Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 14 Jul 2020

Written Answers Nos. 112-131

Ministerial Responsibilities

Ceisteanna (112)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

112. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a copy of the departmental briefings received by him and each Minister of State in his Department upon taking up each individual role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14798/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department provided a comprehensive briefing document to me on my appointment as Minister. It is my intention to publish the document as soon as possible.

Local Authority Schemes

Ceisteanna (113)

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

113. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if measures will be put in place to make scooter schemes available to local authorities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14929/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Policy related to Electric Vehicles and electric transport options are kept under constant review as this is a rapidly developing sector and market, characterized by significant innovation.

My Department will continue to review its policies in this area to ensure that supports are effectively and efficiently targeted over 2020 and 2021.

Postal Services

Ceisteanna (114)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

114. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to redrawing the eircode boundaries to keep them separated by county, in view of the fact parts of east County Clare are grouped with County Limerick, which can prove challenging when persons need to give their eircodes to access services. [14936/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System "Eircode".

All postal addresses, geographical addresses and geo-locations are provided to Eircode from authoritative sources, namely An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland respectively through their subsidiary company An Post GeoDirectory.

Eircode does not change existing addresses and the Eircode can be added to the address normally used for the property. This address can be the most commonly used address, postal address or/and the geographical address. The free to use online Eircode Finder (https://www.eircode.ie/) provides both the geographical and postal addresses for properties in the state.

The postcode system was designed to align with the postal network and therefore, the Eircode boundaries are aligned with the boundaries used by An Post for postal delivery.

Departmental Functions

Ceisteanna (115)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the restructuring of his Department; the agencies and offices that now fall under his remit; the offices and agencies that have been removed from his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14958/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Until such time as the transfer of functions order is finalised I retain all the functions currently residing with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

The broadcasting and online safety functions of the Department are to transfer to the current Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in due course and when that is finalised responsibility for specific Bodies - RTE, TG4 and the BAI - will transfer to that Department.

The Bodies currently under the remit of the Department are outlined in the table below.

Name of Body

Status

An Post

Bord na Móna (BnaM)

EirGrid

Electricity Supply Board (ESB)

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE)

TG4

Commercial State Bodies (6)

Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency)

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)

Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC)

Mining Board

National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA)

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Non Commercial State Bodies (8)

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)

Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)

Regulators (3)

Departmental Budgets

Ceisteanna (116)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated budget allocation for his reconfigured Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14959/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is currently preparing an Order to transfer responsibility for media and broadcasting to the newly constituted Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and the Gaeltacht. My Department are also working to finalise the budget allocation for my Department, which will be published in Revised Estimates later this year.

Energy Efficiency

Ceisteanna (117)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of applications for the SEAI renewable heat deep retrofit scheme; the number of approved applications from January to June 2020; the cost of approved applications; the budget allocated to the SEAI for the scheme; the processing time for applications to the scheme; when letters of offer will issue on such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14986/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat was developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users.

The Scheme, which is operated by the SEAI, provides an operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems. Eligible renewable energy technologies are supported through a multi-annual payment, for a period of up to 15 years, on the basis of prescribed tariffs. The National Development Plan sets out an allocation of €300 million for the roll-out of the scheme for the period up to 2027. The scheme has a maximum annual budget currently set at €5 million.

In the period from January to June 2020, 17 applications were approved by the SEAI which have a combined maximum annual cost of €471,247. Processing time for applications to the scheme varies depending on the complexity of the project, but is typically 20 weeks. It is envisaged that processing times will reduce as the scheme develops. Letters of Offer are only issued to a project following evaluation and approval of the project by the SEAI. Typically a batch of projects will be approved and Letters of Offer issued on a monthly basis. Where an applicant has a specific query on an application, this should be addressed to SEAI.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (118)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

118. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure that funds from the community benefit funds of €2 per MWh on renewable energy schemes will be administered by an independent body such as the municipal authority or the local LAG for the LEADER scheme; the consultation he plans to have to ensure these funds are directed at the communities locally that host renewable energy schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15179/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the terms and conditions of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme all projects supported by the scheme must establish a Community Benefit Fund. This is to ensure that the local community receives actual direct benefits from the renewable project located in their locality. The Department has already committed to the publication of a Good Practice Principles Handbook by July 2021. This will lay out a range of principles, including guidance on how the new funds will be managed and administered and the need to ensure community participation in fund decision-making via the establishment of a local committee, which should encourage successful local dispersal of funds.

There is already a commitment in place to set up a national register of the benefit funds and their outputs and the Department is committed to standards of governance, accountability and reporting in accordance with international best practice. The Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are now developing a draft of this handbook which will be made available for public consultation well in advance of its final publication.

Telecommunications Services

Ceisteanna (119)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

119. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is grant aid available to a person (details supplied) who needs a mobile booster to receive mobile reception and broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15216/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Providing telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator.

Since its inception in July 2016, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services throughout Ireland and it will continue its work in the context of its inclusion in the Programme for Government. To date the Taskforce has addressed over 70 targeted actions designed to alleviate connectivity barriers, and continues to focus on issues that are negatively impacting upon the rollout of essential telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.

One such measure introduced by the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been the development by ComReg of a licensing scheme to enable households and businesses to use mobile phone repeaters to boost signals into their premises for immediate coverage improvement.

ComReg has set technical conditions that mobile phone repeaters must comply with to be permitted. The technical conditions aim to provide consumers with better indoor coverage while protecting Mobile Network Operators from unwanted interference.

The price of repeaters can vary depending on the number of services to be covered e.g. call & texts only, data only or calls, texts and data. ComReg advises consumers to consider their needs before making a purchase. A list of manufacturers and installers of these devices is available on the ComReg website, www.comreg.ie .

However, there is no grant scheme in operation to assist with the purchase of this equipment.

Television Licence Fee

Ceisteanna (120)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

120. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the process by which the licence fee is paid to RTÉ having been collected by An Post; if payment is made on a regular basis such as quarterly or yearly; the way in which the payments were made during 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15305/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Television licence fee receipts are paid to my Department by An Post on the 15th and 30th of each month. In addition monthly payments are made on the 15th of the month by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to my Department for the free TV licences Scheme. My Department subsequently makes payments to RTÉ twice monthly less An Post's fees for collection services and 7% of net receipts which is paid to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's (BAI) Broadcasting Fund.

The total licence fee payment to RTÉ was €188.57m in 2018 and €196.55m in 2019. Payments to end June 2020 amount to €89.32m. RTÉ publishes details of all TV licence receipts in their annual reports which can be found at https://about.rte.ie/reports-and-policies/annual-reports/.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (121)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

121. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the new renewable electricity support scheme requires the wind farm developer to submit a bid in the upcoming RESS auction in order to be connected to the grid; and if the developer is unsuccessful, when the next RESS auction will take place. [15386/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is an auction-based scheme which invites renewable electricity projects to compete for a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate. The first of these renewable electricity auctions (RESS-1) will take place on the 21 July. There will be a series of auctions up to 2030 to deliver on Ireland's renewable electricity targets.

RESS-1 is open to renewable generator projects who are in receipt of a grid connection offer or are eligible to receive one under the Enduring Connection Policy process. Other eligibility criteria include planning permission and landowner agreements.

Renewable generators may also enter the market via Corporate or Merchant Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) i.e. unsubsidised supply contracts with private entities or utilities. The Climate Action Plan sets out a target of 15% of all renewable electricity from CPPAs by 2030. CPPAs have potential to provide a route to market for renewable project developers, boosting Ireland's renewable energy capacity. The Plan includes a suite of actions to develop effective policy tools that can kick start corporate PPAs in Ireland and deliver on our RES-E targets at no extra cost to the public.

Renewable generators may apply for and receive grid connections without participating in RESS.

Energy Efficiency

Ceisteanna (122)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

122. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new measures he is planning for those who do not have sufficient financial resources, particularly those with a disability, to support them in the retrofit in view of the target to retrofit 500,000 houses; and if there are existing supports for persons on a disability outside the mainstream grants. [15469/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set highly ambitious targets for the number and depth of residential retrofits to be completed by 2030. The targets are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Retrofitting has the ability to contribute to a number of important goals including - decarbonisation; warmer, more comfortable homes; and job creation and retention.

A cross-Departmental Retrofit Taskforce has been established to develop a new retrofit delivery model capable of achieving these targets. This process has been informed by consultation with stakeholders and an analysis of relevant national and international experience. The model is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: customer proposition and demand generation, financing and affordability, supplier capacity, and delivery structure. Development of the plan will be underpinned by principles including quality and fairness. The Taskforce is also working to determine the estimated cost of achieving the retrofit targets. The Retrofit Taskforce report is to be published in Q3 2020.

The Climate Action Plan also commits to reviewing ways to better target current energy poverty schemes, such as the Warmer Homes Scheme, to those most in need. Recommendations in relation to the implementation of changes to the scheme will be finalised shortly.

At €146 million, the 2020 budget allocation for energy efficiency in homes and businesses is the highest ever. This represents a €29 million increase over the 2019 budget. The allocation for schemes exclusively available to lower income households is approximately €60 million. These schemes are available to people in receipt of certain payments including the Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Allowance.

The Deputy may also wish to note that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government funds the Housing Adaptation grant for Older People and People with a Disability. This grant is administered by Local Authorities.

Broadcasting Sector

Ceisteanna (123)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

123. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding provided to RTÉ in each of the years, 2019, 2018 and 2017; the sum allocated to RTÉ in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department receives licence fee monies from An Post for direct sales and a contribution from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in respect of free licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme.

My Department pays An Post costs as collection agent, 7% of net receipts to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the Broadcasting Fund and the balance to RTÉ. The total payments to RTÉ were €184.80m in 2017, €188.57m in 2018 and €196.55m in 2019. Total licence fee funding in 2020 has not yet been determined as the final amount is contingent on licence fee sales to the public to end 2020. Payments to date for 2020 (end June) amount to €89.32m. RTÉ publishes details of all TV licence receipts in their annual reports which can be found at https://about.rte.ie/reports-and-policies/annual-reports/.

Broadcasting Sector

Ceisteanna (124)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

124. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the allocation made in 2020 to RTÉ for independent productions commissioned by RTÉ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Section 116 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the requirements for RTÉ to keep an independent programme account for the commissioning and making of independent television or sound broadcasting programmes. The statutory minimum spend set out in the Act is €40m, adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In the most recent report sent to my Department for 2019, which was submitted in Q1 2020, RTÉ was required to pay €39.9 million into the account. The actual amount incurred on independent productions in 2019 by RTÉ was €40.07m, broken down as follows, €38.85m (Television) and €1.22m (Radio).

The independent programme account for 2020 will be submitted to my Department in Q1 of 2021 and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Broadcasting Sector

Ceisteanna (125)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

125. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocation made to media outlets other than RTÉ; and the funding each outlet received in 2019. [15506/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In addition to RTE, my Department also provides exchequer funding to TG4 and 7% of net licence fee monies to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) in respect of the Broadcasting Fund. The Broadcasting Fund supports the Sound and Vision Scheme for the production of programming on Irish culture, heritage and experience and the Archiving Scheme for the preservation of broadcast material.

TG4 was allocated funding of €34.233m in current expenditure and €2m capital expenditure in 2019. A total of €14.79m funding was allocated to the BAI Broadcasting Fund in 2019.

Broadcasting Sector

Ceisteanna (126)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

126. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocation made to the sound and vision fund in 2019; the expected funding for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15507/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under Section 156 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, my Department pays 7% of net TV Licence fee receipts to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the administration of the Broadcasting Fund. The Fund supports the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes.

In 2019 the BAI received €14.79m and announced financial support for 241 radio and TV programmes under the Sound and Vision 3 Scheme. The beneficiaries were from the commercial, community and public service broadcasting sectors. €1.34m was allocated to five projects under the Archiving Scheme during 2019.

The total to be paid to the fund in 2020 is contingent on the level of licence fee receipts. The total paid to the BAI to June 2020 is €7.01m. The BAI publishes details of both Schemes and successful applicants on their website at www.bai.ie

Broadcasting Sector

Ceisteanna (127)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

127. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocation made to TG4 in each of the years 2017 to 2019; and the expected spend for 2020. [15511/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Up to 2019 TG4 was part funded from TV Licence receipts and exchequer funding. Since 2019 TG4 receives all its public funding from the exchequer. The breakdown of funding from 2017-2020 is provided in the table below; the 2018 capital figure includes an once off grant of €985,000 in respect of Bliain na Gaeilge.

Current Expenditure

(€m)

Capital Expenditure

(€m)

Total

(€m)

Licence Fee Receipts

Exchequer Funding

2017

4.245

28.545

1.450

34.240

2018

4.245

29.545

2.985

36.775

2019

-

34.233

2.000

36.233

2020 (REV)

-

34.233

3.000

37.233

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ceisteanna (128)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage emissions reduction target set for each of the next five years; the plans in place to achieve these reductions; the estimated cost of achieving same; the modelling used to underpin the assumptions on which the reductions are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15645/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The action we take in the coming years will be critical in order to address the climate crisis, which threatens our safe future on this planet.

The Programme for Government sets out our shared commitment to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030. This is in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This target also aligns with the increased ambition proposed under the European Green Deal and is similar to the 7.6% per annum reduction called for in the UNEP Carbon Emissions Gap report.

As Minister for Climate Action, I will lead on delivering this ambition, which will more than halve our carbon emissions over the course of the decade. With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain a reduction trajectory that will increase over time. I will work with colleagues across government to develop a new Climate Action Plan before year end, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society. This work will build on recent policy developments and will be underpinned by a solid analytical foundation on the most cost-effective pathway to delivering our increased ambition.

While this will be challenging, requiring fundamental changes in how we live our lives, we will improve the health, welfare and security of our society, as well as realising enormous opportunities in a new, decarbonised economy. To this end, the government is committed to ensuring that the economic recovery is a green recovery delivered in a fair way that ensures no sector of society is left behind. The July Stimulus and the National Economic Plan will seek to front-load investment to this end.

Question No. 129 answered with Question No. 110.

Recycling Policy

Ceisteanna (130)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

130. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the recent report carried out by UL and NUIG, headed by a person (details supplied), which has found that as much as 31% of plastic exported from Ireland for recycling is not recycled; his views on whether such a practice could harm public confidence in recycling; his plans to decrease this figure to zero; his further views on whether Ireland cannot adopt an out of sight, out of mind mentality when it comes to the disposal of plastic waste; his further plans to improve downstream traceability to ensure plastic exported from Ireland for recycling is actually recycled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15776/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The legislative framework for the import and export of waste in the European Union is set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The purpose of the Regulation is to implement measures for the supervision and control of shipments of waste in order to ensure that the movement, recovery, or disposal of waste, is managed in an environmentally sound manner, for the protection of the environment and human health.

The objective of this system of control on waste shipments is to ensure that not only is waste moved to another country with that country’s advance knowledge, but that wastes from the EU are not dumped in less developed countries. It should be noted that 83% of plastic packaging waste funded under Extended Producer Responsibility arrangements is recycled in Europe, predominantly in the UK, Germany, and Poland with 15% recycled in Ireland and the balance, 2%, outside Europe.

I am committed to tackling the problems associated with single use plastics and my Department is working to transpose and implement EU Directive 2019/904, commonly referred to as the Single Use Plastics Directive, at the earliest possible date. This Directive will enable the prohibition of certain single use items being placed on the market including polystyrene food and beverage containers, plastic cutlery and plates, straws and balloon sticks. I am currently exploring what measures, including the possible introduction of levies, will best deliver on this ambition.

Waste management practices are evolving and changing in response to the Circular Economy Package and the EU Plastics Strategy and I will soon be bringing forward an ambitious new waste policy which will reflect and exceed the level of ambition in the waste and climate areas at EU level. This will help drive innovation to improve plastic recycling quality and standards and to increase domestic waste treatment capacity overall, thereby reducing our reliance and dependence on markets outside of the EU.

Energy Efficiency

Ceisteanna (131)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

131. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if energy improvement grants awarded in 2020 will continue into 2021 (details supplied) under the new programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15933/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set highly ambitious targets for the number and depth of residential retrofits to be completed by 2030. The targets are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Retrofitting has the ability to contribute to a number of important goals including - decarbonisation; warmer, more comfortable homes; and job creation and retention.

The administration of energy efficiency schemes funded by my Department is a matter for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). I have however asked for some enquiries to be made on this matter. Unfortunately the information provided in the Deputy’s question did not identify definitively which scheme the applicant applied under. However, based on the information provided, SEAI have advised it would most likely be the Better Energy Communities Scheme as it operates a contract end date of 15 October.

SEAI are being as flexible as possible given the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in currently, with the goal of a full delivery of the 2020 programme and allocated budget. The team in SEAI are aware of a number of logistical difficulties with some products and are open to discuss options with project coordinators responsible for delivery of contracts.

The job of the project coordinators under the Communities scheme is to ensure delivery within the terms and conditions and they get a fee for this service. The project coordinators therefore have full responsibility for logistical arrangements. To date the Energy Agency through which the applicant applied has not indicated to SEAI that they have any difficulty with delivery of the project. SEAI have advised that the applicant should contact their project coordinator regarding this matter. Should they have an issue in this regard they should raise it with SEAI.

Barr
Roinn