Thursday, 6 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 121-139

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (121)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to a series of Parliamentary Questions (details supplied) in respect of the commencement of the sick leave scheme, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that much preparatory work must be done by payroll software developers in order for their clients to be complaint with the Revenue Commissioners in advance of 1 January 2023; and if he will direct his officials to expedite their work in this regard. [49393/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

It has recently been announced that the Sick Leave Act 2022 will commence on 1 January 2023.

The Act introduces an important new employment right that all workers will have, and is building on our work to date to make work pay and improve terms and conditions for workers.

Regulations to give effect to the commencement date and rate of statutory sick pay are currently being drafted. I assure you that finalising these regulations is a priority for the Department.

As previously advised, I acknowledge the important role payroll software developers have in this context. Officials from my Department will engage further with their representatives in the near future.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (122, 127)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

122. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm the contracts that his Department has with top security. [49262/22]

Mick Barry

Ceist:

127. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has any contracts with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49164/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 127 together. My Department and its Offices, which include the Companies Registration Office, the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission, have no contracts with the company.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (123, 124, 125, 126)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

123. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the Communities Energy Grant ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49140/22]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

124. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if all applications currently submitted for the Communities Energy Grants will be evaluated and granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49141/22]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

125. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans for a new scheme to replace the Communities Energy Grant in the case that the grant ceases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49142/22]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

126. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that a Communities Energy Grant application by a company (details supplied) has not been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49143/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 124, 125 and 126 together.

The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.

The Communities Energy Grant Scheme (CEG) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. As part of their administrative role, the SEAI operate standard procedures to ensure that the terms and conditions of the schemes in place are complied with and that the works are carried out appropriately and to the requisite standards. 

The Call for Projects for 2022 launched on 21st March this year and demand has been very positive for the Scheme.  Figures provided by SEAI show that 26 applications have been submitted under the Scheme and of these, 14 have been grant awarded, 2 have been unsuccessful and 10 are under evaluation. Under the Scheme, contracts for works will be extended to 12 months. This will better support year-round delivery of services and allow for more complex projects. The Communities Grant Scheme guidelines were published in March 2022 and there have been no changes to the guidelines since. There are no plans for a new scheme to replace the Community Energy Grant Scheme.

Applications under SEAI schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is [e-mail]

In addition, the SEAI advise that live updates are available for project coordinators for the Community Energy Grant Scheme on the SEAI web site: www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/project-criteria-and-funding/grant-tracker/?__toolbar=1.

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 122.

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (128)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

128. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the name, function and establishment date of all the organisations and agencies that are funded by his Department; the number of employees in each; the salary of the chief executive in each organisation and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49184/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

The information requested by the deputy in relation to 5 agencies that are funded bodies and under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below.

Name of body	Function of body	Establishment Date	No of employees	Salary of CEO
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA)	The function of the DHDA is, to support digital entrepreneurship through the creation of a cluster of enterprises focused on digital content and technologies in the Liberties area of Dublin8.	2003	12	€121,586
Environmental Protection Agency	The function of the EPA is to protect, improve and restore our environment through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others.	1993	448	€186,891
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)	The function of Inland Fisheries Ireland relates to  the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource.	2010	352 including   seasonal staff.	€151,885
Loughs Agency	The functions of the Loughs Agency are as follows: - the development and licensing of   aquaculture; and the development of marine tourism. -the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery and aquaculture matters; - the management, conservation, protection, improvement and development of the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas;	1999	43.5	£67,403
SEAI	The function of SEAI is to help Ireland’s energy to be sustainable, secure, affordable, and clean by assisting the transition to smarter and more sustainable energy activities.	2002	166	€159,042

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (129)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that have had energy efficiency work completed since 2015 by scheme (details supplied); and the projected and planned totals for the coming years to 2030, in tabular form. [49199/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

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 level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. An allocation of €8 billion to the end of the decade, as set out in the National Development Plan and National Retrofit Plan, underlines the Government’s commitment to achieving these targets. 

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to work completed since 2015 is provided in the table below. The figure of 13,400 completions to end-August this year represents a 70% year-on-year increase.

Grant Scheme	2015-2021	2022*
Better Energy Homes	95,146	5,896
Better Energy Warmer Homes	32,212	2,642
Warmth & Wellbeing Pilot	1,464	127
Deep Retrofit Pilot	547	0
Community Energy Grant	4,823	0
Solar PV	8,904	4,411
National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (incl. One Stop Shop Development Call 2021)	805	330
Total	102,615	13,406

*To end August

  The National Retrofit Plan estimates that, between 2019 and 2025, almost 185,000 home energy upgrades will be delivered with over 83,000 to a B2/cost optimal level. When the emissions savings from the non-B2 upgrades are included, this is the equivalent of 120,000 B2 upgrades over the period. As a result, there will a need to deliver, on average, approximately 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades per year from 2026 to 2030 to achieve the overall target of 500,000 by 2030.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (130)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if new rules criteria are being applied for part-funded schemes operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for home-energy efficiency grants, namely that recipients must have a pre-and post-work BER rating, that applicants must pay the full costs of any work up-front prior to the SEAI subsequently dispensing funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49200/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Government has not made any changes to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) retrofit schemes in terms of how payments are made.  

The Better Energy Homes Scheme operates on the basis of the homeowner paying for the works up front and claiming a grant from the SEAI which is paid to the homeowner when the works are completed. There is no necessity to have a pre-works Building Energy Rating (BER) in advance of the works commencing. A post-works BER is obtained on completion of the works.  

The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is a fully managed solution, with One Stop Shops managing the upgrade works, including the grant application, and the grant values are deducted from the cost of works upfront, so the homeowner pays for the works net of the eligible grant. All homes under this Scheme must complete a minimum energy level of energy upgrades following a home energy assessment and achieve a minimum BER rating of B2 on completion of the works, the cost of which is included in the overall cost of works.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (131)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants who are currently awaiting approval for work for each of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland home-energy grants schemes; including one-stop-shop services, part-funded schemes and fully-funded schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49201/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Since 2000, over 465,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country.

Under the Better Energy Homes Scheme, Solar PV Scheme and the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, there are no applicants awaiting approval, as processing of applications is instantaneous. Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, the process is that all applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will have their homes assessed for suitable works. Currently there are 512 applications awaiting eligibility checks. Under the Community Energy Grant Scheme there are 423 homes as part of community applications which are currently being evaluated.

Inland Fisheries

Ceisteanna (132)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

132. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he has taken to deal with information which was submitted to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49231/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The matter referred to is being dealt with under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, in accordance with my Department's stated policies and procedures.

Energy Policy

Ceisteanna (133, 136, 137)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

133. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if provision for electricity credits will be made for voluntary organisations (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/22]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm that the €600 energy credit is to be paid in instalments will be paid to prepay and pay-as-you-go customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49358/22]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if persons with multiple homes, including non-principal private residence and holiday homes and so on will be eligible for the recently announced €600 energy credit for each of those homes; if he will provide a clear breakdown of all property categories to receive the €600 energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49394/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households and throughout 2022 introduced  a €2.4 billion package of supports. As part of Budget 2023 the Government has introduced a  package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion and will be provided to my Department through a Supplementary Estimate. The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). This includes accounts with pre-pay meters. The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without application/approval process. This means that it is not possible to omit certain types of residence that fall within these distribution groups. The Minister for the Environment Communications and Climate, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, will transfer monies, provided by the Oireachtas for the purpose of the scheme to ESB Networks,the electricity distribution system operator, upon notification by ESB Networks of the estimated total number of MPRNs.The scheme will be operated by ESB Networks by virtue of its existing interface with all electricity suppliers. ESB Networks will make payments to the individual energy suppliers, who will then credit individual domestic electricity accounts.The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), will be charged with oversight of the scheme. In addition, as part of its suite of once-off measures, Budget 2023 allocates €340 million for support for communities including sports bodies and community organisations.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (134)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

134. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if grants are available for the replacement of windows and doors in an old farmhouse to ensure it is weatherproof for the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49292/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Earlier this year, the Government approved a package of significantly improved supports to make 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 include a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the previous level of 30-35%). When a homeowner is completing a whole home energy upgrade, windows and doors form part of the overall fabric and are assessed through the home energy survey and assessment. The assessment may therefore recommend upgrading to ensure that home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump, and in these situations that windows and doors are eligible for support through the One Stop Shop service.

Therefore, it is recommended that homeowners considering a window upgrade should consider a whole home energy upgrade to determine the best measures to achieve a warm and comfortable home. Similarly, homeowners can receive support for upgrading windows and doors as part of a Community Energy Grant project – where the upgrade also addresses the whole home. The provision of grants for windows and doors, as part of a whole home energy upgrade, represents a continuation of the approach adopted previously as opposed to any change in policy.

In the Warmer Homes Scheme, poorest performing homes are upgraded and in certain circumstances windows may be recommended following a survey and provided where suitable. They are not offered as an individual energy upgrade but as part of a suite of upgrades to provide a warm and comfortable home for the homeowners in an economic and efficient way.

Energy Policy

Ceisteanna (135)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

135. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some eligible persons have not received their €200 electricity credit; the way that person will receive their entitlement under such circumstance (details supplied); the status of his plans to rectify such issues in advance of future electric credit payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49311/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Under the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment, a credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT), was applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June 2022. It used the single eligibility criterion of an MPRN to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible without any additional means testing. The scheme was operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

Each supplier was allocated a credit for each MPRN to which they were supplying electricity on 29 March 2022. As such, customers should contact the supplier they were with on this date, in the first instance. In circumstances such as those raised by the Deputy where the assignment of the MPRN on the 29 March is at issue, I would advise that the case be referred to the CRU Customer Care team.

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions to CRU at [e-mail] for timely direct reply.

The CRU confirms that upon the scheme’s conclusion on 30 June 2022, 2,138,939 domestic electricity accounts were in receipt of the credit. This means 99.36% of all eligible domestic electricity accounts had the credit applied.

Questions Nos. 136 and 137 answered with Question No. 133.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (138, 139)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a warmer homes conservation heating grant will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49439/22]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a warmer homes grant will be allocated in the name of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49448/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

The administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is [e-mail]