Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Mar 2017

Vol. 943 No. 1

Other Questions

Climate Change Policy

Question No. 34 is in the name of Deputy Connolly. A privilege has been given to Deputy Pringle to take it.

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

34. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the mechanisms in place for interdepartmental co-operation to achieve the implementation of the national mitigation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/17]

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

41. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of Ireland's national mitigation plan as part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and his views on whether it will be sufficient for Ireland to meet its renewable energy and emissions targets. [13888/17]

This question relates to the implementation of the national mitigation plan, which is subject to public consultation at the moment. This plan crosses a number of different Departments and requires action across Government. How will this interaction take place to fulfill the requirements of this mitigation plan?

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 41 together.

In line with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, I am required to prepare and submit a national mitigation plan to Government for approval no later than 10 June 2017. An important milestone in this work, and one required under the legislation, was reached last week when I published a draft of the national mitigation plan for public consultation. This consultation will help inform further work in my own Department and across Government to finalise the plan later this year. The consultation is an essential part of the process of public and stakeholder engagement on the challenges we face to meet our existing commitments and to begin the longer term process of transitioning Ireland to a low-carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050.

The draft plan has been prepared through close collaboration across all relevant Government Departments and, in particular, by the key Ministers responsible to the four sectors covered by the plan, including electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture, forestry and land use.

This has been overseen by an interdepartmental national mitigation plan steering group as well as by both the senior officials group and the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action. Technical support has been provided to all the sectors by the technical research and modelling group which operates under my Department. In addition, the Climate Change Advisory Council was established as an independent statutory body under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Its role is to assess and advise Government on policy related to climate change.

As well as mechanisms to ensure interdepartmental co-operation, we also need to engage wider society with the challenge of climate change, motivate changes in behaviour and create structures at local, regional and national levels to support the generation of ideas and their transition into appropriate cost-effective actions.  To this end, I announced recently details of a national dialogue on climate action.

It is important to note that the first national mitigation plan represents an initial step to set us on the pathway to achieve the level of decarbonisation required by 2050. It does not provide a complete roadmap to achieve the 2050 objective but rather is a work in progress reflecting the reality of where we are in our decarbonisation transition. When finalised, the plan will become a living document that will be accessible on my Department's website and which will be continually updated as ongoing analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options. In addition, there will be a formal preparation of successive national mitigation plans at least once every five years as provided for in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.

I intend that these arrangements will continue to provide a clear Government focus to drive the ongoing development and implementation of the mitigation plan.

In terms of our 2020 emissions reduction targets under the EU’s effort sharing decision, it is expected, on the basis of the latest projections prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, that we will fall short of meeting this target. The first national mitigation plan will provide the framework for continued work towards meeting our 2020 targets. Equally important, it will also begin the development of medium-term to long-term options to ensure that we are well positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades.

On renewable energy targets, Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has estimated that 25.3% of electricity, 6.5% of heat and 5.7% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2015.

The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and although good progress towards the target has been made to date meeting the 16% target remains challenging. My Department is currently developing a proposed new renewable electricity support scheme and a new renewable heat incentive scheme, designed to assist in meeting our renewable energy supply - electricity, RES-E, and renewable energy supply - heat, RES-H, targets. The introduction of any new scheme, including the overall costs and technologies to be supported, will be subject to Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission.

We are one of only two countries in the EU that will miss its 2020 targets. It is widely accepted, although perhaps not fully by Government at the moment, that we will miss those targets. The mitigation plan has been criticised because it fails to acknowledge the economic, human and environmental costs of not taking action and does not have a sense of urgency. It is widely accepted that addressing climate change is urgent. As the Minister outlined, the plan focuses mainly on cost-effectiveness but it also emphasises the financial costs and budgetary implications associated with implementing the climate actions. The key question is how the plan will be implemented across Departments. From experience I know that getting stuff done in one Department is hard enough. If we have to get two Departments to work together, we may as well forget about it. To get three to work together is impossible. This plan must focus on an across-Government approach. How is it envisaged that will happen?

Deputy Pringle stated that the plan does not take into account the human aspect and cost. One of the big problems is that we have not had an across-the-board economic analysis of the impact of climate change and its cost to the environment and society. The really frustrating aspect is that I, as Minister, was starting with a blank sheet. When the 20% targets were agreed, the then Ministers, John Gormley and Deputy Eamon Ryan, were pushing for a 30% target without having done an economic analysis of how we would achieve the 20% target and we now see the consequences. Now we are getting a 30% target based on cost-effectiveness. The Commission is taking that into account and acknowledging that cost-effectiveness must be part of it. The overall threshold across the EU is the same. The target is 40%. However, there must be an acknowledgement that the flexibility and the ability to do that varies across member states. There is far more flexibility in the emissions trading system where it is more cost-effective to make the changes, but sadly the bulk of our emissions are outside the emissions trading system.

I call Deputy Brian Stanley.

My question for the Minister is on the status of the draft national mitigation plan, which the Minister has outlined, as part of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act and his views on whether it will be sufficient to meet renewable energy and emissions targets.

Will the mitigation plan be sufficient to meet our 2030 targets? No, not as it stands at present. First, this is a draft document and we are looking for feedback and submissions from the public on it. Second, this is a living, breathing document that will alter with the forthcoming budget and the review of the capital plan. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has directed that the issues and challenges that we face between now and 2030 are to be incorporated by Ministers in terms of their proposals for the capital plan. There will be a whole-of-Government approach. As Deputy Pringle noted, it is challenging. The heavy lifting has to be done by four Departments but there is a responsibility across Government to make the changes that are needed. For instance, the Department of Education and Skills has a role in terms of school building standards. Many other Departments also have a role to play. As the facilitating Department, we are actively trying to drive the type of change that is required and to engage directly with communities. This is why dialogue is so important. Up to now, we had the environmental lobby lecturing people and telling them how it was going to happen rather than engaging and working with them and assisting them with the active transition to a low-carbon society.

I have an initial response.

For continuity purposes, I will call Deputy Stanley first and then Deputy Pringle.

Will I get to come back in?

It was outlined by the Minister that we are going to miss our targets. The approach is lack-lustre and the concern is that there is not just the question of environmental damage but also the potential of financial penalties. These must be avoided at all costs. We cannot allow ourselves to be the bad guys of Europe. We have an opportunity. We present a green image but, my God, we are not living up to it. We present this image of having safe food, and rightly so. We support that fully. However, we need to match our words and advertisements with action. We need a clear roadmap. There is a concern that goes across sectors, including the power and energy sector and the construction sector, especially the retrofit sector. We recognise that the agrisector is a difficult one in this regard but better farming practices can deal with it.

While I recognise the Minister is new to this game, having been appointed only recently, he must act on this issue because we do not have time on our side. From July onwards, urgent action must be taken on transport. This will require increased investment in public transport, increasing the number of power points and having more light vehicles driven by renewable energy sources.

Sometimes we are much too hard on ourselves. Ireland is leading the way in some areas. The beef data and genomics scheme is probably the most innovative step taken in agriculture anywhere in the world. I have been surprised by the number of ministers from abroad who have asked me about this scheme. The initiative taken by the Environmental Protection Agency on smart farming is putting cash in farmers' hands. On average, farmers in the scheme are saving €5,000 per annum, which is having a direct impact on the environment. On the basis of the work done by successive Governments in the area of energy efficiency, the International Energy Agency has asked me, on behalf of Ireland, to be the keynote speaker in June. In addition, the United States and many other countries are examining how our electricity grid operates. We should not always take a negative view because we are setting the agenda in some areas. I acknowledge, however, that we have a great deal of work to do, including on transport.

The Minister emphasised several times that this is a draft plan and consultations are ongoing. The key question is by how much the plan will change by June as a result of engagement with members of the public, non-governmental organisations and others who are seeking to frame a plan that sets out targets that must be met. How open is the Minister to having a plan that reflects ambitious goals, moves away from the issue of financial costs and budgetary processes and recognises the urgent need to take concrete action?

While I acknowledge that some positive things are taking place, by the Minister's own admission both privately and publicly, Ireland has fallen behind and must catch up. We are approaching the edge of a carbon cliff, as I forecast several years ago. We must develop other sources of renewable energy, including grasping the nettle on solar power. There is opposition to everything. We must, therefore, present communities with a range of options because most sensible people would then accept that the Government and House are doing their best.

Notwithstanding the role of Departments in this area, local government is the missing piece. To use a catchphrase, we must think globally and act locally. Local authorities have shown the way in the renovation and retrofitting of houses where they are doing significant work. I ask the Minister to discuss this issue with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, with a view to developing local government involvement in waste, local transport and public buildings. Local authorities can do much more. The power to devolve many more responsibilities to them is provided for in the Local Government Act. I ask the Minister to devolve powers to take specific measures to local councils, communities and people in order that we can get on top of the issue of climate change.

To respond to Deputy Pringle's question, while I am very open to constructive suggestions, I am not open to the suggestion that we close down the three peat fired power stations tomorrow and have all the seasonal workers who are driving tractors become electricians and retrofit houses in Dublin. This is the type of solution that is being put forward. What we need are practical solutions and I am very open to any practical, logical solution regardless of who proposes it.

I will address the issue of solar power in a couple of minutes. Deputy Stanley is correct on the role of local government. My Department works very closely with local authorities on waste initiatives, including reducing food waste, which has a direct impact on the environment. My local authority, Roscommon County Council, is involved in converting its vehicle fleet to a low emission fleet. The Department, through the ESB, is engaging with local authorities on the issue of public lighting with a view to reducing overall electricity demand. This will have a direct impact on the environment and generate additional funds for local authorities to be invested in other energy solutions and community projects.

Renewable Energy Projects

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

35. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will investigate the possibility of Coillte transferring a single wind turbine in a location (details supplied) to local community ownership which could provide free electricity for residents in a five to ten mile radius of the wind farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13289/17]

I ask the Minister to investigate the possibility of Coillte transferring a single wind turbine in the Sliabh Bawn wind farm development near Strokestown, County Roscommon, to local community ownership. This would provide free electricity for residents within a radius of five or ten miles from the site.

The programme for Government recognises the importance of community participation in renewable energy projects in both the national and local interest. This builds on the 2015 energy White Paper commitment to widen the opportunity for community and citizen participation in renewable energy projects.

While the specific proposal detailed by the Deputy is a commercial matter for Coillte, I am committed to ensuring community participation will be a key design parameter of the new renewable electricity support scheme which is under development in my Department. The new support scheme will be designed to enable communities to actively participate and invest in renewable energy projects, simultaneously reaping the benefits of renewable electricity projects in their local area and contributing to Ireland's low carbon energy future.

A core part of this work is to identify ownership models and meaningful pathways for community participation in renewable energy projects and I expect the results of this analysis will be known shortly. It is expected that a second public consultation will issue in the second quarter of 2017 outlining various design options. However, following the outcome of this second public consultation and before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018.

When the project on Sliabh Bawn was first proposed I met Coillte to discuss the specific issue Deputy Eugene Murphy raises. At that stage, I sought a dividend for those living in the vicinity of Sliabh Bawn who would be directly impacted by the project. I did not succeed, however, because I was virtually a lone voice on the issue. While everyone thinks it is a good idea now, I was unable to successfully progress the proposal at the time because the legislation and structures introduced before my appointment did not facilitate or allow for such a measure to be taken. I pressed Coillte, a semi-State company, on the issue of being seen to be best in class and it is my intention to ensure all projects in any new support scheme will have a community dividend tied into them.

To be blunt, the Minister is my constituency colleague and he and I are in trouble as a result of wind farms, including the Sliabh Bawn wind farm. Like the Minister, I see the value of wind. However, I have argued for a long time that the stipulations and guidelines in place are out of kilter with the needs of people and their way of life. Coillte must start giving something back and this is one area where we could do something.

The Sliabh Bawn wind farm was established under the old guidelines. I hope the Minister will be able to address the issues causing dissatisfaction in the community, including wind turbine noise and their size. As an advocate of wind power, I am not happy with the current structure as it does not provide a good method for dealing with local communities which, in turn, do not buy into wind power. While noise is not an issue for some people, it upsets and annoys others. The Minister should ensure Coillte holds regular meetings with community groups and considers new ideas. The issue of providing local communities with a wind turbine to meet their electricity needs is not new. The practice has been adopted elsewhere in Europe, including Scotland, and it works perfectly well.

First, Deputy Eugene Murphy made the point that there is no good method for dealing with communities and he is correct that this was the case. That is why before Christmas I got the industry to sign up to a new code of practice. I acknowledge some of the people near Sliabh Bawn have dismissed that but it is funny that other communities in County Roscommon that have used the code have said that it has effectively dealt with the noise issue. It is, therefore, working in the county and I urge people to use the code rather than dismiss what we have succeeded in doing. I have said to Coillte officials on numerous occasions that there has to be a community dividend not just in respect of this wind farm, but of every wind farm in the country. The dividend has to extend beyond the term of the wind farm or project.

I have publicly stated that the guidelines are not fit for purpose. It had been my intention to bring in new guidelines prior to Christmas but that was not possible because of the ECJ decision. They will deal with issues such as noise and shadow flicker because they have to be dealt with given that the current guidelines are outdated. There is an opportunity to get this right. They will go out for public consultation and I look forward to the feedback from communities and Members.

When this development was proposed in 2011, no more than the Minister, I had many discussions with Coillte officials about giving a turbine to the community, the tourism project on Sliabh Bawn, which will be massive, and other issues. However, people have been affected by noise and by the development of the wind farm and they are unhappy. The wind farm is subject to the old guidelines and it is extremely important that the Minister and, indeed, all Oireachtas Members, acknowledge and accept that there is a huge difficulty with this project. We must acknowledge that people are unhappy. I fully understand that we are way behind in our renewable energy targets and 2020 is approaching. There will be massive fines on the State, which will fall back on the taxpayer. This development, however, cannot be undertaken on the backs of people who are unhappy. We must consult people and listen to their concerns. They are not all mad in respect of what they are saying. I have never opposed wind power but I have stood on my doorstep and the noise factor is extremely annoying. It upsets some people and not others. There are 250 wind farms in the country and the Minister needs to publish the guidelines and to meet people who are concerned. We need to examine their ideas and engage with them. The day of Coillte throwing a few euro to the community is gone and I ask the Minister to challenge Coillte to deal with that issue and to ensure communities get a fair crack of the whip.

I acknowledge, and have acknowledged, that there is a difficulty. That is why I put the code of practice in place and that is why the wind industry has written to every Member to tell them there is a new mechanism in place to deal with issues such as those being experienced by the Deputy. Noise is an issue and the new guidelines will reflect that.

The Deputy asked me to meet the people concerned. I met all the players after I became Minister. I met representatives of the communities affected and the industry. I heard all voices before I considered the new guidelines. I listened to, and discussed, the issues that were raised. We had hoped to make progress on this but the ECJ took a decision that has set us back. It is my intention to have the draft guidelines put into the public domain as quickly as possible and to ensure they reflect the concerns that have been raised by communities not only in County Roscommon, but across the country. We cannot ignore these issues and brush concerns under the carpet. That is why the code of practice is in place and I urge people to use it.

We cannot have Coillte monitoring its own noise levels.

The next question in the name of Deputy Heydon will be taken by Deputy Durkan.

Job Creation Data

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

36. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of jobs created in 2016 and maintained to date in County Kildare under the Geoscience Ireland-Enterprise Ireland business cluster initiative; his plans for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/17]

The purpose of the question is to ascertain the extent of the success of the Geoscience Ireland-Enterprise Ireland cluster project, the number of jobs that have been created, how efficient and effective it is and what the results indicate.

I thank Deputy Heydon for tabling the question and Deputy Durkan for putting it.

Geoscience Ireland, GI, is an initiative under my Department managed through the Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI. Geoscience Ireland is a business cluster of 31 indigenous Irish companies operating in the geoscience sector. The cluster is managed by the GSI, with support from Enterprise Ireland, EI, and a steering committee that also includes representation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  

GI was formed to maintain and create jobs in the geoscience sector by bringing together Irish companies to collaborate to win work overseas. It has been hugely successful to date with a net increase in job numbers of more than 470 since 2012. In 2015, the cumulative turnover of Geoscience Ireland companies was in excess of €310 million, 69% or €215 million of which was generated by exports.

The minerals sector has been estimated as having a value of over €800 million to the economy. Geoscience Ireland, along with the GSI and EI, co-operates closely to promote the Irish geoscience sector. GI is also becoming recognised both nationally and internationally as a successful model for the creation and development of a sectoral cluster, with its expertise increasingly being shared with other initiatives in Ireland.

GI member companies reported that 179 net new jobs were created in 2016. Those companies based or headquartered in County Kildare created a total of 46 net new jobs in 2016. It is estimated that approximately half of these jobs are based in Kildare, with the balance of staff distributed across branch offices in Dublin and the UK.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. To what extent will further expansion be considered in County Kildare with obvious benefits for the county? To what degree does the success to date indicate sufficient confidence to progress in that direction? What potential is there for further job creation on a major scale?

This is an excellent news story. In 2010-11, GSI, EI and five reference companies in the geoscience sector identified opportunities for Irish companies on the international markets and established Geoscience Ireland to target those opportunities, thus protecting and creating jobs in the face of a beleaguered domestic market. The geoscience expertise offered by GI's consultancy companies include geology, geophysical and geochemical surveying, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, environmental advisory planning and remediation, and hydrology and hydrogeology. GI member companies are operating and contracting works, providing services for mining and quarrying, drilling for mineral exploitation, and engaged in water and geotechnical projects and infrastructural development. In Kildare, GI companies established 46 new jobs in 2016 and there is great potential for job creation. They are allowing companies which are trying to expand into Europe to collaborate to best utilise their resources to win overseas jobs and investment and that will have a knock-on effect on companies headquartered in Kildare.

Based on current analysis, can I ask the degree to which it might be possible to determine the full extent of the potential of the programme nationally, and in County Kildare, and to examine the possibilities?

Four companies were involved in job creation in County Kildare - Murphy Surveys Limited, Irish Geotechnical Services Limited, Blaney and Reid Geological Limited and Trench Control Limited. They added 28 jobs in Kildare with the balance of jobs created in Dublin and the UK. Currently, there are 31 partner companies, which is up from 28 in a short time. Companies are contacting GSI to become involved in Geoscience Ireland, which is an excellent recognition of the success of the programme and the collaboration between GSI and EI. The full potential has not been realised and there are opportunities for growth, both in Kildare and nationally, as domestic companies expand and achieve international success and grow their companies internationally.

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Joe Carey

Ceist:

37. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider the creation of a renewable electricity feed in tariff for microgeneration using action 114 of the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13697/17]

The 2009 EU renewable energy directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable energy sources. The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and although good progress towards the target has been made, meeting the 16% target remains challenging.

The 2015 Energy White Paper recognises the potential contribution micro-generation can make to Ireland meeting its renewable energy targets and commits to explore the scope to provide market support for micro-generation. My Department is currently developing a proposed new renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, which will be designed to assist us in meeting our 2020 and 2030 renewable electricity targets.  As part of the RESS analysis, which is under way, providing pathways for micro-generation across a range of technologies is being assessed and community participation in Ireland’s renewable energy transition will be a key feature of the new scheme. This analysis will help shape effective policies and identify appropriate market intervention mechanisms to support these policy objectives. A second public consultation will be published in quarter two of this year outlining various design options. However, following the outcome of this second consultation and before any new scheme can be introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018.

I thank the Minister. We have a huge challenge in reaching our renewable energy targets. We need more initiatives like the one the Minister has described which is very encouraging. We have opportunities in solar, hydro and biomass energy. There are also huge opportunities in offshore wind. There seems to be a focus, understandably, on larger scale energy producers. I want to raise the issue of micro-generation, that is, the small generation of electric power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs or alternatively as a supplement to the traditional centralised grid connection. I have a constituent in east Clare who has been in touch with my office. He has put together and designed a power generating unit that can generate power off a local stream. It makes sense to me that an individual like that should be in a position to benefit from the initiative and sell that electricity to the national grid. Will the scheme the Minister is putting together deal with that issue?

The new support scheme should be far broader than schemes up to now. Up to now the focus has been on onshore wind. There is an opportunity now to expand and look at both domestic and large scale solar, hydro, biomass, offshore wind energy and micro-generation. Micro-generation has to be part of that mix. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment on any specific project. There are a number of issues that would need to be looked at in that context, one of which is whether the grid at the location can take it. One of the issues we will have with some of these projects is the capacity of the grid. It is an issue that is coming up more frequently now in solar energy. At the moment there are enough solar applications for connection to the grid that if we turned off every power generating source on the island of Ireland, we would have enough solar capacity on a sunny winter's day to run the country.

The Minister mentioned in his opening remarks the need to secure Government approval and that he had hoped that if he gets Government approval he could push on in the later stages of this year and perhaps next year. He also mentioned the question of state aid. Has the Minister made any inquiries on the state aid impact? Is he confident the scheme he is designing will get around that particular question?

Has there been engagement with the Commission on state aid? Yes, of course, there has been. Our Department will be in regular contact across a number of areas. Is it likely it will get approval from the European Commission? Yes, it is our intention to design a scheme that will get the approval from the Commission. It is important to remember that under the renewable electricity support scheme, it will be funded through the public service obligation so we have to be cognisant of the impact that will have on both commercial and domestic electricity bills. If we were to approve every single solar application in the country, it would have a dramatic impact on the cost of electricity. It would significantly increase the cost of electricity in this country. We are trying to get cost-effective supports that can be put in place, acknowledging the need to expand the suite of renewable energy power generators that have been supported up to now and to try to support a far broader range.

Question No. 38 replied to with Written Answers.

Renewable Energy Projects

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

39. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans on announcing details of the next REFIT scheme; if PV solar energy will be included in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13896/17]

The purpose of the question is to ask the Minister if he plans to announce details of the next REFIT scheme? When does he intend to do that? Will photovoltaic, PV, solar energy be included in it? Will he make a statement to the House on his intentions in that regard?

My Department is currently developing a proposed new renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. Analysis is ongoing of the types of technologies to be included such as biomass, offshore and onshore wind, waste, and combined heat and power. This analysis also includes an assessment of the cost of supporting solar PV, both rooftop and ground-mounted.

The programme for a partnership Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. I was the one who proposed that inclusion in the programme for Government. This builds on the 2015 Energy White Paper and recognises that solar has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. The new scheme design requires detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost-effectiveness of supporting several renewable technologies at various scales. Once this analysis is complete, my Department will publish a second public consultation on the design of the new scheme. There will be many decisions to be made on the scheme with regard to scale and technologies and, in particular, how communities will have a greater involvement than in previous schemes.

Following the outcome of this second public consultation and before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission.  Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018. I am fully aware of the level of interest in the solar PV sector in Ireland. The most recent data available to my Department has indicated there have been over 550 applications, amounting to about 3,900 MW of solar capacity, seeking a connection to the electricity grid in the last 18 months. Notwithstanding the level of solar applicants seeking connection to the grid, my stated position on this is very clear. While solar energy has a role to play in Ireland's energy future, we cannot have a situation where a new support scheme leads to a disproportionate increase in people’s electricity bills through a higher public service obligation levy. In designing the new RESS, the needs of and cost implications for people and businesses will be foremost in my mind.

I am well aware of the Minister's concerns about ensuring that those who use electricity, both domestically and commercially, have rates that are tolerable, do not damage their capacity to live in, heat and light their homes and premises and do not impact negatively on businesses, but Ireland is obligated to meet the EU's target of 16% of all energy being generated from renewable sources by 2020 and it is essential that we continue to grow our renewable capacity. Currently, we are nowhere near meeting out 2020 targets. The Minister knows that 27.3% of electricity demand was met by renewable sources in 2016, of which wind accounted for 23.2%. It would be foolhardy of the Government to continue its reliance on onshore wind energy, given that it does not guarantee security of supply. Instead, we should branch out and expand our renewable portfolio to include offshore wind, biomass, tidal and solar, where possible.

There is little State financial support for those wishing to construct commercial solar energy facilities. The main renewable energy schemes are the new retrofit programme and the alternative energy requirement. The Government has been stalling on the details of the former for months, which it is now anticipated will be launched in late 2017. While costs have decreased considerably, industry experts agree that large-scale development of solar capacity is unlikely without State support. I appeal to the Minister to get the scheme up and running as quickly as possible. There is a trade-off with the potential cost to users, but we must meet our targets, given that the cost to the State would have to be paid by the taxpayer anyway if we failed to meet the targets.

The Deputy is right about there being a balance but I recall how, soon after I was appointed Minister, he and his colleagues lectured me on the impact of the PSO on domestic bills.

I must get the balance right in that regard. Solar will be a part of that mix.

Deputy Dooley is right, in that one of our main problems to date has been how we have effectively put all of our eggs in one basket, that being, onshore wind. There needs to be a broader suite of supports - solar, hydro, biomass and offshore wind. One of my first decisions as Minister and one of my first actions at the Council of Ministers was to sign an agreement with seven EU member states on developing our offshore capacity. Ireland's capacity is considerable and we are putting funding towards it. Subject to Government approval and state aid rules, I intend to put additional supports in place for offshore wind energy. Limited to 30 MW, there would be a payment of €260 per MW/h for wave and tidal generation to incentivise the sector and get it up and running. This will be on top of the €26.3 million that the Department set aside for the sector during the 2013-16 period.

I recognise the Minister's understanding of this matter, but too much effort has been invested in onshore wind. Reverting to my colleague's question, we have reached people's full capacity to accept this technology. Solar energy can be captured without the same level of encumbrance on people's ability to enjoy their areas' amenities.

The Minister must move quickly, given the impact of our inability to meet the targets. Breaching them will incur a significant cost, which will have to be paid for by the taxpayer. I appeal to the Minister to get the scheme up and running as quickly as possible. It has been delayed for longer than should have been the case. This is not to suggest that departmental officials are not working to their greatest extent, but we need action. In terms of how we have been reshaping our energy generation, 2020 is approaching quickly.

It is, so we must move quickly. According to the projections available to me, however, we will meet our 2020 electricity targets. The main challenge for us will be heat. For this reason, priority within my Department has been given to the renewable heat incentive scheme, which we want to get operational as soon as possible. Once it is, our focus will move to the electricity sector.

We do not want to make the mistakes that have been made elsewhere. Otherwise, Deputy Dooley would rightly lecture me. We saw what happened when Northern Ireland moved too quickly on the renewable heat incentive scheme. We have seen what has happened in other member states that did not put the proper checks and balances in place. I want to establish a renewables scheme that supports a range of options, is fair and balanced and does not leave the Exchequer or, more importantly, electricity users footing an inordinate cost.

I remind the House that we have fewer than five minutes left. Next is a grouping of three questions. The Minister has prepared a long reply and the two Deputies concerned will be entitled to supplementary questions. I will give the Minister two minutes and he should get through his answer as fast as possible, but it is a long response and I might have to cut him short.

North-South Interconnector

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

40. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the Fianna Fáil motion that was passed by Dáil Éireann regarding the North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13039/17]

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions he has taken since the passing in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of Fianna Fáil Private Members' motions regarding the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13890/17]

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

64. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has commissioned an independent report incorporating international industry expertise as requested in the Fianna Fáil Private Members' motions passed in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13891/17]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 53 and 64 together.

The North-South interconnector is important for improving the efficient operation of the single electricity market, SEM, and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. Currently, there is only a single high-capacity electricity interconnector between the transmission systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The proposed interconnector will add a capacity of 1,500 MW and remove a significant bottleneck, leading to the improved operation of the SEM.

On 21 December, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South interconnector project. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process that included an oral hearing completed over 11 weeks from March to May of last year. The hearing considered submissions and witness testimony on a range of concerns, including the impacts on people, health, archaeology, flora, water, soils, land use and traffic. The inspector evaluated the testimony presented in favour of and against the overhead and underground solutions. In her report, she examined these issues thoroughly and concluded that a high-voltage alternating current overhead line was the best technical and economic solution for the interconnector in order to achieve the specified national energy objectives.

The planning process in Northern Ireland is ongoing, with the planning inquiry concluding on 27 February 2017.

I am aware of the views that have been raised by communities across Cavan, Meath and Monaghan to the effect that the transmission lines should be laid underground rather than built overhead. However, all evidence available to me indicates that developing the project underground would cost substantially more and deliver less. In particular, I would highlight the independent expert commission report of 2012, which estimated that the cost of building the project underground would be three times the cost of the overhead solution. I would also highlight the July 2014 work and findings of the Government-appointed independent expert panel, which found that the studies and work undertaken on the North-South transmission line project were compatible with the methodologies being employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects.

In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, I have requested my officials to prepare a proposal for an updated independent report that would consider any change in cost and technology in the five years since the 2012 report by the independent expert commission. My officials are preparing the terms of reference for this study. I intend for this report to provide a comprehensive and independent analysis and to be completed and published before the end of this year. I re-emphasise the Government's continued strong support for this project.

I feel a sense of déjà vu, as I am sure the Minister does. During Question Time on 7 February, I appealed to him to withhold Government funding from the capital phase of the North-South interconnector project until such time as the impact of Brexit had been realised. Since then, the Houses passed Fianna Fáil motions calling for an independent expert analysis of the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the interconnector, so I was shocked by the Department's responses to my parliamentary questions on when the motion was due to be put into action.

The Government is showing a blatant disregard for the democratic process by ignoring the recent Dáil and Seanad motions, which is clearly the plan, given the responses. The Minister plans to narrow the motions down to a minimal focus on the cost analyses of published studies and ensure that the commencement of construction in 2018 is not affected.

It is in stark contrast to the motion which was passed, which included incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and the cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector, but it also included evaluating the potential impacts of both undergrounding and overgrounding the North-South interconnector on surrounding areas considering such aspects as its impact on local tourism, health, landscape and agriculture and heritage.

Again, unfortunately, the Minister's reply is most disappointing. In the week following the passing of the Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion on the North-South interconnector, I asked An Taoiseach and the Minister what actions would be initiated by the Government on foot of the motion. Unfortunately, the only definitive response the Minister gave us was that construction would commence in 2018.

The Minister referred to the report of An Bord Pleanála. I do not think any member of the Government should quote from such a report because it rubbished the contribution of Members of the Oireachtas, including Ministers who participated in the oral hearing. All of the Oireachtas Members from Cavan, Monaghan and Meath participated in the oral hearing but it is as if we were not even there.

We had a good meeting with the Minister when he met representative organisations from Monaghan, Meath and Cavan. He referred earlier in response to Deputy Dooley that the Department would finalise the terms of reference on the very narrow and restrictive report that will be initiated following the passing of the Fianna Fáil motion. The Minister promised on the morning of the meeting that he would have further consultation both at official level and political level with the organisations representing communities in the three counties. Could he give me a firm assurance that before the terms of reference are finalised he will meet a small representative group from the organisations that have been actively campaigning in order that they can outline the strong views, concerns and worries of communities in the three counties?

The Minister referred previously to his contribution in getting various issues included in the programme for Government, which we all welcome. There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to better engagement by Government in the advancement of energy policy, with specific reference to the provision and development of energy infrastructure.

The Deputy must conclude.

Our motion specifically encompassed the worries and concerns of communities and the need to have an overall review of the proposed project.

We are running out of time and there will not be time for a response from the Minister.

I again ask the Minister to go back to what was sought in the motion and ensure the report that is commissioned is meaningful.

We must move on to the Topical Issue debate. The Minister must make the best of one minute.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to better engagement with communities on energy projects. Deputy Eugene Murphy and I discussed one of those projects in my constituency. I cannot reopen every decision that has been made by every Minister prior to me, but what I can do is ensure that we learn from the mistakes of the past in terms of some of the projects. That is the commitment that is contained in the programme for Government.

In response to the Deputy's comment on An Bord Pleanála, as he is aware there is a judicial review and I cannot comment on the matter as I am one of the named parties in one of the judicial reviews, as is the Department.

The Government is not providing funding for the North-South interconnector. Funding will be provided by electricity users of the interconnector across the country who will be charged via the operators of the network. That has always been the case. The purpose of the interconnector is to stabilise the grid north and south of the Border.

As I said previously to Deputy Dooley, my starting point was the engagement I had with the communities here in Leinster House before any motion was brought to the House. I listened to them. I believe I was the first Minister since Deputy Eamon Ryan to meet with them and listen to the points they raised. They raised legitimate questions that require answers. That is the reason I facilitated further engagement at official level. I sought clarification from the expert technical advice within the Department. That is the reason we are now putting terms of reference in place.

Will the Minister have a further meeting with the representatives of communities before the terms of reference are finalised? It is very important for the Minister to send the message that he is still willing to meet with those who will be affected.

I will engage through the public representatives. I gave no further commitment at the time for follow-on meetings. As to whether I will engage with public representatives in the House, of course I will.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.
Barr
Roinn