Tuesday, 7 Feb 2017

Written Answers Nos. 50 - 67

Inland Fisheries Stocks

Ceisteanna (50)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

50. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of any research that has been carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland to determine the factors affecting salmon and eel stocks on the River Slaney; if salmon and eel fish stocks have increased in the River Slaney since net fishing licences were suspended and the eel management plan came into place; if Inland Fisheries Ireland has considered intervening in repopulating fish stocks on the Slaney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5793/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

There are many factors affecting salmon and eel stocks generally. The current salmon status of the river Slaney is based on the information provided by the Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCS) and the advice and proposals provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to me as Minister. In contemplation of the 2017 fishing year, three scientific assessments of the salmon stock status on the river Slaney were undertaken based on recent fish counter data, rod catch data, and catchment-wide electro-fishing data. All three assessments indicate that the Slaney is not meeting conservation limits for both one sea winter or multi sea winter salmon stocks. Commercial fishing is only permitted where a surplus off salmon has been identified.

I am also advised by IFI that, in relation to potential restocking of salmon, there are significant genetic and ecological concerns when the progeny of wild salmon reared in a hatchery environment are released back into the wild.

As regards eels, Ireland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP) under EU Regulation 1100/2007, which included a closure of commercial fishing, was approved by the European Commission in 2009. Ireland's EMP and its conservation measures were reviewed in 2012 and in 2015, in accordance with the EU Regulation. Both reviews involved an examination of the latest scientific data and the conservation measures, the results of which were the subject of public consultations.

IFI have been provided funding for a new collaborative research initiative involving IFI scientists and a number of former eel fishermen to further develop national knowledge of the species and its medium to longer term potential for recovery ahead of a further review of eel management measures in 2018. This scientific fishery was commenced in 2016 and is expected to continue for three years to increase data and knowledge. The initiative also includes research on the Slaney.

Stocking is not included as a management action in Ireland’s Eel Management Plan due to risks such as the potential transfer of pathogens from elvers from other countries and the fact that surplus elver recruits were not identified in Ireland for the 2012-2015 period to facilitate a stocking programme. 

Electric Vehicles

Ceisteanna (51)

James Lawless

Ceist:

51. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to increase the uptake of electric vehicles here; his views on whether they are sufficient to meet our 2020 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5796/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020, including 10% of transport with this target also being legally binding. In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.  At end 2015, 5.7% of our energy needs in the transport sector were met from renewable sources.

Analysis underpinning the draft National Policy Framework for the alternative fuels infrastructure for transport in Ireland, published in October 2016, forecast that there will be in the region of 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland by 2020.

The Electric Vehicles Grant Scheme, which provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new EV, is continuing in 2017.  These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 that also apply to EVs.  Budget 2017 extended VRT reliefs on Battery Electric Vehicles to 2021 and on Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles to the end of 2018.

Apart from general macroeconomic considerations, technology advancement, affordability and consumer choice are the most important levers in triggering consumers to move to electric vehicles. Notwithstanding the substantial Exchequer support available for new electric vehicles, the reality of a halving of the price of oil and the pace of technology improvement has very significantly impacted electric vehicle market penetration.

Nevertheless we have seen increasing numbers of EVs registered in Ireland particularly in the last two years. Since the introduction of the EV Grant Scheme in 2011 to the end of 2016, the purchase of 1,702 new electric vehicles has been supported.  Of these, 1,170 were grant aided between 2015 and 2016.

In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have established and are co-chairing a Low Emissions Vehicles (LEV) Task Force involving relevant Government Departments and agencies. The work of the task force has been divided into two phases with the first phase focusing solely on EVs. The Task Force will report on an interim basis to Government on the first phase by June 2017, with associated recommendations. These recommendations will suggest a range of options for facilitating greater uptake of EVs in the coming years.

Renewable Energy Projects

Ceisteanna (52)

James Lawless

Ceist:

52. Deputy James Lawless 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. [5795/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The 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.

It is widely recognised that solar PV technology is becoming cost competitive for electricity generation, not only compared with other renewables but also compared with conventional forms of generation. It has been estimated that the cost of solar has dropped by as much as 80% over the last 5 years. Solar also brings a number of benefits like relatively quick construction and a range of deployment options, including solar roof-mounted PV and utility-scale solar PV.

While there are clear benefits that may be derived from the deployment of solar PV in Ireland, I have also been very clear that in designing the new RESS scheme the cost implications for people and businesses will also be a critical consideration consistent with the three pillars of energy policy, sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply.  We cannot have a situation where a new support scheme leads to an excessive increase in people’s electricity bills through a higher Public Service Obligation levy.

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.

Metropolitan Area Networks Programme

Ceisteanna (53)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

53. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will publish the report of the recent audit of the metropolitan area networks. [5737/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department concluded an internal review of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme in autumn last year.  This review involved a detailed retrospective review of the performance of the MANs in terms of the delivery of their policy objectives, an identification of the challenges facing the MANs, and an assessment of their ongoing relevance in the current telecommunications market.  The analysis focused on their future role, and options relating to future ownership structure and governance arrangements in the context of market and Government policy developments.

As part of the review process, the Department undertook a stakeholder engagement exercise with industry players on a confidential basis due to the commercial sensitivity of issues for the companies concerned.

The review found that the MANs have played, and continue to play, an important role in driving competition in the regions and attracting foreign direct investment to the cities and towns where they are located.  The creation of the MANs as an exclusive fibre network facilitates service providers, large and small, in responding to the ongoing growth in demand for bandwidth capacity.  Discontinuation of MAN services now or in the immediate future would be a major disruption of telecommunications services in regional Ireland.

I have asked my officials to examine the review report with a view to making relevant non-commercial extracts publically available as soon as possible, while respecting confidentiality assurances given to industry players involved in the review process.

Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 48.

Irish Water

Ceisteanna (55)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

55. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied that the proposed plans by Irish Water to pipe water from the River Shannon at the Parteen Basin to Dublin will not in any way negatively impact on lands through which the pipeline will flow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5401/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department does not have policy responsibility for water issues, which rest with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I am advised that, since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I am further advised that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives.  The team can be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

National Mitigation Plan

Ceisteanna (56)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the development of the alternative energy sector in line with current and future requirements in view of the need to meet carbon emission reduction targets and the necessity to ensure a robust and reliable energy grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, which is underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, provides the high-level policy direction for the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The development of sectoral mitigation measures for the electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture sectors to be set out in a National Mitigation Plan (NMP) is well advanced. The primary objective of the first NMP will be to monitor measures already underway and identify potential additional measures that, in the medium to longer term, will reduce GHG emissions. This will assist Ireland to achieve our national transition objective to become a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of 2050.  Following public consultation, the first of which was launched last week, the NMP will be submitted to Government for approval in June.

The overarching objective of the Government’s energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a vision to guide Irish energy policy and the actions that Government intends to take in the energy sector from now up to 2030, aimed at transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system by 2050.  

In order to meet our legally binding renewable targets by 2020, the Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy. The existing Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for energy exported to the grid. A new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) to provide support for renewable electricity is under development in my Department. An initial public consultation was launched in 2015. A further consultation is due to take place in the first half of 2017, with the broad details of the scheme being published later this year.

In the heating sector, my Department is working on the introduction of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to support the deployment of renewable energy for commercial and industrial users of heat in the non-ETS sector. A further consultation on the RHI, which I announced last month, is available on my Department’s website at www.dccae.gov.ie with a closing date of 3 March for responses. Finalisation of these two schemes is subject to Government and State aid approval from the European Commission.

In the transport sector Ireland aims to meet our 10% renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution out to 2020.

Budget 2017 has provided over €100 million to support energy projects. This funding will be split between the existing energy efficiency programmes and rolling out a series of new initiatives and pilots that can lay the foundation for increased investment in future years which will also support employment in the sector.

Question No. 57 answered with Question No. 48.

North-South Interconnector

Ceisteanna (58, 68, 556, 559)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

58. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the North-South interconnector project in view of Brexit; his plans to protect the single electricity market on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5740/17]

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

68. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the implications on the North-South interconnector project if the UK is no longer part of the EU (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5419/17]

John Lahart

Ceist:

556. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the North-South electricity interconnector project will continue; and the effect of Brexit on the single electricity market between Ireland and Northern Ireland. [5347/17]

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

559. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which Brexit will affect a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5395/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 68, 556 and 559 together.

The all-island Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive, and secure market for customers since its establishment in 2007. The governance framework that applies to the all-island Single Electricity Market remains in place and is based on national legislation adopted by the Oireachtas and the British Parliament.

Existing energy trading and interconnection arrangements between Ireland and the UK, ensuring the continuity of mutually dependent energy arrangements and maintaining the long standing history of beneficial cooperation in this sphere, are key priorities for both Ireland and the UK.

In line with this the priorities of the Single Electricity Market and the status of the North South Interconnector remain unchanged. On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the interconnector in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which  included an Oral Hearing completed over a 10 week period from March to May last year.

The planning process in Northern Ireland is still ongoing, with a planning inquiry due to commence later this month.

The North-South Interconnector will provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland and will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of electricity supply to all our people.  

The relevant Departments, Regulators, and stakeholders in Ireland and Northern Ireland continue to work in the all-island context of the Single Electricity Market and are preparing for the consequences of the UK referendum as they arise, to ensure timely assessment and that the best possible outcomes will be achieved. 

Last November Minister Simon Hamilton (the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland) and I confirmed our joint commitment to the ongoing development of the Single Electricity Market. The new market arrangements will be in place in 2018, yielding benefits for electricity market customers north and south.  The UK White Paper published on 2 February noted that the UK is considering all options for the UK’s future relationship with the EU on energy, in particular, to avoid disruption to the Single Electricity Market operating across the island of Ireland.

Climate Change Policy

Ceisteanna (59)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

59. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken by his Department to ensure Ireland's commitments under the Paris Agreement are met in view of the fact that 80% of known fossil fuel reserves must be kept in the ground if global warming is to be kept to within 2° Celsius; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5817/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement via the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which has been submitted by the EU on behalf of its Member States, and which commits the EU to a 40% reduction in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. This commitment for 2030 is based on EU-wide reductions in the emissions trading system (ETS) sector of 43%, and the non-ETS sector of 30%.  

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement and other international commitments, is well understood by Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and now underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015.  The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy by 2050.  Statutory authority for the plans is set out in the Act.  

As 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 underway on the development of the NMP, which will 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 helping to prepare the ground for the statutory consultation to come in mid-March, I have just recently published a briefing document on the development of the NMP, which addresses the four key sectors concerned and highlights several important 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.

RTÉ Staff

Ceisteanna (60)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

60. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the potential conflict of interest whereby members of the board of the national broadcaster are also major beneficiaries of RTE commissions. [5550/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department has consulted RTÉ on the matter and I am advised that, in compliance with the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, all RTÉ Board members and management are required to declare potential conflicts of interest and that appropriate procedures are in place to monitor and manage such matters. I am further advised by RTÉ that no such conflicts of interest currently exist on the Board. I understand that there were instances, as reported in the RTÉ Annual Report 2015, where RTÉ commissioned programmes from a production company owned or controlled by a Board member and I am advised that in these cases the Board took account of the existence of formal and transparent Commissioning Procedures and Guidelines, which are published on the RTÉ website and are applied consistently for all commissions. In addition, all decisions on individual commissions are the responsibility of executive management, assessed using clear evaluation criteria, with contracts awarded in line with normal commercial terms and conditions in all cases.

Programme for Government Initiatives

Ceisteanna (61)

James Lawless

Ceist:

61. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detail of the programme for Government commitments relating to improving mobile phone coverage; the timetable for actions in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5797/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I refer to the reply to Question No 35 on today's Order Paper.

Waste Disposal Charges

Ceisteanna (62)

John Curran

Ceist:

62. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to ensure the proposed price increases being charged by waste collection companies on the introduction of pay-by-weight in 2016 will not be repeated in 2017 when there is a change again to a fully pay-by-weight collection system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5423/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. Matters relating to consumer legislation fall under the remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Notwithstanding the above, a voluntary arrangement whereby industry would not increase regular prices for providing the same level of service of household waste collection was arrived at last summer to allow the planned introduction of per kilogramme pay by weight charging in 2016 to be reassessed.

In this regard, my Department is currently reviewing, together with the regulatory authorities and industry representatives, the introduction of an incentivised pricing system for household waste collection. The review is due to be completed by July 2017.  Incentivised pricing aims to encourage householders to prevent, reduce and segregate their waste, to reduce our reliance on landfill waste disposal in light of the landfill capacity emergencies that occurred in 2016.  Considering more than one form of incentivised pricing structure also facilitates industry in providing householders with a range of options to manage their waste costs.

Official Engagements

Ceisteanna (63)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

63. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart and officials in the new US Administration; and if there have been any discussions or correspondence with the incoming Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry or the acting Secretary of Energy, Grace Bochenek. [5738/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I have not had any engagement with the new US administration, nor have I had any discussions or correspondence with the incoming Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, or the acting Secretary of Energy Grace Bochenek.

North-South Interconnector

Ceisteanna (64, 67)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

64. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in view of the widespread concerns in communities in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath and reflected in statements by public representatives in those counties in relation to the EirGrid proposal to construct the North-South interconnector, he will direct EirGrid to underground these transmission cables if the project proceeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5530/17]

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

67. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will instruct EirGrid to underground the North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 67 together.

On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the north-south interconnector in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over a 10 week period from March to May last year. The planning process in Northern Ireland is still ongoing, with a planning inquiry due to commence on 22 February of this year.

EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. As detailed in the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid in the development of energy infrastructure to particular sites or routes or technologies.

I am aware of the concerns surrounding this decision within the communities of Meath, Cavan and Monaghan and I have agreed to meet with a number of representative groups to fully hear their concerns.

I refer also to the reply to Questions No. 40 and 558 on today's Order Paper.

Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure

Ceisteanna (65)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

65. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated costs of including grant aid for window replacement in the better energy programme; if an interdepartmental approach will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5406/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The SEAI estimates that the cost of installing a basic energy efficient window package is €6,000 per home. If this measure were to be included in the Better Energy Homes scheme as a grant-funded measure, the resulting demand could be very large and could overtake demand from the other measures, such as insulation, heating controls and boiler upgrades. The inclusion of windows under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, which is free to those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, would increase the average cost per home to €9,000 rather than the 2016 average of €3,000. In 2016, this would have required an extra €40m to complete the same number of homes, or could have meant that far fewer homes would have received upgrades from the 2016 budget allocation.

The measures currently offered under both the Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes were selected to represent the best balance that could be achieved between the limited resources available to the schemes, the number of homes that can receive support and the energy savings that can delivered. In short, the measures supported are those that can deliver the most energy savings at the lowest cost to the highest number of people. While improved windows do improve the energy efficiency of a home, the cost of such measures is high in relation to the energy efficiency gains made.

However, I have recently requested SEAI to commence a review of all measures that are supported through these schemes and the results of this review will inform any future measures that may be offered.

In addition, the Deputy should note that window upgrades are eligible for funding under the Better Energy Communities scheme in 2017, when carried out as part of a combined fabric upgrade, which also includes upgrades to insulation, ventilation and doors. Grant funding is available for up to 50% of the cost of these works in homes. Additionally under the Warmth & Wellbeing pilot scheme, which is led by my Department in collaboration with the Department of Health, energy efficient windows and doors are installed wherever a surveyor deems them necessary.

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government administers the Housing Aid for Older People scheme which provides grants to older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to, or replacement of, windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning and painting. Each local authority administers the scheme for their area and can vary as regards what type of work they will grant aid under the scheme.

Renewable Energy Incentives

Ceisteanna (66)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

66. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a domestic renewable heat incentive alongside the introduction of the industrial renewal heat incentive currently under consideration by his Department or if there are plans to introduce it in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5804/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations.  The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, 6.5% of heat was derived from renewable sources in Ireland.

During 2016, my Department has undertaken a detailed economic assessment on the design and cost of the RHI for the industrial/commercial sector.  This assessment included a range of renewable energy technologies and focused on the approximately 3,000 large commercial and industrial heat users in the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in Ireland. The focus on the larger heat users was underpinned by analysis completed in 2014 which indicated that it would not be cost effective, at this stage, to include the domestic heating sector in the RHI.  This is due to a number of factors including the much higher support tariff per kilowatt hour of energy that would be required to incentivise households to change heating systems, as well as the significantly greater costs associated with administering the scheme for a large number of households in what is an unregulated sector.

The final public consultation document on the design and implementation of the new RHI scheme was published on www.dccae.gov.ie on the 26th of January 2017.  I encourage all interested parties to submit a response to this consultation. The information provided will help inform the final design of the new scheme. The current consultation will close on the 3rd of March, 2017.

Before any  RHI scheme is introduced, the overall costs and technologies to be supported will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.  It is expected that a new scheme will become available at the end of 2017.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 64.