Written Answers Nos. 109-114
109. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will review a meeting request with Monaghan County Council (details supplied); if he will provide a date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18423/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future. A resilient and well connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.
I am aware that there are concerns in relation to the construction of the interconnector as an overhead line and a variety of interests wish to meet with me as the new Minister with responsibility. However, the option of undergrounding the line has been assessed on several occasions over the years. Most recently, my Department published an independent study in October 2018 on undergrounding the interconnector which found that an overhead line remained the most appropriate option for the proposed interconnector. The study report is available on my Department's website.
This study was the latest in a series of studies that reached the same conclusion and further meetings are unnecessary as I do not intend to order a further review of the project.
110. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full-year cost of providing 785 extra electric car charging points nationally. [18456/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not directly commission the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points. It does, however, provide support for the installation of charging infrastructure through the SEAI and the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to facilitate the development of Ireland’s charging network. My Department has committed €10m from the CAF to enable ESB ecars in expanding the national charging network which involves the installation of various types of charging infrastructure across the country including new high power chargers (150kW), fast chargers (50kW) and standard chargers (22kW). The SEAI provides support across two main categories, namely home and public charging points. Home charging accounts for around 80% of EV charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. To support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit. It would cost up to €471,000 to provide 785 home charger grants.In addition, SEAI also administers an EV Public Charge Point Grant to local authorities to install charge points for EV owners who rely on public streets and car parks to park near their homes. A total of 75% of the capital costs is provided through the grant, up to a maximum of €5,000 per charge point. Accordingly, it would cost up to €3.925 million to fund 785 of these charge points.The new Programme for Government commits to publishing an EV strategy to ensure charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand and this work is currently underway so as to ensure we can build on our success to date and provide for an appropriate level of charging infrastructure across the country for the years ahead.
111. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to expand the support scheme for renewable heat; if he plans to make the SSRH scheme less complicated; if he will consider those that are not able to benefit from the scheme due to the fact that they were already using renewable heat prior to the introduction of the scheme. [18704/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) was developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users. The primary objective of the SSRH is to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy targets while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the administrator of the Scheme. This role includes assessment and approval of projects. The SSRH features a broad range of necessary qualification criteria and financial safeguards. These have been put in place to ensure that the outcomes associated with similar schemes in other jurisdictions are not repeated in Ireland.
Under the European Commission's State aid approval for the scheme, only new projects can be supported.
The SSRH has been fully operational since June 2019. This is a relatively short time and, therefore, there is limited data available to fully assess the effectiveness of the scheme and to provide a basis for significant changes. My Department, together with the SEAI, will continue to monitor and develop the scheme, to ensure effectiveness across both the operational support and also the installation grant for heat pumps where uptake has been slow so far.
112. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland will make a commitment under the Bonn challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18740/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the related challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and deforestation requires effective multilateral cooperation at the international level. In relation to climate change, Ireland's engagement with its EU and international partners takes place through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Ireland is committed to promoting sustainable environmental practices and increased climate ambition through these processes, and engages in negotiations through its membership of the European Union. Together with its EU partners, Ireland looks forward to continued positive engagement and ambitious climate action by all Parties to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.
The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030. The Programme for Government commits to the development a new strategy to expand afforestation, particularly close to nature forestry and agro-forestry, which will be led by the Minister of Agriculture Food and Marine. Forestry provides verifiable removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, which will help Ireland to meet its ambitious climate objectives. Forestry also provides important resources for the bioenergy supply chain and the wider bio-economy, as well as timber products, which can act as a less carbon-intensive substitute for other materials in construction and related sectors. My officials with liaise with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with a view to understanding whether the Bonn Challenge is an appropriate vehicle for advancing the Programme for Government commitments.
113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the north-south interconnector project; when a review is likely to resume into the undergrounding of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18871/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future. A resilient and well connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers. The option of undergrounding the line has been assessed on several occasions over the years. Most recently, my Department published an independent study in October 2018 on undergrounding the interconnector which found that an overhead line remained the most appropriate option for the proposed interconnector. The study report is available on the Department's website.
This study was the latest in a series of studies that reached the same conclusion and I do not intend to order a further review of the project.
114. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if all dwellings will be treated equally in relation to recent reports indicating that new rural houses without an alternative broadband provider may be subject to large costs as a deterrent to building in rural areas and that no house will be burdened with additional costs in the provision of fibre broadband to the home under the national broadband plan. [18897/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no change, or proposed change, to processes or charges for connections under the National Broadband Plan for existing or new builds in rural locations. The National Broadband Plan contract provides for the provision of fibre for almost 537,000 premises, with provision to accommodate any newly constructed premises within the intervention area during the term of the contract. All premises in the Intervention Area (including new builds) connected by NBI will be subject to the standard wholesale connection charge, which is currently €100. This has not been changed nor is there any intention to change it.
In exceptional circumstances where the cost of connection exceeds €5,000, NBI through the retail provider can request the homeowner to contribute towards the excess cost. Such a scenario is considered unlikely and should it arise technical solutions will be explored to ensure the homeowner does not incur any additional charges.
The NBP network will offer those premises in the Intervention Area, a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
