Written Answers Nos. 562 - 587
562. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the draft bioenergy plan and the strategic environmental assessment of the plan will be put to public consultation; and the reason for the delay in this process. [5464/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Draft Bioenergy Plan sets out the policy areas that must be coordinated to support the development of biomass sector in Ireland. It also identifies 19 measures to support the sustainable development of the sector. There are a wide range of Government departments, agencies and state bodies that are critical enablers for bioenergy development by virtue of their responsibility for areas such as forestry, agriculture, waste, research funding and business development.
My Department is still in the process of finalising the draft environmental report and associated Natura Impact Statement in respect of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and appropriate assessment for the Bioenergy Plan.
I expect that these documents and a revised draft bioenergy plan to go for public consultation in quarter two (Q2) this year. This consultation will be advertised on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie.
563. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether, in view of the volume of complaints to ComReg regarding the activities of PRS providers, the regulatory framework governing telephone companies debiting the accounts of consumers for services of such third-party PRS providers is adequate; his further views on whether there should not be an opt-out provision for consumers from such premium rate services in the regulatory framework; and his views on whether in the regulatory framework, there ought not to be an obligation on telephone companies similar to credit card companies for the improper debiting of customer accounts on behalf of PRS providers. [5465/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of electronic communications services providers, including premium rate services providers, occurs within a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is statutorily independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions.
I therefore have no statutory authority to regulate premium rate services providers.
I have, however, referred the details provided by the Deputy to ComReg. The Deputy may also wish to raise the matter directly with ComReg.
564. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with his European counterparts to ensure the Paris agreement will not be undermined in view of the uncertainty surrounding the new US administration and its scepticism regarding climate change; if Ireland will commit to its climate change targets; and his views on the possibility of sanctions to countries that do not commit to climate change targets. [5551/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held its 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris in 2015. The major outcome of COP 21 was the agreement by over 180 countries to restrict the impact of emissions on global warming and to limit the temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5°C.
The Paris Agreement will achieve its goals through a range of climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s), to be carried out by all Parties and which will ultimately tackle 95% of the world’s emissions. These NDC's are required to be ambitious, and to increase in ambition over time, in order to achieve the peaking of global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter.
The Paris Agreement depends on the efforts of all Parties to carry out ambitious climate action through their NDC's to achieve its objectives. It will rely on ambitious action by governments, business, civil society, local and regional governments, and individuals if it is to succeed in its goals.
The entry into force of the Paris Agreement required that 55% of Parties, representing 55% of global emissions, complete their ratification processes. On 4 November 2016 these thresholds had been passed, triggering its entry into force. The Agreement has now been ratified by 128 Parties, including Ireland the EU, with significant additional contributions to be made through the stated commitments by some of the larger parties, namely, China, India and the United States, all of whom have also ratified. I am looking forward to continued and positive collaboration, as required, with colleagues at EU level and beyond, as we work collaboratively to advance the climate change agenda both nationally and globally.
In terms of the national agenda, Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement through the EU NDC which commits to a reduction of at least 40% in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, and which will be met through reductions of 43% in the Emission Trading System (ETS) and 30% in the non-ETS sector compared with 2005 levels. Proposals on both the ETS and non-ETS are currently under negotiation.
The Government fully committed to addressing climate change and is keenly aware of the extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Ireland's EU and international commitments. In this regard, Ireland's National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015, provide the high-level policy direction and statutory authority for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. This must be done in a way that is technically feasible, cost-effective and fair.
The introduction of policies and measures planned as part of the development of Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan (NMP), which subject to Government approval will be published in June, will provide an important step in addressing these immediate challenges, while also helping to chart a path beyond 2020 and out to 2030. I have recently published a briefing document on the development of the NMP which will help prepare the ground for the statutory consultation to follow in mid-March. It highlights some key questions to be considered in terms of how best to position Ireland in taking this important step towards achieving our national transition objectives by 2050.
565. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has examined the feasibility of banning the sale of all commercial goods, food or otherwise, in non-recyclable materials; if his attention has been drawn to levies in other countries that have proven successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5552/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014.
Under the Regulations at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland published by the EPA in May 2016 show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall packaging waste recovery rate and the recycling rate targets since they came into force.
Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive.
In July 2014, a Review of the Producer Responsibility Initiative Model in Ireland was published. As part of this review, a wider examination of issues within the packaging sphere was undertaken and consideration was given to the introduction of a packaging levy. The review report did not recommend the introduction of a packaging levy. The main reason for this decision was that the introduction of a packaging levy was likely to generate a number of regulatory costs to business and the public sector with few identifiable benefits, given Ireland’s very successful packaging recovery and recycling performance to date.
Under the EU’s Circular Economy Package, the Commission is currently preparing a Plastics Strategy. The idea of a Circular Economy is where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible, and the generation of waste minimised, and is an essential contribution to the EU’s efforts to develop a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient and competitive economy. Plastic is one of the five priority areas addressed in the strategy. I continue to monitor progress in this regard at EU level.
567. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual revenue that has been accrued to the environment fund since 2010, in tabular form. [5615/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Environment Fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001, to be managed and controlled by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. In 2016, this function transferred to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Environment Fund accounts are published annually. The most recently published audited accounts relate to 2014. The audited 2015 Accounts will be published shortly.
The table below sets out Environment Fund revenues from 2010 to 2015.
|
Year |
Landfill Levy |
Plastic Bag Levy |
Interest |
Total |
|
2010 |
€42,660,984 |
€17,457,667 |
€265,719 |
€60,384,370 |
|
2011 |
€46,422,722 |
€15,725,008 |
€425,738 |
€62,573,468 |
|
2012 |
€51,808,780 |
€13,863,175 |
€41,944 |
€65,713,899 |
|
2013 |
€43,398,619 |
€14,768,533 |
€17,049 |
€58,184,201 |
|
2014 |
€33,717,195 |
€12,714,544 |
€39,476 |
€46,471,215 |
|
2015* |
€34,339,878 |
€11,727,772 |
€23,228 |
€46,090,878 |
* 2015 Accounts to be published shortly.
568. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funds his Department has received from the national lottery fund since 2010, broken down by year; and the process through which this funding is spent and accounted for. [5616/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not receive funding from the National Lottery.
569. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to speed up the roll-out of high speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; if there is a timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile phone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe on the roll-out of high speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5646/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to improve broadband service in an area (details supplied) in County Meath. [5725/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra573. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the fact that householders in the Templemartin area are still without broadband; and when the national broadband plan will service this community. [5823/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra577. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of broadband in Addinstown, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6020/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra578. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for the provision of high speed, high quality broadband in all areas throughout the country; the areas already provided with such service; the timeframe for each area in the future with particular reference to past experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6058/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for the provision of high speed, high quality broadband in all areas throughout County Kildare; the areas already provided with such service; the timeframe for each area in the future with particular reference to past experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6059/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 569, 571, 573 and 577 to 579, inclusive, together.
The 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.
There has been significant progress in relation to broadband rollout so that today, approximately 1.4m or 61% of premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector, which 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.
There are circa 88,000 premises in County Kildare, approximately 20,000 (23%) of which are located in the Amber area on the Map, and will benefit from the NBP’s State Intervention. The remaining c.68,000 (77%) premises are located in the commercial blue area and will be served by commercial operators.
The map indicates that the townlands of Beltichburne in County Louth, Castletown in Navan,County Meath, Addinstown in County Westmeath and the Templemartin area in County Cork are all within the AMBER area and will therefore, be included in the State Intervention procurement process under the NBP.
Individuals can check whether their premises are in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
My Department is actively monitoring commercial deployment plans in the BLUE areas to ensure that all households and businesses can get access to the services. My Department is also actively monitoring developments of commercial operators that might impact the Intervention Area. This is being done in accordance with procedures set out by my Department in December 2015.
I should add, however, that the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I do not have a statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services to particular locations.
A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. My Department will shortly update the High Speed Broadband map to finalise the Intervention Area for the Procurement process, taking into account industry investments that have not materialised in Blue areas, together with new industry investments within the proposed State Intervention Area, along with concrete and credible commitments by industry for further new investments within the Intervention Area.
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. 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 for 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 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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 rollout 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. The report of the Taskforce contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland, and the Implementation Programme on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access identifies 19 of these 40 actions as areas where immediate and direct action by Government Departments and State Agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers. Each of the actions contained in the Report and Implementation Programme has its own timeframe for delivery, which is set out in the Report. In order to maintain the momentum created by the Taskforce, an Implementation Group is being established to drive and monitor the implementation of the actions.
I have 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 also secured €8m for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band, to provide enhanced mobile services.
These investments should assist in significantly improving the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country.
I am satisfied that the combination of initiatives, and the procurement process to deliver a new high speed broadband network under the NBP, will put Ireland to the forefront internationally in terms of connectivity, and ensure that high speed broadband services are universally available.
570. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will be publishing the solar photovoltaic systems tariffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5656/17]
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 and recognises that solar 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) - both utility-scale and rooftop - is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation which is under development by my Department.
The renewable technologies under consideration were identified following a public consultation engagement in 2015, which received over 800 responses. Subsequently, the development of the new renewable electricity support scheme requires detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting these renewable technologies. This analysis and assessment is currently underway and a second public consultation will be published in Q2 2017 outlining various scheme design options. However, before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. The new support scheme for renewable electricity is expected to become available towards the end of 2017.
572. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which it is anticipated progress can be made towards providing and extending modern technology such as broadband, mobile telephony and other sought after services in rural and urban areas with a view to ensuring the availability of the highest quality of such services at all locations throughout the country, enhancing the quality of life for the residents therein and enhancing the attractiveness for job creating investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his Department monitors the efficacy of the telecommunications sector in its entirety to ensuring that all aspects of the telecommunications sector here are in keeping with best practice internationally in terms of range, cover, quality and accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6061/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 581 together.
Across Ireland, initiatives are underway to improve the quality of telecommunications for citizens.
Mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand for data services has however increased by 500% in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally.
I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In July 2016, I established the Taskforce, together with Minister Humphreys, which has identified immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigating how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP). The report was published in December and is available on both our Departments' websites.
In producing this report, the Taskforce worked with Government Departments, Local Authorities, ComReg, State Agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The Taskforce also took into consideration practices in existence outside of Ireland, including the French National Broadband Plan and the UK Regulator's consumer coverage map.
The report contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland and the Implementation Programme on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access identifies 19 of these 40 actions as areas where immediate and direct action by government Departments and State Agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers. Included in the actions is a commitment made by ComReg to produce a mobile phone coverage map and another action for the Regulator to carry out a mobile handset sensitivity testing programme.
The work of the Taskforce will also assist Local Authorities in preparing for the rollout of the new NBP network once contract(s) are in place.
In addition, I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.
In my Department's Estimates for 2017, I have secured an €8 million provision for RTÉ to allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to allocate this spectrum, to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances.
These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland, and particularly in rural Ireland.
In parallel, the National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland, through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment have not been fully demonstrated.
580. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to attain the various targets in respect of climate change such as reduction in dependency on fossil fuels, carbon reduction and encouragement of the alternative energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6060/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra582. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which alternative non-fossil fuel resources continue to be developed in line with the need to meet EU and international targets; if it is expected to achieve the levels required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which natural energy resources continue to be developed and made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6064/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 580, 582 and 583 together.
The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced electricity to all consumers. The Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this aim.
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 sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has calculated that 25.3% of electricity, 6.5% of heat and 5.7% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2015. Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.1% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources and that this avoided €286 million of fossil fuel imports. Provisional data for 2016 from SEAI shows that 27.3% of electricity demand was met from renewable 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 to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, designed to assist in meeting our RES-E and 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.
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. Further increases to the obligation rate in the Biofuels Obligation Scheme took effect from 1 January 2017 when the rate increased to 8% by volume.
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.
584. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity now being generated from oil, gas, wind, biomass or other alternatives including those likely to become available expressed as a percentage of daily electricity requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6065/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails in regard to the sources of electricity generation in 2015 (latest data) are publicly available in the report entitled Energy in Ireland 1990-2015, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in November 2016 and available on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie.
The data shows that 27.3% of electricity demand in 2015 was met from renewable sources.
|
Electricity Outputs (GWh) |
2015 |
|
Coal |
16.9% |
|
Peat |
8.8% |
|
Oil |
1.4% |
|
Natural Gas |
43.0% |
|
Renewables |
27.3% |
|
Of which: |
|
|
Hydro |
2.8% |
|
Wind |
22.8% |
|
Landfill gas, biogas, biomass and renewable wastes |
1.7% |
|
Non-Renewable Wastes |
0.3% |
|
Net Imports |
2.3% |
Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.1% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources and that this avoided €286 million of fossil fuel imports.
585. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the uptake of exploration licences in each year from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 and the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, I am required to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas half yearly reports detailing all petroleum and mineral exploration and development authorisations granted during the period of the report. The last such report under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 (petroleum authorisations) was in respect of the six-month period ending 30 June 2016, with the report for six-month period ending 31 December 2016 expected to be completed shortly. The last report under the Minerals Development Acts (mineral authorisations) was in respect of the six month period ending 31 December 2016. These reports are also available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.
In addition details of all petroleum and mineral exploration and development authorisations granted are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.
The table below outlines, in respect of petroleum exploration licences and mineral prospecting licences, the number of licences granted from 2008 to date.
|
Year |
Petroleum Exploration Licences Granted |
Mineral Prospecting Licences Granted |
|
2008 |
5 |
91 |
|
2009 |
1 |
66 |
|
2010 |
0 |
93 |
|
2011 |
2 |
98 |
|
2012 |
0 |
102 |
|
2013 |
5 |
142 |
|
2014 |
6 |
71 |
|
2015 |
0 |
90 |
|
2016 |
0 |
94 |
|
To date in 2017 |
0 |
7 |
|
Total |
19 |
854 |
586. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is any obligation on multiples using own brands to use recyclable packaging on own brand products; if not, his plans to introduce such an obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no specific obligation in the EU Packaging Directive, which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014, on multiples using own branding to use recyclable packaging.
The Packaging Directive covers all packaging placed on the European market and all packaging waste, whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household or any other level, regardless of the material used.
Under the Regulations, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland published by the EPA in May 2016 show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall packaging waste recovery rate and the recycling rate targets since they came into force.
