Written Answers Nos. 173-199
174. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces within his Department and the workplaces of public bodies and agencies under his remit, including a list of said buildings which do and do not have these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50338/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. The Department and its Offices are located in 10 locations across the country. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private sector. The Department works closely with OPW colleagues to ensure the provision of appropriate, fit-for-purpose accommodation for our staff.
In line with Section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 and Part 9 of Department of Finance Circular 2006/31, staff may avail of breastfeeding breaks or paid reduction in their working hours from 26 to 104 weeks for children up to the age of two years.
In adherence to Regulations of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 my Department provides Rest Rooms in all 10 (100%), of its locations which, while not solely dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing of breast milk, may be used by staff for these purposes during working hours.
Also in respect of the Offices of my Department, in locations where they may be tenants of a managed service company or in a building managed by a major tenant, they have identified private rooms that can be used by staff for the purpose of breastfeeding and expressing breast milk. All Offices are satisfied that they are in a position to make suitable facilities available to staff for this purpose whenever such a need arises. The Department and its Offices have staff located in the following buildings:
|
Department |
23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 |
|
Department |
Block C, Earlsfort Centre, Dublin 2 |
|
Department |
59 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 |
|
Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court |
Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4 |
|
Companies Registration Office |
Bloom House, Gloucester Street, Dublin 1 |
|
Companies Registration Office, Workplace Relations Commission |
O’Brien Road, Carlow |
|
Intellectual Property Office of Ireland |
Government Buildings, Lower Hebron Road, Kilkenny |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
Elysian Building, Eglington Street, Cork |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
Marino House, Finisklin Business Park, Sligo |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
Clare Technology Park, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare. |
The facilities management operations of the Agencies under the remit of the Department are a matter for the respective Boards and Chief Executives/Heads of Agencies
175. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a policy regarding the appropriate use of domestic flights in his Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department. [50120/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a policy regarding the appropriate use of public funds for domestic flights by Departments and bodies under their aegis. [50119/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 195 together.
The general principles governing official travel are set out in the relevant Department of Finance Circulars. It is a fundamental principle that the best value for money in respect of each official trip undertaken should be obtained, consistent with the requirements of official business. Only essential travel should be undertaken and the number of officers travelling on official business should be kept to a minimum. No domestic flights have been undertaken by myself or my officials since this Department was established in 2020. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
176. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of proposals to provide an annual support towards the cost of bin charges for homes in which a family member uses incontinence pads, which results in additional costs for the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49509/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No 142 of 20th September 2022. The position is unchanged.
177. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the participation that his Department has in the National Metal Theft Forum, to develop a metal theft prevention and crime reduction plan, particularly in relation to catalytic converters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues concerning the theft and handling of stolen property, including catalytic convertors, are matters for the Minister for Justice. However, officials from my Department have previously participated in the National Metal Theft Forum, a collaborative working group, which was established in 2012 by An Garda Síochána,to bring together stakeholders, including local authorities, the Department of Justice and industry representatives to improve information sharing around the issue of metal theft.
178. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the significant issues highlighted by a person (details supplied) in respect of access to solar photovoltaic grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland whereby houses that were originally due to be completed before the end of December 2020 but were delayed due to the impact of Covid-19 are subsequently ineligible; if the criteria can be reviewed for homes in this category; if he will outline the alternative avenues, if any, that can be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is open to houses built prior to 2021. The solar PV pilot grant scheme transitioned to the MSS scheme in February 2022, and the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and the eligibility of homes was changed from those built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021. This has already significantly increased access to the scheme. New houses must be in compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations, which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. There are options to meet this requirement under the standard by including heat pumps and/or solar PV. Targeting the grant scheme at existing homes ensures that the grants available through the SEAI maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. Since 2018, the SEAI has supported the installation of domestic Solar PV systems for over 12,000 homes, and with demand for the domestic Solar PV grant increasing significantly throughout the year, we expect that grant applications will exceed 12,000 in 2022 alone. While the level of interest in the MSS indicates that the scheme is working well, its operation and effectiveness will, like all such schemes, be kept under review and adjustments made where necessary.
179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland warmer homes grant under the fuel allowance scheme is awarded to a person (details supplied) without further delay. [49609/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister I have no function with regard to individual applications to the grant schemes administered by SEAI on behalf of my Department. 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 oireachtas@seai.ie.
180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount that the large energy-user rebalancing subvention raised in each year since its introduction; if this revenue was paid to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49611/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which revenue raised from the large energy-user rebalancing subvention was used to subsidise large energy users; the criteria that were used to determine if a company was a large energy user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49612/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the large energy-user rebalancing subvention was calculated and levied on domestic electricity bills; the way in which the subvention was calculated and paid to large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49613/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 181 and 182 together.
The CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators, including network charges such as the large energy-user rebalancing subvention. Revenue raised through these charges does not go to the Exchequer. The CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and not to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matters raised in these questions. The matters raised in these questions are an operational matter for the CRU and therefore not one in which I have a function. In this instance, I have forwarded the queries raised in the questions to the CRU for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
183. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a house built in 2005 with an MPRN from 2006 can qualify for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland funding under the better energy warmer homes scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49701/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the three eligibility criteria under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is that the home must be built and occupied before 2006. This means that the ESB meter was connected, and the property was lived in prior to 2006. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as they are deemed most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners at the best value for money for the Exchequer. It is important to note that the grants available aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. Dwellings built from 2006 onwards are covered by the energy performance requirements of the 2003 Building Regulations (Part L).
184. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that the electricity credit will be paid to those in multi-developments, for example, apartment blocks and mobile home sites, when there is one meter with a MPRN. [49741/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department
185. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the funding allocations for the Western Lakes draft management plan for loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49769/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of funding for relevant specific projects including the Western Lakes draft management plan for Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my department have any role. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
186. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to providing the proposed €600 energy credit to those living off-grid and fuelling their own generators for electricity supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49796/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department
187. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has put restrictions on the work of obligated entities to support household energy upgrades; if he will identify these; and the reason that he has introduced those restrictions, particularly at a time when the European Union has demanded urgent and immediate reductions in energy use which can be most easily achieved by shallow measures. [49825/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) requires certain energy companies to support household energy upgrades and is in place to deliver part of Ireland’s targets under the Energy Efficiency Directive. This is currently the case and will continue to be the case under the newly redesigned scheme which is being introduced in January 2023. The redesigned scheme was informed by an extensive public consultation which was held in March/April 2021. Regulations to underpin the new scheme will be published very soon and guidance sessions and further detail for obligated parties in relation to the operation of the scheme will be available then. The Government recognises the importance of shallow measures in reducing household energy demand and this is reflected in the enhanced grant rates of 80% which are available specifically for these types of measures (i.e. attic insulation and cavity wall insulation) since February of this year. A total budget of €337 million has been made available for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes next year including free upgrades for homeowners at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes scheme.
188. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount Ireland has been fined to date for the failure to fully transpose the European Electronic Communications Code within the required timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49834/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department
189. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if local community centres will be included in the €600 energy credits announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49890/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department
190. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will bring forward a cybersecurity Bill. [49992/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe security and resilience of network and information systems is vital for Ireland’s continued security and prosperity. To maximise the impact of the ongoing green and digital transformations, it is vital that we safeguard a secure, open, stable, and free cyber space from the ever-growing threat of malicious activity. My Department is pursuing a number of strategies to achieve this, including a suite of legislative steps to ensure Ireland’s cyber security. The Government agreed that the General Scheme of a Bill be prepared for Government approval, to establish the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on a statutory basis. Legislation is currently being drafted to provide a mandate and authority for the NCSC, and to set out its role with respect of other agencies engaged in national security functions. My Department is developing a scoping paper to inform the drafting of Heads of Bill, which will follow early in 2023.
In November 2021, the Government agreed a number of measures to enhance the security of electronic communications including 5G networks. The Government has endorsed the 'EU 5G Security Toolbox' as the framework by which Ireland will secure its next generation electronic communications networks. A series of Electronic Security Control Measures have been drafted in consultation with industry, and legislation has been brought before the Oireachtas to establish a legal basis for these controls. The Department will bring forward primary legislation on 5G security to assess the risk profile of providers of electronic communications network equipment and, if required, to designate certain vendors as being high risk. The legislation will also provide for certain parts of electronic communications networks to be designated as being critical and certain powers which would ensure that high risk vendors would not be used in critical electronic communications networks.
191. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total amount collected through the PSO levy in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50044/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my response to her previous Parliamentary Question, 18153/22 on the 5 of April 2022, which provided the Deputy with the requested information.
192. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, for which the regulations were signed in November 2021 to achieve the separate collection targets for plastic bottles in Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 5 June 2019, will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50052/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department
193. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline and date for the roll-out of broadband in an area (details supplied) of County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50060/22]
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 30 September 2022, over 337,000 premises are design completed and over 94,500 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 85,000 premises passed across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with or exceeding projections.
The network rollout for the NBP is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass. The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built. Villages, townlands and counties may be covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the rollout across county areas.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Sligo and County Leitrim 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 and connected 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 749 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 Sligo, 9 BCP’s have been installed to date with 11 sites installed in County Leitrim. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Sligo, some 21 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access, with 9 now installed in County Leitrim. 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/.
In relation to the BCP located at Killenummery Hall, Co. Leitrim, NBI have advised that the reason houses in the area cannot be connected is due to the fact that neither NBI nor any commercial operator has a fibre network in the area. BCP connections are very specialist, do not require fibre and are provided as a temporary measure until NBI completes the rollout in the area.
194. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland better energy grant requirement for a technical assessment to ensure that the home is heat-pump ready for heat-pump replacements will be removed in houses that already have a heat pump in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50115/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Heat pump heating systems are most efficient when they operate in homes with a low level of heat loss. The metric used to determine whether the dwelling has a sufficiently low level of heat loss is the “Heat Loss Indicator” (HLI).
Homeowners that apply for SEAI heat pump grants are required to undergo a technical assessment to ensure that the home has a suitably low HLI. This is to ensure the new heat pump system is appropriate for the home and protects the homeowner from excessive heating costs. This requirement applies to all homes regardless of the existing heating system. There are no plans to remove this requirement at this time.
Question No. 195 answered with Question No. 175.
196. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the procedures that ESB Networks has in place for distributing details of clean-export guarantee eligibility to each energy provider in respect of NC6 submitters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50131/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide weekly figures for the number of NC6 forms that have been received to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50132/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide weekly figures for the number of confirmations of clean-export guarantee eligibility that have been issued to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50133/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of staff that ESB Networks has assigned to NC6 processing and issuing clean-export guarantee eligibility to providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50134/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196, 197, 198 and 199 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister; has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.
As part of this, a renewables self consumer must have installed microgeneration and must have informed ESB Networks of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form. Full details are available at www.cru.ie.
ESB Networks’ role is to notify the registered supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customers meter point and to provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company in order to obtain more information relating to export payments through the clean export guarantee.
Once a valid NC6 Form is processed, this triggers a ‘market message’ to the registered supplier for that MPRN, informing the supplier that there is export capability at that site.
Between 4 January 2022 and 5 October 2022, ESB Networks received 11,461 NC6 application forms.
ESB Networks automated the processing of NC6 applications by implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in October 2021 and this has reduced the manual effort involved in processing NC6 forms.
There are dedicated resources in place to manage the NC6 process including managerial and technical support to resolve any queries. I understand that there is currently no backlog in registering NC6 customer applications.
