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Gnáthamharc

Thursday, 2 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 141-160

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (141)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

141. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to review the OREDP 1; his views that there will be a requirement for a new SEA for this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28486/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Work on revising the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan is currently in progress by my Department. The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II will set out the pathway for the long-term sustainable development of Ireland's offshore renewable energy resources. It will provide an evidence base for the identification of areas most suitable for the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy. The work on the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II involves participation across Government and the collation of available, relevant data on our marine resource. Key stakeholders from the economic, environmental, and social pillars are regularly engaging in the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Advisory Group to share expertise, knowledge and local perspectives. As work on this plan is progressed during 2022, public participation will be sought, particularly from those in coastal communities, to ensure a wide variety of views are captured. On behalf of my Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland engaged environmental consultants to carry out environmental assessments on the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The Scoping Report for the Strategic Environmental Assessment was the subject of a recent consultation which closed on 27th May 2022. Screening for an Appropriate Assessment (AA) is also been undertaken in respect of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II. The draft plan, the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment will be the subject of public consultation.

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 115.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (143)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

143. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the cross-Departmental offshore renewable energy taskforce; if it has had its initial meeting; the reporting structures of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28449/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has established a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce to drive delivery and capture wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. This will include the identification of supporting infrastructure development and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry is developed.The Taskforce has met twice since its establishment, and I intend to convene the next meeting later in June. The Taskforce will report through my Department’s internal governance and oversight structures. This structure will support reporting by the Department to the Climate Action Delivery Board and by me to the Cabinet Committee on Environment and Climate Action.

Climate Change Policy

Ceisteanna (144)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

144. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the implementation of sectoral carbon budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27391/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. As part of an enhanced governance framework to reach these targets, the Act also sets out the processes and timelines for settling the carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings.Following the process set out in the Act, and consideration by Government and the Oireachtas, the carbon budgets were adopted by both Houses of the Oireachtas and came into effect on 6 April.Work on developing  sectoral emissions ceilings is now underway. As part of this, my Department is undertaking extensive engagement with other Government Departments and detailed technical analysis is also being carried out to inform and support the sectoral emission ceilings. I expect to present the recommended sectoral emissions ceilings to Government for consideration and approval in the coming weeks.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (145)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the sanctions that were applied to the provider of the National Broadband Plan for failure to reach targets; the future benchmarks expected that is, the targets to be reached in terms of roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28376/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) contains a number of targets and milestones to be completed by NBI in order to deliver the rollout of high-speed broadband services to all premises in the Intervention Area by the end of 2026.  The contract contains a comprehensive set of protections and legally binding obligations, as required under the Public Spending Code, to ensure that public contracts are managed and delivered to the specified standard, within budget and on time. NBI is only entitled to claim the payment of relevant subsidy when the targets and milestones have been met.  The contract requires significant reporting of costs and revenues to the Department, with subsidy paid only on achievement of contract milestones which are verified independently.  Subsidy payments are therefore held until NBI meets these milestones.  Failure to meet these milestones has financial impacts for NBI as the company is not able to draw down subsidy.

The sanctions regime, which came into effect from 1 February 2022, is provided in relation to meeting Key Performance Indicators concerning connecting premises and operating the network service.  NBI is required to meet agreed performance levels for both the connection of premises and the operational performance of the network. Under an Updated Interim Remedial Plan (UIRP) for 2022, that NBI recently concluded with my Department, a revised target was agreed of 102,000 premises passed by the end of Contract Year 3.  For any milestones missed from 1 February 2022, sanctions will apply and will be calculated and imposed in line with the contract.

Renewable Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (146)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the support scheme for small-scale generators above 50kW but smaller than those supported by the renewable electricity support scheme; when the public consultation will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28479/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generators above 50kW to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV in cohorts that are not as suited to other support measures, such as the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).

This new scheme will enable farmers, auto-generators and communities to maximise their participation in the energy transition. The design of the scheme is being progressed and it is expected to become available in 2023.  

A public consultation on proposed design elements of the scheme is expected to open in the coming months. These proposals will be informed by a report on policy options to support the uptake of small-scale generation in Ireland, which has been commissioned by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and will be published alongside the consultation.

Air Quality

Ceisteanna (147)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

147. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the infrastructure that is at the disposal of his Department and the State overall to monitor and track air pollution. [28257/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The State’s main tool for monitoring ambient air quality is the national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme, which is operated and maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rather than by my Department. However, my Department has provided funding for a significant upgrade to the network in recent years, and the number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 102 today. The final expansion of the network will be completed this year and the EPA has recently advised this will increase the number of official stations to 116.All stations collect air quality data for a range of pollutants in order to provide information to the public, and for assessment against European legal limit values and World Health Organisation guideline values. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in operation, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at the EPA-operated website, www.airquality.ie . While Ireland has traditionally focused on measurements from monitoring stations to assess air quality, it is recognised that there is a need to provide more local air quality information throughout the country. The intention is that the information generated through monitoring, will be augmented by a newly developed modelling and forecasting capability, which will provide an ongoing air quality forecast service to the public. This work is being developed as part of a new EU LIFE funded project called LIFE EMERALD, which will use the information from our monitoring network to provide a national 3-day air quality forecast and near real-time mapping of air pollutants throughout the country. This will improve our ambient air quality management capabilities, and enable us to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to poor air quality, while developing a system that will provide enhanced information to the public.

Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 113.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (149)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

149. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the deep retrofit scheme will be in place and ready for contractors to begin work; if he is concerned that labour and material shortages may impact the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28485/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.

The National Retrofit Plan, published as part of the Climate Action Plan identifies a range of measures aimed at driving demand for retrofit, expanding the size and capacity of the supply chain, as well as making retrofits more affordable. In February, as part of the delivery of the Retrofit Plan, the Government approved a package of supports including a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels of up to 50% (up from 30%-35%) of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard. These supports address the barriers to undertaking deeper energy retrofits reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and scale of delivery – to achieve our Climate Action Plan target.

Since the launch of the NHEUS and other enhanced supports in February, demand for SEAI retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high with a very significant increase in the number of applications year to date when compared to the same period in 2021. The SEAI advise that five One Stop Shops have now been registered and can be found listed on the SEAI website at: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/one-stop-shop/registered-providers/.  The SEAI is actively working with other applicant organisations to support them through this registration process.

The National Retrofit Plan includes supply chain development as one of its pillars and has a range of measures that aim to increase the capacity of the sector.  The Plan also sets out the unprecedented level of funding to support the achievement of our retrofit targets – €8 billion of Exchequer funding to 2030.  This funding will give confidence and certainty to the sector to grow, take on staff, invest and innovate.

The Government has also taken a number of tangible steps to ensure that we have the required number of skilled workers to deliver on our targets. These include:

- 4,550 retrofit and NZEB standard places this year as part of the Department of Further and Higher Education Green Skills Action Programme

- Three retrofit centres of excellence are in operation with 2 more to be in place by the end of the year.

- Supports available for employers to take on apprentices.

- The Housing for All “FutureBuilding” initiative to recruit construction workers was launched by Minister Humphreys and Minister Harris on 5th May.

We also want to make it easier and more attractive for school leavers to take the option of a career in the new green economy. For that reason, the CAO website now includes information on apprenticeship options with a link to www.apprenticeship.ie.

Air Quality

Ceisteanna (150)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

150. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects the Clean Air Strategy to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28445/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A public consultation on the draft Clean Air Strategy ran from 7 March to 3 May.More than 100 submissions were received and these are now being reviewed, with a view to finalising and publishing the strategy later this year. The strategy will outline how we will enhance and protect the air we breathe, and set out a pathway, based on a comprehensive cross-Government programme of policies and measures, that will tackle all sources of air pollution.

Inland Fisheries

Ceisteanna (151)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

151. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is fully satisfied with staff appointments and the methods of interviews used in the western and north western areas of Inland Fisheries Ireland over the past three years. [28526/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Staffing and recruitment within Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are operational matters in which neither I nor my Department have any role.

Energy Policy

Ceisteanna (152)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which he intends to build the State’s energy storage capacity which has the potential to cut annual carbon emissions by more than one million tonnes; if he will prepare and publish an energy storage strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28383/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Energy storage encompasses a broad range of technologies with distinct characteristics and capabilities, including speed of response and storage capacity, that provide a variety of critical services to the all-island power system. Maintaining security of supply while integrating greater levels of renewable generation will require a very high penetration of variable electricity on the Irish grid, with increased storage capacity providing a low-carbon substitute for high greenhouse gas emitting power generation fuels, such as peat and coal.EirGrid has reported that a number of battery projects have been contracted via two mechanisms: SEM Capacity Auctions and DS3 Systems Services. There is currently approximately 500MW of short duration batteries on the all-island system providing system services, as well as 292MW of pumped hydro storage. There are also approximately 500MW of batteries either connected, or contracted to connect to the system over the next four years, to provide capacity to the all island power system. In addition, EirGrid will soon publish the final results of the second Renewable Electricity Support Scheme which makes provision to couple renewable generation with storage capability at project sites. This will help to broaden the energy mix and support security of supply. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021 acknowledges the critical role of energy storage in supporting a power system comprised of up to 80 per cent renewables and the need to develop storage capacity. My Department has committed to developing an electricity storage policy framework that supports the 2030 CAP targets and supports increased storage capacity. The framework is due to be published early next year. In combination, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities will be reviewing the regulatory treatment of storage, including licensing, charging and market incentives, which is to be completed by the end of 2023.

Burial Grounds

Ceisteanna (153)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

153. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to claims of a mistake on the beneficiary ownership registration of the Bessboro site in Cork; if these mistakes would be a common issue; and if the Register of Beneficial Ownership have taken steps to address the matter. [28714/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Registrar of Beneficial Ownership is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.

Relevant entities (companies and industrial and provident societies) are required to file beneficial ownership data with the central register of beneficial ownership (RBO). Submission of accurate beneficial ownership information is the responsibility of the entity concerned and any changes must also be notified to the RBO. It is an offence to file false information with the RBO or to fail to notify any changes to beneficial ownership details within the prescribed timeframe.

Concerns regarding the accuracy of the Register can be directed to the RBO at enquiries@rbo.gov.ie, including the words “Reporting discrepancy” in the subject line.

Radon Gas Levels

Ceisteanna (154)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

154. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of offices operated by his Department that are in high-risk areas for radon; the number that have been tested for radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has a dedicated Health and Safety Unit with responsibility at Principal Officer level, whereby the objective is always to ensure a safe and appropriate working environment for all staff and visitors across our buildings.

The Department and its Offices are tenants in eleven buildings across the country, six of these in Dublin and the other five being in Carlow, Cork, Kilkenny, Ennis and Sligo.   

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to identify all hazards in their workplace including radon, to assess the risk to health and safety from these hazards and to put in place measures to eliminate or reduce the risk. The acceptable level for radon for workplaces in Ireland is 300 becquerels per cubic metre. This is the reference level above which remedial action to reduce indoor radon levels should be considered to protect the health of staff.

As part of the Department’s internal Health and Safety management system, a range of risk mitigation checks are frequently undertaken by the Health and Safety Unit, often in conjunction with colleagues on the local Health and Safety committees in each of the Department’s buildings.

Based on specific radon tests undertaken by external experts on four of our buildings during 2021 and from monitoring of the Environmental Protection Agency's Radon Risk Map undertaken across other buildings occupied by staff of the Department to assess our level of potential exposure, the level of radon in each location has been traditionally very low and not sufficient to warrant any remedial action. 

My Department will keep undertaking periodic checks of radon levels across all locations as part of internal health and safety operations.  

Food Industry

Ceisteanna (155)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings held by his Departmental officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of infant nutrition in Ireland from 2021 to date, including the issue of infant formula; the dates, attendees and the matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28613/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

No meetings have been held between officials of my Department and representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of infant nutrition in Ireland during the period in question.

Enterprise Support Services

Ceisteanna (156)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is any benefit available for businesses who are employing Ukrainians and providing a paid taxi service every day as they have no other means of travel to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28708/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland provide advice and assistance to indigenous businesses to help them start-up, grow and eventually develop their export potential. As such they do not provide any financial benefits to businesses for transportation costs for employees who are Ukrainian refugees.

The Revenue Commissioners provides guidance on its website on payments made by employers towards the cost of travel for employees so this could be explored as a possible avenue for this benefit.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (157)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address an anomaly in the process of applying for a retrofitting grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28557/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Earlier this year, the Government approved a package of supports aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions.

The supports included a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). Under the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes, the general principle applies whereby grant funding can only be issued once per measure per property.

However, under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, a homeowner may be permitted to avail of a second grant for measure where it is recommended in the One Stop Shop Home Energy Assessment to achieve the B2 and heat pump target. In cases where the OSS determines through the Home Energy Assessment and Heat Loss Indicator assessment that a second wall insulation is required to meet the heat pump requirement, then grant support for a second measure is permitted as follows: 

Internal Wall Insulation is eligible where cavity has previously been funded.

External wall insulation is eligible where either cavity or internal wall insulation has been funded.

In addition, as part of the package of supports approved by Government, reforms have also been made to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme whereby applications may now be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the Scheme, but who could still benefit from deeper upgrade measures (revisits). This means that homeowners of properties built and occupied before January 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G will not be precluded from applying for a second time for qualifying works not previously carried out on their properties. 

Waste Management

Ceisteanna (158, 159, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

158. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a SME test has or will be conducted on the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups when dining in cafés, as proposed in the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

159. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a SME test will be conducted on the proposed single-use cold cup levy, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28655/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

168. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full life cycle analysis has been undertaken or will be undertaken for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés, as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022; when the assessments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28646/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

169. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken/or will be conducted for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022; when the assessments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28647/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

170. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if economic impacts (details supplied) have been included or will be included in the regulatory impact assessment for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28648/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

171. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 20 cent levy on single-use cups, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022 will be ringfenced for use by SMEs in the hospitality sector to subsidise re-usable cups to encourage behavioural change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28649/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

172. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the report on the consultation on the regulations to introduce a levy on single-use cups and a ban on the use of single-use cups when dining in in cafés, as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022 will be published ahead of the proposed introduction on 1 December 2022; if time will be given to consult with stakeholders on the consultation report; if an adequate transition period will be given to prepare for the new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28650/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

173. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full regulatory impact assessment will be conducted ahead of the introduction of single-use cold cup levy, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 159, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172 and 173 together.

The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’) aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the National Food Loss Prevention Roadmap; and the Circular Economy Fund. 

The Bill will also provide for the power to introduce environmental levies on certain single-use disposable items, including single-use disposable cups, containers and packaging, and to prohibit their placing on the market where a suitable re-usable alternative is, or could be made, readily available. These levies will work in a similar way to the plastic bag levy, which has been so successful in tackling plastic bag litter.  These new environmental levies will be introduced incrementally, with the initial focus on the introduction of levies on single-use disposable hot drinks cups later this year as well as a ban on their use in sit-in cafés.

All proceeds from levies introduced under the Bill will be ringfenced in a Circular Economy Fund to support environmental projects and initiatives. The purposes for which payments may be made from the Circular Economy Fund are specified in section 8(9) of the Bill.

Numerous Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) of re-usable cups have found that these cups have a lower overall environmental impact than disposable cups, provided the re-usable cup is used enough times and washed efficiently. The ‘breakeven’ number of uses required will vary depending on the material a re-usable cup is made from, and the type of disposable cup compared to, but can be as low as between 10-25 uses. A meta-analysis of such studies co-commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) can be found at: www.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNEP_-LCA-Beverage-Cups-Report_Web.pdf.

The measures included in the Bill, including in relation to environmental levies and bans, have already undergone public and extensive stakeholder consultation. Those elements of the Bill derived from commitments under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) were subject to stakeholder consultation during the preparation of that document, from December 2019 to June 2020, including through the Waste Advisory Group which included representatives from the hospitality sector. Initial proposals in relation to additional environmental levies were also subject to an earlier public consultation launched in November 2019. The first Whole-of-Government Strategy for the Circular Economy, which was published on 16 December 2021 was also the subject of a public consultation during Summer 2021. 

The majority of the feedback across these consultation processes has been strongly supportive of an increased emphasis on achieving a circular economy. As many measures included in the Bill – including the introduction of environmental levies and any subsequent bans - will ultimately be given effect by way of secondary legislation, my Department intends to carry out additional public consultations on the detailed measures contained in such draft regulations.

Reports arising out of any public consultation process, and any Regulatory Impact Assessment, carried out will be published by my Department.  All measures in relation to levies and bans provided for in regulations subsequent to the enactment of the Bill will undergo Regulatory Impact Assessments, including SME Tests, where applicable.

Question No. 159 answered with Question No. 158.

Fuel Poverty

Ceisteanna (160)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

160. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s strategy to help alleviate fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24683/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Energy poverty, or fuel poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home, and the cost of the energy they use in their home. In 2020, the ESRI estimated that 17.5% of households in Ireland could be at risk of energy poverty. Lower income households living in inefficient homes are more at risk of energy poverty when energy prices increase, as the proportion of their income needed to meet their energy needs increases. The Government has put a range of policies and measures in place to support households who are at risk of energy poverty. These measures supplement lower income households through the Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package and other payments, as well as providing free energy efficiency upgrades through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland schemes and the Social Housing retrofitting programme. This year, 58% (€203 million) of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million will be spent on dedicated energy poverty retrofit supports and local authority retrofits. Recognising the unprecedented rise in energy prices facing people the Government put in place a number of additional measures earlier this year including:

-an increase in the weekly rate of the Fuel Allowance by €5 to €33 a week so that €914 was paid to eligible households over the course of the winter, an additional lump-sum payment of €125 was paid to the 370,000 households receiving the fuel allowance in mid-March.

- the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment of €176.22 (excl. VAT) credited to domestic electricity accounts.

-specific measures in the new National Retrofit Schemes to support householders in taking actions to reduce energy bills, including up to 80% grant funding for low-cost, high-impact measures such as attic insulation.

To further manage the impact of recent price increases the Government, in the recently published National Energy Security Framework, announced a number of additional measures for households and businesses including:

-A new targeted €20 million scheme for the installation of Photo Voltaic (PV) panels for households that have a high reliance on electricity for medical reasons.

-A package of measures to enhance protections for financially vulnerable customers and customers in debt in the electricity and gas sectors.

- A review of the price-drivers behind electricity and natural gas bills (including network costs) with a view to mitigating cost increases for consumers and businesses in the near term.

-The continuation of the excise duty reduction on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil until the Budget in October 2022.

-A reduction in VAT from 13.5% to 9% on gas and electricity bills from the start of May until the end of October.

- An additional payment of €100 for all recipients of the Fuel Allowance.

-The reduction to zero of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy on electricity bills.

In addition to the measures outlined above, electricity and gas suppliers, which are overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, have a range of protections against disconnections in place for consumers. In brief, priority customers cannot be disconnected, while vulnerable customers are protected over winter months from 1 November to 31 March each year. Additionally, under the supplier led voluntary Energy Engage Code, suppliers will not disconnect a customer who is engaging with them at any time. Accordingly, any customers who are experiencing difficulties with their Bills should engage with their supplier to discuss the various options and assistance available.

A research network on fuel poverty chaired by the Economic and Social Research Institute was established in 2021. The Group consists of representatives from my Department, the Department of Social Protection, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Central Statistics Office. The Group has commenced examination of the data and metrics needed to improve existing measures for fuel poverty in Ireland. The main goal is to provide insights that enhance policy design to protect vulnerable households. A work programme, proposed outputs and timelines will be agreed and finalised shortly.

A review of the implementation of the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty will be completed in the coming weeks to inform future policy in this area.

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