO, which will designate a Significant Market Power (SMP) for broadband in specific areas. Therefore, premises that do not have access to “adequate” broadband will be covered by the USO. The timeframe for implementation of the USO is yet to be finalised, however it is likely to provide some safeguards to citizens in the commercial areas, ensuring they get access to adequate broadband services from operators in these areas.
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 545,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1 million premises over the next three years, to date it has passed 252,000 premises with full fibre.
123. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the ground rents payable by his Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10413/24]
View answerMy Department has not paid any ground rents since 2016 to date.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the clean air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10503/24]
View answerLocal Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the solid fuel regulations, identifying unauthorised fuels placed on the market and taking measures to counteract any illegal trade. They are also responsible for the allocation of appropriate resources to ensure that they can fulfil their air quality enforcement obligations. It is at the discretion of each Local Authority to decide its own priorities and to allocate staff and resources accordingly. Funding of such services would generally be met from the Exchequer and Local Authority own resources.
My Department has worked with the Local Government Management Agency to develop the business case for an enhanced enforcement structure to support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise and advice to underpin consistent implementation of all air quality legislation across the country. I have made funding of up to €3m available to support this regional enforcement group and I expect the business case to be submitted formally to the sector for approval in the coming months.
In the absence of a co-ordination body, officials from my Department have been engaging directly with enforcement personnel on the ground, developing guidance and training, holding workshops, providing funding, and supporting the sharing of best practice in relation to a range of air quality legislative obligations that are under the remit of the Local Authorities. In the last two years I have provided grant funding of over €600,000 to support enforcement efforts on the ground, including a solid fuels sampling programme and an online sales pilot project.
Our focus for 2024 will be targeted at working with specific Local Authorities that have significant air quality issues.
125. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming Clean Air Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/24]
View answer131. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 22 November 2023, if he can provide an update on new legislation to strengthen the enforcement powers of local authorities to support increased compliance with the air quality regulations, particularly given recent reports that the regulations are being flouted in some towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10514/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 131 together.
I propose to taking Question No’s 10504, and 10514 together.
Clean air is essential for our quality of life. While recent decades have seen significant improvements in air quality in Ireland, air pollution continues to cause damage to both our health and environment. The European Environment Agency report Air Quality in Europe 2020 indicates that in 2018 there were 1,410 premature mortalities arising from air pollution in Ireland. The vast majority of these, 1,300, are attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which in Ireland is primarily associated with domestic solid fuel burning.
The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022), which took effect from 31 October 2022, introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting fuels can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.
Air pollution is governed in primary legislation under the Air Pollution Act 1987. Several amendments have been made to the Act over time to ensure it is fit for purpose and can support the requirements of air quality enforcement. However, in more recent years, additional issues have arisen requiring further amending of the legislation.
While originally it was intended to repeal the full Act and replace it with a Clean Air Act as outlined in the Clean Air Strategy, the Department has carried out a full review of the original Act and this analysis confirmed that the Act largely remains fit for purpose, though some of its provisions have been underutilised.
A draft General Scheme for the Air Pollution Act (Amendment) Bill has been developed by the Department and is expected to go to Government for approval for final drafting and circulation to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action for pre-legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks.
