Written Answers Nos. 167-172
167. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his key priorities in regard to the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s policy commitments and investment priorities across key areas of national strategic importance are central to the delivery of many of the Strategic Outcomes detailed in the National Planning Framework: Ireland 2040 Our Plan. My Department will oversee a significant programme of capital investment during the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018-2027, which is currently being finalised. Climate mitigation and adaptation are cross-cutting priorities for Government and for me. The National Policy Position on climate change identifies the achievement of a climate resilient economy and society by 2050 as a key objective. In line with the Government’s National Mitigation Plan, investment in the key sectoral areas of transport, agriculture, energy and housing will be prioritised at an accelerating rate over the lifetime of the Plan. Action now will position Ireland to harness a range of benefits into the future, in terms of the creation of sustainable green jobs, sustainable food production, deepening our energy security, improving the quality of our lives and making our working and built environments healthier.
In my Department, a significant expansion of investment in energy efficiency upgrades, including deep retrofitting of housing, commercial and public building stock, will accelerate the contribution of the built environment to the collective effort to reduce CO2 emissions. Measures to progressively decarbonise electricity generation and to promote the electrification of heat and transport will be central to the achievement of national transition objectives. We also need to ensure that we develop appropriate levels of energy interconnection to cater for growing demand and diversify our sources of supply.
Delivery of the new high speed broadband network under the National Broadband Plan remains a key priority. Fast, secure, high capacity and reliable digital connectivity will underpin balanced regional development, allow new businesses and services to emerge and increase Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a place to live and do business.
Investment in waste management infrastructure, air quality and biodiversity will be critical to our environmental and economic well-being, and to achieving EU circular economy and climate objectives.
168. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within my department in the period since 2011. The Dignity at Work Policy was introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2015 across the Civil Service to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace. The main purpose of this policy is to ensure all members of staff are aware that any form of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment is unacceptable and every member of staff has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.
The Human Resources section in my Department provided information sessions to staff in 2015 and 2016 providing awareness of the policy, their obligations under the policy and the process to be undertaken where individuals believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed. All new staff recruited to my Department are informed of their obligations under the policy as part of the Department's induction training programme.
169. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated by means of the biofuels obligations scheme; the source of this estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2360/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the sustainability standards applied to biofuels used here; his plans to improve these standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2364/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of petrol fuelled vehicles here capable of using E10 fuel without difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2365/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of diesel fuelled vehicles here capable of using B7 fuel without difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2366/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 172, inclusive, together.
The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of motor fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of national annual fuel sales. It is a certificate based scheme with two certificates awarded per litre of sustainable biofuel if that biofuel is produced from wastes or residues and one certificate per litre for all other sustainable biofuels.
For each calendar year, a fuel supplier must hold sufficient biofuel obligation certificates to demonstrate compliance. The number of certificates required is determined by the biofuels obligation rate, which is currently set at 8%. This means that at the end of 2017, a fuel supplier must hold 8 biofuel certificates for every 92 litres of fossil fuel they placed on the road transport fuel market in 2017.
The Biofuels Obligation Scheme is administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA). In the Biofuels Obligations Scheme Annual Report for 2016, which is available at www.nora.ie , NORA reports that over 174 million litres of sustainable biofuels were placed on the Irish road transport fuel market in that year. This equated to an average 78% reduction in carbon intensity when compared to an equivalent volume of fossil fuel based road transport fuels. NORA estimate this represents emissions savings of circa 324 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide. The cost of the biofuel component in fuels are absorbed into the price of the fuel by the industry and hence it is not possible to state a cost per tonne of emissions savings.
The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive specifies a set of strict sustainability criteria which biofuels must meet in order to be counted towards a Member State’s renewable energy transport target. Under these criteria, biofuels may not be made from raw materials originating from tropical forests or recently deforested areas, drained peatland, wetland or highly biodiverse areas.
Under the European Union (Biofuel Sustainability Criteria) Regulations 2012, obligated parties must demonstrate compliance with these sustainability criteria in order to claim certificates for biofuels placed on the road transport fuel market. There are no plans at this stage to amend these criteria.
In relation to the use of B7 (diesel blended with 7% biodiesel), all diesel vehicles can operate with this fuel. However there are some concerns with performance of the fuel in winter and, for this reason, this blend is generally only available for part of the year. I do not have exact figures for petrol vehicles compatible with E10 (petrol blended with 10% ethanol), however I understand that a significant proportion of the Irish petrol vehicle fleet can operate with this fuel. All vehicles manufactured since 2011, and the majority of pre-2011 vehicles, can operate effectively using E10. There are no issues with any petrol vehicle using E5, which is the highest blend of petrol biofuel currently available. Any plans to move to E10 in the future will require consideration as to how to accommodate vehicles not compatible with E10. My Department is currently holding a public consultation on the Biofuels Obligation Scheme which is seeking feedback on the best way forward if higher blends of biofuels in petrol or diesel are to be deployed. Details on the consultation, which closes on 19 January 2018, can be found on my Department’s website at www.dccae.gov.ie .
