Written Answers Nos. 113-133
113. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of quarterly progress reports on the Climate Action Plan published in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36073/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraClimate Action Plan progress reports are coordinated and published by the Department of the Taoiseach. I understand that four such reports have been published to date and are available on the Gov.ie website. Work is in progress on the fifth progress report which covers returns for Quarter 3 2020, and will be published shortly. Reports can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/.
114. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a common definition of "recyclable plastic" in either Irish or EU legislation; if a definition of "recyclable plastics" is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if an organisation (details supplied) will develop a definition of recyclable plastics to assist with administering eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36075/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that should plastic packaging producers eco-design plastic products to mono-material structures, waste managers may still not recycle these products and thus producers would continue to incur eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together.
There is no common definition of recyclable plastic in either Irish or EU legislation. This is partly explained by the differing waste collection and recycling infrastructures which exist across the EU.
The 'Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy', which I launched in September contains a specific chapter on plastics and packaging waste, which outlines a number of measures to achieve optimum results in reducing packaging waste. The plan confirms that we will work with packaging suppliers to ensure they play their part in reducing primary, secondary and tertiary packaging waste arising and ensuring that all packaging on the market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.
Earlier this year, the European Union (Waste Directive) Regulations 2020 introduced a new requirement for collective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to “eco” modulate the financial contributions paid by producers. The objective of this new provision is to provide an incentive to producers to design products that contribute to waste prevention and facilitate recycling by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and their recyclability. Essentially the more the products comply with these requirements the lesser the fees on the producer. These provisions will be applied in a harmonised fashion across the EU. The Commission are currently developing specific guidelines which will look at recommended modulation criteria including recyclability, reusability and recycled content.
EPR fee modulation is one of a number of economic instruments that may be used to incentivise more sustainable production and consumption patterns, with a view of developing a circular economy. My overall ambition is to significantly reduce the amount of plastic packaging placed on the Irish market.
117. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if a list of environmental fines payable to the EU in 2019 will be provided; the reason for each fine and geographical area in which the fine was incurred in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36116/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not held in my Department.
119. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider bringing forward the construction of the Luas to Finglas route in the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26667/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the current National Development Plan provided funding toward appraisal, planning and design of a proposed Luas Finglas extension. During the summer I was delighted to launch the public consultation on the 'Emerging Preferred Route' for the proposed extension and look forward to seeing the project continue to progress.
The present review of the National Development Plan does provide an opportunity to consider whether there are projects which might benefit if additional funding were to be made available, and Luas Finglas will certainly be one of those projects that I will be actively examining in the context of that review in the coming months.
120. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure the survival of important sectors of the economy such as the aviation, travel and taxi industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25946/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for the opportunity to set out some of the supports which the Government has put in place to assist the transport sector during the current pandemic.
Aviation
My Department is monitoring the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Irish aviation sector on an ongoing basis, in consultation with all key stakeholders and relevant Government Departments.
The Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in aviation. The supports include the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, which will now run into 2021, waiver of commercial rates, tax clawback, and liquidity support available through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund.
It remains open to airlines to engage directly with the relevant agencies concerned with a view to drawing down such supports. The amount of any funding sought by each airline would be a commercial matter for the airlines concerned.
Budget 2021 provides for €8.5 billion in funding for public services to address the challenges of COVID-19, and a Recovery Fund is also to be established to stimulate demand and employment, and is to be funded to over €3 billion.
The report of the Aviation Recovery Taskforce contains a number of recommendations relating to the provision of further support to the sector including through stimulus funding to aid recovery, and these recommendations are being considered, as appropriate, in the context of the ongoing work to manage the impact of COVID-19 on aviation and the wider economy.
This week, the Government agreed a revised €80 million funding package for Irish aviation. In recognition of the very difficult winter season being faced by the aviation sector it has decided to provide an extra €48 million in supports for 2021, in addition to those announced in Budget 2021.
For the smaller regional airports of Knock, Kerry and Donegal, in addition to the €21m in funding available under the Regional Airports Programme for 2021, further operational support of €6m will be made available.
The funding package will also include an Airport Charges Rebate Scheme for January to March 2021, subject to State Aid approval from the EU Commission. This is one of the recommendations made by the Task Force for Aviation Recovery and, at an estimated cost of €20m, will support the retention of core connectivity through the Winter season.
To better facilitate international travel, Government has decided to implement the EU “traffic light” classification system which categorises EU Member States/regions inside Member States as red, orange or green, based on the number of cases of COVID-19 present in that respective location. In addition to this, COVID-19 testing will also be considered to further ensure the health and safety of international travellers. Government also agreed that, in accordance with the EU Recommendation, travellers with an essential function or need should not be required to undergo restricted movement or testing while exercising this essential function.
In relation to airports, more specifically, supports are continuing through the Government’s Regional Airports Programme. This year, the airports of Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock) are eligible to receive capital and operational funding of €6 million. Stobart Air, along with Donegal and Kerry airports, are also benefitting from the PSO air services that operate between these two airports and Dublin. Furthermore, in June of this year, the Government approved funding of €6.1m towards a hold baggage screening project at Shannon Airport.
Budget 2021 is providing €31.3m to regional airports next year, consisting of €21.3m for the Regional Airports Programme (Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West) and €10m in capital funding for Cork and Shannon airports. These supports will help airports to remain viable as they continue to manage operations alongside COVID.
Travel
The range of Government supports are also available to the travel trade especially those introduced to help the SME sector. Where customers of such a business are prohibited or significantly restricted from accessing the business premises in which the business is ordinarily carried on, as may be the case with travel agents under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, the business may qualify for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) as administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
Public Transport and Taxis
Up to 23rd October 2020, the PSO Exchequer allocation to the National Transport Authority (NTA) was €537m, including €12.6m to be allocated to commercial operators under the terms of their temporary contracts with the NTA.
In Budget 2020, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, €288.667 million was provided for PSO, including approximately €8 million for Local Link rural regular services, which is in addition to €14.896 million provided for Local Link under the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). This was a slight increase on the 2019 allocation.
It was expected that this subsidy, together with the c.€100 million State payment for Free Travel, would meet the difference between the c.€600 million fare revenues collected annually from passengers, and the costs of actually providing the bus and rail services. Following extensive engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the 2020 PSO allocation was utilised to fund the revenue shortfall arising with PSO and Rural Transport operators as a result of COVID-19. On 4th June 2020 Government agreed an increase in PSO subvention to enable the normal range of Exchequer-supported public transport services to continue to run for this year. Continuing to fund the existing PSO system will require up to a further c. €460 million to year end (in addition to the c. €300m already provided).
The Government approved temporary funding supports of up to €95m on 26th June 2020, in accordance with EU and national legislation, for the licensed bus sector. These supports are aimed at ensuring the continued operation of essential licensed bus services for a period of up to six months. The package is restricted to operators where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention and is being targeted at compensating the gap between specified costs and the revenues generated on the services. The NTA, as the public transport licensing agency, is responsible for administering this funding support through contracts established between the NTA and the relevant operators.
Passenger demand for taxis and SPSV has fallen considerably as a consequence of the restrictions brought about by the necessary public health response. As COVID-19 is a national, prolonged crisis which continues to deeply impact communities, businesses, families and individuals across the country, a national response is required.
The recently published Budget 2021 contained further measures to aid SPSV operators. The Department will provide funding to the NTA to enable it to waive standard SPSV licence renewal fees in 2021. A €15 million scrappage scheme has also been introduced to encourage operators of older vehicles switch to electric vehicles.
The trading environment for self-employed individuals remains difficult. Accordingly the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue until 1 April 2021. Self-employed recipients, including SPSV drivers, can earn up to €480 per month which still receiving the payment. Furthermore, individuals exiting that payment may avail of the COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant is a once-off grant of up to €1,000 which can be used towards the costs associated with reopening a business, including the purchase of cleaning materials and personal protective equipment. Further details on this and other measures are available from Department of Social Protection.
These measures build on the supports provided since the start of the pandemic. The NTA took action at the outset of COVID-19 to support the SPSV sector, such as licence extensions, the waiver of late renewal feels, and facilitating the suspension of SPSV insurance for those operators who decided to temporarily stop working and suspend their licence. The NTA has also extended age limits for vehicles that were due to reach them since March until the end of 2020, and are currently considering extending them further until the end of 2021.
121. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the maintenance of regional roads in County Cork in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35781/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
The regional and local road grant allocations are finalised following the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) and take into account the expenditure outturn on projects and programmes in the preceding year.
While the REV has not been published as yet, I anticipate that there will be additional funding for regional and local road maintenance and renewal in 2021.
My Department also intends to provide grant funding to Cork County Council to assist the Council with the repair and rehabilitation of roads in West Cork following recent severe weather events.
122. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the additional funding for the Irish Coast Guard in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35782/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Capital allocation in Budget 2021 for the Irish Coast Guard is €8.6m which is an increase on the 2020 allocation by €2.9m. The bulk of this (€6m) will be spent on the IRCG Building Programme with €3m at Greystones and €3m at Westport. Upgraded stations will typically include a kitchenette, male and female toilets, showering and changing facilities as well as a classroom/meeting room, operations room and garage space. Modernisation of Coast Guard buildings will assist in lifesaving Services and maintain operational readiness of Coast Guard. The balance of the capital funding will be spread over IT, Boat Replacement and Marine Communication Infrastructure.
The Current allocation is primarily used for the provision of the CHC Search and Rescue Helicopter. The Budget allocation for 2021 is €70.75m which is unchanged from 2020.
123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the financial supports in place to assist the travel agency sector in view of the impact of Covid-19 on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25977/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the supports that have been put in place for travel agents in view of the decimation of travel and tourism due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27365/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport his interactions with the Irish travel agent sector during the Covid-19 pandemic period. [25981/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the supports for sectors most affected by Covid-19, in particular the travel agency sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30564/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 124, 126 and 127 together.
I am aware of the serious difficulties, which the Deputies have raised, and which are ongoing for Irish licensed travel agents and tour operators in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the catastrophic collapse of overseas travel and tourism. I understand that due to continuing travel restrictions the travel trade industry has not been able to reclaim any meaningful level of lost trade over the past 8 months.
The travel trade is primarily an SME sector, and as such travels agents and tour operators have access to all of the various business supports made available in the July stimulus package and in last month's Budget. Budget 2021 contains historic levels of State support for the SME sector in the form of wage supports, financial grants and waived commercial rates. In addition, under current Level 5 Covid restrictions, travel agents and tour operators operating from business premises that customers are prohibited or significantly restricted from accessing may be eligible for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Any queries in relation to the operation of the CRSS should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners. Taken together, I would be hopeful that these significant measures will help safeguard the travel sector throughout the difficult months ahead so that it will be ready to trade fully again when circumstances permit.
The only meaningful solution, of course, is people booking holidays and overseas trips again. Recent developments provide a basis to hope that the travel trade will be able to start rebuilding their business and customer base in the New Year. Taken together, the prospect of effective vaccines, the recent agreement by the Government of the European Traffic Light System, and the new protocols around testing people travelling into and out of Ireland offer a clear pathway back to growth for the sector.
125. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered a proposal to make Rosslare Europort a freeport as part of preparations for Brexit. [28438/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was first informed about this suggestion by Rosslare Europort in late July 2020 when the Company forwarded a short document to my Department on the development potential for available lands adjacent to Rosslare Europort which included a suggestion that a Free Zone area could be located there as well as at the port itself.
The issue is therefore at the very early stage concept as any formal proposal would have to have a comprehensive business case setting out the analysis, pros and cons, etc. As such, my Department has not received a detailed, formal proposal to make Rosslare Europort a freeport.
The development of a Free Zone would be a matter falling within the broad area of industrial policy and would require liaison with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance, who have responsibility for industrial policy (including the Shannon Free Zone located adjacent to Shannon Airport) as well as with the Department of Finance.
128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has lease arrangements with co-working real estate companies; and, if so, the details of the leases, including the terms of the lease, location, price and duration. [35867/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has no lease arrangements with co-working real estate companies.
129. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department leases additional office space that is outside its departmental building and the estates section of the OPW; and, if so, the details of the lease, including the terms of the lease, location, price and duration. [35885/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department holds a lease in respect of a premises used to accommodate the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Sub-Coordination Centre at Valentia Co Kerry. The lease on this property is for twenty years effective from 1st September 2011 at a cost of two thousand euros per annum. The landlord for this property is Sir Adrian Fitzgerald, London, UK.
130. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport the criteria that will be applied to assess whether the new cycle route on the Strand Road, Dublin 4, will be maintained after its trial period. [35920/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport when the full infrastructure for the Sutton-to-Sandycove cycle route will be installed. [35921/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling infrastructure.
The Deputy is aware that Dublin City Council is responsible for the proposed trial of new cycling facilities along the Strand Road with funding to be provided by the NTA. The assessment criteria used for the trial are a matter for the Council in co-operation with the NTA.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matters raised, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
132. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the specific financial supports available to those in the chauffeur, limousine and small coach operators' sector; the details of the funds; the guidelines to access same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35923/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise that the transport sector has been acutely affected by COVID-19 as public health restrictions have discouraged people from traveling generally. Small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators and small coach operators have been badly affected due to their dependence on the hospitality and tourism sectors. Limousine and small coach operators, who are particularly dependent on overseas tourism and major events, have suffered a near total drop in demand for their services and many have been simply unable to work since the pandemic started in March.
The Government has introduced a wide-ranging programme of supports for affected businesses, such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, available for business whose turnover has fallen 30% and liqudity and investment measures such as the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. Other measures include rates waivers and business advisory supports.
Many self-employed SPSV operators, including self-employed limousine drivers, have been able to avail of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment which will remain open to new applicants for the remainder of the year and continue to be paid until April 2021. This is an important lifeline for SPSV operators. Many may have gone back to work as the economy began to reopen only to find that subsequent necessary public health measures have once again supressed passenger demand for their services. The continued accessibility of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will provide an important safety net to operators, recognising their dependency on other sectors of the economy, notably the hospitality industry.
The 2021 Budget has now put in place a number of substantial, sector-specific measures to support and strengthen the tourism sector. The total funding for the tourism sector will increase in 2021 by over €59 million or 36% over the initial 2020 allocation in Budget 2020 to €220.9 million. Fáilte Ireland has also been tasked with developing a Business Continuity Scheme to help coach tourism businesses through this very difficult period. Further details on these measures and this scheme are available from my colleague, the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin T.D.
The National Transport Authority (NTA), the industry regulator, also took a number of actions to aid SPSV operators, such as licence extensions and late renewal fee waivers. It has also engaged with the insurance industry to facilitate a suspension of SPSV insurance for those operators who decide to temporarily stop working and suspend their licences. I remain committed to helping reduce the costs to SPSV operators, including limousine operators, and that is why my Department is providing the necessary funding to the NTA to enable it to waive annual vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021.
133. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the estimated timeline for completion of upgrade works on the N2-A5 Dublin-to-Derry road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35969/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is the case for all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to the planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland. Following the conclusion in 2018 of a legal challenge which resulted in the quashing of the previous approval of the A5 upgrade scheme, the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure initiated a review of the scheme with a view to facilitating a new decision on the scheme. This process has not yet reached a conclusion. Under the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan the Executive is committed to provide funding of £75 million (sterling) for the construction of Phase 1a of the project. The Government's commitment to provide funding of £75 million (sterling) is also now included in the "New Decade, New Approach" document.
In relation to the N2, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
