Thursday, 24 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 121-140

Climate Action Plan

Ceisteanna (121)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

121. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 16 September 2021, the engagement he has had over the past six months with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action, particularly in relation to Galway city and county; the engagement he or his Department has had directly with Galway city and county councils in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021 (the Climate Act) strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action. It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan, within 12 months of the receipt of a request from the Minister; with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Climate Act. Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and include both mitigation and adaptation measures, and are to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans.

My Department is working with the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop appropriate guidelines for the development and implementation of these plans. My Department continues to work with all four CAROs and stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group which meets regularly. CAROs continue to work with Local Authorities to both facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local adaptation strategies, and the climate charter developed under the 2019 Climate Action Plan. My Department also continues to fund the implementation of the Local Authority climate action training programme. This programme is increasing knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff, and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 116.

Climate Action Plan

Ceisteanna (123)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

123. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an update will be provided on the just transition plans of his Department for communities in which peat-burning stations have been shut down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10265/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Government is committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna.The EU Just Transition Fund is a newly established fund which seek to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and promoting a balanced socio-economic transition. Ireland must prepare a Territorial Just Transition Plan and accompanying programme, for approval by the European Commission, in order to secure access to its allocation of €84.5 million under the Fund. This plan and programme will set out Ireland’s proposed investment priorities as well as targeted sectors and regions. I have appointed the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as managing authority for the Fund, and my Department and EMRA are jointly developing the Plan and Programme. The draft plan provisionally identifies East Galway, North Tipperary, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, West Kildare and Roscommon as the functional territory to be targeted for investment. I launched a public consultation on a draft of the Territorial Just Transition Plan on 20 December which was open until 14 February. The responses to the public consultation will be used to further develop and finalise the draft Plan before it is agreed by Government and submitted, together with the EU Just Transition Fund programme, to the European Commission for approval during the course of 2022. Through the national Just Transition Fund over €20.5million is being provided in grant funding to 55 projects in the wider Midlands region. Funded projects are diverse and cover a range of opportunities throughout the region. Further details of these projects can be found at:  

www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/

Climate Action Plan

Ceisteanna (124)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

124. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an update will be provided on the establishment of a just transition commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Government has committed, through the 2021 Climate Action Plan, to establishing a statutory Just Transition Commission, with the general scheme of legislation to establish the Commission to be completed by the end of this year. The Climate Action Plan sets out that the purpose of this Commission will be to provide strategic advice to Government, integrating its role with existing governance and engagement structures, on how Government policy can further a just transition. My officials are currently progressing and developing proposals on the mandate of the statutory Just Transition Commission in advance of preparing the general scheme of legislation.

Mr. Kieran Mulvey was appointed as Just Transition Commissioner by the Government in November 2019 with the mandate to engage with those affected by the accelerated exit from peat for electricity generation in the Midlands region, and to recommend to Government the essential elements of a just transition for those workers and communities. The Commissioner has made an important contribution to the Government's overall just transition response in the Midlands region, helping to facilitate dialogue, and bringing forward concerns from affected communities, residents, workers, and businesses. In this context, and building on the work that he has undertaken to date in relation to the Midlands region, I intend that Mr. Mulvey will continue to support me in an advisory capacity on the development of policy to underpin the proposed statutory Just Transition Commission.

Climate Action Plan

Ceisteanna (125)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he communicates with other Departments to ensure carbon reduction targets are met to the highest extent possible, having regard to the need to meet such targets but at the same time ensure the retention and continued development of the agrifood sector, incorporating best practice both to achieve targets and prevent energy or food shortages in what are becoming intensely competitive global markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10447/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

In July 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law, significantly strengthening the legally binding framework to halve our emissions by 2030, compared to 2018, and set us on a pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

The new statutory framework also seeks to ensure delivery of successive Climate Action Plans, Long-term Climate Action Strategies, and National Adaptation Frameworks, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets, with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and the Climate Change Advisory Council.

The processes to develop and implement these plans and frameworks requires my Department and I to consult frequently and in a substantive manner with all relevant Ministers and their Departments.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 was published in November 2021. This plan includes additional policies and measures in every sector to bring about the significant changes needed to transform our society. It sets out actions that must be taken in every sector to ensure that we deliver on the statutory commitments in the Act.

The Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious emissions reduction range for the agriculture sector of between 22% and 30% by 2030 when compared with a 2018 baseline. While the achievement of this target will require effort, I am confident that the sector will fully exploit the opportunities of the transition without compromising sustainable food production.

For example, one of the major actions included within the Climate Action Plan is an overall reduction in chemical nitrogen fertiliser use to 325,000 tonnes by 2030, aligning with the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The Plan places significant emphasis on measures that will maintain grass productivity with reduced levels of chemical fertiliser use, including an increased use of lime and clover, as well as other multispecies swards which are less dependent on chemical nitrogen.

By implementing the measures contained within the Climate Action Plan, the agriculture sector can enhance its long-term sustainability, with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity. In July 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law, significantly strengthening the legally binding framework to halve our emissions by 2030, compared to 2018, and set us on a pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

The new statutory framework also seeks to ensure delivery of successive Climate Action Plans, Long-term Climate Action Strategies, and National Adaptation Frameworks, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets, with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and the Climate Change Advisory Council.

The processes to develop and implement these plans and frameworks requires my Department and I to consult frequently and in a substantive manner with all relevant Ministers and their Departments.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 was published in November 2021. This plan includes additional policies and measures in every sector to bring about the significant changes needed to transform our society. It sets out actions that must be taken in every sector to ensure that we deliver on the statutory commitments in the Act.

The Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious emissions reduction range for the agriculture sector of between 22% and 30% by 2030 when compared with a 2018 baseline. While the achievement of this target will require effort, I am confident that the sector will fully exploit the opportunities of the transition without compromising sustainable food production.

For example, one of the major actions included within the Climate Action Plan is an overall reduction in chemical nitrogen fertiliser use to 325,000 tonnes by 2030, aligning with the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The Plan places significant emphasis on measures that will maintain grass productivity with reduced levels of chemical fertiliser use, including an increased use of lime and clover, as well as other multispecies swards which are less dependent on chemical nitrogen.

By implementing the measures contained within the Climate Action Plan, the agriculture sector can enhance its long-term sustainability, with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (126)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

126. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the roll-out of high-speed rural broadband in south-western areas of County Cork. [9367/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

There are over 276,000 premises in County Cork of which over 80,600 are within the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area and will receive access to high speed broadband under the NBP. Government investment in County Cork in the NBP will be in the order of €314 million.

National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. In County Cork surveying is underway in the Deployment Area of Clonakilty and surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Templemartin, Tallow, Kanturk and Fermoy. Main works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline.  As of 11 February, over 35,000 premises in County Cork have been surveyed, with over 10,500 premises under construction and there are more than 4,500 premises than can today order a fibre broadband service.  In South West Cork survey is underway in the Deployment Area of Clonakilty and to date 1,345 premises have been surveyed in the area. 

Bringing connectivity to remote locations is central to promoting regional development including to South West Cork.  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 2022, some 22 BCP sites have been installed in County Cork by NBI and 7 of the BCP sites installed are located in South West Cork: Caheragh Community Hall, Clogagh Community Hall, Mealagh Valley Community Centre, Bere Island Heritage Centre, Sherkin Island Community Hall, Lissavard Community Centre and Coláiste Phobal Cléire.

In County Cork some 15 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access and one of the school sites installed is located in Cork South West at Clogagh National School.  My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area.

Climate Action Plan

Ceisteanna (127)

Cormac Devlin

Ceist:

127. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national heat study will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10479/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published the National Heat Study on 22 February 2022.

The Study contains detailed analysis which will now facilitate the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050 and will be a key input into the delivery of a number of actions contained in the Climate Action Plan 2022.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (128)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

128. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work that is under way to mitigate the current delay in the roll-out of the national broadband plan, particularly in locations throughout the Dún Laoghaire area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10155/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

The 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 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.

The majority of premises in Dun Laoghaire are covered by commercial operators.  There are over 600 premises in Dun Laoghaire located in the NBP Intervention Area which are covered by the Enniskerry Deployment Area. Surveying is underway in these areas and it is anticipated that they will be provided with access to high speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan in 2023.

The Department is currently working with NBI to agree an Updated Interim Remedial Plan (UIRP) which will recalibrate the targets for 2022 and beyond to take account of the knock on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other delays to the Programme.

I understand that commercial operators in Dun Laoghaire are also continuing to upgrade their broadband networks as part of ongoing work.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (129)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 4 November 2021, the status of the deployment through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland of capacity-building supports for community-owned RESS project development and in particular the trusted intermediary and advisor services and financial grant supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10254/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is the main Government policy to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

The RESS supports communities in a variety of ways including through a separate category for community projects and a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme.

The Climate Action Plan includes a target for at least 500MW of renewable electricity to be supplied by local community-based projects; to reach this target at least 100 community projects will be needed. In order to ensure such a pipeline of community projects I have allocated €2 million in capital funding in Budget 2022 to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

This funding will enable SEAI to deploy a range of capacity-building supports including toolkit guides to assist communities in developing renewable projects. The first four of these, covering grid connection, Solar PV, the planning process and onshore wind, are available on the SEAI website, with more to be developed in the coming months. A trusted intermediary service is also now in place, with an advisor service and financial grant supports to be delivered in quarter two of 2022.

Illegal Dumping

Ceisteanna (130)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

130. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the progress to update legislation and regulation to enable local authorities to use CCTV in their fight against illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9272/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

The General Scheme of the Circular Economy Bill 2021 was published on 15 June 2021. It is my intention under the Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV, but also the use of a broad range of Audio-Visual Recording (AVR) equipment in order to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat litter and illegal dumping.

The pre-legislative scrutiny process has been completed with the publication of the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action on 16th December 2021. Drafting is well advanced, the Bill will be published in Q1 2022 and enacted as soon as possible thereafter.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (131)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

131. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 30 November 2021 and No. 232 of 1 February 2022, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10464/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

A  response to PQ Nos. 158 of 30 November 2021 and No. 232 of 1 February 2022 issued to the Deputy on 17 February.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (132)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the present position regarding the roll-out of the national broadband plan in respect of counties Cavan and Monaghan; the further progress that is expected in this roll-out during 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10463/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

There are over 16,000 premises in County Cavan and over 15,000 premises in County Monaghan in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area that will receive access to high speed broadband under the State led intervention to be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

Government investment in Counties Cavan and Monaghan in the NBP will be in the order of €65 million and €60 million respectively. In County Cavan surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Kilnaleck and Cootehill and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Cavan, with over 10,400 premises surveyed to date and over 3,700 premises now available to order. In County Monaghan surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Clones and Carrickmacross, pre-works are underway in the Deployment Area of Emyvale and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Monaghan, with over 10,600 premises surveyed to date, over 1,300 premises under construction and over 4,300 premises available to order.

In addition to the challenges to the delivery of the NBP due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has faced a range of other challenges due to the sheer scale and complexity of rolling out fibre to the home in a rural environment. These include significant tree trimming to ensure cable can be placed on overhead poles, remediation of ducting that has been in place for many decades, the co-ordination of hundreds of contracting crews and addressing the many issues arising week on week which could not have been foreseen until the build crews commenced work on the ground. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract. This plan addresses delays experienced by NBI, primarily arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and re-baselines milestones for 2021. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond.  This has resulted in some changes to timeframes for connection for end users.

NBI has implemented a number of measures to help lessen the impact that these challenges have had on the rollout including:-

- Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month;

- Bringing in additional NBI resources;

- Earlier procurement of material used in the build stages; and

- Bringing in additional subcontractors

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 2022, some 12 sites are installed in Cavan and 14 sites in Monaghan.  Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

In County Cavan 10 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access, with 11 installed in County Monaghan. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Environmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (133, 143)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

133. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the projected amounts that will be raised from the carbon tax that are ring-fenced for retrofitting programmes in each of the years 2022 to 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10486/22]

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the yearly funding available for the recently announced retrofitting scheme in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 of €267 million, €291 million and €380 million can be increased to a yearly average of €1 billion if the funds are used or run out as a result of uptake, inflation or capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10276/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 143 together.

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The National Retrofit Plan and National Development Plan have provided an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030.

The carbon tax allocation for residential retrofit as outlined in the National Development Plan is set out in table 1 below.

Table 1: Carbon Tax Allocation for Residential Retrofit 2022-2025 as out in the Nation Development Plan

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025
Planned allocation (€m)	202	291	380	469

The total planned annual allocations for retrofit as outlined in the National Retrofit Plan are set out in the table 2 below.

Table 2: Overall allocation (carbon tax and Exchequer funding) for residential retrofit 2022-2030

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Planned Allocation (€m)	267	291	380	469	641	898	1,257	1,760	2,000

It is important to note that the Housing For All plan commits to the retrofitting of 36,500 local authority homes by 2030. Local authority retrofits are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and are in addition to the allocations in the table above.

The National Retrofit Plan also states that European Union funding will be pursued to support our retrofit ambition. In this regard, my Department is currently examining the potential for the European Regional Development Fund to provide additional funding for the Warmer Homes Scheme.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 109.

Data Centres

Ceisteanna (135)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

135. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 3 November 2021, the engagement he or his Department has had to date with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the review of the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10255/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Under the Climate Action Plan 2021, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment committed to reviewing the 2018 'Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy' to ensure alignment with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, sectoral emissions and climate priorities. This is part of a suite of actions included in the Climate Action Plan 2021 to ensure that Ireland is planning appropriately for new energy demand in the context of our electrification and decarbonisation ambitions, while facilitating growth in digitalisation and our technology sector.

My Department is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and relevant state agencies to ensure that there is a plan-led, regionally balanced approach to large developments such as data centres in future taking into account existing grid availability and the opportunity to co-locate significant renewable energy opportunities. In this regard, my Department has been engaging with officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the development of this revised Statement.

In addition, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act provides, inter alia, for a maximum amount of emissions to be permitted in different sectors of the economy during a carbon budget period, referred to as ‘sectoral emissions ceilings’. All sectors of the economy will have sectoral emissions ceilings and emissions from data centres will be accounted for within the relevant sectoral emissions ceiling.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (136)

Kieran O'Donnell

Ceist:

136. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan to homes in County Limerick to date; and the steps being taken speed up the overall roll-out in 2022. [10249/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

There are over 99,000 premises in County Limerick of which over 21,000 are within the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area and will receive access to high speed broadband under the State led intervention to be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). Government investment in County Limerick in the NBP will be in the order of €84 million.

In County Limerick surveying is complete in the Deployment Area of Hospital, pre-works are underway in the Deployment Area of Adare and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Limerick, with over 12,000 premises surveyed to date, over 4,800 premises under construction and over 2,500 premises available to order or pre-order.

In addition to the challenges to the delivery of the NBP due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has faced a range of other challenges due to the sheer scale and complexity of rolling out fibre to the home in a rural environment. These include significant tree trimming to ensure cable can be placed on overhead poles, remediation of ducting that has been in place for many decades, the co-ordination of hundreds of contracting crews and addressing the many issues arising week on week which could not have been foreseen until the build crews commenced work on the ground. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract. This plan addresses delays experienced by NBI, primarily arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and re-baselines milestones for 2021. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond.  This has resulted in some changes to timeframes for connection for end users.

NBI has implemented a number of measures to help lessen the impact that these challenges have had on the rollout including:-

- Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month;

- Bringing in additional NBI resources;

- Earlier procurement of material used in the build stages; and

- Bringing in additional subcontractors

It remains the ambition of the Government to rollout the National Broadband Plan as quickly as possible. My Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of the NBP 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. However, the primary focus must be on addressing the delays which have arisen and ensuring that the National Broadband Ireland build programme gets back on track and is building momentum month on month.

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. In County Limerick 13 BCP’s have been installed, as of 11 February 2022. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

In County Limerick 11 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Energy Policy

Ceisteanna (137)

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

137. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will devise an all-island anti-fracking strategy; and if he has spoken with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in respect of the importation of liquefied natural gas. [9445/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

A statutory ban on fracking for petroleum in Ireland is already established under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Act 2017, which prohibits the exploration for and extraction of onshore petroleum by means of hydraulic fracturing. The Government Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas was approved by Government and published in May 2021. The policy statement provides that, pending the outcome of a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, that is currently being carried out by the Department, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with. The review is expected to be completed later this year. The findings of the review will be submitted to Government. While there are terminals to import LNG in Great Britain, there are currently none in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland sources its natural gas from Great Britain by pipeline. I have not had any formal discussions with my Northern Ireland counterpart in relation to Northern Ireland specific policy on LNG, nor do I have plans to devise an all-island anti-fracking strategy.

Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 103.

Environmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (139)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

139. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way his Department will achieve the target of 400 free home retrofits per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9465/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households at risk of energy poverty.  Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the SEAI administered scheme.  Last year, 2,126 upgrades were delivered under the scheme and the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was €17,100.

There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. It is important to note that activity under the Scheme in 2020 and 2021 was significantly impacted by COVID-related restrictions on the construction sector which led to a large increase in the number of homes awaiting works. Addressing wait times is a key priority for my Department and the SEAI.  

The 2022 budget for the Scheme, at €109 million, will support an increase in the number of homes retrofitted from 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year. This greatly increased level of activity will enable the homes currently on the waiting list to be cleared in approximately 18 months.

In addition to the record capital allocation for the Scheme this year, I have also secured additional staffing resources for the SEAI including the Warmer Homes Scheme team.  Delivery capacity in the supply chain has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel established in late 2020. The SEAI continues to work with the scheme contractors on an ongoing basis to further increase output.

Environmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (140, 182)

John Lahart

Ceist:

140. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a timeline for the establishment of the national residential retrofit oversight steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10480/22]

John Lahart

Ceist:

182. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a timeline for the establishment of the national residential retrofit oversight steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 182 together.

The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.

The Plan incorporates actions to be delivered across a number of Government Departments and Agencies. As such, implementation will require collaboration across Government and appropriate structures and governance arrangements are essential. In that regard, the Plan commits to the establishment of a cross-departmental steering group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to drive implementation. This group will be established by the end of March  and will oversee and monitor progress against our national targets and develop new initiatives as required.