Written Answers Nos. 4-24
4. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason there is a backlog in the payment of the trading online voucher grants especially from the Dublin City Enterprise Board; if he will intervene to speed up this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23413/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEO Dublin City like many of the Local Enterprise Offices experienced an unprecedented increase in activity and engagement with clients and stakeholders across 2020 and this has continued into the current year. Last year, for example, the Local Enterprise Offices network approved 12,946 Trading Online Vouchers to assist businesses get online to trade or improve their existing online offering. This represented a 950% increase on 2019 activity and proved to be a vital resource for many businesses helping to reach their customers. The Dublin City Local Enterprise Office received almost 1,100 applications for the TOV scheme in 2020, a 9-fold increase on the number of vouchers approved the previous year.
In addition to the demands associated with the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, the Local Enterprise Offices received almost 15,000 application for the Business Continuity Voucher and provided significant training and mentoring to small businesses in 2020 to help them navigate the particularly difficult trading environment created by COVID-19 and Brexit. The Local Enterprise Offices trained over 77,000 entrepreneurs and business representatives, more than double the 37,000 from the year previous. Furthermore, the LEOs completed 16,231 business mentoring assignments up from 10,756 in 2019. This significant increase in activity has inevitably led to an increased administrative burden on Local Enterprise Office staff across the entire network over the past year and this demand for services has continued into 2021.
In 2020, My Department secured an additional €1.3m to support the Local Enterprise Office staff across the network to deliver their additional workload through and beyond the COVID-19 Crisis. This additional funding provided for an increase in headcount across the network of 63 additional temporary staff for the period 1st September to 31st December 2020. I am pleased to advise that a further €1.3m was secured for 2021 to retain those staff for a further 6 months. An extension of this arrangement is now being considered subject to ongoing budgetary pressures.
This additional funding has provided 4 additional staff members for LEO Dublin City, of whom three are specifically assigned to the administration of the Trading Online Voucher scheme. I understand that Dublin City is still experiencing a backlog in processing Trading Online Voucher applications, but I am assured that this matter is being addressed appropriately and that Dublin City Local Enterprise Office is taking all appropriate steps to reduce the timelines to a more acceptable level.
5. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will financially support a brand (details supplied) in launching an aggressive campaign to support Irish goods and encourage Irish persons to buy Irish as the economy reopens. [23457/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 1981, the European Commission took infringement proceedings against a Buy Irish campaign then in operation. In its subsequent judgment (Commission v Ireland, case C-249/81), the European Court of Justice held that the campaign was a reflection of the Irish Government’s intention to substitute domestic products for imported products on the Irish market and thereby to check the flow of imports from other Member States. Accordingly, under Single Market rules, Ireland cannot advocate a specific ‘Guaranteed Irish’ or ‘Buy Irish’ campaign, but we can however encourage our citizens to buy local.
Buying locally sustains local economies and the growth of jobs and vibrant communities throughout Ireland, regardless of the source of those goods.
In November 2020, I launched the #LookForLocal campaign, the aim of this national, local and digital campaign was to support local economies and SMEs by encouraging consumers to ‘look for local’ when buying goods and services, on-line or off-line, especially in the run-up to Christmas 2020.
The ‘Look for Local’ campaign undertaken by the Local Enterprise Offices was run in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities and drove consumer and SME traffic to website listings on Local Enterprise Office websites. This resulted in over 4,500 local companies listing on the "Look for Local" campaign webpages, covering every business sector and local authority area. The results of a customer survey undertaken during this period showed that Irish consumers were 80% more likely to shop local through online portals.
Also, in 2020, The Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) launched the ‘Made Local’ campaign aimed at sustaining Ireland’s design and craft sector. It celebrated Irish creativity and aimed to inspire consumers, craftspeople, retailers and media to continue to contribute to their local economies. The ‘Made Local’ campaign ran throughout the summer with 100 retailers involved in the campaign, supporting the work of DCCI’s 3,000 registered clients.
Following on from the success of these campaigns, consideration is being given to running similar local promotional campaigns to showcase the goods and services available in our localities and to encourage people to continue to support their local economies throughout this recovery period and beyond as we look to regenerate our towns and villages nationwide.
6. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of negotiations by Ireland to join the World Health Organization C-TAP initiative; the practical engagement to date by his Department in this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) leads on Ireland’s response to international initiatives, and I understand that it is engaging with a number of Government departments, including my own, on consideration of the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) initiative.
C-TAP has called on researchers, developers, and manufacturers to voluntarily share knowledge, intellectual property, and data necessary for Covid-19 technologies, and to undertake a voluntary suspension of patent rights to further facilitate the development and manufacture of treatments and vaccines. The initiative relies on the participation of those researchers, developers and manufacturers who hold such intellectual property to voluntarily suspend their patent rights. I am not aware that any of the leading pharmaceutical companies have endorsed the initiative, although several have independently undertaken licensing agreements regarding vaccines outside of the initiative. I understand that there has been limited engagement by WHO Member States with the initiative to date, which as I said primarily focusses on researchers, developers and manufacturers.
Ireland has consistently championed collaborative responses to the pandemic, with a focus on ensuring that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable are served by our collective effort. The sharing of technology on vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment, is part of a broader suite of responses by Ireland to COVID-19. Ireland has shown support for sharing COVID-19 related knowledge and research outputs through many fora including, inter alia, the National Open Research Forum, Non-exclusive Royalty Free licenses through Knowledge Transfer Ireland, and SFI’s alignment with Plan S, an initiative to ensure publicly funded research is openly available, immediately, without embargo for the betterment of societal needs.
Ireland as part of Team Europe has pointed to the COVAX facility as the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.
As part of our response, the Government, via Irish Aid has channeled €5 million to direct supports to COVID-19 vaccination, including through the COVAX mechanism, which has to date delivered over 49 million vaccines already to 121 participant countries.
7. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of negotiations by Ireland to support the World Trade Organisation TRIPS waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23599/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI think it is clear that universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is very important in the global fight against COVID-19.
International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties. In exercising that competence at the WTO, the European Commission engages with Member States, including Ireland through a variety of Committees and Working Parties/Groups, including on intellectual property.
The EU position is that the challenges raised by the proponents of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement) waiver can be addressed through the existing flexibilities within the WTO TRIPS Agreement which allows governments to grant compulsory licences without the permission of the patent holder. The EU Commission also points out that the IP system incentivises and enables the stakeholders to share their innovations, to exchange knowledge and data, and to license.
The EU position is that manufacturing capacity, access to raw materials and distribution networks are the main obstacles that need to be overcome in the supply of vaccines and that increasing manufacturing capacity may be better attained through voluntary licensing arrangements by disseminating the technology and know-how of those who developed the vaccines. The EU Commission has set up a Task Force for Industrial Scale-up of COVID-19 vaccine production which aims to support the ramp-up of production capacity and address supply chain bottlenecks.
The EU is committed and open to trying to reach agreement with all members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on how to achieve the shared goal of providing timely and secure access to safe and affordable vaccines and medicines for all through the multilateral rules-based trading system. Discussions are continuing at the WTO, including in relation to how the TRIPS Agreement can support fast and effective vaccine availability. Ireland is represented in those discussions by the EU Commission.
The EU Commission considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global supply and access to COVID-19 vaccines, is the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.
8. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered providing training to businesses on becoming an authorized consignee to aid with post-Brexit trading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23605/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn authorised consignee is authorised by Revenue subject to certain prescribed criteria such as including having practical standards of competence or professional qualifications directly related to the activity carried out and to be able to communicate electronically with Revenue through the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). However, Enterprise Ireland does not provide such training to businesses on becoming authorised consignees.
As this is very much a freight, transport and logistics sectoral issue, there are various representative associations providing services to and for their memberships and running training programmes covering all aspects of customs procedures including the role of the authorised consignee.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Skillnet is also currently developing a programme to support businesses in becoming an authorised consignee, with the programme expected to be available by mid Q3 2021. The programme is focused on the practical aspects of operating as an authorised consignee and aimed at companies of all sizes in the transport and logistics sectors. CILT Skillnet intends to liaise with Revenue to ensure that the content meets Revenue standards and requirements as they relate to acting as an authorised consignee. The ‘Authorised Consignee’ programme will complement the ongoing work of CILT Skillnet in providing programmes to aid Irish Companies with post-Brexit trading.
9. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the waste management (circular economy) Bill; when he plans to introduce this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23393/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a Waste Management (Circular Economy) Bill is a commitment under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020. My Department is currently finalising the draft Heads of the Bill and I intend to seek Government approval to publish the General Scheme in the coming weeks.
10. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the strategies currently in place to specifically support islands with meeting renewable energy targets; the funding that has been made available for this purpose; the future plans in place to invest in offshore renewable energy linked with the islands; the steps being taken to assist island communities to meet climate action targets and create green jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23478/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe islands of Ireland have the potential to engage in the clean energy transition by sustainably harnessing local resources and reducing energy dependence on the mainland. Island citizens are at the heart of this transition, bringing tangible benefits such as local jobs creation, economic activity and lower energy bills. Last year, Ireland signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative, recognising the important role islands can play in realising the objectives of the European Green Deal. It sets out the objective to establish a long-term framework for cooperation to advance the energy transition for islands.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is the main government support to help deliver on Ireland’s 70% renewable electricity target by 2030. The scheme has a number of community features designed to ensure community participation. Of particular interest to island communities are the provisions of the Community Benefit Fund and the Community-led category. The former provides for all RESS projects, including offshore projects, to share project revenues with local communities for sustainable purposes and the latter provides a route to market for community-led projects. To better support communities in bringing forward community-led projects, an enabling framework is currently under development by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and to this end I have allocated a €3 million capital supports budget this year.
11. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocations and plans that are in place to advance the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan to island communities specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23482/21]
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 includes over 2,200 premises on offshore islands. The NBP contract provides that the maximum cost to the State of delivering the NBP network over the 25 year period of the contract is €2.7bn and this subsidy includes the cost of bringing fibre connectivity to our offshore islands.
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 29 April, 11 BCP sites on islands 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 by the Department of Education for schools. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband as part of the BCP initiative, including the islands 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/.
The following table sets out the public BCP sites that have been installed, connected or are in planning on the islands.
|
PUBLIC SITE NAME |
EIRCODE |
ISLAND |
LA |
Installed |
Connected |
|
Bere Island Heritage Centre |
P75W660 |
Bere |
Cork |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Coláiste Phobal Cléire |
P81P627 |
Cape Clear |
Cork |
Yes |
In planning |
|
Sherkin Island Community Hall |
P81AE02 |
Sherkin |
Cork |
Yes |
In planning |
|
Tory CO-OP |
F92FD66 |
Tory |
Donegal |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin CTR |
H91XK40 |
Inis Meáin |
Galway |
In planning |
In planning |
|
Comhar na Noileán |
H91D27X |
Inis Oirr |
Galway |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Inishbofin Community Centre |
H91TC6C |
Inishbofin |
Galway |
In planning |
In planning |
|
Kilronan Library |
H91WN93 |
Inishmore |
Galway |
In planning |
In planning |
|
Halla Pobal Thír an Fhia |
H91CT9F |
Lettermore |
Galway |
In planning |
In planning |
|
Tír an Fhia |
H91YE86 |
Lettermore |
Galway |
In planning |
In planning |
|
Lettermullen Community Centre |
H91CH7X |
Lettermullen |
Galway |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Cable Station - Valentia |
V23H685 |
Valentia |
Kerry |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Chapeltown Community Centre |
V23H240 |
Valentia |
Kerry |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Clare Island Community Centre |
F28KP99 |
Clare Island |
Mayo |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Inisturk Community Centre |
H91N990 |
Inisturk |
Mayo |
In planning |
In planning |
The following table sets out the School BCP sites that have been installed, connected or are in planning on the islands.
|
School NAME |
EIRCODE |
ISLAND |
LA |
Installed |
Connected |
|
MHICHIL NAOFA |
P75AK22 |
Bere Island |
Cork |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N CLEIRE |
P81FY05 |
Cape Clear |
Cork |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
SN ARAINN MHOR I |
F92Y978 |
Arranmore |
Donegal |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
Arranmore NS |
F92AE75 |
Arranmore |
Donegal |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
SCOIL NAOMH CHOLMCILLE |
F92XV52 |
Tory Island |
Donegal |
Yes |
In Planning |
|
S N INIS MEADHOIN |
H91P892 |
Inis Meáin |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N CAOMHAIN |
H91C967 |
Inis Oirr |
Galway |
Yes |
In Planning |
|
INISHBOFIN N S |
H91KV48 |
Inishbofin |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N RONAIN |
H91ED89 |
Inishmore |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N EOIN POL II |
H91W727 |
Inishmore |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N BHRIDE |
H91F3C5 |
Lettermore |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
SCOIL RONAIN |
H91E8Y0 |
Lettermore |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N Leitir Meallain |
H91RX45 |
Lettermullen |
Galway |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N DAR EARCA |
V23R928 |
Valentia |
Kerry |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
DOOKINELLA N.S. |
F28RF79 |
Achill |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
VALLEY N S |
F28HY27 |
Achill |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N DUMHACH |
F28AK54 |
Achill |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
SN NAOMH SEOSAMH |
F28K500 |
Achill |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
ACHILL SOUND CONVENT NS |
F28ER26 |
Achill Sound |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
S N NAOMH PADRAIG SAILE |
F28Y229 |
Achill Sound |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
ST PATRICKS NS |
F28F516 |
Clare Island |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
|
ST COLUMBAS N.S. |
H91YNP3 |
Inishturk |
Mayo |
In Planning |
In Planning |
12. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the cost of pay-as-you-go rubbish disposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged are a contract matter between those companies and their customers. Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established at that time to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.
13. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a schedule of retrofitting to meet the target of 500,000 homes by 2030, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23317/21]
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/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. In 2020, SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes supported the upgrading of over 17,600 homes. This included over 3,200 homes upgraded to BER rating of B2 or better. The number of retrofits last year were unfortunately, negatively impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions. We need to ramp up to at least 56,000 B2 retrofits per year by 2024. The development of the national retrofit programme to achieve these targets is well underway. Some €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year 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 has facilitated the expansion and improvement of existing SEAI grant schemes and the introduction of new initiatives. The funding has already supported calls for projects under the new National Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme as well as a €47 million increase in funding for energy poverty schemes. Further SEAI administered retrofit initiatives will be launched in the coming months. The programme will be implemented through a range of schemes and initiatives, which will be developed and evolve over time, and therefore a county by county annual schedule for the next nine years has not been prepared.
14. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider making the allocation of funding to organisations or companies engaged in bog rewetting projects conditional on the provision of legally binding assurances from such companies or organisations to compensate adjacent landowners who may be adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23329/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme was approved by the Government in 2020 for 33,000 hectares of decommissioned Bord na Móna peatlands and is being funded up to €108 million from the Climate Action Fund. This rehabilitation will take place over a period of 5 years. All of the lands being rehabilitated are operated under Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licences granted by the Environmental Protection Agency. The scheme will build on, and complement, the measures required under Integrated Pollution Control licences. This funding will support a just transition by maintaining jobs in the Midlands, as well as laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. The enhanced rehabilitation scheme will protect the storage of 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, deliver benefits in terms of increasing biodiversity, supporting bog amenity and eco-system services, as well as improved water quality and water attenuation relating to flood risk management to the benefit communities locally and nationally. Through the implementation of the scheme, it is also estimated that over the period to 2050, 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided (including an amount of future carbon sequestration), in comparison to a standard rehabilitation scenario.The National Parks and Wildlife Service will act as the scheme regulator. Bord na Móna must develop detailed work programmes for each bog based on its specific needs and site characteristics, including a hydrological assessment. These will ensure that the works not only optimise the benefits to the former peatlands but also mitigate negative impacts on the local communities. Consultation also forms a key element of the roll out of the Scheme and Bord na Móna are consulting with stakeholders and landowners that may be impacted. Bord Na Mona has in place, and has committed to maintain, a care and maintenance team who will be responsible, among other things for boundary management on the Bord na Móna land banks. Bord Na Móna’s obligations as a property owner are not affected by the provision of this funding.
15. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider amending the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 to provide a clear definite statutory basis for the rehabilitation of peatlands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 will support Ireland’s transition to net zero and achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. It will establish a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments set in law, and ensure the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis to ensure we achieve our national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term.Separately, the Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) was approved by the Government in 2020 for 33,000 hectares of decommissioned Bord na Móna peatlands and is being funded for up to €108 million. This rehabilitation will take place over a period of 5 years. It is the responsibility of Bord Na Mona to ensure it meets all relevant legal requirements, including compliance with its obligations under their Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licences as legislated for Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (as amended). Bord Na Móna’s obligations as a property owner are not affected by the provision of this funding.
16. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount the State has spent on carbon credits in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the sources of these credits; if these credits were ethical; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC (ESD) sets annual binding emissions reduction targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. These targets cover emissions from sectors outside of the EU Emissions Trading System, such as agriculture, transport, buildings and waste. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. The ESD allows Member States to meet their targets using surplus emissions credits from earlier years or through purchasing credits from other Member States or on international markets. Ireland has already met its emissions targets from 2013 to 2018. However, the latest greenhouse gas emissions report, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in January 2021, indicates that Ireland will cumulatively exceed the 2019 and 2020 annual targets by approximately 11 to 12Mt. Ireland will, therefore, need to purchase additional allowances to meet the projected shortfall.
Any requirement to use already purchased or additional credits for compliance under the ESD will be undertaken in accordance with all relevant regulations as set out by the European Union, the European Commission, the United Nations and all relevant international agreements.
17. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the carbon budgets will be applied at an industry and sector level only under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021; if there will be a mechanism to push targets down to individual companies; if the latter, the mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23585/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 will establish a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments set in law, and provide that the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis to ensure Ireland achieves its national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. The Bill establishes a system of carbon budgeting with three 5-year economy-wide budgets included in each carbon budget programme. Each carbon budget represents the total amount of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in the State during each 5 year period, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The first carbon budget programme will comprise carbon budgets for the following periods: 2021 to 2025; 2026 to 2030; and 2031 to 2035.
Under the legislation, the Climate Change Advisory Council will propose a programme of three successive 5-year carbon budgets to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Minister will, after consideration and consultation, present the budgets to the Government. Once approved by Government, the Minister will propose a motion in both Houses of the Oireachtas for approval of the carbon budget. The carbon budget shall have effect on and from the date on which a motion approving the carbon budget has been passed by both Houses. These budgets have not been set as yet.
After the carbon budget has been approved, the Minister will prepare sectoral emissions ceilings for each relevant sector in consultation with other Ministers. These sectoral emissions ceilings must also be approved by the Government.
The sectors of the economy to which each sectoral emissions ceiling will apply will be determined by the Government. The process will build on the approach established for the 2019 Climate Action Plan, whereby actions and measures will be developed for each sector on the basis of technical and scientific analysis, but also now taking account of the detailed set of principles set out in the Bill in order to determine what the appropriate range of contribution is for each sector. These ceilings will be set at sectoral level and not on individual companies.
It is noted that approximately 70% of Ireland's enterprise sector greenhouse gas emissions are also subject to a separate target in the form of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The EU ETS sets a price for carbon emissions, thereby making low emissions alternatives more attractive to enterprise. The ETS will function in a complementary manner to the forthcoming carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings.
18. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is considering to encourage businesses and organisations to measure and report their carbon emissions under scope 1, scope 2 and or scope 3; the timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23586/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra19. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide and set a clear standard for organisations to follow in relation to scope 3 carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23588/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
The current requirements under company law for large companies with more than 500 employees to disclose information on their environmental performance are contained in the European Union (Disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 360 of 2017), as amended. The Regulations, which are managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are underpinned by non-binding guidelines for disclosure prepared by the EU Commission.
As one of the actions under the European Green Deal, to enhance further the disclosure by companies on climate and environmental data, the EU Commission initiated a review of the Directive. A proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive was published on 21 April 2021. Further details on the EU Commission proposal are available on their website. https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/210421-sustainable-finance-communication_en#csrd.
The proposal will revise the existing Directive and includes in its scope all large companies and listed SMEs, except microenterprises. It is also proposed that the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group, will be responsible for developing new standards for EU sustainability reporting. The final proposal will be subject to agreement between European Parliament and Council.
I launched a consultation in March 2021 on the Climate Action Plan 2021 which will identify the policies and measures needed to deliver on the increased climate ambition in the Programme for Government. The consultation included an expert call for evidence seeking data-based technical proposals to support the development of the plan. This includes questions on the decarbonisation of the enterprise sector. The preparation of the plan itself will allow for consideration of the measurement of emissions in the enterprise sector.
20. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on the type of scheme and the timelines of the proposed feed-in tariff for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23592/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation of electricity primarily for self-consumption. Under the Climate Action Plan, a Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. The proposed support mechanism was outlined in a public consultation launched in January (now closed) and the submissions received are currently being reviewed. While the primary aim of a micro-generation scheme is to enable a household to meet its own electricity needs, it is envisaged that a suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all micro-generators in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory arrangements, in line with Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published an updated Roadmap for the Clean Energy Package’s Electricity and Renewables Directives in February, which provides for a public consultation on the regulatory framework for prosumer development later this year. The document is available on the CRU website at the following link: CRU21019-2021-Roadmap-for-the-Clean-Energy-Packages-Electricity-and-Renewables-Directives.pdf.
21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider lifting the restrictions on motorcycle advanced driver instructors to allow them to return to work as they have no close nor indoor interactions with their clients. [23505/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the broader easing of restrictions across Irish society I can confirm that the gradual reopening of the driving instruction industry will commence from the 10th of May.
Initial Basic Training (IBT) for all learner motorcyclists may resume from that date.
The Road Safety Authority will be contacting motorcycle instructors over the course of the week with further details of these measures.
22. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if officials in the motor tax office will contact the person with a view to resolving the matter. [23300/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn official from my Department has contacted the person concerned and I understand that the matter is being resolved.
23. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to a deviation from the present route of the bus services serving Johnstown, Maynooth to include Clonaugh in the same area thereby extending service to a wider community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra24. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if a bus service can be extended to Ardclough, County Kildare to facilitate local communities to a greater extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
