Written Answers Nos. 212-218
212. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of homes in Counties Westmeath and Longford that have benefitted from the better energy warming homes scheme since its introduction; if any projects in either county have received funding under the better energy communities scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, which meet the defined eligibility criteria. Homes of the scheme beneficiaries receive energy efficiency upgrades free of charge. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation. From 2009 to end October 2015, 1,486 homes in Longford and 2,473 homes in Westmeath have received energy efficiency upgrades under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme.
The Better Energy Communities Scheme, also administered by the SEAI, supports partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of existing building stock, including homes vulnerable to energy poverty. Under the 2015 Better Energy Communities scheme, grants have been offered to projects in Westmeath and Longford, which include projects led by Barnardos, Musgraves and Longford Leisure Centre. In addition, previous iterations have seen grants were awarded to upgrade public lighting and nursing homes in Longford.
213. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if funding is forthcoming from the European Union or if any other investment is being made in the delivery of broadband in all areas of County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41924/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
On 29 September the Government published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention.
Funding of €75m is committed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). State expenditure of €150m is required before the €75m under the European Regional Development Fund can be drawn down.
Because a competitive procurement process is anticipated, it would be neither advisable nor appropriate to speculate about the potential overall cost of the NBP at this stage. Ultimately, the outcome of the procurement process will determine the final cost of the intervention.
I hope to commence the procurement process before the end of this year. Progress on the project and the outcome of the procurement process will influence the quantum of exchequer funding that will be expended on the NBP in 2016.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3 to 5 years of the contract award. Our aim is to ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage by 2020.
Under the NBP the Government has made significant commitments to ensure that all premises, irrespective of location, will have access to speeds of at least 30Mbps high-speed, high-quality future proofed broadband services by 2020 and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
The combination of significant commercial investment plus the strong commitments for public funding for non-commercial areas will mean that Ireland's telecommunications and broadband networks will be among the best and most modern in the EU and beyond, capable of meeting both current and anticipated future growth in bandwidth demand.
I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 45,000 premises to date in County Galway with a further 26,200 expected to be served by commercial investment based on existing plans. The remaining 62,500 premises in County Galway will be covered by further commercial investment or be the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan. The breakdown of premises covered, per townland, is available on the High Speed Broadband Map at www.broadband.gov.ie.
214. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if an address (details supplied) in County Galway can connect to the national grid through the provision of solar energy on lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41925/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in the matter.
The CER has oversight of the process for connecting generators, both renewable and non-renewable, to the national grid. This is generally referred to as the Group Process Approach (GPA) which has been implemented to date through a series of gates i.e. Gate 1, Gate 2 and Gate 3. Smaller projects (less than 5 MW) can connect outside of the gate process (non GPA).
A party that wishes to connect to the national grid (including solar energy on lands) must apply to the system operator (either Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, or the Distribution System Operator, ESB Networks). The CER has decided (CER/09/099 – available on www.cer.ie) that the following list of technology or classes of technology exhibit public interest benefits and are, therefore, preapproved for processing outside of the GPA: Bioenergy, Combined Heat and Power, Autoproducers, Hydro, Ocean, Wave, Solar, Geothermal and Experimental/Emerging Technology.
It is my understanding that electricity generators (including solar) eligible to be processed outside of the GPA will receive an offer for a connection to the network provided that all technical requirements for connecting to the grid are fulfilled by the applicant.
215. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address concerns raised about the possible sale in 2016 of the Whitegate Oil Refinery in County Cork as a non-operative refinery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41972/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Whitegate refinery was privatised as a result of its sale by the State in 2001. Under the terms of the sale, the owners are obliged to continue to operate the refinery for a minimum of fifteen years, a commitment which remains in place until July 2016. That commitment is not affected by the planned sale. The owners of the refinery, Phillips 66, advised my Department in October that they were putting the Whitegate refinery up for sale and indicated their intention to market it for sale as an operational refinery (and not as a terminal.) A refinery sale would be a commercial matter between Phillips 66 and a potential purchaser. As this process is underway Whitegate will continue to be operated on a business as usual basis.
The Government views the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis as highly desirable from an energy security and economic perspective. Security of supply remains a fundamental tenet of our energy policy. I am in contact with my Ministerial colleagues to discuss the importance of continued operations at the facility.
216. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the supports that are available to a public building located beside a river to harness that river to assist in its power and energy requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42002/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Renewable Electricity Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources including small scale hydro. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes. Further information is available on my Department's website, www.dcenr.ie.
Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar (including photovoltaic) and small scale hydro, has been carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy (May 2014) in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration. The findings will also be taken into consideration in the preparation of the Energy White Paper which will be published in 2015.
On 31 July last the Department launched a consultation on a new support scheme for renewable electricity. While the initial phase of the consultation closed on 18 September 2015, there will be two further opportunities to contribute at key stages in the design of any new scheme. The consultations will be informative regarding the technologies that will assist in meeting our future renewable energy targets. Subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission, the new scheme would become available in 2016.
Hydro-power developments have the potential for significant impact on the aquatic resource and it is essential that where such schemes are permitted, the fisheries resource is adequately protected, without interference to fish movement, habitat or water quality. The development of hydro generation requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Acts, having due regard to other relevant legal frameworks and guidelines. The principal legislation governing the protection of fish in the development of hydro generation is set out in Part 8, Chapter 5 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, as amended. Consideration must also be given to the protection of fisheries afforded by the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive and other relevant EU legislation.
217. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the emergency response provisions that will be put in place to avoid lengthy delays for road users as a result of serious road accidents, given the recent experiences of motorists on the M50 when delays of several hours were experienced as a result of a tragic accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41901/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
As regards management of incidents on national roads including the M50, TII liaises directly with other parties involved including the local authorities and the Garda in relation to accident management procedures. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
218. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consult with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on plans to review the speed limits on national roads in the environs of Galway city, in particular the low speed limit on the N17 at Cappanabornia near Galway racecourse, on which many vehicles have been caught for speeding. [41918/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny proposed alteration of the existing speed limit applying to the stretch of road in question is a matter for Galway City Council in the first instance.
While the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for national roads (both within and outside built up areas), local authorities, in this case Galway City Council, may, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and with the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII,) make bye-laws to set Special Speed Limits for such roads in their administrative areas.
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, I launched my Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in March last which are available on the Department's website www.dttas.ie. These Guidelines reiterate that the making of Special Speed Limit bye-laws is a matter for the elected members of local authorities, subject to following Department Guidelines and to the consent of TII in the case of national roads.
At the time of the issuing of these Guidelines, local authorities were requested to review and update all speed limits in their administrative areas in accordance with the Guidelines and this is currently ongoing. In the case of national roads, local authorities were requested to undertake this review in conjunction with TII.
