Written Answers Nos. 669 - 681
669. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the withdrawal of funding which has caused the intergenerational learning programme for persons over 55 years of age to cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3749/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra678. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will confirm the withdrawal of funding for the intergenerational learning programme for persons over 55 years in DCU; and, if so, whether his attention has been drawn to the impact of this decision on older persons in the area. [4016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 678 together.
I can confirm that I have not withdrawn funding in respect of the Intergenerational Learning Programme at DCU, referenced in the Question. Responsibility for the operation of this programme is a matter for DCU.
The Government is committed under the National Digital Strategy to actively support people, including in particular older citizens, to move online so that they can reap the economic and social benefits of digital inclusion.
To this end, I recently awarded €2.2m in grant funding, following a competitive call for proposals, to 15 organisations to provide basic digital skills training to citizens in 2017. Under my Department’s new Digital Skills for Citizen Scheme which builds on the previous BenefIT Programme, classroom training will be provided, free of charge, to 25,761 citizens, in every County in the country.
For the purpose of clarity, I understand that a Grantee under the former BenefIT Programme partnered with DCU, among other entities, to meet its training commitments under the programme. In this regard, digital skills training was delivered as a module under DCU's wider Intergenerational Learning Programme.
While this Grantee has been successful in receiving funding under the new scheme, decisions relating to the implementation of the digital skills training, including partners, are operational matters for the Grantee and not one in which I have a role. Grantees are subject to compliance with the scheme’s Statement of Requirements and the terms of the grant agreement between the Grantee and my Department.
Details of the training classes to be made available under the scheme will be published on my Department’s website as soon as schedules have been finalised. I am aware that 8 of the 15 successful Grantees have committed to provide over 1,000 training places to citizens in the Dublin area before the end of March 2017, with additional training to follow throughout the remainder of the year.
670. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; the number of times the group has met since its formation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government gave a commitment to establish a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to identify immediate solutions to broadband/mobile phone coverage deficits and to investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and roll out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP).
The Taskforce, which I co-chaired with my colleague, Minister Humphreys, was established in July last year and published its report in December and is available on both our Departments' websites. The report can be accessed in my Department via the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
In producing this report, the Taskforce worked with Government Departments, Local Authorities, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), State Agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The membership of the group included:
- the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment;
- the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs;
- the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government;
- the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport;
- the Office of Public Works;
- NewERA;
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland;
- Teagasc;
- Trinity College CTVR (Telecommunications Research Centre);
- The County and City Management Association (CCMA);
- Irish Rural Link;
- the Irish Country Women's Association;
- Businesses based in rural Ireland;
- the National Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; and
- an Independent Planning Adviser.
ComReg participated on the Taskforce as an observer in order to provide advice and guidance in its capacity as the independent regulator of the telecommunications market.
The Taskforce met on approximately twenty occasions with a number of helpful initiatives emerging in the areas of planning, local authority engagement, and consumer information and engagement.
The report of the Taskforce and an Implementation Programme on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access, identifies 19 of the 40 actions contained in the report as areas where immediate and direct action by Government Departments and State Agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers.
The work of the Taskforce will also assist Local Authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contract(s) are in place.
Arrangements are now in place to deliver the Year 1 actions identified in the Implementation Programme.
671. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national mitigation plan to transition to a low carbon economy; when he anticipates this will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs provided for in Section 4(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, I, as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, must submit a National Mitigation Plan (NMP) to Government for approval not later than 10th June 2017. The preparation of the plan is designed to be a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, each Minister with responsibility for the largest emitting sectors - electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture - has been requested by Government to develop sectoral mitigation measures. The primary objective of the first NMP will be to track implementation of measures already underway and identify potential additional measures that, in the medium to longer term, will reduce GHG emissions so that we can make progress towards achieving our national transition objective to become a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of 2050.
Work is well under way on the development of the NMP which must be underpinned by appropriate technical, environmental, economic and financial analysis. A statutory consultation, required under Section 4(8) of the Act, is planned for mid-March 2017 when a draft NMP, complete with draft Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessment Reports, will be published prior to a final NMP being submitted to Government for approval in early June.
In the interim, I am this week publishing a briefing document on the development of the NMP which I hope will help prepare the ground for the statutory consultation to follow in mid-March. This briefing document will address the four key sectors concerned and will highlight some key questions to be considered in terms of how best we should position Ireland in taking this first step in achieving the national transition objective by 2050.
672. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when his Department anticipates initiating the national dialogue on climate change; the amount of funding that has been allocated to the dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3771/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to establish a National Dialogue on Climate Change. This builds on the commitment in the Energy White Paper to establish a National Energy Forum to maximise and maintain consensus on the broad policy measures set out in the White Paper required to ensure the transition to a low-carbon energy future.
It is my intention that the National Dialogue on Climate Change will encompass the role envisaged for the National Energy Forum but with a wider focus, to include the examination of key infrastructural, land use, security of supply and economic issues that need to be addressed in our long-term transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient future.
It is important that the National Dialogue on Climate Change reflects the views of all stakeholders, including communities, non-government organisations, business, and wider Government Departments and Agencies. The Briefing Document on Ireland's First National Mitigation Plan which I am publishing this week, and the formal consultation on a draft plan which will commence in mid March, are integral parts of the Dialogue. I will announce full details National Dialogue on Climate Change shortly. An initial allocation of €350,000 has been made in 2017 towards the Dialogue.
673. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken to support the development of solar energy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3772/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation which is under development.
The first Technology Review public consultation on a new renewable support scheme was published in 2015 and following the completion of a detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting a range of renewable technologies - including Solar (PV) - a second public consultation will be published in 2017. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Before any new scheme is introduced, Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission will be required. The new support scheme for renewable electricity is expected to become available towards the end of 2017.
674. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount that was invested in the better energy programme in 2016; the amount he plans on investing in the scheme in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3773/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Programme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department consists of the Better Energy Homes Scheme, Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and Better Energy Communities Scheme.
The Better Energy Homes (BEH) Scheme provides grant aid to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their home. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER). In 2016 over 15,000 homeowners had energy efficiency works carried out to their homes which resulted in €17m being spent on this Scheme.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes (BEWH) Scheme funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly and vulnerable, making the homes more comfortable, healthier and more cost effective to run. In 2016, 6,839 applications were funded under the BEWH scheme and the level of funding was just over €20m.
The Better Energy Communities Programme (BEC) aims to encourage community based partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the building stock and energy poor homes and facilities, encouraging the implementation of deeper and more technically and economically challenging measures. These partnerships can be between the public and private sectors, domestic and non-domestic sectors, commercial and not-for-profit organisations and energy suppliers. The community and business supports leverage considerable additional private investment. In 2016, almost €17m in funding was provided to support 36 projects throughout the country.
In total, around €100m will be dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in 2017, which in addition to the Better Energy Programme will also provide for a number of other programmes including the Warmth and Wellbeing programme, SME and Industrial engagement with energy efficiency, Public Sector Energy Efficiency and Electric Vehicles. Across these three strands of the Better Energy Programme, I anticipate investing more than €60m in 2017. This funding will clearly demonstrate the continuing potential of the scheme to deliver energy efficiency gains and related benefits, such as reduced energy costs and better health outcomes.
675. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 25 October 2016, the amount that has been paid on tariffs to date for the 55%, or 171 MWs, of applicants who have been deemed compliant for support under the REFIT 3 scheme. [3872/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe REFIT 3 (Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff) scheme, which closed at the end of 2015, was designed to incentivise the addition of 310 MW of renewable electricity from biomass technologies to the Irish electricity grid. The overall cost of renewable energy supports is funded through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy and published in the annual PSO decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The PSO levy is charged to all electricity customers in Ireland.
The CER’s role is to calculate the annual PSO levy and help ensure that the scheme is administered appropriately. Further information on the CER’s role and relevant legislation can be found on the CERs website www.cer.ie. The CER does not publish data on each individual REFIT support scheme or the individual renewable energy projects supported. The CER does publish an aggregate figure for all payments to renewable energy projects via that PSO, which is estimated to be €269.7 million for the PSO period 2016/2017.
The 171 MW figure referred to by the Deputy is only for projects that are compliant with the REFIT 3 scheme and have therefore received a letter of offer from my Department. Not all of these projects are fully operational and exporting energy yet and therefore not all are currently in receipt of payments via the REFIT 3 Scheme. Only the projects listed in the PSO Statutory Instrument published each year are in receipt of payments. Schedule 5 of S.I.No. 600 of 2016 (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2016/si/600/made/en/print) lists the current REFIT 3 projects in receipt of grant aid.
676. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions the Government has taken on the international emissions scandal surrounding a company (details supplied); the investigation the Government has established to investigate whether the company's cars on sale here actually comply with EU emissions standards; if the company's car models on sale here achieve the emissions savings outlined in their marketing; if the Government has taken steps to investigate whether the emissions levels advertised by motor manufacturers are actually tested and actually meet their standards in real time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing revelations of the existence of so-called 'cheat devices' being used in Volkswagen Group vehicles in late 2015, officials from the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, along with officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the National Standards Authority of Ireland, who have responsibility for vehicle type approval in Ireland, met with representatives of the company in order to ascertain the extent of the problem in Ireland and learn of the company's proposals for remediation.
In Ireland, a reported 117,000 Volkswagen vehicles were affected and it is understood that Volkswagen has written to all owners indicating that they are seeking a technical solution and will revert to owners as soon as possible regarding that technical solution. As yet, no figures have been made available to my officials as to the number of vehicles in Ireland to which a technical solution had been retrofitted.
Given the nature of both auto manufacture and the EU’s single market, a coordinated European response across all Member States is necessary. The regulatory shortcomings highlighted by this issue are being addressed at EU level through the adoption of a revised emissions test cycle, that incorporates elements of real world driving. Ireland fully supported these proposals and their early implementation. In addition, the EU is considering a legislative proposal to revise current arrangements to require greater regulatory oversight at Member State level, including the establishment in each Member State of a Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) to conduct, inter alia, ‘in use’ emissions testing.
The EU position in this area is managed by the Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV). The Road Safety Authority, which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is the agency attending that committee on behalf of Ireland.
677. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider rescinding his decision to impose a tyre levy on motorists and hauliers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact this levy will have a detrimental effect on the tyre industry; if his attention has also been drawn to the fact this new levy has the potential to drive businesses into the black market and other jurisdictions in which no such levy is in place, resulting in the loss of much needed jobs in the tyre industry; and his views on whether he has effectively created a monopoly in tyre waste disposal by placing full producer responsibility for tyre waste disposal with a company (details supplied). [4013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fee, which the Deputy is referring to, is not a new charge. Consumers already pay a fee for the disposal of their old tyres whenever they buy a new one. This fee is not provided for in legislation but exists as an informal charge applied by tyre retailers. There is no accountability associated with the existing charge and no certainty for the consumer that the disposal fee they currently pay is being used for its intended purpose. The level of illegal stockpiles would suggest that it is often not properly applied.
The model that I am introducing will formalise the disposal arrangements and ensure that the fee consumers pay funds the environmentally sound management of waste tyres.
I have met with representative organisations from the tyre industry and I am very aware of their concerns in relation to the new structures being introduced for tyres. I will be ensuring that, in so far as is practical, their concerns will be addressed. In addition tyres will be a priority area for enforcement in 2017 for the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) and I will be asking them to give particular attention to the border regions. I am confident that this will address market distortion and it is an issue which I will keep under review.
I should point out that I have also received a lot of support during the extensive consultation that has taken place with the industry for the introduction of the scheme from other operators in the tyre market.
The charge will fund a producer compliance scheme which will be operated by Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT) with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited. This type of model is one that has been operating very successfully across other waste streams in Ireland, including packaging, batteries, waste electrics and electronics and farm plastics. The scheme will carry out regulatory functions on behalf of its members. All operators will be obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard. It will be mandatory for anyone placing tyres on the market in Ireland to join the compliance scheme.
There is nothing unusual about the designation of a single compliance scheme for a particular waste stream. Indeed, a comprehensive review of compliance schemes in Ireland in 2014 examined this aspect and recommended that the tyre market in Ireland is such that only one Producer Organisation would be viable. This single compliance model already works in other waste streams for example, farm plastics (IFFPG) and packaging (Repak).
I am convinced that the new structures which I am introducing will address the lack of regulation in the tyre market to date and address the occurrences of stockpiles of waste tyres that could have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health.
679. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding broadband in an area (details supplied) and the surrounding areas; his views on whether download speeds of 2.5 Mb and upload speeds of 0.25 Mb make it impossible to carry out standard tasks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4062/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, the commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
Currently, approximately 1.4m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband from commercial service providers and investment by the telecoms sector is continuing to expand this footprint.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the current extent of the State Intervention area:
- The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention, which are the subject of the current procurement process. It is intended that premises within this area will have access to services of at least 30 megabits per second when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
The map currently indicates that 100% of the townland of Kilcossy falls within an AMBER area and will therefore will be included in the State Intervention procurement process under the NBP. Individuals can check whether their premise is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
A formal procurement process is now in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. The Department will also shortly update the High Speed Broadband map and finalise this Intervention Area for bidders, taking into account any industry investments that have not materialised and potential other new investments.
Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. This provides a future proofed solution for the 25 years of the contract and beyond. A fibre-to-the-home solution means that householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 Megabits per second but much higher, potentially up to 1000 Megabits per second. The procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years.
The timeframe for the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders, during the procurement process. During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to roll out a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP.
As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network roll-out plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed roll-out plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for Government also commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, Minister Humphreys is leading on the establishment of two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded.
In a further positive initiative, last July, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce with my colleague Minister Humphreys to address immediate issues in relation to the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage. The Taskforce report which was published in December, is available at the following link: http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Publication/Report-of-the-Mobile-Phone-and-Broadband-Taskforce.aspx.
I have also signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz band in early 2017. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. I have secured €8m for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band, to provide enhanced mobile services.
In the meantime, my Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country, including County Leitrim.
680. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to ensure the costs incurred by households which opt to heat their properties using renewable energy sources such as renewable biofuels are no greater than those incurred by households whose heating and energy needs are met by the utilisation of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels; if his attention has been drawn to the effects which market forces and price volatility have in determining energy prices, particularly with regard to oil and gas, which resultantly can cost less than renewable energy alternatives for the purpose of meeting a household's energy and heating needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. At its heart is a commitment to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050 and reduce the country’s fossil fuel dependency. The Programme for Government also commits to reducing our import dependency while maintaining energy security, affordability and reducing energy-related emissions.
Ireland’s dependency on imported fossil fuels - which increased to 88% of all energy used in 2015 - means that the Irish economy is particularly exposed to international energy price volatility. The cost of all energy imports to Ireland in 2015 was approximately €4.6 billion, and while that was down from €5.7 billion in 2014 due mainly to falling oil and gas import prices, further increases would place cost pressures on businesses and households across the country.
I am therefore committed to minimising this exposure through the promotion of energy efficiency measures and support for indigenous renewable energy in different sectors of the economy. The deployment of indigenous renewable energy resources and the implementation of energy efficiency measures can help ensure we maintain energy security and stable affordable prices for all energy users.
My Department has developed a series of policy measures designed to promote the cost effective use of renewable energy in the electricity and heating sectors and support the uptake of energy efficiency measures across the economy, in accordance with the energy efficiency first approach. Heating a property which is not appropriately insulated and ventilated will result in wasted energy and unnecessary costs regardless of heating type, while a home that is properly insulated will achieve a much greater degree of warmth and comfort for a smaller amount of energy.
While there are no supports for the use of biofuel for heat production at a household level, through the Better Energy Homes Scheme administered by SEAI, my Department makes a wide range of grants and supports available to householders who wish to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home. To date, nearly one fifth of all homes in Ireland have received some form of Government supported energy efficiency upgrade. Households can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations, including solar thermal, under the Scheme.
681. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level by which CO2 emissions have been reduced in Ireland as a result of the wind energy sector. [4332/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHarnessing our renewable energy resources will play a key role in the transition towards a sustainable, secure and competitive energy system.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and in order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. As regards the 40% electricity target, provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that 27.3% of electricity demand was met from renewable sources in 2016, of which wind accounted for 23.2%.
The SEAI also estimates that the amount of CO2 avoided from renewable energy use in electricity generation increased by 226% over the period 2005-2015, reaching 3,188 kt. CO2 in 2015. In the same year, emissions avoided from wind accounted for 2,436 kt CO2.
Further information is available in the SEAI report Energy-Related Emissions in Ireland which can be downloaded at http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Energy-related-Emissions/CO2%20emissions%20from%20fuel%20combustion.pdf.
