Written Answers Nos. 152-168
152. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount in unpaid wages that has been returned to workers following workplace investigations by the Workplace Relations Commission by sector, year and value of wages returned in each of the years 2011 to date in 2022, in tabular form. [36843/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. The WRC inspectorate subsumed the functions of the former National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) with the establishment of the Commission on 1 October 2015.
Inspections carried out by WRC Inspectors operate on a compliance model. This means that an inspector will work with the employer to ensure that the employer fulfils all their statutory obligations and that any outstanding wages or entitlements are given to workers.
Where an employer fails to comply, the inspector can use a range of statutory enforcement measures.
These are:
- Fixed Penalty Notice: An employer may be required to pay a fixed amount in respect of breaches of employment law (e.g., €1,500 in relation to failure to provide pay slips).
- Compliance Notice: These require employers to take specific action to remedy contraventions over a range of employment law and failure to comply with the notice could result in a prosecution.
- Prosecution: Employers can be prosecuted in relation to a range of contraventions, including failure to pay statutory national minimum wage rate, employment of foreign nationals without permission to work and failure to keep employment records as prescribed in law.
The Tables attached provide the amounts of unpaid wages returned to workers following workplace investigations by the WRC. The information is set out by sector and value of wages returned from 2011 to 30 June 2022.
153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing one additional Workplace Relations Commission inspector. [36844/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing ten additional Workplace Relations Commission inspectors. [36845/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. WRC inspectors carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation.
The yearly cost of recruiting an executive officer inspector for the Workplace Relations Commission would be approximately €62,855 PPC. This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI, imputed pension costs and overheads e.g. ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence. WRC inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €8,779, bringing the cost of recruiting one inspector to approximately €71,634 per annum.
Using the same methodology, the cost of ten additional inspectors would be approximately €716,340.
My Department fully supports and continues to work closely with the WRC in monitoring its staffing and budgetary requirements. This includes anticipating future resource requirements to ensure that it is supported and adequately resourced to carry out its important work.
155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the Workplace Relations Commission in each of the years 2015 to date in 2022 by NACE sector; the number of breaches detected; the counties in which the breaches were detected; and the type of breaches detected in tabular form. [36846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services.
Inspections carried out by WRC Inspectors operate on a compliance model. This means that an inspector will work with the employer to ensure that the employer fulfils all their statutory obligations and that any outstanding wages or entitlements are given to workers.
From January, 2019, the WRC has utilised a new inspection case management system which provides richer data generally and in term of sectoral reporting is based on NACE sector. Prior to 2019 a WRC sectoral reporting tool had been utilised. Table 1 sets out by NACE sector the number of inspections carried out by the WRC in each of the years 2015 to 30 June 2022. Table 2 sets out the number and the type of breaches detected in the period and Table 3 sets out the counties where the breaches were detected.
Table 1: Inspection cases concluded 2015-2022 by Sector
|
Sector |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Agriculture |
78 |
47 |
48 |
106 |
71 |
41 |
|
Construction |
94 |
69 |
75 |
81 |
219 |
150 |
|
Contract Cleaning |
29 |
24 |
18 |
22 |
41 |
48 |
|
Domestic Work |
48 |
22 |
20 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
|
Electrical |
8 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
12 |
18 |
|
Equine |
54 |
45 |
19 |
13 |
||
|
Fisheries |
9 |
95 |
40 |
47 |
64 |
|
|
Food & Drink |
838 |
717 |
645 |
656 |
1,856 |
1,641 |
|
Hair & Beauty |
100 |
89 |
79 |
121 |
375 |
466 |
|
Health |
83 |
73 |
78 |
69 |
85 |
132 |
|
Hotels & Accommodation |
75 |
89 |
55 |
64 |
188 |
144 |
|
Security |
21 |
17 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
31 |
|
Transport |
58 |
43 |
61 |
71 |
67 |
87 |
|
Education |
30 |
29 |
||||
|
Wholesale & Retail |
416 |
295 |
258 |
363 |
1,049 |
3,941 |
|
Sports & Recreation |
31 |
|||||
|
Manufacturing |
79 |
45 |
38 |
48 |
53 |
222 |
|
Professional Services |
124 |
126 |
124 |
218 |
85 |
|
|
Other Sectors |
323 |
283 |
332 |
236 |
215 |
564 |
|
Not specified |
2,811 |
2,877 |
2,741 |
3,579 |
421 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
5,185 |
4,830 |
4,747 |
5,753 |
4,804 |
7,686 |
|
Sector |
2021 |
2022 (to 30 June) |
|
Agriculture |
57 |
24 |
|
Construction |
71 |
40 |
|
Contract Cleaning |
17 |
13 |
|
Electrical |
4 |
1 |
|
Equine Activities |
2 |
1 |
|
Fishing |
28 |
15 |
|
Food Service Activities |
763 |
653 |
|
Hair & Beauty |
243 |
126 |
|
Hotels |
38 |
39 |
|
Human Health & Social Work |
75 |
31 |
|
Manufacturing |
156 |
35 |
|
Security |
16 |
9 |
|
Transport |
60 |
22 |
|
Other Sectors |
488 |
240 |
|
Wholesale & Retail Trade |
2,414 |
614 |
|
TOTAL |
4,432 |
1,863 |
Table 2: Number of Contraventions detected 2015-2022 by Type
|
Type |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
National Minimum Wage |
269 |
292 |
409 |
503 |
143 |
88 |
|
Employment Permits |
531 |
404 |
509 |
448 |
362 |
115 |
|
Protection of Young Persons (Employment) |
5 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
157 |
68 |
|
Unauthorised deductions |
102 |
65 |
||||
|
Records |
1,938 |
1,502 |
1,553 |
1,961 |
1,153 |
876 |
|
Sunday Compensation |
76 |
199 |
274 |
248 |
142 |
|
|
Annual Leave & Public Holidays |
98 |
321 |
450 |
927 |
520 |
|
|
Employment Agency |
10 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Terms of Employment |
1 |
5 |
26 |
57 |
674 |
521 |
|
Payslips |
149 |
113 |
||||
|
Others |
267 |
172 |
||||
|
TOTAL |
2,744 |
2,398 |
3,039 |
3,710 |
4,184 |
2,681 |
|
Type |
2021 |
2022 (to 30 June) |
|
National Minimum Wage |
222 |
72 |
|
Employment Permits |
191 |
112 |
|
Protection of Young Persons (Employment) |
92 |
12 |
|
Unauthorised deductions |
66 |
33 |
|
Records |
1,040 |
925 |
|
Sunday Compensation |
160 |
108 |
|
Annual Leave & Public Holidays |
553 |
394 |
|
Employment Agency |
2 |
1 |
|
Terms of Employment |
657 |
460 |
|
Payslips |
158 |
76 |
|
Others |
265 |
104 |
|
TOTAL |
3,406 |
2,297 |
Table 3: Number of Employers in Breach 2019-2022 by County
|
County |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (to 30 June) |
|
Antrim |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Carlow |
13 |
12 |
28 |
12 |
|
Cavan |
9 |
21 |
39 |
30 |
|
Clare |
27 |
19 |
33 |
17 |
|
Cork |
17 |
39 |
27 |
48 |
|
Donegal |
10 |
31 |
46 |
29 |
|
Down |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
120 |
292 |
278 |
195 |
|
Galway |
73 |
52 |
51 |
64 |
|
Kerry |
15 |
28 |
11 |
15 |
|
Kildare |
49 |
93 |
90 |
53 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
23 |
31 |
15 |
|
Laois |
16 |
25 |
31 |
11 |
|
Leitrim |
11 |
4 |
14 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
53 |
47 |
45 |
22 |
|
Longford |
19 |
12 |
21 |
11 |
|
Louth |
19 |
65 |
30 |
25 |
|
Mayo |
33 |
36 |
44 |
13 |
|
Meath |
29 |
70 |
57 |
21 |
|
Monaghan |
13 |
32 |
22 |
23 |
|
Offaly |
30 |
44 |
27 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
16 |
20 |
20 |
6 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
6 |
17 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
65 |
59 |
50 |
|
Tyrone |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
42 |
60 |
26 |
|
Westmeath |
50 |
53 |
46 |
30 |
|
Wexford |
58 |
83 |
67 |
20 |
|
Wicklow |
50 |
80 |
53 |
21 |
|
Total |
789 |
1294 |
1249 |
789 |
156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36851/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Corporate Enforcement Agency will be formally established very shortly and will effectively subsume the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. The new Agency will have greater autonomy and flexibility in terms of the ability to recruit staff with the necessary skills mix and depth of experience to meet the reinforced mandate of the CEA.
In preparation for the establishment of the new Agency, the overall budget allocation for the ODCE was increased by almost 30% to €7.75 million in 2022. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to the ODCE/CEA by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement C7 |
7,750 |
8,525 |
8,912.5 |
9,300 |
9,687.5 |
157. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Companies Registration Office by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36852/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CRO’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.11, was €8.016 million. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to the CRO by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Companies Registration Office C11 |
8,016 |
8,818 |
9,218 |
9,619 |
10,020 |
158. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Personal Insolvency Advisory Board by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36853/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPIAB is funded through fees charged for its services and the exchequer provides an allocation to meet costs associated with former staff pensions. As there was a significant reduction in claims to PIAB in 2020 and 2021 because of the closure of public places and businesses and less traffic on our roads, the Department, on a once off basis, provided an additional exchequer allocation of €2.021 million. This was to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on PIAB’s income and to allow PIAB to continue to offer the most cost-effective settlement channel in terms of personal injury claims in our country.
PIAB’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.9, was €2.61 million, the pensions element of this was €589 thousand. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to PIAB by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively (having stripped out the once off allocation in 2022).
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Personal Insolvency Advisory Board C9 |
589 |
648 |
677 |
707 |
736 |
159. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Health and Safety Authority by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36854/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSA’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.5, was €26.471 million. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to the HSA by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Health and Safety Authority C5 |
26,471 |
29,118 |
30,442 |
31,765 |
33,089 |
160. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36856/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CCPC’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.8, was €18.323 million. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to the CCPC by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission C8 |
18,323 |
20,155 |
21,071 |
21,988 |
22,904 |
It should be noted that, the CCPC is partially funded by the collection of a levy on regulated financial service entities.
161. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority by10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36857/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIAASA’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.12, was €1.679 million. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to IAASA by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority C12 |
1,679 |
1,847 |
1,931 |
2,015 |
2,099 |
It should be noted that, as provided for by its founding legislation, IAASA is partially funded by the prescribed accountancy bodies, by way of a mandatory annual levy.
162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost increasing the funding to the Low Pay Commission by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in tabular form. [36858/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LPC’s allocation for 2022 from Vote 32, under subhead C.16, was €490k. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing funding to the LPC by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively.
|
REV Allocation 2022 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
15% Increase (€,000) |
20% Increase (€,000) |
25% Increase (€,000) |
|
|
Low Pay Commission C16 |
490 |
539 |
564 |
588 |
613 |
163. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 30 June 2022, the names of the members of the panel that designed I.S. 465 for the National Standards Authority of Ireland; and the names of the members of the panel that is now reviewing I.S. 465. [36915/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NSAI Committee, NSAI TC 063, was and continues to be responsible for the development of I.S. 465.
The committee’s composition remains the same for work currently underway on amendment of I.S. 465, except for Ground Investigations Ireland and Fastnet Analytical who are no longer involved.
NSAI keeps membership of the committee constantly under review so as to endeavour to have a balanced representation within the constraints imposed by availability of suitable experts and interested stakeholders, and the voluntary nature of the committee. The contribution made by members, in terms of time and expertise, to this essential standardisation work is valued.
The table below lists companies and bodies represented on the technical committee which developed I.S. 465 in 2018 and its amendment in 2020.
|
2018 Committee |
Current Committee |
|
|
Chair (retired structural engineer) |
Frank Lee |
Frank Lee |
|
Association Consulting Engineers Ireland (ACEI) |
Eddie Comerford |
Eddie Comerford |
|
Cement Manufacturers Ireland (CMI) |
Brendan Lynch |
Eanna Nolan |
|
Department Housing Local Government and Heritage |
John Wickham |
John Wickham |
|
Donegal County Council |
John Gallagher |
John Gallagher |
|
Engineers Ireland |
Aidan O’Connell |
Aidan O’Connell, Colin Scott |
|
Fastnet Analytical |
Robbie Goodhue |
- |
|
Ground Investigations Ireland |
James Lombard (deceased) |
- |
|
Geological Survey of Ireland |
Gerry Stanley |
- |
|
Homebond |
Conor Taaffe |
Conor Taaffe |
|
IGSL/IGI |
Paul Quigley |
Paul Quigley |
|
Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) |
Tom Moore, Liam Smyth |
Tom Moore, Liam Smyth |
|
Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) |
- |
Eoin Wyse |
|
Kilsaran |
Ken Mulkerrins |
Ken Mulkerrins |
|
Mayo County Council |
Martin Ruane |
Martin Ruane |
|
Master Builders and Contractors Association /CIF |
Seamus Duggan |
Seamus Duggan |
|
Mica Action Group |
Damien McKay |
Damien McKay |
|
Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) |
David Power |
David Power |
|
Roadstone Ltd |
Thomas Holden, Dermot McCarthy |
Thomas Holden, Dermot McCarthy |
|
Sandberg |
- |
Mike Eden |
|
SLR Consulting |
Tom Moore |
Tom Moore |
|
Secretariat (NSAI) |
Tim Brosnan, Fran Mackey, |
Ken Murphy |
|
NSAI |
Gary O’Sullivan |
Gary O’Sullivan, Yvonne Wylde |
164. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan will be rolled out at an address (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 24 June 2022, construction is complete or underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. Over 70,700 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties, with over 61,500 premises passed across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections with some areas exceeding expectations. In County Kildare, NBI has advised that 1,242 premises are available to order or pre-order and 796 premises are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
NBI has made recent improvements to their website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members. NBI has now completed a suite of changes, creating a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie.
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. Some 636 BCP sites have been installed by NBI to date and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Kildare 3 BCPs have been installed by NBI to date. The site at Lullymore Heritage Park is located 13.5km from the premises and is fully connected with a high-speed broadband service. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Kildare 4 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/.
165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the provision of broadband to an area (details supplied). [36868/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 24 June 2022, construction is complete or underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. Over 70,700 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties, with over 61,500 premises passed across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections with some areas exceeding expectations. In County Westmeath, NBI has advised that 1,943 premises passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
NBI has clarified to my Department that the premises referred to is a new build and has been added to the Ballymahon Deployment Area ensuring that it will be provided with access to a high speed fibre broadband service under the NBP and will not be left behind. Further details are available on specific areas within County Westmeath through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
NBI has made recent improvements to their website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members. NBI has now completed a suite of changes, creating a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie.
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. Some 636 BCP sites have been installed by NBI to date and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Westmeath 7 BCPs have been installed by NBI to date. The site at Kiltoom Parish Hall (Roscommon) is located 9.2km from the premises and is fully connected with a high-speed broadband service. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Westmeath 7 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/.
166. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to support the development of any new pumped storage stations in Ireland; and his views on whether such facilities are warranted. [36875/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnergy storage plays a critical role in ensuring flexibility and security of supply in the energy system, by facilitating the integration of renewable generation, supporting the grid, and shifting energy to the time when it is needed most. The Climate Action Plan 2021 recognises the important role of electricity storage, in supporting the transformation of the electricity sector. Under Climate Action Plan 2021, my Department has committed to developing a national electricity storage policy framework, which is due for publication in Q1 2023. To help inform this work, my Department will launch a public consultation in summer 2022. In addition, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has committed to reviewing the regulatory treatment of storage in late 2023.
At present, Turlough Hill is the only large scale pumped storage power station in Ireland with an installed capacity of 292MW. However, Ireland has also supported the inclusion of the Silvermines Hydroelectric Pumped Storage facility on the EU’s Project of Common Interest List. The proposed development will provide 1.8GWh of storage with 360MW export capacity and 360MW of pumping load. Projects of Common Interest are key cross border infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of EU countries but can also include storage projects such as Silvermines. The project is on the 5th PCI list which was published last November.
167. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a review will be completed by his Department on a recently produced white paper by an organisation (details supplied) titled Keeping Ireland’s Energy Flowing which outlines the way that Ireland can repurpose existing physical infrastructure at the Kinsale Head Gas Field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36937/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in the National Energy Security Framework, which was published in April 2022, the review of the energy security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems is scheduled for delivery in quarter 3 of this year, following which the results will be submitted to Government. This review is focussed on the on the period to 2030 and will examine the risks to security of supply and a range of potential mitigating options. 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. The underlying technical analysis is being updated to take into account the war in Ukraine. I expect the public consultation on the review to commence shortly, at which point all parties can submit their views for consideration.
The Policy Statement on importing fracked gas was approved by Government and published in May 2021. The policy statement provides that, pending the outcome of this review, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with.
168. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport when an applicant (details supplied) will receive a date for their driving test given their extenuating circumstances. [36812/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
