Written Answers Nos. 151-177
151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the forthcoming SEAI deep retrofit grant schemes for private individual homeowners; and when he expects to be in a position to launch such a scheme. [12507/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes this year. This represents an additional €100 million, or an 82% increase, on the 2020 allocation and is the largest ever budget for the schemes.
This funding has already enabled a call for projects under a new National Retrofit One-Stop-Shop Development Scheme and the Community Energy Grant scheme. Both of these schemes provide grant support for private individual homeowners to deep retrofit their homes. It has also allowed the budget for the Better Energy Homes Scheme and Warmer Homes Scheme to be increased and funded a heat pump ready homes campaign.
My Department is currently working with SEAI to develop a further scheme that will facilitate the retrofitting of homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2, at scale and managed by one stop shops. It is intended to launch the scheme in quarter 3 of this year.
152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to combat fly tipping and illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12598/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount each local authority spent in 2018, 2019 and 2020 cleaning up fly tipping and illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12600/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 154 together.
My Department continues to work closely with both the EPA and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities through the National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee to ensure that the legislation in place is robust and effective in assisting their enforcement efforts. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy published in September 2020 contains a range of actions designed to enhance existing waste enforcement activity. These include:
- an enhanced role for the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs),
- the development of an anti-dumping toolkit for use by local authorities,
- the development of an illegal and unauthorised sites action plan to assist local authorities,
- greater use of fixed penalty notices,
- data-proofing of waste legislation to facilitate the use of available and emerging technologies in a manner which is GDPR-compliant; and
- a new national communications and education programme, building on the work of the Waste Communications Strategy Group and the Waste Advisory Group.
These will all build on existing actions to combat illegal dumping such as the Anti-Dumping Initiative, which was launched by my Department in 2017, and has provided funding of €9.3 million to local authorities in support of over 1,000 projects. Last year alone €3m was allocated to local authorities in support of the Anti-Dumping Initiative, €1 million of which was ring-fenced to combat illegal dumping activities arising from the COVID-19 crisis. This funding supported over 300 projects nationwide during 2020, including a national anti-dumping awareness communications campaign, "Your Country - Your Waste", which I launched in November 2020.
My Department also supports local authorities and Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities through the annual Local Authority Waste Enforcement Measures Grant scheme, which supports the recruitment and retention of over 150 local authority waste enforcement personnel nationwide. Questions in relation to the full annual cost of waste enforcement by each local authority should be direct towards individual local authorities.
153. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of litter wardens employed by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12599/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and value of on-the-spot fines issued for littering in 2018, 2019 and 2020; the number of prosecutions and convictions in relation to same for the same periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12601/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 155 together.
The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat littering. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is a matter for local authorities and each local authority must determine the most appropriate course of action to take to tackle litter pollution in their functional area, including staffing levels, public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions, taking into account its own particular circumstances and priorities.
My Department does not hold statistics on the numbers of staff employed as litter wardens nor does it compile statistics on the number of prosecutions secured and convictions taken in relation to litter offences.
The EPA compiles comparative statistics on local authority performance relating to their litter enforcement activity under the Recommended Criteria for Environmental Inspection (RMCEI) process. Their most recent report in this regard is for the period 2018 and is available on their website at www.epa.ie. The 2019 report is due for publication shortly.
156. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the commitment in the Programme for Government to reduce polluting emissions by an average of 7% a year and by 51% in total by 2030 will be restated in the context of the commitments in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020. [12616/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. [13252/21] on today's Order Paper.
157. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be able to avail of e-fibre broadband. [12666/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an area (details supplied) can expect to be surveyed under the national broadband plan given that all premises on the adjoining roads have access to fibre. [12750/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 162 together.
The Questions refer to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 3 March 2021, nearly 187,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys are complete or underway in County Longford in the areas of Drumlish, Ennybegs, Moat Farrell, Cullyfad, Longford Town, Newtownforbes, Cloondara, Stonepark, Ardagh, Moydow and Kilashee. Further details are available on specific areas within County Longford 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 3 March, 287 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. BCP’s are installed at Colmcille GAA Club (5.6 Kilometres from the premises), Corlea Heritage Centre and Aughine Community Centre. Sites at Ballymore Shamrocks GAA Club (6.8 Kilometres from the premises) and Mullinalaghta Community Center are installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .
Naomh Guasachta National School (Bunlahy) is installed by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative and Fermoyle National School is installed and connected. 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/ .
158. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the pilot scheme to test key elements of the national retrofitting plan; the expected composition of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12734/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government's approach to achieving our national retrofit targets.
A total of €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes this year. This represents an additional €100 million, or an 82% increase, on the 2020 allocation and is the largest ever budget for the schemes. Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance of €112.5 million to be spent on expanding existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.
One such initiative is the National Home Retrofit Scheme (One Stop Shop Development Call). This new support scheme is designed to encourage the development of retrofit One-Stop-Shops, to support home retrofit on a larger scale, and support the growth of the retrofitting industry. The scheme facilitates home upgrades for private households, registered Housing Associations and Local Authorities who wish to participate in delivering home energy efficiency upgrades. More details of this scheme, which has been well received by the market, are available on the SEAI website at https://www.seai.ie/grants/national-home-retrofit/National-Home-Retrofit-Scheme-Guidelines.pdf
My Department is also currently working with SEAI to develop other initiatives including a further scheme that will facilitate the retrofitting of homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2, at scale and managed by one stop shops. It is intended to launch the scheme in quarter 3 of this year.
Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 157.
163. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost for shallow works, deep works and deep works with heating upgrades under the warmer homes scheme. [12755/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for deciding whether to complete shallow, deep works or deep works with heating upgrade under the warmer homes scheme. [12756/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level.
Funding for the SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased to over €109 million in 2021. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. This will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades, making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government.
In 2020, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to households under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,819. A further breakdown of the average costs under the scheme is set out in the table below.
|
Category |
Description of works |
Excluding VAT |
Including VAT |
|
Shallow |
Includes attic and/or cavity wall insulation and windows occasionally |
€4,225 |
€4,795 |
|
Deep |
Includes external wall insulation (and any other insulation), and windows occasionally but no heating upgrades |
€16,135 |
€18,313 |
|
Deep Heat |
Includes heating upgrades and any insulation (including external wall insulation), and windows occasionally |
€24,431 |
€24,729 |
|
Weighted |
|
€13,057 |
€14,819 |
A range of home energy improvements can be funded under this scheme. The upgrades that are recommended for any given property depend on many factors including age, size, type and condition of the property. For each eligible home, SEAI’s managing agent carries out a survey of the home which determines the upgrades that can be installed and funded. The home is subsequently allocated to a contractor which carries out a further assessment of the property to confirm the initial recommendation. A programme of work is then agreed between the contractor and SEAI. Decisions in relation to the recommended upgrades made by both SEAI’s managing agent and contractors are informed by a technical operations manual.
The broad conditions for recommending works are set out in the table below.
|
Energy upgrade |
Conditions for recommendation |
|
Attic insulation |
· Pitched roofs · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Cavity wall insulation |
· Walls consisting of an inner and an outer leaf separated by a cavity · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
External wall insulation |
· Solid or hollow block walls · Properties built after 1940 · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Internal wall insulation |
· Solid or hollow block walls where external wall insulation not suitable · Properties built after 1940 · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Replacement windows |
· Single glazed windows · Window by window basis · Where walls are also being insulated · Replacement doors are not included |
|
Heating upgrade |
· Where no central heating or highly inefficient heating is present · Where walls and/or attic are insulated or can be insulated |
|
Heating controls |
· As part of a heating upgrade |
|
Ventilation |
· Where walls or attic are being insulated · In adherence with current building regulations |
|
Draught proofing |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
|
Lagging jacket |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
|
CFLs |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
165. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated total scheme spend in relation to the better energy communities scheme for 2020; the energy poverty spend; the domestic spend; the number of homes completed; and the number of energy poverty homes completed. [12757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Energy Grant Scheme (formerly known as the Better Energy Communities Scheme) funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI, makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area. The scheme is applicable to homes, community facilities, and businesses. The data requested relating to 2020 for this scheme is set out in the table below.
|
|
CEG (BEC) 2020 |
|
Estimated total scheme spend in 2020 |
€18.7m* |
|
Energy poverty spend |
€4.876m |
|
Domestic (homes) Spend |
€8.631m |
|
Total Number of Homes Completed (including energy poor homes) |
656 |
|
Energy Poor Homes Completed |
342 |
*Total scheme spend in 2020 including monitoring & verification spend.
166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions he has had with member states or the European Commission with regard to an EU trading system for agricultural emissions as indicated in the 2019 Climate Action Plan; if the outcome of such discussions will feature in the 2021 Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12768/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan 2019 commits to work with other Member States and the European Commission to consider the creation of an alternative regulatory regime (such as an ETS-type system) for agricultural emissions. The aim of such a system would be to help address the challenge of meeting increasing food demand internationally, while at the same time, contributing to climate commitments, including avoiding the off-shoring of agricultural activity to less carbon-efficient production systems. Such an initiative will require close collaboration and buy-in from other Member States and the European Commission.
Ireland has significantly increased its climate ambition, with the implementation of the Climate Action Plan 2019 and the step change in climate objectives set out in the Programme for Government, including an average of 7% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions per annum form 2021 to 2030. This increase in ambition will need to be reflected appropriately in the next iteration of the Climate Action Plan.
The Environmental Protection Agency's recent publication “Ireland’s Environment: An Integrated Assessment 2020”, demonstrates that the overall quality of Ireland’s environment is on a downward trend, and the outlook is not optimistic, unless we accelerate the implementation of solutions across all sectors and society. In drafting the Climate Action Plan 2021, far reaching policy changes will be developed across every sector, including agriculture, that set us on the path of systemic change that is required for Ireland to become a climate-neutral and climate-resilient society and economy by 2050 at the latest.
With the 2030 Climate Target Plan and EU Climate Law, the EU will raise its ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. This is a substantial increase compared to the existing 40% emissions reduction target. The Commission is preparing to present, by June 2021, an overhaul of all relevant climate legislation as part of a “Fit for 55 Package” to align with the newly proposed target. As part preparing this legislation, the Commission will consider the interactions of how emissions are accounted for between the agriculture and land use sectors. .
167. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a subvention for waste collection charges for families with medical conditions that lead to a large amount of general waste produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12773/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question [8998/21] of 17 February 2021. The position is unchanged.
168. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress of the renewable electricity support scheme involving 82 solar and wind projects, seven of which are community based; the level of support provided and envisaged for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1371/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe results of the first RESS auction were approved by Government in September 2020, with 82 successful projects made up of 479MW of onshore wind energy projects and 796MW of solar energy projects.
The Department issued notices of award for these 82 projects in September 2020. Subsequently 14 projects have withdrawn from RESS-1 consisting of 13 solar projects and one wind project with a total capacity of 187MW (approximately 14% of the auction capacity). The remaining 68 projects, representing 86% of the auction capacity, have entered into implementation agreements and provided performance bonds where appropriate in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. Letters of Offer have been awarded to these projects, which equate to approximately 1,088MW of new renewable generation. This includes seven community projects comprising of five solar and two wind projects.
A number of milestones remain for each project to pass for them to be eligible for support under RESS-1. EirGrid and ESB Networks will be responsible for engagement with applicants to programme the connection to the grid and commissioning of each project.
RESS-1 projects will be supported through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy and projects will be eligible for PSO support upon commercial operation of a RESS-1 project or on 1 July 2021 (whichever is later). The RESS prices achieved in the first competition, with an average bid price of €74.08, represents a significant saving on the previous Renewable Electricity Feed in Tariff schemes. The levels of support provided in 2021 will depend on the volume of projects scheduled to be to connected to the grid in the 2021/22 PSO levy year as well as projected wholesale market prices.
The Department is closely monitoring the development of all RESS 1 projects and the overall programme for delivery of RESS-1.
169. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review by his Department of the security of supply of Ireland’s natural gas and electricity networks; if he is satisfied that the adequacy of supply is sufficient to meet current needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1372/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. This review will include a detailed technical analysis and a public consultation.
A request for tender for the provision of consultancy services to undertake the technical analysis was published in late 2020. The public procurement procedure for the engagement of consultants is ongoing. Following the completion of the technical analysis, the public consultation will commence. I expect that the overall review will be completed by the end of 2021.
In the short-term, the adequacy of supply of electricity and natural gas is set out by EirGrid (for electricity) and Gas Networks Ireland (for natural gas) in their Winter Outlook publications.
A key issue, in the short-term, is the capacity margin in the electricity market. This is the level of excess generation and interconnection available to meet the peak electricity demand. This has reduced in recent years mainly due to increasing demand along with some power stations exiting the market and others not being available to generate when needed. Covid-19 has also impacted the maintenance of power stations reducing availability at key times.
EirGrid's Winter Outlook highlights the risk of System Alerts which are periods when there is an elevated risk of not being able to meet system demand and/or risk of operational security limits being violated. There have been four System Alerts since August 2020 - most recently on Wednesday 6 January.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities and EirGrid are taking a range of actions to ensure adequate generation capacity is available to meet demand. These actions include capacity market auctions which incentivise the development of new generation capacity.
My Department continues to work with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland to ensure secure supplies of electricity and natural gas to meet Ireland's needs.
170. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the role he or his officials or bodies under the aegis of his Department played in the development of the recently published Ag Climatise roadmap; the engagement he has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the development of this roadmap; if he is satisfied that this roadmap is in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1596/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe AgClimatise Strategy is intended to deliver upon the ambition set out in the Climate Action Plan 2019, which is designed to meet Ireland's existing EU climate targets. My Department, including relevant Agencies under its aegis, was included in the engagement exercise conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine during the development of the AgClimatise Roadmap.
Following the guidance of the European Council given on 10-11 December 2020, an agreement was reached on a general approach on the proposal for a European Climate Law at the Environment Council on 17 December 2020. This includes agreement to update the existing EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. This new target is a significant increase in ambition from the current EU 2030 target of a 40% reduction. The EU subsequently submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is an essential part of the obligations to be fulfilled under the Paris Agreement.
This development at EU level, along with the step change in climate ambition set out in the Programme for Government, will need to be reflected appropriately in the next iteration of the Climate Action Plan. Far reaching policy changes will be developed across every sector, including agriculture, to reach this high level of ambition.
171. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the initial report and recommendations of the urban transport-related air pollution group jointly chaired by his Department and the Department of Transport will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1600/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Urban Transport Related Air Pollution (UTRAP) group was established to:
- examine transport-related air pollution;
- raise stakeholder awareness of this pollution, its occurrence in urban contexts and its legislative framework;
- review and identify best-practice measures to reduce transport-related air pollution in Irish cities and towns; and
- develop an evidence-based national policy framework within which Local Authorities could address urban transport related emissions.
The group includes representatives from Government Departments; environmental, health and transport Agencies; Local Authorities; and additional key stakeholders who have been working together since December 2019.
An initial report on the work of the group has being finalised and I intend to publish it once I have considered its findings and recommendations.
172. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to reduce dependence on fossil fuel usage and to increase usage of renewable energy sources for heating and operating buildings given that this accounts for over one quarter of Ireland’s energy usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1575/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last decade, Government has progressively strengthened the Building Regulations relating to the conservation of fuel and energy in new dwellings. The regulations now require new buildings to be at “NZEB” performance levels which is the equivalent of an A2 Building Energy Rating for a typical dwelling. This also encourages the use of renewable technologies and the movement away from traditional fossil fuels. For existing buildings, Government has put a number of supports in place across the residential, commercial and public sectors. These supports incentivise projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy.
The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 older homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. The development of a new retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway. Budget 2021 provided €221.5 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation will kick-start the first phase of our retrofit plan. It is intended to align the delivery of the Phase 2 of the Retrofit Plan with the review of the National Development Plan later this year.
Supports to enable businesses to become more energy efficient are also available from the SEAI. €17.3 million has been allocated for Business Energy Efficiency (Excellence in Energy Efficient Design, SME & Energy Auditing) and Business Renewable Energy (Support Scheme Renewable Heat) for 2021. Information on a range of other supports that enable businesses to become more energy efficient including the SEAI’s Energy Academy; information and advisory services; the Large Industry Energy Network; and Accelerated Capital Allowances is available at www.seai.ie .
The Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder Programme provides capital support to retrofit public buildings with the objective of developing a scalable retrofit model that can be replicated across the wider public sector including schools. The budget for this scheme has more than doubled to €21 million for 2021. This increase will provide continued supports to the public sector in delivering on its more ambitious 2030 targets outlined in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan.
The Department, together with the SEAI, is also currently carrying out an updated Comprehensive Assessment of the potential for efficient heating and cooling in Ireland. In addition, a policy framework to encourage the development of district heating in Ireland is being finalised with a view to completing this work in early 2021.
173. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the volume of feedback received to date by his Department regarding the reviews of the implementation of two international conventions relating to the environment, namely the Aarhus Convention and the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Europe Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1576/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeventeen submissions were received in response to the joint public consultation on the 2021 National Implementation Reports for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the ‘Aarhus Convention’) and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR). While this is a decrease in the number of submissions received in 2016 during the preparation of the 2017 National Implementation Reports when 26 submissions were received, the depth and quality of the submissions is notable.
Question No. 174 withdrawn.
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress towards achieving development of the various forms of renewable energy with a view to achieving carbon neutral status within the time limits set out by way of international agreement; if he will accelerate progress in this area while at the same time ensuring the protection of the economic base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1500/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe increased deployment of renewable energy, in combination with measures to improve energy efficiency, is one of the primary mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under Directive 2009/28/EC (‘the Renewable Energy Directive’) Ireland committed to meeting a target of 16% of the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020. In 2019, Ireland achieved a 12% overall share of energy from renewable sources broken down as follows
- a 8.9% share of renewable energy in transport;
- a 6.3% share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector;
- a 36.5% share of renewable energy in electricity production.
For 2020, a shortfall of between 3% and 4% in respect of the overall renewable energy target is projected. Accordingly, to ensure that we meet our 16% target and secure compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive, my Department negotiated international agreements with Estonia and Denmark to purchase statistical transfers in respect of 3.5 TWh of renewable energy, as provided for under Article 6 of the Directive. The purchases were completed at the end of last year.
The Government is committed to accelerating the deployment of renewable energy to meet the ambitious Programme for Government target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, to meet the long-term target of climate neutrality by 2050 contained in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, and to contribute to the EU-wide binding target, under the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (‘the recast Renewable Energy Directive’), of 32% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.
To achieve these goals, Ireland has adopted a target of 70% of renewable energy in electricity production by 2030, to be delivered through the deployment of additional onshore and offshore renewable capacity, including 5GW of offshore wind, which will be supported through the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS), and through the increased deployment of microgeneration to be supported by a forthcoming microgeneration support scheme.
The increased deployment of renewable energy will assist in decarbonising the transport sector, through increased use of biofuels provided for through the Biofuel Obligation Schemes and further electrification of the sector through the deployment of electric vehicles and associated infrastructure. In addition to energy efficiency measures, the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector will be achieved through renewable energy measures such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and further electrification of the sector by the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030.
The development of renewable energy sources will contribute to sustained and sustainable economic growth by supporting economic activity and new jobs, reducing our reliance on imported fossils fuels, and mitigating the long-term damage that rising greenhouse gases will cause to the national, European and global economy.
176. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of inspections that have been carried out in 2019 and 2020 regarding compliance with the Air Pollution Act 1987; the number of samples that have been taken during this period; the percentage of samples that breached the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12866/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnforcement actions under the Air Pollution Act are a matter for Local Authorities and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to inspections undertaken or enforcement actions initiated. The latest Recommended Criteria for Environmental Inspection data collated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to 2019 includes the following air enforcement statistics for Local Authorities:
|
Air Quality Inspections |
Total in 2019 |
|
Inspections of Air Emission Licenced Sites |
89 |
|
Total number of inspections carried out under the solid fuel regulations |
1,033 |
|
Number of multi-agency inspections carried out. |
20 |
|
Total number of fuel samples collected and analysed. |
106 |
Further details with respect to how effectively local authorities are enforcing the provisions of environmental legislation, including the Air Pollution Act, are available from the series of Local Authority Environmental Performance Assessment reports complied by the EPA. These reports can be accessed at: https://www.epa.ie/enforcement/pa/performanceframework/ . The latest report, with respect to 2019, will be published by the EPA in the coming days.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to further strengthen enforcement of air legislation by developing a regional approach to air quality enforcement. A coordinated approach is required given the links between burning of solid fuels and the health effects of air pollution, as well as the potential for market distortion for businesses properly adhering to the rules. Increased multi-agency inspections and enforcement, including the increased use of fixed payment notices, are required and my Department is fully committed to supporting Local Authorities in this regard.
177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if analysis has been carried out his Department into the impact of artificial light on Ireland’s natural environment and the ecosystems within it; if so, if there are plans for light pollution free areas in cities around Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12899/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is currently no legislation in Ireland dealing specifically with environmental light pollution, and my Department has no role in this regard.
I am advised that the amount of light that might emanate from a proposed development in terms of potential impacts on adjoining properties and protecting their residential amenity is considered in assessing individual planning applications on a case by case basis. However there is no specific national strategy in place in relation to 'light pollution' under planning or environmental legislation.
