Michael Moynihan
Ceist:465. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of senior positions held by men and women, respectively, in his Department. [46992/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (465)
Freagraí scríofa
One of the goals outlined in my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to continue to develop a highly skilled, diverse and gender-balanced workforce. My Department is committed to supporting a positive working environment for all staff, one that provides equality of opportunity and supports work-life balance. My Department has had an active gender balance initiative in place since 2010, which has conducted a number of reviews and developed an action plan to address the issue through its HR Strategy and in consultation with staff. In addition, gender balance is a key commitment of the Civil Service Renewal Plan (Action 8.5) and my Department has been active in progressing initiatives in this area on a whole of Government basis.
Staff in my Department work in various locations around the country and the workforce is made up of over 100 grades, including specialist grades in addition to the standard civil service grades.
The number of senior positions held by both men and women in my Department is shown in the table below. The numbers are shown by Civil Service "Job Code Equivalent" which gives relative comparators with standard civil service grades.
|
Job Code Equivalent |
Female |
Male |
Grand Total |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Assistant Secretary (Including Directors) |
3 |
11 |
14 |
|
Principal Officer (Including those on equivalent pay scales) |
35 |
81 |
116 |
|
Grand Total |
38 |
93 |
131 |
Pesticide Use
Ceisteanna (466)
Clare Daly
Ceist:466. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is Coillte policy to test groundwater on and near its lands regularly in order to determine if unsafe levels of the pesticides used by Coillte are contained in same; and if so, the regularity with which such tests are carried out. [47051/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as its policy in relation to the usage of pesticides, are the responsibility of the company.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to Coillte and have requested that a response issue to you within 10 days.
Pesticide Use
Ceisteanna (467)
Clare Daly
Ceist:467. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 769 of 6 November 2018, if Coillte is a commercial semi-State company rather than a private commercial company and if the chairman and board of Coillte are ultimately answerable to him. [47082/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Coillte was formed and registered, pursuant to Section 9 of the Forestry Act 1988, as a private company under the Companies Acts. It has been re-registered, as required under the Companies Act 2014, as a Designated Activity Company (limited by shares), with the name of the company now ‘Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe’. The shareholders are the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and, as I have statutory responsibility for certain consent functions under the Forestry Act 1988, it may be defined as a State Body. One of Coillte’s principal objectives, under the Forestry Act 1988, is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and it is therefore appropriate, in view of the legislative provisions, to refer to Coillte as a commercial semi-state company. In this regard, it operates independently from my Department, though I have a number of statutory functions.
The Chairperson and other directors of the Board of Coillte are appointed by me with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Coillte is required, under Section 31 of the Forestry Act 1988, to make a report to me of its activities each year, copies of which are then laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The company shall, if so required, furnish to me any additional information in respect of that report or in relation to the policy and operations of the company other than day-to-day operations. As a shareholder, I am also represented at the company’s Annual General Meeting.
Coillte is required to confirm to me that it complies with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies in their governance practices and procedures. The Governance Framework outlined in the Code states that the Chairperson and Board are ultimately responsible to me for the operation and proper functioning of the State Body. It should be clarified that this refers to its operations in line with overall Government policy and not day to day operational matters.
In terms of regulation of its forestry activities, the company is subject to the provisions of the Forestry Act 2014, in the same way as any landowner in the State.
Energy Efficiency
Ceisteanna (468)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:468. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of households cutting turf on special areas of conservation, SACs, that have availed of a retrofit of their houses to be more energy efficient and to use renewable fuel; and the amount the agreed retrofits will cost. [46696/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Government grants for improving the energy efficiency of homes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department.
The grants provide funding to people who want to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home and switch to renewable heating systems. Funding is provided for a range of energy saving measures, and for installing heat pumps. Meanwhile, people in receipt of certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection can avail of free upgrades to their properties, helping them to heat their homes to an adequate level.
Additionally, a 50% grant is available for a deep energy retrofit. This entails a significant upgrade of a building towards nearly zero energy requirements where it is practically feasible and achievable, including replacing their fossil fuel heating with a renewable system. To receive this grant an A3 Building Energy Rating post retrofit must be met.
Over the past two years my Department has, together with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, worked to further highlight the benefits of energy efficiency and fuel switching to homeowners who are primarily using turf and other fossil fuels for their heating needs. Extensive community engagement was undertaken, with the assistance of Irish Rural Link, to promote the grants in areas that have high prevalence of properties reliant on those fuels.
Whether an applicant to an SEAI scheme is cutting turf on an SAC is not a piece of data that is collected as part of their application and it is not possible therefore to state how many households in SACs have historically availed of the grant assistance. However, if there are particular counties for which the Deputy would wish to have data on grant payments, this information can be made available.
The average Government investment per home in 2018 to date is as follows:
- Better Energy Homes (approx. 30% grant towards specific measures): €1,200
- Better Energy Warmer Homes (100% Exchequer funded, measures based on building survey): €6,000
- Deep Retrofit Pilot (50% grant for achieving BER A3 post retrofit): €25,000 - €30,000.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (469)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:469. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied in an area (details supplied). [46471/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their eircode, details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
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.
Ministerial Meetings
Ceisteanna (470)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:470. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy in regard to the need for note taking when Ministers and-or Ministers of State meet business and other leaders; the way in which this policy is outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
When Ministers and or Ministers of State meet outside stakeholders, the need for note taking is established based on the level of importance of the meeting and the subject being discussed.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (471)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:471. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied to an area (details supplied). [46532/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The area referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their eircode, details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
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.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (472)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:472. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied to an area (details supplied). [46533/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. 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 procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September.
The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel with the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
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.
Freedom of Information Requests
Ceisteanna (473)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:473. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff in his Department qualified to process freedom of information, FoI, requests; if his attention has been drawn to the large number of FoI requests regarding the national broadband plan, NBP, and the delays that FoI requesters are now encountering due to the demand on his departmental and advisory staff in handling the FoI requests; if he will redeploy other staff to assist with FoI requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the FOI act, the determination of an FOI request is a matter for the deciding officer.
The number of FOI requests received by my Department is increasing, with an 82% increase on the same period last year. The processing of FOI requests is undertaken by officials at Higher Executive Officer level and higher, and this responsibility in undertaken in conjunction with their normal day-to-day duties.
In the year to end October, my Department had received 41 FOI requests in connection with the NBP and related matters. This number includes 19 NBP related FOI requests received during the month of October.
Of the total number of 41 NBP related FOI requests, 27 have been replied to within the statutory deadline, 1 is recorded as “deemed refused” in accordance with Section 19 (1) of the Act, the decision having issued 1 day after the statutory deadline, while 13 of the recently received NBP requests are currently being processed.
Section 14 (1) of the FOI Act provides for the extension of the decision-making timeline providing that certain criteria are met. Extensions have been sought in respect of 5 of the 13 NBP related requests currently on hand, in line with this statutory provision.
National Broadband Plan
Ceisteanna (474)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:474. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress a person (details supplied) has made to date in carrying out an examination of the national broadband plan, NBP, tendering process; if he has been provided with interim or draft reports by the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46650/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the National Broadband Plan procurement to prepare a report which will:
- take account of his ongoing work as Process Auditor, and his detailed knowledge of the procurement process to date;
- consider any implications for the procurement process of the meetings between the former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and representatives of the remaining tendering consortium, and
- allow the Government to assess whether or not the integrity of the procurement process has been undermined by these meetings.
I understand that Mr Smyth is in the process of preparing that report and I have not been provided with interim or draft reports.
Electric Vehicles
Ceisteanna (475)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:475. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has given consideration to the provision of funding for the trial roll-out of dual public light post e-car charge points in a number of management company operated residential estates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Home charging is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. Charging at home at night is the most cost-effective and eco-friendly way to charge an electric vehicle. Given the high proportion of homes with driveways and dedicated parking spaces, Ireland has greater capacity for home charging than many other countries. From January of this year, the Government has made funding available for a grant of up to €600 to support the installation of home charging points; the grant is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. This is available to the purchasers of new and second-hand electric vehicles.
Some local authorities have already taken the initiative to provide on street charging infrastructure, and to accelerate this, my Department, in conjunction with the SEAI, is working on how best to support the provision of greater levels of on-street public charging for owners of electric vehicles who rely on on-street parking near their homes.
The Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce Progress Report, which is available on my Department’s website, acknowledges the provision of charging to electric vehicle owners living in apartment blocks or similar residential areas is challenging. This issue will form part of the Working Group 3 work programme of the Taskforce which includes consideration of planning legislation and building regulations. The output of this work will determine how best to support the installation of charging in private residential areas where homes do not have dedicated parking adjacent to their dwelling.
Interdepartmental Working Groups
Ceisteanna (476)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:476. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the terms of reference of the interdepartmental working group on climate action in regard to wetlands; and if he will provide the minutes of meetings of that group. [46700/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/841 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework (the LULUCF Regulation), mandatory accounting of managed wetlands in the national greenhouse gas emissions inventories of EU Member States is to commence from 2026. It is, therefore, important that robust systems, including assurance on the availability of accurate information on wetlands in Ireland, are in place well in advance of that date.
In light of this requirement, the National Mitigation Plan, published in July 2017, included an action for a cross-Departmental working group, chaired by my Department, to undertake further analysis of the necessary technical steps to prepare for the requirements of the LULUCF Regulation as well as considering any policy implications arising. The working group has met twice to date and also comprises officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The minutes of the working group are not published by my Department. The Deputy may request these records under the Freedom of Information Acts.
Metropolitan Area Networks Programme
Ceisteanna (477)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:477. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a review of the performance of the operation of the MANs by an organisation (details supplied) will be published without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46710/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 528 of 23 October 2018. The position remains unchanged.
Waste Management
Ceisteanna (478)
John Curran
Ceist:478. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will take immediate steps to restrict single-use plastic products here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46978/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am very cognisant of the problems created by single-use plastics and I am working both at a national and European level to tackle the problem.
In January 2018, the European Commission published the European Strategy for Plastics in the Circular Economy. The strategy focuses on plastic production and use and sets a goal of ensuring all plastic placed on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030.
One of the first key legislative proposals to emerge on foot of the EU Plastics Strategy is the “Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment”, which was published on 28 May 2018. This draft legislation proposes new EU-wide rules to target the 10 most prevalent single-use plastic (SUP) products found on Europe's beaches and seas, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear, which together account for 70% of all marine litter. The proposal includes:
- Proposed bans on certain SUP products, e.g. cotton buds, plastic cutlery and straws;
- Obligations on Member States to reduce the use of certain SUPs and for the collection of others; and
- Obligations on producers of SUP items to cover the costs of waste management and clean up through the establishment of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
Ireland has supported the ambition of this proposal throughout and the Council of Ministers recently agreed an ambitious text to bring to negotiations with the European Parliament. I urge all parties to these negotiations to reach agreement as soon as possible in order to give Member States the ability to introduce this important legislation.
I intend to commission a comprehensive national study to identify the means to achieve the higher proposed targets, complementary to the existing, successful collection system that we could implement to reduce the use of plastics and increase the level of plastic recycling.
Departmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (479)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:479. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of senior positions held by men and women, respectively, in his Department. [46995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are 30 males and 14 females employed in senior positions in my Department. This covers Principal Officer and Principal Officer equivalent, Assistant Secretary and Secretary General.
Waste Disposal Charges
Ceisteanna (480)
Seamus Healy
Ceist:480. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of an annual support towards the cost of pay-by-weight charges for households that have a person with long-term medical incontinence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47011/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a €75 support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of their domestic waste. I am informed that this process has taken longer than envisaged, due to a number of issues, including data protection issues that have arisen since the introduction of GDPR. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to introducing an annual support as soon as practically possible in conjunction with relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Inland Fisheries
Ceisteanna (481)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in the context of his recent announcement concerning the eel fisherpersons support scheme and in particular in respect of the criteria outlined therein, it is the intention of the scheme to exclude fishermen who were fishing during the appropriate period and had prepared audited accounts for taxation return purposes; the criteria that are applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47184/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Support Fund of €3 million has been established by the Government to address the hardship experienced by commercial eel fishermen and women in the light of the closure of the commercial eel fishery for conservation reasons. The fund is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). My department has received written advice from the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the support fund.
The fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the ESB in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007.
In respect of former fishermen and women who were the holder of a licence or permit in the base year, payment will involve a tax free element for each of the 5 reckonable years for which the applicant was a licence or permit holder.
A further taxable element will be based on the average annual catch, as declared by the applicant, during the reckonable years.
Based on the scheme criteria, the eligibility of an applicant can be definitively established on receipt of an application and the submission of supporting documents.
The scheme is currently open for applications which must be received by 5.00pm 30 November 2018. An application form and detailed information on the scheme can be obtained from any IFI Office or by downloading the relevant documentation from the IFI website www.fisheriesireland.ie.