Written Answers Nos. 178-191
179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the policy instructions or policy documents that he has brought to the attention of An Bord Pleanála since coming into office [11597/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn August 2021, an application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála for a project involving a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. As Minister, I was listed as a prescribed body considered relevant by An Bord Pleanála to that particular planning application. My input to the planning application was made within this context and my submission set out the Government’s policy position in line with the Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas, published in May 2021. This statement provides that, pending the outcome of a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate to permit or proceed with the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland.
180. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that no provider in east County Cork can provide 30mb of speed to a housing estate (details supplied); if his Department will undertake an investigation on his behalf; if the premises will be included in the fibre rollout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe housing estate referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Commercial operators have indicated their plans to supply Gigabit services to all premises in the BLUE area of the NBP Map by 2026. Under State aid rules, my Department is not permitted to displace commercial investment by intervening in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these State aid rules. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
Complaints about service provision are a matter to be dealt with between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to ensure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
182. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of schools that have applied to the Pathfinder programme; the number of schools that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2017, the SEAI's Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education, has provided capital supports to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise school buildings. The programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. My Department's contribution to the 2022 schools initiative is over €11 million, which will see 6 schools benefiting from a selection of energy efficiency works. The general principles and approach to school selection for the Programme include schools meeting; Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements; and demonstrating a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the SEAI and the Department of Education partnership initiative, Energy in Education Programme. The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles, different elements of construction type and different heritage/conservation requirements, where specific learnings are being targeted. The selection of schools is not, therefore, done on an invitational or application basis, and their selection is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
Since 2017, a total of 53 schools were selected for energy retrofits under the Schools programme. Further information for schools is available on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/community-energy/schools/save-energy-at-school/
183. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of primary and post-primary schools that have applied for a solar panel grant; the number that have successfully received a grant for a solar panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11641/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, which are implemented by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners and communities to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
The Communities Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme is designed to support cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings. Support is available for schools and typically, solar PV is limited to 2kW for primary schools and 4kW for secondary schools.
The call for projects for 2022 under the CEG will be launched shortly.
More information underpinning the criteria for supports for schools under the CEG is available on the Energy in Education factsheet:
www.energyineducation.ie/Energy_In_Education/Information_for_Schools/Resources_and_links/Solar%20and%20Wind%20Energy.pdf
In addition to the CEG, the Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education, provides capital supports to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise school buildings.
The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables:
Community Energy Grant Scheme
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Schools Retrofitted |
13 |
10 |
25 |
16 |
21 |
|
Solar PV Installed |
6 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Schools Retrofitted |
10 |
6 |
16 |
6 |
9 |
|
Solar PV Installed |
1 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
9 (Proposed) |
The SEAI advise that the schools under the Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme for 2021 are ongoing; these involve Deep Retrofit upgrades being completed over two years and they are due to be completed this summer.
184. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress on the Programme for Government commitment to respond to the OECD review of the Environmental Protection Agency and ensure that Ireland’s legislative framework for licensing pollution is fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11646/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commitment to respond to the recommendations of the OECD report is being progressed in a number of ways. In July 2021, my Department agreed a revised Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) with the EPA. This PDA, which is reviewed annually, provides a framework to progress the recommendations in the OECD review and to assess the EPA's implementation of the OECD recommendations.
In addition, the EPA is developing a Draft Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026 and the Agency has clearly signalled that it will address the OECD recommendations over the course of the Strategy. Details on how to comment on the Draft Strategic Plan are available at www.epa.ie/publications/corporate/consultations/-consultations/epa-draft-strategic-plan-2022-to-2026.php This consultation will close on Friday 11 March 2022
186. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s role in the roll-out of decarbonisation zones in each local authority; the engagement that he or his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2021 and to date in 2022 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department.
187. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that he plans to tackle the current exceptionally long waiting times to have works carried out through the warmer homes scheme; and his views on whether there will be further backlogs in this scheme as a result of the recently launched energy efficiency grants. [11699/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners 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 at various points 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 (or a total of 4,800) 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.
188. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the possibility of a good Samaritan law, requiring retailers to donate food that would otherwise be disposed of to charity will be considered as part of the development of a draft national food waste prevention roadmap. [11702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which was published in September 2020, and is being delivered on a phased basis over the 5 year lifetime of the Plan, includes the following measures in relation to food donation:
- Investigate the regulatory and legal barriers to ‘Good Samaritan’ acts of donation and whether mandatory donation of edible food from retail outlets would reduce food waste;
- Using the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Waste Charter, support a voluntary target with retailers and the processing industry for a percentage of edible food to be donated;
- Support food donation and investigate ways to simplify food donation for business.
The above measures are also included in the draft National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap, which is currently undergoing public consultation. All submissions and feedback received through this consultation will be considered before the Roadmap is finalised and published, including those in relation to supporting food donation as a means of addressing foodwaste.
The consultation documents on the draft roadmap can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/96a04-public-consultation-on-the-draft-national-food-waste-prevention-roadmap/
189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update in respect of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s natural gas [11744/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is carrying out a review of security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems focussing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. The review includes a technical analysis which will help inform a public consultation. The technical analysis includes identification and examination of the key risks to the security of supply in the electricity and natural gas systems; identification of options that could address or mitigate these risks in the period to 2030; and appraisal of these options in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050.
I expect the technical analysis will be published and the public consultation commenced by mid-2022. It is planned to complete the overall review following this consultation, at which point, it will be submitted to Government.
190. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a detailed note regarding Ireland’s natural gas contingency supply in the event that Ireland’s European source is discontinued due to the conflict in Ukraine [11745/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland sources around one-quarter of its gas from the Corrib gas field, and three-quarters via the UK, which has diverse sources of supply. The UK’s gas supply comes mainly from indigenous supplies, via pipeline from Norway and through imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, the UK can also import via two gas interconnectors connecting the UK to Belgium and the Netherlands. Both the UK and Ireland both have far less reliance on Russian gas than other European Countries. The European Commission is a working closely with Member States to protect the resilience of Europe’s gas security of supply and the Commission is also actively engaging with other countries to ensure sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from disruptions.
Any disruption of Russian gas supplies would maintain upward pressure on European gas prices, with knock-on effects on electricity prices. In the unlikely event of any gas supply emergency, there is excellent cooperation between Irish and UK gas system operators – to maintain security of gas supplies from the UK. This cooperation includes regular testing of emergency plans by the operators.
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) is the designated National Gas Emergency Manager appointed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. GNI prepare a “Natural Gas Emergency Plan” which is subject to approval by the CRU in pursuance of its statutory functions in respect of security of gas supply. GNI’s Natural Gas Emergency Plan, which is publicly available, sets out in detail the procedure for managing a Network Gas Emergency and provides details on the role of GNI as the National Gas Emergency Manager.
191. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of imported gas via Europe and the UK in the past five years to date; and the origin of that imported gas [11746/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs illustrated in the table below, Ireland’s gas import dependency is rising in line with the decline in production at the indigenous Corrib gas field.
|
Year |
Import Dependency |
|
2017 |
33% |
|
2018 |
39% |
|
2019 |
53% |
|
2020 |
64% |
|
2021 |
72% |
In addition to indigenous Irish gas production, Ireland imports natural gas via the UK. The UK has a well-diversified source of gas supplies comprised of:
- Indigenous gas production in the UK continental shelf
- Imported gas via pipelines to Norway
- Imported gas via a pipeline to the Netherlands
- Imported gas via a pipeline to Belgium
- Imported gas at a number of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) reception terminals in the UK
- Withdrawals from gas storage facilities in the UK.
