Tuesday, 8 Sep 2020

Illegal Dumping

Ceisteanna (102)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if a company or a person is prohibited from operating waste disposal services using the permit of another company in cases in which they have been convicted for illegal dumping in the past; if it is an offence if they continue to operate using the permit of another company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21181/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

Section 34(1)(a) of the Waste Management Act provides that a person other than a local authority shall not, for the purposes of reward, with a view to profit or otherwise in the course of business, collect waste, except under and in accordance with a waste collection permit, unless otherwise specified in regulations. There are no provisions enabling a company or person from operating waste disposal services using the permit of another company or person. Penalties available under the Waste Management Acts are substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised collection or disposal of waste are liable to a Class A fine on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Energy Efficiency

Ceisteanna (103)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if specific and targeted grants will be made available to primary, post-primary and third-level institutions for environment and energy upgrades; his views on whether such grants would assist educational institutions to become more energy efficient to meet their future energy requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21194/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

There are a number of actions included in the Climate Action Plan specifically focused on schools and the third level sector to support energy upgrades and improve overall energy performance. The Programme for Government has also committed to further enhancing the schools energy upgrade programme. My Department provides funding for a number of supports and services to primary, post primary and third-level institutions that help improve their energy efficiency and deliver on their targets through the Schools and Higher Education Authority Pathfinder Programmes.

These programmes are co-funded by my Department, the Department of Education & Skills and the Higher Education Authority supporting energy efficiency retrofits in schools and third-level institutions. These programmes are testing energy retrofit approaches, building capacity and developing a scalable retrofit model for the sector. In the three years to the end of 2019, my Department provided funding of over €7 million towards the retrofit of 32 schools resulting in cumulative savings of 8 GWh and 1,600 tonnes of carbon. A further €3 million is allocated for 2020 with seven schools participating. In addition, funding of €2.75 million is allocated in the higher education sector over 2020-2021 with eight institutions participating.

My Department also funds SEAI's Energy in Education Programme which helps schools improve their energy efficiency, educates students and teachers in energy and sustainability, and promotes energy awareness through programmes such as One Good Idea. Up to the end of 2019, over 800 schools have participated in this programme.

In addition, there are a range of information and advisory services and grant supports funded by my Department and provided by the SEAI that the education sector can avail of. Further information is available at www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (104)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

104. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if he will consider extending the national broadband plan to areas that are not listed as intervention areas in which Internet service providers offer speeds of less than 30 Mbps as in the case of a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21206/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.

It is noted that the housing estate referred to in the Question is already served by commercial operators that provide high speed broadband services; for example eir is already serving premises in this area.

Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.

Bioenergy Strategy

Ceisteanna (105)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

105. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the policies his Department will be pursuing to develop biomethane production in the State; and if he considers this a fuel for electricity generation. [21210/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

The Climate Action Plan, which was published in June 2019, included an action to set a target for the level of energy to be supplied by indigenous biomethane by 2030. The National Energy & Climate Plan was approved by Government and published last month. This plan sets an indicative target for indigenous biomethane of 1.6 TWh which would replace circa three percent of natural gas use.

The indicative target takes into account the sustainability of available feedstock and is the level identified in the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve developed for the Climate Action Plan that is considered part of the most cost-effective pathway to reduce emissions. It is intended to review the indicative target in 2023.

The National Energy & Climate Plan also set out the options for supporting biomethane that are under consideration which include:

- an obligation in the transport sector through the Biofuels Obligation Scheme;

- a new obligation in the heat sector; and

- an exchequer funded support.

While biomethane can be used for electricity generation, it is expected that wind and solar will be the primary renewable energy sources in the electricity sector. My Department is therefore focused on developing polices and measures to support biomethane use in the heat and transport sectors.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (106)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

106. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the renewable on demand power source his Department is considering developing for electricity generation over the term of this Government in view of the reduction of indigenous gas supply with the cessation of production at Kinsale gas field. [21211/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

My Department is driving the renewable energy revolution such that reliance on fossil fuels is reduced as quickly as possible and to the maximum extent possible. The Programme for Government commits to taking the steps to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 by inter alia,: - Holding the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction by the end of 2020, with auctions held each year thereafter, including the first RESS auction for offshore wind in 2021;

- Producing a whole-of-government plan setting out how we will deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and how we will develop the necessary skills base, supply chains, legislation, and infrastructure to enable it.

- Continuing Eirgrid’s programme ‘Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System’

- Strengthening the policy framework to incentivise electricity storage and interconnection

Good progress is already being made on a number of these commitments, including the first RESS auction, the results of which are expected to be considered by Government shortly. This will deliver new renewable energy projects to the grid at scale, for the first time ever targeting solar farms to power Irish homes. Onshore and offshore wind as well as sustainable biomass technologies are also eligible to participate in the RESS auctions, with the first offshore wind auction planned for next year.

Currently, gas powered generation provides back-up for intermittent renewable generation. Gas Network Ireland estimates that for the gas year 2019-2020, Kinsale supplied around 1% of Ireland’s natural gas supply, Corrib 39%, with the remaining 60% being supplied via Interconnectors to Scotland. My Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems which is focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review will include a full updated technical analysis of the security of supply challenges and a public consultation. The outcome of the review will inform future policy considerations and I expect the formal procurement process for the technical analysis to commence in the coming weeks.

As Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, flexibility provided through storage technologies and interconnection will be critical in ensuring that renewable energy can supply Ireland's power demands. In the longer term green hydrogen is expected to play a key role in delivering a high renewable power system.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (107)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

107. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if he will consider giving clear guidance to homeowners who are awaiting fibre broadband connectivity on when they can expect to be on the broadband network in view of the move towards working from home and the infrastructure that requires since Covid-19. [21322/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) commenced delivering the network required to deploy the high speed broadband within the intervention area targeted by the National Broadband Plan earlier this year. The Covid 19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for this vital infrastructure which will provide connectivity to those working from home in rural areas. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps 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.

83,000 premises have now been surveyed throughout 19 counties in Ireland and detailed designs for laying fibre are also in process for areas throughout the country. NBI provides a facility for interested parties to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/).

Postal Services

Ceisteanna (108)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

108. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the reason an Eircode (details supplied) is not recognised by companies other than Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21372/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. All postal addresses, geographical addresses and geo-locations are provided to Eircode from authoritative sources, namely An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland through their subsidiary company An Post GeoDirectory. An Post collects information on all new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses, and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings.

Each new postal address assigned an Eircode is published on the free to use Eircode Finder website, a notification letter is issued to the property occupant containing the Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database is provided to licenced businesses for their use. Eircode have informed my Department that over 117,500 property addresses have been assigned an Eircode since the launch in 2015.

The timeframe for the updated Eircodes to be made accessible to telecommunications companies is dependent on each company's own Eircode data provider's contracted agreement. All such Eircode data providers are sourced and contracted by individual telecommunications companies. In the case of Sat Nav providers, they can apply and integrate the latest Eircode updates into their business systems to meet their business needs and those of their customers, including adding the correct routing and mapping details to the location.

Operational matters and commercial decisions of private commercial operators, including the updating of databases, are a matter for these commercial operators and one in which I have no direct function.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146)

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 115, inclusive, 117 to 124, inclusive, 131 to 137, inclusive, and 139 to 146, inclusive together.

The Deputy submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to my Department on 15 June 2020.

In accordance with the provisions of the FOI Act 2014, a response issued to the Deputy on 11 August 2020, and the records within the response referenced the documents requested by the Deputy in the Parliamentary Questions submitted.

I have asked my officials to prepare an information note for the Deputy outlining the nature of the documents concerned and to also consider whether some or all of them could be provided in full or in part to the Deputy. The information will be conveyed to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Correspondence

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 125, 138 and 147 together.

The Deputy submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to my Department on 15 June 2020 which encompassed the records referred to in the Questions. In accordance with the provisions of the FOI Act 2014, access to relevant records was partly granted in a response to the Deputy on 11 August 2020. I have asked my officials to prepare a note setting out further information in relation to these records that may be of assistance to the Deputy.

This information will be conveyed to the Deputy as soon as possible.