Written Answers Nos. 71 - 90
71. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost-benefit analysis that has been conducted with regard to the cost to the State of not meeting its emissions reduction targets as against the cost of achieving same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49053/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the precise reduction or derogation that his Department is seeking on the 2020 targets. [49006/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which Ireland will address poor performance in comparison with other EU states on reaching climate change targets; and the way in which he plans to address this going forward. [49084/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 77 and 90 together.
The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. This will be Ireland’s contribution to the overall EU objective to reduce its emissions by the order of 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Ireland’s target is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated to EU Member States under this Decision, which is shared only with Denmark and Luxembourg.
The latest projections of greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that emissions from those sectors of the economy covered by Ireland's 2020 targets could be between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels by 2020. The projected shortfall to our targets in 2020 reflects both the constrained investment capacity over the past decade due to the economic crisis, and the extremely challenging nature of the target itself. In fact, it is now accepted that Ireland’s 2020 target was not consistent with what would be achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis. A European Commission Communication published on 7 November 2017, Two years after Paris – Progress towards meeting the EU’s climate commitments (COM (2017) 646), indicated that in addition to Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Malta are also expected to miss their 2020 EU targets on the basis of current projections.
Ireland's 2020 target is a binding obligation under EU law and Ireland is not seeking a derogation from it. The legislative framework governing the EU’s 2020 emissions reductions targets includes a number of flexibility mechanisms to enable Member States to meet their annual emissions targets, including provisions to bank any excess allowances to future years and to trade allowances between Member States. Using banked allowances from the period to 2015, Ireland is projected to comply with its emissions reduction targets in each of the years 2013 to 2018. However, our cumulative emissions are expected to exceed targets for 2019 and 2020, which may result in a requirement to purchase additional allowances. While this purchasing requirement is not, at this stage, expected to be significant, further analysis will be required to quantify the likely costs involved, in light of the final amount and price of allowances required.
Ireland's first statutory National Mitigation Plan, which I published in July of this year, provides a framework to guide investment decisions by Government in domestic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Plan sets out what Ireland is currently doing, and is planning to do, to further the national transition objective as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015. Although this first Plan will not provide a complete roadmap to achieve the national transition objective to 2050, it begins the process of development of medium- to long-term options to ensure that we are well positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades.
Delivery of the measures in the National Mitigation Plan will, in many cases, require significant investment. However, decisions on the funding of particular measures will be a matter for Government consideration in the context of expenditure planning in the Estimates and Budgetary processes, and in the forthcoming National Investment Plan for 2018-2027. Individual investment or expenditure decisions will also, in the normal course, be subject to appropriate appraisal in line with the Government's Public Spending Code.
Where relevant, the National Mitigation Plan already includes information on the expected Exchequer cost of implementing individual measures, either in the context of direct expenditure or in relation to tax foregone. The actual expenditure on a given measure will depend on progress in implementation of each measure, including its possible expansion as a result of additional funding, for which the relevant sectoral Minister retains direct responsibility.
In addition to measures in place, the National Mitigation Plan includes measures under consideration by Government. The potential costs for many of these measures have yet to be quantified and will depend on the basis on which a given measure is adopted for implementation.
72. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan to properties in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The Map is searchable by Eircode/address and is colour coded:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The Light BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of an Agreement signed with me in April.
There are over 90,000 premises in County Kildare, around 78,000 of which fall within a BLUE area of the Map and will be covered by commercial operators. Approximately 4,000 of these 78,000 premises form part of eir's planned rural deployment to deliver rural high speed broadband to 300,000 premises throughout Ireland between now and the end of 2018. Quarter three figures provided to my Department show that, in Q3 2017, eir's rural deployment passed approximately 1,700 premises in County Kildare. There are over 13,000 premises which fall within the AMBER area of the Map and which fall to be covered by the State Intervention area in County Kildare.
Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available from eir at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. Citizens can access this website to determine the connectivity availability status for their premises using their eircode. The website also provides a list of retail service providers who offer services using high speed fibre network in the area.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage. “Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders on 26th September are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. The next stage in the procurement process is the receipt of final tenders followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.
As part of this procurement process, the bidder(s) will be required to submit their strategies, including timescales, for the network build and rollout. Delivering connectivity to the 542,000 premises that fall within the State led intervention under the NBP remains a Government priority and my Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the rollout of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area I established, in July 2016, a Taskforce to identify solutions which can be implemented in the short, medium and long term to alleviate mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, to identify priority areas for rollout and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the NBP State led intervention.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has the power to issue a policy direction to the regulator under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999; and if he has considered the use of this power to address rising electricity prices here. [49008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 10A of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended, sets out the procedure under which the Minister may give “general policy directions”. The legislation sets out details on the tasks and inter-alia timelines, consultation requirements with the independent regulator and Oireachtas, and identifies restrictions on the areas where such directions may not be given.
The electricity and gas markets in Ireland are commercial, liberalised, and competitive, and operate within a European regulatory regime that effectively seeks to end the regulation of electricity and gas retail markets of member states. The position of successive Governments has been that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers and businesses, in terms of suppliers, products and prices. Competition exerts downward pressure on suppliers’ prices.
Responsibility for the regulation of the gas or electricity markets is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which carries out statutory market monitoring functions to ensure that competition continues to develop, and that customers benefit from competition. Two reports published by the regulator this year conclude that Irish energy markets are competitive, with the most recently available EU comparable electricity and gas supplier switching data also pointing towards a competitive Irish market. The CRU is an independent statutory body, and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions.
The regulation of retail market prices for electricity in Ireland ended in 2011 and for gas prices in 2014. The Government has no statutory function in the monitoring or setting of electricity prices, with the main thrust of Government policy on energy costs focused on the competitive market and supports for energy efficiency. Government policy, consistent with EU Legislation has supported competition to drive down prices, and data from approved price comparison sites (www.bonkers.ie and www.switcher.ie) shows that consumers can make significant savings by switching energy suppliers. Accordingly, attempting to revert to price controls is not considered an appropriate option.
75. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if under the current waste management framework or otherwise consideration has been given to mandating that the waste management companies add a collection for glass bottle waste to their operations, similar to the way in which compostable waste, recyclable waste and general waste are currently separated and collected from the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder waste management legislation, collectors of household waste are required to provide receptacles for the collection of residual, recyclable and food waste, in line with the requirements of their waste collection permit issued under the Waste Management Act 1996 (No. 10 of 1996), the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, (S.I. 820 of 2007) as amended, and the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015. There is no obligation currently on collectors of household waste under waste management legislation to provide a collection service for glass or glass bottles.
Glass is a packaging material under the EU Packaging Directive. This Directive sets recovery and recycling targets for all packaging material. The target for glass is 60% by weight. Ireland has a very successful producer responsibility scheme in place, operated by Repak, for dealing with packaging. The scheme has consistently exceeded the targets set by the Directive with 88% of glass reported as recycled in the most recent statistics produced by the Environmental Protection Agency.
My Department has also provided grant assistance of over €200 million to local authorities since the year 2000 towards the development of waste recycling facilities and there are over 2,200 bring banks and 100 recycling centres across the country, which support high recycling levels for glass.
76. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the arrangements agreed with the waste management companies on the introduction of the pay-by-weight schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra469. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the arrangements agreed with the waste management companies on the introduction of the pay-by-weight schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 469 together.
In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland published in 2012 and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this measure. It is worth noting that this measure is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e. a plan which contains a per lift or weight related fee. As already announced, mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging is not being introduced.
This year has seen the progression of a number of other household waste collection initiatives, including:
- the roll-out of food/organic “brown” bins to all communities with a population in excess of 500 people;
- the roll-out of information and awareness campaigns by my Department and the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, which concentrate on the use of the "brown" bin; improving and increasing recycling; driving waste prevention; the correct use of the kerbside collection system; and,
- the establishment of a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group, which is tracking rates across the country as flat rate fees are being phased out.
79. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he plans to implement to support the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49038/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Priority Questions Nos. 37 and 40 on today's order paper.
80. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason his Department continues to primarily fund shallow retrofits for homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49104/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. How this is to be achieved is set out in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, the latest version of which was published earlier this year and is available on my Department's website. The achievement of this target requires a combination of shallow and deep retrofits, maximising the varying levels of capacity among householders to engage in energy efficiency.
For example, simple, relatively inexpensive grant aided measures, such as attic and cavity wall insulation, can deliver a significant amount of energy savings at low cost, thus delivering value for money for the taxpayer, a short payback for the householders who make the investment and increased awareness of energy efficiency among citizens. Focusing on these low cost, high impact measures first is important. Research by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) clearly demonstrates that people who have a positive experience in undertaking a small energy efficiency upgrade are more likely to engage in further energy efficiency measures in the future.
However, shallow interventions must be complemented by deeper interventions as these will be necessary to deliver the energy savings that are required to meet the Government's long term climate ambitions to reduce carbon emissions in the Built Environment. This is why I have established two new energy efficiency schemes to deliver deep retrofits. This year SEAI initiated the Deep Retrofit Pilot, which offers 50% grant funding for householders to bring the energy efficiency of their home up to an A3 on the Building Energy Rating (BER) scale. That funding increases to 95% for the homes of those who are living in energy poverty. Commenced in 2016 and delivered by SEAI and the HSE, the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme makes deeper energy efficiency upgrades available free of charge, to people in, or at risk of, energy poverty who are also suffering from a chronic respiratory condition. The research component of this scheme will evaluate the impact improved energy efficiency can have on a person's health and wellbeing. Over the last 2 years deeper measures have also been progressively rolled out in the Better Energy Communities and Warmer Homes schemes.
The aim of all of this innovative activity is to build demand for deeper measures and market capacity to deliver them. These initiatives will gather the evidence necessary to determine how best Government can motivate people to engage in deep retrofits on a much wider basis, build the necessary skills and the supply chain in the construction industry, and provide tangible demonstrations throughout the country on the most suitable deep retrofit options for various types of home. In this context the newly established SEAI Behavioural Economics Unit has a critical role to play.
82. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 8 November 2017, if the environmental impact assessment carried out prior to his approval in July 2017 for offshore drilling at the Druid Drombeg exploration field addressed the potential impact that the combustion of the fossil fuels stored at the site could have on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49082/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 11 July 2017, approval to drill an exploratory well within Block 53/6-A in the southern Porcupine Basin off the south west coast of Ireland was granted to Providence Resources Plc.
Prior to granting approval, the application to drill was considered against a range of technical, environmental, and financial requirements. In addition, the company had to obtain a safety permit from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and approval by the Irish Coast Guard for the company’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan and Well Emergency Response Plan.
In respect of environmental requirements, the company was required to submit an Environmental Risk Assessment (EIA Screening) and a Natura Impact Screening (Appropriate Assessment) Statement in support of its application to commence drilling activities and these were considered in the context of the likely effects on the environment of the proposed drilling. A review was undertaken for my Department by Bec Consultants, an independent consultancy appointed for their expertise in ecological and conservation marine biology to, inter alia:- examine the submitted Environmental Statement and assess whether or not it met the scope and quality of requirements set out or implied by the specific European and Irish Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and guidelines;- appraise the Environmental Statement, highlighting any deficiencies in respect of the statutory requirements of the Statement and detailing the outcome and resolution of any such deficiencies; and- ensure that the requirements of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011, for an assessment to be carried out on any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on a protected site or species were met by the Appropriate Assessment Screening Report.
In addition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht,was requested to provide its observations in terms of Natura 2000 sites, where relevant, and Annex IV species (Cetaceans) in accordance with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
The application did not propose the storage of fossil fuels at the site of the exploratory well, nor the development of any hydrocarbons found, and as such the Environmental Risk Assessment and Natura Impact Screening Statement did not consider the potential impact of same on the environment.
Documentation associated with the grant of approval to drill has been posted on my Department's website.
83. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the funding of the energy efficiency programmes was spent between residential, commercial and public sector buildings since 2011 in view of the fact that the expenditure allocations for 2018 to 2020 document allows €35 million to expand the energy efficiency programmes; his plans to change the breakdown in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49086/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunded by my Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a wide range of energy efficiency programmes across the residential, commercial and public sectors. From 2011 to 2017 a total of €452m has been allocated to energy efficiency. Between 2011 and 2015 all sectors were funded through the National Retrofit Programme, (which became the Better Energy Programme), with the bulk of the spend on the residential sector - details are set out in Table 1. Since 2012 the Better Energy Communities scheme has made funding available for partnership across the residential, commercial and public sectors.
Table 1 - Total allocation for National Retrofit/Better Energy Programmes for year 2011-2015
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Total €m |
|
Capital Allocation €m |
100.4 |
68.0 |
45.3 |
54.6 |
47.2 |
315.5 |
From 2016 dedicated capital programmes for the commercial and public sectors have been increasing as shown set out in Table 2.
Table 2 - Allocations for Residential, Commercial and Public sectors - 2016-2018: Capital Allocation - €m
|
Year |
Total Allocation |
Residential |
Public and Commercial Sectors |
|
2016 |
€61 |
€58 |
€3 |
|
2017 |
€75.8 |
€67.3 |
€8.5 |
|
2018 |
€107 |
€84 |
€23 |
In the residential sector the focus is on home retrofit measures such as upgrading of heating systems, insulation etc. In the commercial sector efforts have focused on providing advice and support to businesses and achievement of energy management certification. In addition, I have established a number of schemes to pilot new approaches and develop an evidence base for future policies and measures. These include the Warmth and Well-being scheme and the Deep Renovation Pilot, and SME pilot schemes - the Dairy Pilot scheme and the Smart Lighting Scheme. Details of measures are provided in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and in the National Mitigation Plan published by my Department this year and available on my Department's website.
In addition, I secured €10m in current funding, which is critical to support the necessary engagement with energy users to motivate them to act on energy efficiency. Recognising the importance of Energy Efficiency to national energy and climate action objectives, my Department continues to significantly expand energy efficiency programmes. In Budget 2018 I secured €107m in capital funding for energy efficiency schemes in 2018. Of this €84m will support residential energy efficiency programmes, €9m will support projects in the public sector and the €14m will support the commercial and industrial sector – including small businesses and farms.
Further information on allocations for next year can be made available when the details have been decided between my Department and SEAI and when the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
85. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the 2018 fishing season on the River Slaney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI gave statutory notice on 15 November 2017 of the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, 2017 to provide for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) from 1 January 2018.
A copy of the draft regulations, which are made every year, is available on my Department’s website, www.dccae.gov.ie/natural, and is open for public inspection at the offices of the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department in Cavan and also at the offices of Inland Fisheries Ireland around the country. Observations on the draft regulations may be made at any time during the period of 30 days concluding on 14 December, 2017.
The draft regulations provide for an individual management regime for each of Ireland's 147 salmon rivers, river sections and estuaries based on the conservation imperative for their individual genetic stock. The regulations are based on management advice received from IFI. This advice from IFI is supported by assessments carried out by the independent Standing Scientific Committee for Salmon comprising scientists from a range of organisations.
With regard to the river Slaney it is proposed that the river, based on assessment of the extent to which it is meeting its conservation limit, will be open to angling on a catch and release basis from 12 May 2018.
86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he received reports on the developments of the horticultural sector of Bord na Móna. [49007/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. As shareholder, I regularly receive reports on developments across all of Bord na Móna's various business areas, including the horticultural business unit.
87. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether rural communities and rural houses are being pitted against each other as a result of the way in which sites were selected for broadband upgrade; and his further views on the cherry picking nature of a company (details supplied) in selecting the best sites. [49081/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this footprint is expanding.
As the Deputy may be aware, in April, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to an additional 300,000 premises, predominantly in rural areas on a commercial basis. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Decisions by private telecommunication operators, relating to the rollout and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services, are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. The decision as to what areas and premises are served as part of their rural deployment is a commercial decision for eir as a private operator and not one in which I have a statutory role.
In order to ensure all premises regardless of location have access to high speed broadband, my Department is engaged in an on-going procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out the new high speed broadband network for the State led intervention. The 542,000 premises in the State led intervention, the majority in rural locations, are categorised as AMBER in the High Speed Broadband Map which can be accessed via www.broadband.gov.ie.
A significant milestone in the procurement process was reached in September with the submission of Detailed Solutions by two bidders. These Detailed Solutions are currently being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. This is the last stage of the procurement process before receipt of final tenders and progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder(s).
Delivering connectivity to the 542,000 premises that fall within the State led intervention under the NBP remains a Government priority and my Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
