Written Answers Nos. 132-136
132. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39496/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra133. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding nuclear terrorism in view of plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39497/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the disposal of nuclear waste in view of plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39498/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he expressed concerns to the British Government regarding plans by the British to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; if so, the details of these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39499/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39494/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra159,. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, 158 and 159 together.
While Ireland does not have a nuclear power industry, it is our position that, where a State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this should be done in accordance with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection. Ireland’s priority is the safety of the Irish people and the protection of our environment, including the shared marine environment of the Irish Sea.
As the Department with policy responsibility for nuclear related matters, my Department monitors the UK nuclear sector on an on-going basis and convenes regular meetings with UK counterparts to discuss general policy issues and raise matters of interest or concern, where appropriate. I should point out that Ireland is a recognised stakeholder in all UK nuclear consultations. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Radiological Protection (formerly the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland), which operates under the aegis of my Department, carries out an environmental radioactivity monitoring programme throughout Ireland and has regularly monitored levels of radioactivity in the Irish environment since 1982.
In November 2012, my Department published a summary of a commissioned report prepared by an independent team of international experts which assessed the probable risks to Ireland from incidents at the Sellafield nuclear site. The experts quantified the likelihood of an incident occurring at Sellafield resulting in the release of radioactive material and found that such an incident would give rise to “no observable health effects in Ireland”.
Ireland has been involved in the consultation process on the new build nuclear programme in the UK, which was announced in a 2009 draft Energy National Policy Statement by the UK authorities, and we have written twice at Ministerial level to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, outlining concerns about potential environmental impacts in Ireland and in the Irish Sea from the new build programme. The key issues of concern include the assessments by the UK of effects on the environment, management of radioactive waste, and the rationale underpinning the proposed justification decision for new nuclear facilities. This engagement at Ministerial level has been supported and informed by continued and regular dialogue at official level, where Irish officials engage, and raise concerns where appropriate, with their UK counterparts directly engaged in the development and implementation of these plans.
Following notification in early 2012 of the proposed development at Hinkley Point, my Department requested the RPII to complete an assessment of the potential radiological impacts on Ireland from the programme of new nuclear power plants in the UK, including the plant at Hinkley Point. This assessment considered both routine operations and a range of postulated accident scenarios at the plants. The report concluded that the routine operation of the proposed nuclear power plants will have no measurable radiological impact on Ireland or the Irish marine environment. However, regardless of the radiological impact, any accident at the proposed nuclear power plants leading to an increase of radioactivity levels in Ireland would have a socio-economic impact on Ireland. The report is available on the EPA website at http://www.epa.ie/newsandevents/news/previous/prrelrpii/2013/name,53039,en.html.
Under the EURATOM Treaty, the UK is required to satisfy the European Commission that the development at Hinkley Point would not be likely to result in radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State. In that context, a Commission opinion, issued in February 2012, considered that under normal operating conditions, the discharges of liquid and gaseous radioactive effluents are not likely to cause an exposure of the population in another Member State that is significant from the point of view of health.
Regarding nuclear safety and security, I should also point out that Ireland works with other States through our membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) where these issues are regularly discussed and where access to up-to-date information in relation to nuclear issues is available. Engagement with the IAEA also enables the development of our policy in these areas to benefit from the experiences of other States.
136. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the protocol between Irish Water and local authorities in view of the fact that construction bonds to cover costs of public foul water services will expire on the taking in charge of estates by local authorities, and where Irish Water will not have completed the taking of charge of public foul services. [39320/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contingencies that are in place should a local authority decide to take an unfinished estate in charge, effectively relinquishing any bond in force in respect of the estate, and subsequently water infrastructure problems are identified; in such a case, if Irish Water will pay to alleviate the deficiencies; if the first-fix-free policy will apply in these cases if leaks are discovered on residents' side of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39435/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 146 together.
Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the process by which local authorities can take in charge housing estates. When taking an estate in charge under the terms of this provision, a planning authority must take in charge any roads, open spaces, car parks, sewers, water mains or drains within the attendant grounds of the development.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of responsibility for the provision of public water services from local authorities to Irish Water. In addition, it provides a mechanism whereby water services infrastructure may be taken in charge by local authorities and be subsequently transferred by Ministerial Order to Irish Water. Contrary to certain misunderstandings that may exist, there is no specific legal impediment to the taking in charge of water services infrastructure by local authorities.
In Circular Letter PL 21/13 issued by my Department to planning authorities on 30 December 2013 in the light of the transfer of certain statutory water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014, it was stated that legislative amendments to further clarify the existing provisions on the taking in charge of housing estates would be made in 2014.
My Department, in consultation with Irish Water and the local authorities, is also currently developing a guidance circular for issue to local authorities to provide clarification in relation to water services infrastructure issues and the taking in charge of housing estates arising from the establishment of Irish Water. It is intended that this advice will be issued to local authorities in the near future.
The Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has decided that where a customer leak has been identified under the ‘first fix’ policy, the customer’s charges will be capped at the assessed level until the leak is fixed by Irish Water. Irish Water has made a proposal to the CER regarding a ‘first fix’ policy and it is understood that the CER intend to hold a public consultation in advance of a decision and implementation of the scheme in January 2015. The policy will apply to all Irish Water domestic customers.
