Written Answers Nos. 1770-1787
1770. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a person (details supplied) can qualify for further grant aid; if some method of insulation can be provided under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27636/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades free of charge to people who meet the eligibility criteria. Typical measures available under the scheme include attic and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets and low energy light bulbs. The measures currently offered under the Warmer Homes schemes were selected as the best balance that could be achieved between the resources that the Exchequer can provide to the scheme, the number of homes that can receive support and the energy savings that can be 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.
External insulation while effective at insulating homes not suitable for cavity wall insulation, typically costs multiples that of cavity wall insulation. For example, under the Better Energy Homes scheme, the grant available for cavity wall insulation is €300. For the external insulation of a detached home it is €4,500. Therefore providing external insulation under the Warmer Homes scheme would mean that much fewer people could benefit from the scheme each year.
However, with the additional resources I have secured in the Budget for energy efficiency this year, SEAI are now providing a limited number of deep retrofits to the homes of those people who are living in the poorest homes. Every person who applies to the Warmer Homes scheme has their home surveyed by a professional contractor. When those surveyors find an applicant who is living in a home that is in a particularly poor condition they will recommend the person for a deeper set of measures. What measures will be recommended will depend on what the surveyor finds. However, in general, the surveyors will look at factors including the age of the home, the construction of the wall, the age of the heating system or where one is absent. SEAI are currently recruiting contractors to deliver these deeper measures and I expect works to start this July.
1771. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend a gas line to Cavan town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27677/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no statutory function in relation to either the routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network.
The CER network connections policy stipulates that in order for any town to be connected to the gas network certain economic criteria must be met, which provide that over a certain period the costs of connecting the town are recouped through consumption of gas and associated tariffs. The key factor which would qualify a town, or group of towns, in any future review would be a significant increase in demand for natural gas, usually resulting from the addition of a new large industrial or commercial facility.
In my view, the wider question needs to be addressed as to whether network extensions should, where economically feasible and in line with our energy policy goals in the White Paper, provide for the possibility of future connections in order to contribute to regional and rural development. At the launch of the Action Plan for Rural Development I set out my view that there are communities partly or sometimes wholly excluded from basic criteria of modern convenience and comfort, in terms of communications, energy efficiency and fuel poverty. My long-standing position on the gas network is that it should be developed generally in rural Ireland to provide natural gas to as many areas as possible.
Greater accessibility to alternative and lower carbon intensive energy sources should present opportunities to encourage householders and businesses to make more sustainable energy choices. Accordingly, and against the backdrop of the energy policy White Paper, I am commissioning a study on the wider costs and benefits of gas network extensions, to include possible climate and decarbonisation aspects, as well as the regional and rural development benefits such as in supporting rural centres. I intend that a preliminary report will be delivered before the end of 2017.
1773. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request a report from An Post regarding the future of the post office and postal service in Howth town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27699/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues relating to the Post Office Network are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function. I have, however, forwarded your request to An Post and asked that they respond directly to you with the information sought.
1774. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount his Department or a body under its aegis has paid to a company (details supplied) for advice, the use of intellectual property and other services. [27705/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not made any payments to the company referred to in the Question. The information regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
1776. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the warmth and wellbeing scheme in the northside of Dublin; if a person (details supplied) can be included under the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27753/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the scheme is to demonstrate the positive effects that making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and wellbeing of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition. An independent research project will assess the impact the scheme is having. At the conclusion of the scheme and with independent evidence on its effectiveness, the potential for a wider rollout will be considered. As it is a pilot scheme, the main aim of which is carrying out research to form an evidence base, eligibility is limited. The operational area for the scheme was selected as Community Health Area (CHO) 7, following consultation with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This CHO encompasses Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City and Dublin South West. Within CHO 7 the need to build capacity in the local public health and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) teams, and establish communications on the pilot with the local community, meant that further narrowing of the area was necessary and Dublin 8, 10, 12, 22 and 24 were selected as the current operational areas.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is available on a nationwide basis to low income households who are at risk of energy poverty. The family that the Deputy mentions may be eligible for that scheme. More information on this scheme is available on SEAI’s website at: http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Warmer_Homes_Scheme/About_the_BEWH.html or freephone: 1800 250 204.
1777. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rationale behind pricing the public service obligation levy for energy at 40%; his plans to reduce this levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27796/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Obligation Levy has been in place since 2001. The PSO levy consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply. The PSO has supported the connection of over 3,000 MW of renewable energy to the electricity grid and it will continue to support the development of renewable energy so that we can meet our target of increasing renewable electricity penetration to 40% by 2020.
International studies have shown that Ireland has had one of the lowest per unit supports for renewable energy in the European Union.
The calculation of the level of the PSO is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The proposed PSO Levy for 2017-2018 is €496.5 million. The biggest driver for the proposed levy increase is the increased deployment of renewables. The 40% increase for domestic customers represents an increase of €2.37. This means the levy proposed for domestic customers is €8.27 per month, for small commercial customers it is proposed to be €28.79 per month and the proposed monthly levy for medium/large commercial customers is €3.74/kVA.
I am very conscious of the impact of energy costs on industry and households alike. Customers can avail of discounts in the retail electricity market, either by contacting their supplier directly or by using the CER accredited comparison websites, such as bonkers.ie or switcher.ie, to switch to discounted tariffs.
1779. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if any former Deputies have been appointed to State boards under his remit by the Public Appointments Service; if so, the names and positions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28211/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no former TDs appointed via the Public Appointments Service to state boards under my remit.
1780. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding can be made available through the environment fund as had previously been done or through other funding sources to local authorities to help clean up graffiti in their area. [28059/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including the defacement of structures by writing or other marks, lies with local authorities. The Act provides significant powers to local authorities to deal with these issues, including on-the-spot fines. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions to deal with graffiti, taking account of local circumstances and competing priorities. As part of the targeted direct response to deal with graffiti, my Department operates an Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS). Under this Scheme, local authorities can apply for funding for projects aimed at raising awareness of litter and graffiti issues. Local authorities are asked to focus their activities under the scheme on young people and, in particular, on schools and community groups with an emphasis on encouraging long term behavioural change. Compared to 2016, I have increased funding for the ALAGS scheme in 2017 by 28% and allocated a total of €884,000 to local authorities.
While I currently have no proposals to introduce a grant specifically targeted at the clean-up of graffiti, I understand that the Probation Service, under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, operates two graffiti removal projects, based in Dublin and in Cork, as part of its Community Service Scheme.
1781. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if employees of his Department, including Met Éireann employees, have attended the meetings of a group (details supplied); and if so, if they have reported back to his Department on the proceedings of the meetings of the group. [28063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo officials from my Department have attended any meetings of the group referred to in the Deputy's question. With respect to position of Met Éireann, this body is a constituent part of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
1782. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if upgrade works on the national broadband scheme will take place in Brownstown, Kilclone, County Meath. [28099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1783. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if upgrade works on the national broadband scheme will take place in Collinstown Kilcloon, County Meath. [28100/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1782 and 1783 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.
In April, eir signed an agreement with me committing them to follow through on their commercial plans to provide broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas. Eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period, with an average of 500 premises passed per day. My Department will be monitoring this rollout to ensure that eir meets its obligations under the Agreement. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie. Quarterly updates will be published on the Departments website.
The decision by eir to invest in infrastructure to deploy high speed broadband services to an additional 300,000 premises in rural Ireland was taken purely on commercial grounds. Neither I nor my Department have a statutory authority to direct eir in this regard.
I also published in April an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The Map shows the extent of the State Intervention area and also the areas targeted for commercial services.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services,
- The AMBER areas on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of the current procurement process.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county. Individuals can themselves check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode at www.broadband.gov.ie.
The map shows that 7%% of the townland of Brownstown (Ed Culcimmin) and 69% of the townland of Kilclone falls within an AMBER area and will be part of the State led Intervention under the NBP. The remaining 93% of the townland of Brownstown (Ed Culcummin) falls within the BLUE area and will be served by commercial operators and 31% of the townland of Kilclone falls within eir’s plans to deliver rural high speed broadband between now and end 2018 (Light BLUE on map). Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. Individuals can themselves check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode at www.broadband.gov.ie.
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. 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 finalisation of the State Intervention Area for the procurement process is an important milestone as it means that bidders can progress their business plans and the Department can move to the next stage of the procurement. The three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. 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 State Intervention network will be a wholesale network and retail service providers will be able to use the network to provide enhanced broadband services to their customers.
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, once contracts are in place.
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.
The Programme for Government also commits to measures to assist in the rollout of the network once a contract is awarded.
In this regard, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force in July 2016 together with Minister Humphreys to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention. The report of the Task Force was published in December and 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. In producing this report, the Task Force worked with Departments, local authorities, ComReg, State agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. 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 actions as areas where immediate and direct action by Departments and State agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers. The work of the Task Force will also assist local authorities in preparing for the roll-out of the new NBP network once contracts are in place.
In addition, I signed regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the allocation of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band. On 22 May, ComReg announced the result of its 3.6 GHz spectrum award which 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 RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz 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.
1784. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an impact analysis has been conducted regarding the increase in the prices for An Post services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28113/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a commercial State company, pricing strategies and related matters are the responsibility of the Board and management of An Post. In recognition of the exceptionally difficult financial situation facing An Post the Government agreed, in late 2016, to give An Post increased pricing freedom in order to enable the company to increase prices in the short term and generate much needed cash flow. In this regard the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016 was published on 22 December 2016. The Bill passed through the Oireachtas and was signed by the President on 15 March 2017. I made the necessary Commencement Order giving effect to the repeal of the price cap mechanism on the 21 March 2017. A Regulatory Impact Assessment was undertaken in the context of the Bill.
1785. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of households he estimates that do not avail of an authorised waste collection service; if he ensures that local authorities investigate whether these households manage their waste in an environmentally acceptable manner in accordance with legislation and waste management plans; and the level of monitoring by local authorities of these households' waste disposal practices. [28118/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent published figures for the number of households availing of a three bin collection service are set out in the report Performance Indicators in Local Authorities 2015 which indicates that approximately 575,000 or 35% of households are availing of such a service. The figures availing of a kerbside collection service are considerably higher. The 2012 National Waste Report suggested some 72% of households avail of at a kerbside collection service. A copy of the 2015 Performance Indicators report is available on the Local Government Management Agency website at-http://www.lgma.ie/sites/default/files/2015-pi-report.pdf. Each local authority is responsible for the supervision and the enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Waste Management Act in relation to the holding, recovery and disposal of waste within its functional area. Local authorities have specific powers under the Act to require measures to be taken, or to take measures directly, to prevent or limit environmental pollution caused or likely to be caused by the holding, recovery or disposal of waste, and to mitigate or remedy the effects on the environment of such activity.
My role, as Minister, is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and Environmental Protection Agency enforcement action is initiated. Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement of the EPA as appropriate.
Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) have been established in each of the three existing waste regions, with responsibility for coordinating waste enforcement actions and ensuring consistent enforcement of waste legislation while still leaving local authority personnel as first responders on the ground to specific breaches of waste legislation. This will facilitate a transformation from process-driven enforcement, structured around separate implementation of individual regulations, to one that focuses greatest effort on the waste problems and issues that matter most and to take swift, proportionate and effective action.
Household waste management compliance including brown bin is a priority area for enforcement in 2017 for the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities.
Underpinning waste enforcement is state funding for waste enforcement officers. I have made €9 million available from the Environment Fund this year to support the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities and the recruitment and continued employment of a network of local authority waste enforcement officers. This investment is critical in providing an enhanced response on the ground to other infractions of the waste code.
In terms of investigation whether households manage their waste in an environmentally acceptable manner, certain local authorities have introduced bye-laws which require householders to sign up to a household waste collection service. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices are currently preparing a template to help standardise bye-laws on the presentation of waste. The draft template bye-laws place the onus of proof on the householder to prove that they are managing their waste correctly by signing up to a waste collection service or providing receipts for the deposit of waste in authorised facilities. If adopted by the elected members of a local authority, such bye-laws would also place an obligation on householders to segregate food waste in area’s where a separate food waste bin must be provided. The Regional Waste Management Plans also contain further measures to identify areas of low collection and to work with communities and collectors to address this issue.
1786. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by his Department on designing, implementing and supporting the Eircode system in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [28135/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System "Eircode".
The costs and the amount spent by my Department of designing, implementing and supporting the Eircode system from 2011 to-date are set out below in tabular form:
|
Contractual Costs |
Expected Cost to the Exchequer over the life of the Contract (VAT inclusive) |
Paid to 31 May, 2017 (VAT inclusive) |
|
Design of NPS |
€ 3.20m |
€ 3.20m |
|
PSB Database Encoding |
€11.50m |
€11.50m |
|
Launch and Dissemination |
€ 3.77m |
€ 3.77m |
|
Ongoing Maintenance and Dissemination Costs |
€14.75m |
€ 0.11m |
|
Subtotal |
€33.22m |
€18.58m |
|
Other Costs |
|
|
|
Specialist and Staffing Costs |
€ 4.80m |
€ 2.84m |
|
Total Cost |
€38.02m |
€21.42m |
1787. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a new refit 3 scheme is due to be put in place to replace the existing refit 3 scheme; when it is likely to be put in place; and the tariff rate a 0.5 MW solar renewable energy supplier can expect to be paid and for which period in years (details supplied). [28479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy in Ireland. This builds on the 2015 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. My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. Analysis is on-going on a range of renewable technologies to be included. This analysis includes an assessment of the cost of supporting Solar Photovoltaics - both rooftop and ground-mounted, at various scales.
Once this work is complete, my Department will publish a final public consultation on the design elements of the new support scheme. Details will be advertised on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie. There will be several decisions to be made on this new scheme with regard to scale, technologies and, in particular, how communities will have a greater involvement than in previous schemes.
Subject to final scheme design, Government approval and EU State Aid clearance, it is expected the new scheme will be open for new applications in 2018.
