Written Answers Nos. 45-63
45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which his Department monitors targets deemed to address the issue of emissions and climate change; the degree to which progress continues to be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9336/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which measures already in place here to curtail greenhouse gas emissions have been successful or require upgrading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 56 together.
Responsibility for monitoring Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions rests with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who prepare our national emissions inventories and projections. Inventories are compiled by the EPA according to international standards to meet EU and UN reporting obligations and to inform national policy development.
The 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established annual greenhouse gas emission targets for the period 2013-2020 for Ireland. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below 2005 levels. The latest EPA projections show that emissions from those sectors of the economy covered by our targets could be between 2-4% below 2005 levels. While these projections do not take into account the likely impact of Covid-19, they demonstrate the challenge we face to reduce emissions.
Regarding renewable energy, the most recent data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland shows that between 12.5% and 13.2% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2020 are expected to have been met from renewable sources, as against Ireland’s overall 16% target.
It is clear that we need to step-up our actions to meet our EU targets and the ambition set out in the Programme for Government, which contains a commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030.
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 am working with colleagues across Government to develop a new Climate Action Plan, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society. The Climate Action Plan will require annual revisions to address the need for intensive and regular monitoring and updating of policy actions to ensure we remain on track and within our emission limits, and will act as a further review mechanism and opportunity to adjust and refocus actions, as required.
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which provision continues to be made for improvements in the telecommunications sector with particular reference to the provision of broadband in all areas throughout the country in order to meet the upsurge in usage arising from working at home in the context of the Covid-19 virus; the emergency measures needed to meet this requirement in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9339/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which new connections to broadband are being made on a daily basis; if specific targets have been set with a view to meeting education and working from home requirements in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if communication blackspots in respect of broadband are receiving particular attention arising from increased demand due to the need for home schooling, working from home and other restrictions arising from Covid-19; if he expects particular developments in this regard in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9342/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the emergency measures available to him to ensure a more rapid distribution of broadband throughout County Kildare in urban and rural areas given the increased demand arising from working from home, home schooling and the general impact of economic conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9352/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 48, 50 and 58 together.
Providing telecommunication 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. I recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis. In April of last year, all major telecommunications providers in Ireland committed to a number of measures to help people stay in touch and work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, a number of operators have implemented further supports for consumers, such as for students in education, who require a high data usage package, by increasing data limits on many existing packages and by the introduction of new packages with very high, or unlimited data offerings. As a result, the market for mobile packages with very high, or unlimited data offerings, is becoming increasingly competitive, which is a positive development for consumers.
Those commitments were further supported through regulations made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926, enabling ComReg to release additional rights of use for radio spectrum on a temporary basis. Ministerial consent was granted for this framework proposed by the regulator to provide flexibility for mobile network operators to create additional capacity for mobile phone and broadband services and accommodate the increased demand due to Covid 19 related working and studying from home. Licences were issued to three mobile network operators for three months, renewable again for three months. A further temporary licencing framework was put in place in October with licences issued to three operators for three months. Those licences were renewed again in December and are valid to 1 April 2021.
As set out in the Programme for Government, ensuring access to high-quality internet connections for people across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country, socially and economically. Facilitating remote working and innovation opportunities is essential for addressing climate change, adapting in an evolving economy, and competing internationally. So as to ensure that nobody is left behind in a digital divide, the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
There are a total of 95,188 premises in County Kildare of which 81,329 premises (85%) are served by commercial operators and 13,859 premises (15%) are in the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area. In terms of the number of broadband connections, ComReg publishes regular statistics and they are available at this link:See link to portal https://www.comreg.ie/industry/electronic-communications/data-portal/tabular-information/ The most up to date figures are as follows: figures for Fixed Broadband Q3 2019 - 1,454,925 and Q3 2020 1,507,832 which is a 3.6% increase over the period. The figures for Mobile Broadband are Q3 2019 306,633 and Q3 2020 323,530 which is an increase of 5.5% over the period.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network.
49. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which forward planning is taking place with a view to expediting the roll-out of broadband throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9341/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. The Programme for Government commits to seek to accelerate the roll out of the National Broadband Plan. In this regard, my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date.
NBI has established a dedicated team to investigate acceleration of the rollout from its current contracted schedule of seven years As part of that work NBI is engaging with all current build partners (eir and enet) to bring forward build activities and is also actively reviewing other possible build partners such as the ESB where such options could also speed up the build process. Exploring the potential to accelerate the network rollout is being undertaken in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19.
A combination of commercial investment and the State led intervention will ensure access to high speed broadband in every part of the country and no premises will be left behind, no matter how remote. Of the 2.4 million premises across Ireland, 77% of premises now have access to high-speed broadband of more than 30 Mbps. NBI will address the remaining premises through the National Broadband Plan State intervention. A number of commercial operators have announced further investment plans in high-speed broadband. Eir has said it will roll out fibre to a further 1.4 million premises, bringing their fibre deployment to some 1.8 million premises. SIRO is currently completing the first phase of its fibre deployment which will see 375,000 premises passed with gigabit services. Virgin Media is offering 250Mbps as a standard offering with 500Mbps and 1Gbps available to many of their customers across the more than 1 million premises that they cover. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks.
51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which domestic waste is catered for by way of landfill, reduce, recycle or reuse methods, incineration or export; if particular or specific measures are likely to address the issue in an efficient and effective way in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEuropean, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred options to the disposal or landfilling of waste.
Ireland’s recycling rate for municipal waste was 38% in 2018.
The landfill rate for municipal waste was just 14% in 2018, representing a significant reduction from the 2017 figure of 23% and continuing the ongoing welcome decline from the 62% recorded for 2008. 43% of municipal waste was incinerated for energy recovery in 2018, significantly higher than the 32% recorded for 2017. Just 7% of municipal waste was incinerated as recently as 2012. Significantly more residual waste is now used as a fuel (energy recovery) than disposed to landfill. Further information is available at http://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/municipal/
New waste management targets in the EU Landfill Directive require Member States to reduce the amount of municipal waste going to landfill to 10% or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight) by 2035. In addition, amendments to the Waste Framework Directive require that recycling rates of 55%, 60% and 65% of municipal waste (by weight) must be achieved by 2025, 2030 and 2035 respectively.
I launched a Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy in September 2020. This represents a step change in our approach to waste in Ireland, as it shifts the focus away from management to a fuller reconsideration of how we use resources and materials. The measures in the Plan are intended to minimise the amount of waste generated, eliminating waste before it can be created and diverting as much as possible to beneficial reuse or recovery and will help us deliver on our targets.
52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which dependency on fossil fuels has been reduced in line with national and international targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9345/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manages the reporting process on energy consumption data to behalf of my Department. The SEAI Energy in Ireland Report for 2019 shows a reduction in total fossil fuels, as a share of final energy consumption, from 81.9% in 2005 to 75.9% in 2019.
Under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, Ireland committed to meeting a target of at least 16% of gross final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. To assist in meeting this target, Ireland set a national target of achieving 40% of electricity produced from renewable sources.
The SEAI report that renewables made up 12.0% of gross final consumption in 2019, and that this avoided 5.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and over €500 million of fossil fuel imports.
Ireland has adopted a target of a 70% renewable share in electricity production by 2030. This will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, meeting the long-term target of climate neutrality by 2050, and to meeting the EU-wide binding target, under the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001, of 32% of the overall share of energy to come from renewable sources by 2030 .
53. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of the shift away from fossil fuels for the generation of electricity; if this is in line with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9346/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC Ireland committed to meeting a target of at least 16% of gross final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. To assist in meeting this target, Ireland set a national target of achieving 40% of electricity produced from renewable sources.
In 2019, 36.5% of electricity in Ireland was produced from renewable sources. More information on Ireland's renewable energy use can be found in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland report Energy in Ireland 2020 , which presents the latest official statistics on energy use in Ireland.
Ireland has adopted a target of a 70% renewable share in electricity production by 2030. This will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, meeting the long-term target of climate neutrality by 2050, and to meeting the EU-wide binding target, under the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001, of 32% of the overall share of energy to come from renewable sources by 2030.
54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which measures are in place or are being contemplated to reduce levels of plastic currently in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9347/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, launched last September, sets out our national strategy for single use plastics and plastic packaging in general. It contains a range of ambitious measures for dealing with these items. The Plan details measures Ireland is taking under the Single Use Plastics Directive to prohibit certain items from being placed on the market. It also contains our commitment to introduce a Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans and to lead EU efforts on disposable coffee cups through a prohibition on the use of disposable cups for sit-in purposes, a latte levy and an eventual ban on disposable coffee cups and cold drinks cups.
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which various specimens of fish caught in Irish waters have been tested for levels of microplastics; the measures taken or due to be taken to address the issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9349/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no role nor responsibility in the testing of fish for microplastics. This is a matter for my colleagues the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who has responsibility for issues relating to the marine environment, including implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which steps can be taken to rapidly improve the roll-out of broadband in towns, villages and rural areas throughout County Kildare, having particular regard to the increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9351/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. A combination of commercial investment and the State led intervention will ensure access to high speed broadband in every part of the country and no-one will be left behind no matter how remote. The deployment Plan forecasts construction commenced in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
There are a total of 95,188 premises in County Kildare of which 81,329 premises (85%) are served by commercial operators and 13,859 premises (15%) are in the Intervention Area.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 11 February 2021, over 174,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Some 2,818 (20%) premises in the Intervetion Area have been surveyed in Co Kildare including in the areas of Killashee, Oughterard, Naas Rural, Rathmore, Kill, Kilteel, Carnalway, Gilltown, Ballymore Eustace, Bodenstown, Naas Urban, Newtown, Donaghcumper. Surveying is underway in the areas of Athy, Coneyboro, Aughaboura, Ballinapark, Castlemitchell, Bert, Kilberry and Kilkea, Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie , which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 11 February, 268 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Kildare, Lullymore Heritage Park is installed and Bigstone Community Hall is installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .
Rathmore National School is installed by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
59. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport his plans to retrofit windows on Iarnród Éireann trains to facilitate greater air ventilation in view of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and the fact that many persons are required to use public transport in order to access urgent medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9020/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the recruitment of additional staff on Iarnród Éireann trains to ensure that mandatory face covering rules are being adhered to at all times during the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9021/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.
Continued operation of the public transport sector is important, and public transport has been designated among the essential services that have carried on throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
A number of measures have been introduced across the public transport system, guided by public health advice, to ensure the continued operation of services safely during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and social-distancing measures across the network.
The Government is committed to ensuring that essential transport services, and passengers utilising these services, are protected and supported. The National Transport Authority (NTA) continues to be guided by public health advice regarding safety measures across the public transport system and is working closely with transport operators, including Iarnród Éireann, with regard to the implementation of specific measures.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
61. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to extend the Luas to Rathfarnham; if planning has been carried out on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9027/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including light rail.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
62. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the poor quality of the photograph on new driver licences when compared to the public services card and so on given that the driver licence is one of the most commonly used forms of identification. [9083/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
63. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the provisions that have been put in place for front-line workers to allow them to sit their driver theory test under level 5 restrictions. [9086/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Driver Theory Test (DTT) has not been classified as an essential service by Government and consequently it has had to be suspended in light of Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions. All Driver Theory Tests will remain suspended for the duration of level 5 restrictions. The Driver Theory Test will not be conducted for essential workers while we remain in level 5.
While I fully appreciate the inconvenience this poses to learners, I am sure you will agree with me that the limiting of the spread of the virus and the safeguarding of public health must take first priority here.
The Road Safety Authority has advised my office that it is engaging with its service provider to maximise capacity to offer tests while adhering to occupational and public health requirements for when services are resumed. In this regard, they would, for example, be opening on additional days at some centres and extended hours also provided to allow additional capacity for appointments.
