Written Answers Nos. 83-103
83. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications why Newmarket-on- Fergus in County Clare is not included in the National Broadband Ireland Fibre roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13951/24]
View answer84. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what his long-term plans are to ensure adequate fibre broadband connectivity for Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13952/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.
In 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
NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.
The remaining 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.
A number of premises in Newmarket-on-Fergus are located within the intervention area (AMBER) and these premises are now ready to connect to Fibre Broadband through the NBI rollout.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available to these premises can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at Network Map - NBI. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
The remainder of the premises in Newmarket-on-Fergus are in the BLUE area.
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 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.
As per Open eir the BLUE area in Newmarket-on-Fergus is included in their Full Fibre Deployment programme, so Fibre will be deployed in the area.
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 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3, 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable. 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 (667,771) or cable (348,251) infrastructure.
87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead B4 of the Revised Estimate for 2024, in tabular form. [13965/24]
View answerThe 2024 Revised Estimates Volume, published in December 2023, includes a total allocation of €444.3 million for Subhead B.4 - Residential/Community Retrofit Programmes. This is an increase of over 35% over the 2023 allocation of €327.5 million.
This subhead provides for the grant funding and operational costs for Residential and Community Energy retrofit programmes administered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The allocation is broken out as follows:
|
Residential/Community Retrofit Programmes |
Current€000 |
Capital€000 |
Total€000 |
|
BE Warmer Homes |
1,394 |
158,854 |
160,248 |
|
BE Warmer Homes (ERDF)* |
- |
50,000 |
50,000 |
|
BE Homes |
1,600 |
60,200 |
61,800 |
|
Solar PV |
680 |
54,000 |
54,680 |
|
BE Communities (Community Energy Grant) |
300 |
45,000 |
45,300 |
|
Deep Retrofit |
- |
500 |
500 |
|
OSS Development Scheme |
850 |
45,000 |
45,850 |
|
Solar PV (Medically Vulnerable) |
- |
16,203 |
16,203 |
|
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme - Communities |
74 |
1,543 |
1,617 |
|
BER Supports Capital |
- |
2,000 |
2,000 |
|
Community Activation Fund |
50 |
3,900 |
3,950 |
|
Retrofit Development (Energy Efficiency Obligations) |
1,150 |
- |
1,150 |
|
Demand Generation |
1,050 |
- |
1,050 |
|
Total Allocation |
7,148 |
437,200 |
444,348 |
*European Regional Development Fund
88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of total capital and current funding allocated to the solar pv scheme under subhead b4 of the revised Estimate for 2024; and to provide a breakdown of the allocation under this scheme dedicated to domestic and non-domestic solar PV, respectively. [13966/24]
View answerThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, which are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), up to a maximum of €2,100 for Domestic installations and €162,600 for non-domestic installations.
The SEAI maintains data regarding the financing and functioning of the Domestic Solar PV scheme and the previous pilot scheme it replaced in 2022 and has facilitated the information in response to your question. Past allocations of capital and current funding to the SEAI in respect of the Domestic Solar PV scheme are as follows:
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Capital |
€ 6,500,000 |
€ 11,000,000 |
€ 14,000,000 |
€ 28,770,000 |
|
Current |
€ 200,000 |
€500,000 |
€680,000 |
€630,000 |
Due to high grant uptake levels, the initial capital allocations in 2020, 2022 and 2023 were exceeded, requiring the provision of additional funds, bringing the total supports provided to:
|
- |
2020 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Total capital provided |
€ 7,600,000 |
€ 25,200,000 |
€ 52,900,000 |
This high level of demand is expected to continue into 2024 and indicates that the scheme is working very well and that citizens are recognising the benefits of investing in Solar PV. With domestic applicants currently being able to avail of grants of up to €2,100 with the potential to support a further 26,000 homes with allocated budget of €70.2 million for the Domestic Scheme and Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable.
The Non-Domestic Microgen scheme commenced in September 2022.
The initial version of the scheme enabled applicants such as businesses, farms, schools, and community buildings to apply for a grant for installations up to 6kW, at the same grant amounts as domestic customers, An extended funding range of up to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support non-domestic installation sizes between 7 kWp and 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity, on a pilot basis to the end of 2023. By the end of 2023, over €13.5m in grants had been accrued. It is expected that the annualised cost of the expanded non-domestic support scheme, at the same estimated uptake level, would be approximately €25 million.
89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to instal domestic solar PV under the solar PV scheme; and the average size of systems installed on homes in kWp, in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13967/24]
View answerThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, which are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), up to a maximum of €2,100.
SEAI report that in 2023, the average size of a grant-supported domestic solar PV system installation was 5.19kWp, rising from 4.7kWp the previous year. As part of the grant application process, the value of Solar PV installations are entered by the Solar PV installers. However, this cannot be validated by SEAI and is ultimately a matter for homeowners and their solar pv installers. In 2023 the average cost reported for a 5.19kWp system was €11,924, before the grant is taken into account.
Thus far in 2024, these respective figures are an average solar PV system size of 5.5 kWp, with an average reported installation costs of €11,419. All costs are excluding the grant
The figures a summarised in the table below.
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Average Cost to install (before grant) |
€ 11,924 |
€ 11,419 |
|
Average system size |
5.19kWp |
5.5kWp |
90. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be provided with high-speed broadband. [13975/24]
View answer91. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a housing estate (details supplied) will be provided with high-speed broadband. [13976/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
In 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
NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.
The remaining 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 premises referred to in the Question is situated in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High-Speed Broadband Map, which is available on the Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
The premises in question has a current anticipated date of connection from October 2024 to December 2024.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available to this premises can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at Network Map - NBI. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
A number of the premises in the housing estate referred to in the Question are in the AMBER area and a number of premises are in the BLUE area.
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 my Department's webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and officials in my Department will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
As per Open eir the BLUE premises in the estate have been included in their Full Fibre Deployment programme, so Fibre will be deployed in the area.
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 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3 , 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable. 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 (667,771) or cable (348,251) infrastructure.
92. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will expand or alter the 'one stop shop' list of suppliers, to allow homeowners access to more competitive prices when upgrading windows and doors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14036/24]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department, including the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS). Under the Scheme, a network of registered One-Stop-Shops (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 currently 20 OSSs registered with SEAI. Of these, 2 of the One-Stop-Shops were registered earlier this year, which points to growing confidence in the sector about the future growth prospects of the retrofit market. The SEAI is actively working with other applicant organisations to support them through the registration process. The SEAI will also continue to actively engage with the construction sector, with the aim of getting more companies registered as One-Stop-Shops.
The NHEUS is focused on deep retrofits, which are technically complex. For this reason, SEAI has set an appropriately high bar for companies to register as an OSS, to ensure the quality of the retrofit. It is open to companies operating in general construction/renovation to register as an OSS by applying to the SEAI.
As more OSSs are registered this is creating greater competition in the marketplace as well as affording homeowners greater choice. It is always recommended that a homeowner speaks to several OSSs before making their decision, so that they can choose the company that best suits their budget, timeframe and other considerations, including the need for additional building works.
Information on registration as a One-Stop-Shop can be found on the SEAI website at: https://www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/
93. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s warmer home scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/24]
View answerThe Warmer Homes Scheme provides fully funded home energy upgrades to homeowners in receipt of certain social welfare payments. The scheme is delivered through a panel of contractors who are paid directly by SEAI for the various works provided under the scheme.
The current panel was established following a competitive tender process which was finalised in September 2023. Thirty-six contractors were placed on the panel with all successful tenderers required to sign up to a Framework Agreement with SEAI. The Framework Agreement sets out the rules that contractors must abide by, once successfully appointed.
These include:
- Being registered or registering to the Better Energy Homes Scheme’s Register of Contractors;
- Being subject to SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice, and to carry out all works in line with SEAI's Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents;
- Being subject to the relevant Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures for Contractors;
- Demonstrating tax compliance and insurance cover.
Under the scheme, homes must be available for Building Energy Rating assessments and quality and verification inspections before a home is cleared for payment to a Framework Participant. Trained inspectors carry out quality and verification inspections on selected homes. Homes are selected for inspection on a sample basis using a risk-based approach. Where an inspection identifies defects, Framework Participants will be required to complete reworks in all homes at no cost to SEAI within a reasonable timeline prior to final payment being released. The scheme is aligned with SEAI’s Better Energy Homes Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures for Contractors. This document sets out how those registered are monitored for quality, what is expected of their performance and how they will be dealt with where their quality is not of appropriate standard.
This scheme is a top priority for me and the Government. My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades provided under this important scheme.
94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s OSS scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14047/24]
View answer95. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s better energy homes scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
Contractors operating under any scheme supported by an SEAI grant must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice and Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:
· NSAI S.R. 54:2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings
· Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents
· The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines
· Irish Agrément certificates
· Irish, British or European Standards Guides
In addition, contractors are required to demonstrate their tax compliance and insurance cover and cooperate with the scheme's Quality Assurance programme. The Quality Assurance programme has been designed by SEAI to maintain high standards of contractor workmanship; build consumer confidence; monitor health and safety; and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money. Regular inspections, which can take place at pre-payment or post-payment stage, of works are undertaken on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the homeowner.
A Declaration of Works must be signed by both the homeowner and the contractor certifying completion of works. Post-works Building Energy Ratings are also carried out by independent BER assessors.
Under the provisions of the SEAI Quality Assurance Programme, should a Contractor fail to reach the required standard when following direction on corrective action, then, in accordance with warnings issued, disciplinary action will follow, up to and including deregistration from the SEAI Contractor register.
Details on how to become a registered One Stop Shop can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/one-stop-shop/.
Individual contractors can register with the SEAI for works on other energy upgrade schemes such as Better Energy Homes. More details can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/
SEAI has published a set of guidelines for Contractors on Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures which are available at: www.seai.ie/publications/Better-Energy-Homes-QADP.pdf
96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of the pre-BER and post-BER rating of solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14074/24]
View answer97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of how many solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, were fitted with a heat pump, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
As I advised in Parliamentary Question number 123 of 20 March 2024, to promote and incentivise the achievement of our retrofit 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.
SEAI domestic retrofit programmes are available to all households, including those reliant on solid fuel for heating, who wish to undertake energy upgrades and who meet the programme criteria.
Retrofitting fossil fuel heated homes and replacing the heating systems with heat pumps and renewable energy systems is a key target of the Climate Action Plan. Budget 2024 has provided approximately €430 million capital funding (includes funding from the European Regional Development Fund) for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy performance of their properties this year.
The requested breakdown of the pre-BER and post-BER rating of solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form is not routinely supplied by SEAI to my Department. It should also be noted that in line with the respective terms and conditions of the various SEAI energy efficiency schemes, not all homeowners are required to have a pre-works Building Energy Rating (BER) to qualify for grant support:
- Better Energy Homes and Solar PV Schemes: homeowners are not required to have a pre-works Building Energy Rating (BER) to qualify for grant support, and for this reason the BER data requested on solid fuel homes is not available for homes upgraded under these schemes.
- Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme: Pre-works BER data is only available from 2023.
- National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and Community Energy Grant Scheme: A pre-works BER is required for all homes.
I have directed SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy with the data requested, in so far as it is available, as soon as possible.
98. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he will take to support local authorities to address the issue of cigarette butt litter following the enaction of legislation (details supplied); if a ring-fenced grant can be made available to support the purchase of small road sweepers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14081/24]
View answerUnder the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
Since January 2023, producers of certain single-use plastic items (including tobacco filters) are required to contribute to the cost of cleaning up litter arising from their products under the Single Use Plastics Directive. Guidance on how to calculate these costs is currently being developed by the European Commission. Pending that guidance, my Department is working with the relevant producer organisations to determine 2023 contributions.
My Department already provides significant annual funding to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this Scheme in 2023 with a similar amount expected to be made available in 2024. This funding allows local authorities to support local community and environmental groups in their efforts to promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and/or graffiti while also supporting community clean ups etc.
99. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, following the CRU consultation on electricity generation and system services connection policy, he will support a second annual application window for renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity grid, in order to increase the number of grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/24]
View answerThe CRU held a public consultation, which closed on 16 February 2024, on the successor to ECP (‘the ‘Electricity Generation and System Services Connection’ Policy), the responses to which will inform the introduction of a new policy framework to connect onshore generators, storage and other systems services technology projects to the grid. Among other matters, the paper sought responses on the potential for more frequent grid connection application batches, locational signals, hybrid generation projects and repowering.
Delivery of this task is a matter for the CRU, which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. However, I am aware of the CRU’s ‘minded-to’ approach to introduce a bi-annual batch application process without caps for renewable generators as set out in the public consultation. In addition, my officials have been engaging with CRU on the development of this important new policy in relation to compliance with Article 16 of the Renewable Energy Directive which provides for mandatory permitting deadlines and must be transposed by 1 July 2024. My officials look forward to their continued engagement with CRU ahead of the publication of this critical policy which will be published in Q2 this year.
100. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the recent appointment of a deputy CEO at Inland Fisheries Ireland under section 24(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 was a tacit acknowledgement that the position of CEO is currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/24]
View answer101. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in light of the recent appointment in Inland Fisheries Ireland of a deputy CEO, what procedures were followed as per the Public Service Management Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.
Section 24(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (2010 Act) provides for the appointment of a deputy chief executive by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
The appointment of a deputy CEO is entirely a matter for the Board of IFI who, I understand, have appointed a deputy CEO from time to time in accordance with Section 24(3) of the 2010 Act e.g. to cover leave periods.
102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress on the Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14438/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to a just transition in order to ensure that nobody is left behind as Ireland transitions to a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050 in line with the National Climate Objective.
The Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021 is a Private Members Bill, currently before Dáil Éireann, that provides for the establishment of a National Just Transition Commission to bring together workers, communities, employers and government in social dialogue to drive the plans, polices and investments needed for a fair transformation to a low carbon economy.
In line with the Programme for Government and as set out in the Government's Climate Action Plan, I am progressing the establishment of a Just Transition Commission with a mandate to provide advice to the Government on how to ensure a just transition.
In September 2023, I convened a Just Transition Taskforce to make recommendations to me on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission. The taskforce was comprised of representatives of the key social dialogue pillars (employers, trade unions, farming groups, social NGOs, and environmental NGOs), as well as the National Economic and Social Council and relevant Government Departments. The terms of reference and minutes of previous taskforce meetings are available on my Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e3666-just-transition-taskforce/ .
I asked the taskforce to report to me in the first quarter of this year on its recommendations regarding the establishment of a Just Transition Commission. The taskforce has now concluded its work and I have received its final report. 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.
103. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an updated statement of strategy for this Department will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14446/24]
View answerMy Department's Statement of Strategy 2024 - 2025 is being finalised. It will be brought to Government in the coming weeks and published shortly thereafter.
