Written Answers Nos. 183-202
183. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposal in the draft report by the European Parliament’s agriculture committee (details supplied); and if his Department has carried out costings for increasing funding beyond 2% in this regard. [23028/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe draft report of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to the implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform was published on 7 December 2017. Measures to support young farmers are a central part of the draft proposals for reform of the CAP post-2020. In this regard my Department officials and I will continue to engage with the EU Commission and other Member States in relation to the future CAP framework, including measures to best support young farmers.
I expect the CAP proposals to be published in the very near future and my department will examine them carefully at that time.
184. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received to date to the recently launched Brexit loan scheme for food businesses specifically by company size (details supplied); the number of applications approved and not approved, respectively, to date by firm size; and the number of loans granted to date in tabular form. [23031/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of my priorities is to improve access to finance for the agri-food sector. Food Wise 2025 identifies competiveness as a key theme and includes a recommendation that stakeholders work to “improve access to finance for agriculture, forestry and seafood producers and agri-food companies”.
Recently I launched the new “Brexit Loan Scheme” in cooperation with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Minister for Finance, which will provide up to €300 million of affordable, flexible working capital finance to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) are administering the Scheme and use the €23million in public funding, along with the EIB Group’s InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility, to leverage the loan fund. Given its significant exposure to the UK market, my Department has contributed €9million, ensuring at least 40% of the fund will be available to food businesses. This is the only sector that has ring-fenced funding.
The Scheme was opened on the 31st March 2018 and will remain open until 31st March 2020, or until it is fully subscribed. The SBCI receives and analyses loan data from the participating banks on a quarterly basis. SBCI have informed my Department that the first official data relating to the Scheme will be available on completion of its first quarter, i.e. to 30th June 2018.
185. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of LDPE or HDPE beverage containers sold here on an annual basis; and the number that are recycled. [22915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of PET beverage containers sold here on an annual basis; and the number that are recycled. [22916/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of aluminium beverage containers sold here on an annual basis; and the number that are recycled. [22917/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together.
Packaging statistics are compiled in Ireland by the EPA in accordance with the EU Packaging Directive. In accordance with that Directive, we are obliged to report by tonnage on the following packaging types: Glass, Plastic, Paper and Board, Metals and Wood. In the most recent statistics compiled by the EPA, 282,148 tonnes of plastic were generated in Ireland, of which 34% was recycled. 65,861 tonnes of metal (aluminium and steel) were generated and 75% of this was recycled (https://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/packaging/).
The table below details the amount of tonnage in each of the categories above placed on the market by members of the national producer responsibility scheme (Repak) and the rate at which they were recycled.
Tonnes
|
|
PET |
HDPE |
Total |
Aluminium Cans |
|
Repak Members Tonnes Placed on the Market 2017 |
23,852 |
13,416 |
37,268 |
9,194 |
|
Repak Funded Tonnes 2017 Recycled |
15,510 |
8,903 |
24,413 |
7,706 |
|
Recycling Rate |
65% |
66% |
66% |
77% |
188. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which a company's (details supplied) charges compare to similar schemes in other EU countries. [22918/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fee structure of the company in question is based on the principle of producer responsibility and is designed to ensure that the cost of recovery of packaging waste is spread on an equitable basis. The key elements of that principle are that responsibility is shared across the supply chain and that producers contribute to national recycling in accordance with the amount and type of packaging they place on the market.
Scheme members who place smaller amounts of packaging on the market pay a once-yearly membership fee, based on a schedule of turnover/tonnage bands determined by Scheme, in consultation with industry and trade associations. Larger producers pay fees based on tonnage and different packaging materials are charged at individual rates, reflecting the level of subsidy required to ensure that those materials are recovered.
Businesses are consistently looking to reduce their product costs and the schemes fee structure is designed to discourage companies from producing excess packaging.
Fees paid by producers in other EU countries vary greatly from one country to another, depending on the Extended Producer Responsibility model in place. Different countries have different markets, funding models, collection and treatment infrastructure. Therefore, it is not entirely appropriate to compare fees. The EU Commission in its publication “Development of Guidance on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)”[1] outlined the average range of producer fees across the EU. Producer fees ranged from approximately €17 per tonne in the UK to almost €200 per tonne in Austria. In Ireland, the average fee per tonne charged to producers was approximately €45 per tonne.
[1] http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/pdf/target_review/Guidance%20on%20EPR%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf
189. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the fees a company (details supplied) collects fund litter clean up and litter bin collection in view of the fact that at least 80% of the waste by volume is comprised of packaging. [22919/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fee structure of the company in question is based on the principle of producer responsibility and is designed to ensure that the cost of recovery of packaging waste is spread on an equitable basis. The fees collected are designed to contribute to national recycling rates in accordance with the amount and type of packaging they place on the market. The fees do not fund litter clean up and litter bin collection.
In 2016, the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System report identified packaging litter as constituting 13.28% of all litter nationally.
Local authorities are responsible for keeping public places that are under their control, including public roads, clear of litter as far as is practicably possible. This includes arranging cleansing programmes, as well as providing and emptying litter bins.
The Litter Pollution Act 1997 provides the statutory framework to combat litter pollution. Under the Act, the primary management and enforcement responsibility rests with Local Authorities, who have a wide range of powers to tackle litter effectively, including “on-the-spot” fines of up to €150 or, on summary conviction, fines up to €4,000, for those who litter.
While rigorous Local Authority enforcement is a part of the solution to littering, I believe that the key to success in tackling litter issues is through awareness raising and education. Education for young people, in particular, through the litter module of the Green Schools Programme which my Department supports each year, is very important. Since 1997, my Department has allocated in excess €15.4 million to Local Authorities under the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS). Under this Scheme, Local Authorities are responsible for selecting suitable anti-litter awareness projects for funding and deciding on the grant allocations in individual cases. In 2017, I increased funding for this scheme by 28% to €885,000 and I will be maintaining this level of funding for 2018.
I am pleased that consecutive annual National Litter Pollution Monitoring Surveys (see www.litter.ie) have shown that the litter situation is generally improving across the country in recent years.
190. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of separate collection of compostable litter in place; and the plans in place to collect more compostable litter separately. [22920/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for keeping public places that are under their control, including public roads, clear of litter as far as is practicably possible. This includes arranging cleansing programmes, as well as providing and emptying litter bins. Each local authority must prepare a litter management plan for its area, setting out its objectives to prevent and control litter, along with measures to encourage public awareness of litter. The plan must also set out measures and arrangements by which the local authority intends to achieve these objectives. In preparing its litter management plan, the authority must consult with local community and voluntary interests.
The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2015 are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste. The Regulations impose obligations on both householders and waste collectors. Under articles 4 and 5 of the Regulations, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of, a separate collection service for organic waste from households in communities greater than 500 persons. Householders are obliged to segregate their food waste and make it available for separate collection. Compostable packaging, including coffee cups can also be disposed of through a food waste collection service and recycled into quality compost.
An organic waste collection service is now being provided in every county across all local authority areas. Ireland has an established nationwide collection and organic recycling infrastructure with the capacity to collect, transport and recycle compostable material. It should be noted that only products which are independently certified to I.S. EN 13432 are deemed compostable and suitable for processing in Irish composting plants.
191. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to reduce the amount of plastic packaging generated (details supplied). [22921/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra192. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to improve the recycling rate for plastic packaging in view of the fact that the plastic packaging recycling rate correspondingly has decreased from 47% to 34% in the years from 2011 to 2015. [22922/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to increase the incentive for packaging producers to reduce plastic packaging. [22923/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together.
I recently wrote to the European Commissioner with responsibility for the environment to welcome the EU plastics strategy. I assured him Ireland fully embraced the ambitions of the new strategy. I asked the Commission to focus, in particular, on the most difficult non-recyclable plastics such as soft wrapping, film and single use items.
In addition, Ireland has supported the adoption of a set of ambitious measures to make EU waste legislation fit for the future, as part of the EU's wider circular economy policy. The new recycling and landfilling targets set a credible and ambitious path for better waste management in Europe. The new EU Circular Economy Legislative Package, which was published this week, (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3846_en.htm) includes a new recycling rate of 55% for plastic packaging waste by 2035, which will help drive real progress towards the circular economy, and an ability for Producer Responsibility schemes to modulate costs for individual products or groups of similar products, by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and recyclability and the presence of hazardous substances.
The statistic referred to in the question is based on our national packaging waste return, which we are obliged to provide by 30 June every year to the European Commission. While I am not disputing the figure quoted, I am aware that the manner in which these statistics are reported differs from Member State to Member State. The recent EPA research call includes a study to examine how we compile our packing waste statistics compared to other Member States. The waste characterisation study which is used as part of the return is from 2008. The new waste characterisation study taking place at the moment with funding from my Department will show the current picture of what materials are disposed of in bins in Ireland. This report, when completed, will affect future EU reports around packaging waste returns.
In relation to incentivising packaging producers to reduce the amount of plastic, our national producer responsibility scheme (Repak) is tasked with managing packaging in Ireland. It works with its members (including all the major retailers) to identify ways to reduce or optimise packaging. Repak charges fees to its members in accordance with the amount and type of packaging they place on the Irish market. These fees are used to subsidise the collection and recovery of waste packaging through registered recovery operators across Ireland.
Because Repak members pay fees based on the amount of packaging they place on the market, this incentivises them to reduce packaging where possible and in so doing to reduce their fees. To assist members to optimise their packaging, Repak employ packaging technologists who work with their member companies. The technologists look for ways to optimise the packaging used and to minimise any resulting packaging waste. Repak’s Prevent and Save initiative has worked with Irish business to reduce packaging and to promote packaging improvements across industry. Further information can be found on www.repak.ie/preventandsave.
194. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is subject to budgetary constraints when engaging in litigation whether as an applicant, defendant or notice party. [22926/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) is a constituent part of the Office of the Attorney General and provides litigation, advisory and conveyancing services to Government Departments. These services are funded from the CSSO’s budgetary allocation, which is voted annually by Dáil Éireann.
My Department also procures external legal advice in compliance with procurement regulations, from time to time and where the circumstances warrant it. In such cases, the cost is funded through my Department's own budgetary allocation. In addition, any costs arising from a court award or settlement of proceedings are paid through my Department's Vote, and accounted for in the Appropriation Account, as appropriate.
195. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department carries out screening for environmental impact assessment for applications to explore for oil or gas in waters which include the use of seismic testing; if so, the procedures by which this screening is carried out; and if not, the reason therefor. [22932/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has carried out an environmental impact assessment for applications to explore for oil or gas in Irish waters which include the use of seismic testing. [22933/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.
In advance of the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round, the Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment 5 process was undertaken by my Department and included consideration of potential environmental impacts which may arise specifically as a result of petroleum exploration activities.Any exploration activity proposed to be carried out under a petroleum authorisation (e.g. seismic survey or drilling of a well) is subject to assessment of compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.
Geophysical surveys (which include seismic surveys) do not fall under Annex I or II of the EIA Directive as amended. However, such surveys fall to be assessed under the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Petroleum Exploration) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 134/2013). An assessment is carried out based on the information included in the application to determine whether a survey would result in significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of the nature, size and location of the survey.
Applications for seismic surveys are considered against a range of technical and environmental considerations.
In respect of environmental considerations the procedures are as follows:- The applicant must submit an Environmental Risk Assessment and a Natura Impact Screening (Appropriate Assessment) Statement in support of the application to commence surveying activities. These documents are made available on my Department's website.- The Environmental Risk Assessment is reviewed for my Department by an independent consultancy, with the required expertise in ecological and conservation marine biology, to assess whether or not it meets the scope and quality of requirements set out or implied by the specific European and Irish Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and guidelines.
- The independent consultancy also reviews the Natura Impact Screening Statement to 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 have been met. In addition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is 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).
- Following receipt of these reviews a determination is made as to whether an Environmental Impact Assessment Report or a stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is required. The determination is published on my Department's website.
Any observations received from prescribed bodies, interested parties or the general public regarding the potential environmental effects of the activity proposed in the application are considered as part of the consent decision making process.
197. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the quantity of ammonia that was emitted to the atmosphere in each of the past five years here as a result of the importation and spreading of animal manure from Northern Ireland. [22934/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s national ammonia inventory does not include emissions from manures or slurries originating in Northern Ireland. Neither my Department nor the Environmental Protection Agency collects statistics on the volumes of manure or slurry crossing the border. However, I understand from my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that his Department collects these statistics and that the volumes are very small, being in the order of less than 7,000 tonnes in either direction for each of the last two years. In the context of the roughly 45,000,000 tonnes of manure generated within the country each year, any such figure from Northern Ireland will have minimal impact on total ammonia emissions to air.
198. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a review by Inland Fisheries Ireland of trout stocks has been considered when drafting the designated salmonid waters by-law 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22955/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the comparative studies, particularly international examples, conducted in the preparation of the proposed designated salmonid waters by-law 2018; if his Department viewed other factors in the decrease of trout stocks in the designated waters in addition to nationwide; if so, the factors; his plans to expand the by-laws nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22957/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are carrying out a wide-ranging review of its national policies on brown trout and pike. These policies, which were published in 2014, were developed by two working groups, which included inter alia representatives from the main trout and pike angling federations.
One of the most important issues considered in the previous policies relates to the management of pike in wild brown trout fisheries. In late 2016, a Review Group was established to specifically consider this issue. The Group, having met for information gathering meetings, at which a number of expert scientists made presentations, reviewed and assimilated the data and information provided. The Group reconvened in September 2017.
The presentations delivered to the Group, along with minutes of the meetings and the public consultation submissions are publicly available (https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Public-Consultation/public-consultation-national-policy-review-management-of-pike-in-designated-wild-brown-trout-fisheries-3.html#review-group-meeting-minutes-and-other-documents). Public consultation, a broad representative forum and transparency in the Review Group’s deliberations have been a central part of the Group’s progression. IFI, as a public authority, recognises the diverse opinions of stakeholders and is obliged to consider all viewpoints on this issue.
In the meantime, I have given notice of proposals to make a Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law and instigated a public consultation where observations on the draft proposals may be expressed at any time during the period of 21 days concluding at 5pm on 25 May, 2018.
The proposed (draft) Bye-Law is intended to afford additional protection to wild brown trout confined to seven distinctive State–owned waters where established stock control measures are already in place as a matter of existing policy. These seven limestone lakes are fairly unique in terms of topography and trout habitat and have long been managed as wild brown trout fisheries via established stock management programmes.
The proposed Bye-Law would give statutory status to the policy designation of this small number of distinctive waters and would mean that the waters concerned would continue to be managed primarily as brown trout waters. These waters represent a very small percentage of available angling waters.
It is understood that any broader designation of waters and any required management measures will require primary legislation.
Before it can be finalised, the contents of the proposed Bye-Law and its potential scope will also require legal consultation and settlement. In view of the public consultation, it is not appropriate to comment further at this stage.
200. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the responsibility of SEAI for the development and operation of the Galway Bay marine and renewable energy test site at An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22982/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out the Government’s policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources. Under the OREDP, Exchequer support for research, development and demonstration of ocean renewable energy (ORE) technology has been increased. Between 2014 and 2017 capital funding of €17.7 million was allocated by my Department for research and development of ORE technology, with a further €4.5 million allocated in 2018.
This funding supports Ireland’s commitment to world class test facilities including the Lir National Ocean Test Facility in Cork, the quarter scale Galway Bay test site and the full-scale Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), off the coast of Mayo. It also supports the Prototype Development Fund, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and provides grant aid to support developers in bringing their ocean energy devices from prototype to full-scale commercial viability.
The development and operation of the Galway Bay marine and renewable energy test site at An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe is the responsibility of the Marine Institute.
The Service Level Agreement (SLA) in place with the Marine Institute is a vital component in the overall management of the SEAI’s Ocean Energy Programme. It provides SEAI with direct access to infrastructure, resources and expertise required for operating successfully in the marine environment. The SLA has helped SEAI to leverage significant supports and resources within the Marine Institute and has underpinned the development of an important partnership between the two public agencies in support of the offshore renewable energy sector.
Annually the SEAI agree a work programme with the Marine Institute which typically focusses support for the Galway Bay Test Site Activities as well as support for other complimentary projects (ie development of the web portal, technology deployment on the west coast, data collection at AMETS, Seabed surveys etc). The work programme sets out SEAIs requirement for support to work on various aspects of the project primarily relevant to test site operation; promotion; technical support; IT development; data management; offshore marine activities and deployments.
A robust reporting and governance structure allows SEAI to closely monitor the progress of the SLA, including an annual report of activities at the test site and quarterly reports on the Galway Bay Test site from Smartbay Ireland, the test site operators.
201. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislation changed regarding driver licence changes which means that a driver licence will expire on the anniversary of its start date regardless of whether there was a period of validity remaining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22903/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDriving licences in Ireland were previously issued for a fixed period plus the unexpired period on their previously licence. This was changed as of 31 May 2015, by the European Union (Licensing of Drivers) (Validity of Licences) Regulations 2015.
The reason for the change was the requirement of certain fixed periods of validity to apply to categories of driving licences under EU law. Irish practice up to that time, by issuing licences for fixed periods plus the unexpired period on the old licence, was not consistent with EU law, and therefore had to be changed.
202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a bus stop will be placed at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23008/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and for the overall funding of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations etc. in the State.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
