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Thursday, 15 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 241-249

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (241)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

241. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Rural Development Programme 2014 to 2020 does not include support for biogas production or anaerobic digesters on farms or supports to persons to meet climate change responsibilities in view of the fact that funding is permitted for investments into biogas plants under rural development programme, RDP. measures available to member states (details supplied). [8033/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government recognises that indigenous renewable energy plays a vital role in our domestic fuel mix and will become even more important in the context of reducing our reliance on imported fuels and in meeting our challenging renewable energy targets. My Department is committed to working closely with the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which is the lead Department in this area, to ensure that the supply of domestic fuels available in the forest and agriculture sectors are mobilised to support energy generation from a range of bioenergy technologies. Anaerobic Digestion is one of the technologies included for support in the proposed Support Scheme for Renewable Heat announced by my colleague Minister Naughten late last year.

My Department, under a previous Development Plan, included a pilot scheme funding the installation of anaerobic digesters on ten Irish Farms. Two projects were completed and a further project has been given extensions to undertake the work by mid 2018, with the extension for a further project currently being considered.  While the pilot scheme was not extended, the current Rural Development Programme is directly targeted at supporting environmental actions to assist farmers in meeting climate change responsibilities. The RDP 2014-2020 will deliver funding of some €4 billion to the agricultural sector and rural areas generally over the lifetime of the Programme. The Programme’s content and design was formulated in light of previous experience and performance and reflects the outcome of extensive stakeholder consultation. Examples of environmental actions supported in the RDP include supports for Renewable Heat technologies in the form of supports for biomass boilers under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS). Air-source heat pumps are also supported under PPIS and YFCIS schemes and they may be used as part of a water heater under the Dairy Equipment Scheme. Grant aid is also available under PPIS and YFCIS schemes for solar panels used for electricity production (photovoltaic) and water heating that are permanently erected to buildings used for pig, poultry and egg production.

In terms of future policy, I opened a public consultation process on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2020 on Friday 26 January 2018 for an eight-week period and am also holding a series of six public meetings to consider the future of the CAP. These submissions and views will play an important role in feeding into the Irish position in the negotiations to come.

Angling Sector

Ceisteanna (242)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

242. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason an application (details supplied) was not successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7892/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The consideration of project applications under the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) is a day to day operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

However, I am advised by IFI that all applications under NSAD are evaluated rigorously, as follows. A quality check is performed to ensure all required support documentation is in place. An environmental check is carried out to ensure projects comply with legislative (environmental, planning etc.) requirements. The local IFI management and staff review the project proposals to ensure that it represents a priority within the region and can be supported from a supervisory perspective.

With regard to the application referred to by the Deputy, I understand from IFI that a number of items were highlighted at this stage of the assessment including access, planning and environmental requirements for the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where the proposals were to be located and existing infrastructure.

Full panel evaluation then takes place to score the project. This ensures the project meets established and published criteria for, and the objectives of, the funding scheme, addresses a need as identified, confirms that matching funding is available, that it will be done in a partnership approach and previous funding received. This project scored poorly at full panel evaluation.

Finally the NSAD Implementation Group, established within IFI and made up of IFI Heads of Function, review the recommendations and sign off.

An email was sent to the applicant on announcement of the fund in December and a letter posted to their online portal immediately following the decision to advise of the outcome of the application.

IFI would be happy to discuss the project with the applicants should they wish to contact IFI.

Seismic Surveys

Ceisteanna (243)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

243. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of contributions made by industry, including an organisation (details supplied) to the cost of the €20 million seismic survey conducted in June 2013 by the petroleum affairs division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7861/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Regional Seismic Survey Project is a 16,800 km regional seismic acquisition programme undertaken during the course of 2013-2014 over Ireland's major Atlantic basins. The Project was designed and initiated by my Department and jointly undertaken by my Department and Eni Ireland. Conscious that the existence of quality data is key to encouraging exploration the Project was designed to complement existing datasets and to fill data gaps.

The datasets acquired as a result of the Project vest with my Department. The datasets are of significant interest to exploration companies and researchers and helped inform applications under the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round. The Project has acted as a catalyst for further seismic acquisition by seismic contractors in recent years.

The cost of the Project was met by a contribution of €3.99 million made from the Petroleum Infrastructure Programme - Expanded Offshore Support Group (PIP-EOSG) managed by the Department and from Eni Ireland’s own resources. PIP-EOSG is funded by way of annual contributions from companies participating in Frontier Exploration Licences.

Waste Data

Ceisteanna (244)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

244. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the compensation that is paid to local authorities for road and road safety improvements as a consequence of the limited number of waste facilities declining and in view of the fact that all but one are in Leinster; the way in which it is calculated and apportioned; if waste regions are penalised for not providing for waste within that region; his views on whether the pattern of movement to landfill and incinerator methods is sustainable; if not, the alternative proposals for residual waste and bottom ash; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7928/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Issues pertaining to planning legislation, including matters regarding traffic management and the attachment of conditions relating to individual community gain funds to planning permissions are matters for the statutory planning authorities and do not fall under my remit as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Waste management planning is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act 1996. In this regard, waste management plans for the Connacht-Ulster, Eastern Midlands and Southern Regions were made in May 2015. The plans comprehensively set out clear strategies, policies and actions to address the prevention, generation, collection and management of waste in the State for the period 2015 to 2021. The development and implementation of the plans will give effect to national and EU waste management policies and legislation.

European, national and regional waste policy are all predicated on the management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred (in that order) to the disposal of waste. For instance, collectors of waste must conduct their activities in accordance with the relevant legislation and the conditions of their waste collection permits which, inter alia, require that waste is managed in line with the waste hierarchy.

The Government's policy of increasing the landfill levy to its current level of €75 per tonne has provided a real financial incentive for waste operators to divert as much material as possible from disposal at landfill. The success of the above and many other policy and legislative measures, including the National Waste Prevention Programme and the phasing-out of flat rate fees for household waste collection, which encourage waste prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery, has meant that more waste can be put to environmentally sustainable and productive use as opposed to being buried in the ground. 

Statistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency show that we have come a long way in a relatively short period of time in terms of improving our recycling and recovery rates and reducing our reliance on landfill. In this regard, National Waste Statistics are available to download at https://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/  including the State's progress in meeting targets under EU waste legislation including the Waste Framework Directive; the Landfill Directive; and the Producer Responsibility Directives (Packaging, End-of-Life Vehicles, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Batteries and Accumulators). Of particular note is the reduction in the disposal (landfill) rate of managed Municipal Solid Waste, which fell from 41% in 2012 to 21% in 2014.

Energy Infrastructure

Ceisteanna (245)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the proposed Shannon liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7937/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for a Partnership Government makes clear that the Government remains supportive of the proposal to construct a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG ) terminal near Ballylongford, County Kerry, and has  supported the project promoters in their application to achieve the status of a Project of Common Interest (PCI) under European Regulation 347/2013 which covers Trans European Energy Infrastructure.

It is important to note that the Shannon LNG project, to which the Deputy refers, is a commercial, private sector project, the implementation of which is ultimately the responsibility of the project promoters.  Final investment decisions for the Shannon LNG project are a matter for the project promoters to take.

The Deputy may also be aware that Shannon Commercial Properties, which is part of the Shannon Group, a State-owned commercial body under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has sought expressions of interest in relation to the lands at Ballylongford. I understand that Shannon Commercial Properties is keen that the site is developed and its potential realised. My Department has no role in managing this process, which, I understand is on-going. 

The Deputy may also wish to note that, in line with the Programme for Government, my Department, in conjunction with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid, is in the process of examining Ireland’s resilience to a long term gas disruption. The potential for LNG is part of this analysis. This study will inform the formulation of future policy measures to maintain the resilience of Ireland’s gas and electricity networks and supply.  

Departmental Communications

Ceisteanna (246)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

246. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure that a landline telephone number is supplied along with 1850 or 1890 telephone numbers by all Departments including all State and semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8018/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The matter raised in the Question is a customer service issue for each individual public body including Government Departments. The use and display of telephone numbers is an area in which I have no statutory function.

I would draw the Deputy's attention, however, to arrangements in my Department which operates an 1890 lo-call option for users contacting my Department from fixed line numbers and a standard 01-6782000 access code which allows mobile phone users to contact my Department at the standard rate charged by their service provider or within their bundled minutes package. Other Government Departments offering a lo-call number also offer a standard phone number which can be accessed both from within and outside Ireland and which may be less expensive for mobile users to use.

Waste Management

Ceisteanna (247)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

247. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the available capacity in landfills (details supplied); the annual licence limit in each; the year in which each is due to close; if extensions are envisaged on these; if so, the planning or licence status; if there is a transition shortfall expected between available space and quantity of waste; if so, when that is expected to occur; the contingency expected; the estimated under-capacity by waste region that each waste region is planning to meet its obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Waste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). Under section 60(3) of that Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act.

Copies of the individual licences for each landfill should be available to download on the EPA website, alternatively the EPA may be contacted in relation to queries regarding a particular landfill. Similarly, information on planning permissions should be available from the relevant Planning Authority or an Bord Pleanála. Decisions on whether a facility intends to apply to the EPA, a Planning Authority or an Bord Pleanála to extend its operability beyond the current terms of its planning permission or licence is a matter for each individual facility. Details of applications in progress should similarly be available from the relevant regulatory body.

Notwithstanding the above, in 2016 a situation arose where there was insufficient capacity to dispose of residual municipal waste. To prevent or limit potential environmental pollution, additional available landfill capacity was activated under Section 56 of the Waste Management Act 1996 by the local authority sector in 2016.

My Department is working with the three Regional Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities and other regulatory bodies to try to ensure that such emergency measures are not required going forward.  

Hazardous Waste Sites

Ceisteanna (248)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the site selection process that followed plans (details supplied); the locations deemed to be optimum; the risk assessments that were carried out for transportation of hazardous waste within the jurisdiction; the locations progressed for the provision of a hazardous waste facility; the reason they did not proceed; if the three waste regions are required to provide for this waste; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8020/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (NHWMP) 2014-2020 is prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance with Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996 and sets out the priority actions that may be undertaken within the lifetime of the Plan in relation to: the prevention of hazardous waste; improved collection rates for certain categories of hazardous waste; steps that are required to improve Ireland’s self-sufficiency in hazardous waste management and the continued identification and regulation of legacy issues.

It should be noted that there has been no site selection process for the development of a hazardous waste landfill facility undertaken by the EPA or the Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities. The hazardous waste industry in Ireland is owned and operated by the private sector and no public authorities are involved in the commercial collection of hazardous waste, the provision of storage facilities or the treatment of hazardous waste. The only exception is the provision of civic amenity sites by local authorities for the deposit of small quantities of household hazardous waste.

The three Regional Waste Management Plans note the need identified by the EPA in the NHWMP for up to 277,000 tonnes of disposal capacity for hazardous waste materials over the period 2014-2020. The Regional Waste Management Plans highlight that the EPA recognises the value of developing existing landfill sites, including those which are currently closed or un-commenced, for the development of certain hazardous wastes.  Accordingly, the Regional Waste Management Plans, inter alia, support the development of disposal capacity for the treatment of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes at existing landfill facilities, subject to the appropriate statutory approvals being granted in line with the appropriate environmental criteria. The plans do not contain measures requiring the Regions to provide for this waste.

Ireland currently has no dedicated hazardous waste landfill disposal facility and there is no facility for the treatment of thermal residue in the State. While landfill is the least favoured option on the waste hierarchy, it is recognised that relying on the current export model to address this need poses risks for long term availability of outlets. Any proposals for hazardous waste management infrastructure would be expected to have regard to the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan and describe how the overarching objectives of the plan would be met.

Road Network

Ceisteanna (249)

Danny Healy-Rae

Ceist:

249. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to replace Listry bridge, Milltown, County Kerry, with a new structure in view of the fact that the bridge was built over 200 years ago. [7876/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each Council.

Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific Improvement Grants for the strengthening, widening or realignment of rural roads, including bridges, where the proposed scheme cost generally less than €5 million. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis meant this grant scheme had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.

The Capital Plan 2016-2021 does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Specific Grant Programme.

Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under this Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. In this context while Kerry County Council did apply for funding for remedial works on Listry bridge in 2016, the Council has not put forward a proposal for a replacement bridge.

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