Written Answers Nos. 21-34
22. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on the projected increase in gas power supply pricing over the coming 12-month period. [50526/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe unprecedented increase in international wholesale gas prices have continued as result of the volatility in the international gas market driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war. These gas increases feed directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas. Natural gas futures prices for next year are fluctuating but are averaging around 450 pence per therm. The Government is acutely aware of the impact of high electricity and gas prices on households and businesses. This is why the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports in 2022 and a package of one-off measures worth €2.5 billion in the Budget 2023 cost of living package. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account, including Pay as You Go accounts, in three payments of €183.49 through the November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023 billing cycles. This is in addition to an extension of the 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas until February 2023 and lump sum payments to social welfare recipients of schemes such as the Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Allowance, and the Working Family payment.
Furthermore, at the EU Energy Council meeting on 30th September, European Energy Ministers agreed to an EU package of emergency measures. The agreed measures include:
- A cap on excess revenues made by energy producers not using gas to produce electricity. All revenues that exceed that cap will be returned to electricity customers.
- A solidarity payment to capture part of the surplus profits being made by fossil fuel companies, again to be return to electricity customers.
- An EU wide plan to introduce energy reduction measures, particular targeting the peak hours of 5-7pm to lower the need for expensive gas generation to meet that peak demand.
The details of the agreed measures are now being worked out but are expected to provide additional funding to distribute strategically to those put most at risk by high prices over the coming months.
23. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the establishment, membership and remit of the cross-departmental acceleration taskforces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo accelerate delivery in a number of key programme areas for Government, I announced that I was establishing 6 cross Government/agency delivery taskforces, to accelerate and drive delivery in these key areas. Four of the taskforces are already established with work commenced on the establishment of the remaining two. Further details on the establishment, membership and remit is set out in the table below.
|
Taskforce |
Status |
Remit |
Membership |
|
Citizen Engagement, Climate Literacy and Communications Taskforce |
Established July 2022
First meeting to take place by end October 2022 |
1. To engage government departments, the EPA, the SEAI, and agencies in exploring how climate literacy can be embedded as a strategic level across sectors. 2. To support engagement activities relating to climate across Government Departments with key sectoral responsibilities and Local Authorities, in the co-creation of solutions to climate action. 3. To provide an evidence base to support sectoral policy and strategic communications emerging from the findings of the Climate Conversations, engagement activities under the NDCA, and social and behavioural research on climate action.
|
Chair: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
-Department of An Taoiseach -Department of Education -Department of Transport - Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine -Department of Rural and Community Development of -Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth -Climate Action Regional Offices -Local Authorities -EPA - SEAI |
|
District Heating Steering Group/ Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce |
District Heating Steering Group due to report in Q4. Following that, the Steering Group will report into the Heat and Built Environement Task Force, which is in the process of being established. District Heating Steering Group met 9 times in 2022 |
The Terms of Reference for the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce will be agreed by the members of that Taskforce, along with the work programme. It is expected that the Taskforce will identify work on the critical path to accelerate and drive delivery, to ensure alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments and to proactively manage risks to ensure targets are achieved.
Chair: DECC
Wider membership currently being finalised
Just Transition
Not yet established
My Department is considering the potential role for a Just Transition Taskforce in the context of the existing commitment to establish a Just Transition Commission.
TBD
Land Use
Established July 2022
Has met once
1. to seek input into exploring a practical means of accelerating our progress in the transition to carbon neutrality in a fair and equitable manner.
2. To seek a framework for land and land use to play its part through the second phase of the land use review.
Chair: DECC
- Agricultural Consultants Association
- Regional Assemblies and Local Authority representatives
- Irish Green Building Council
- Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society
- Irish BioEnergy Association
- Coillte
- EPA
- Irish Farmers' Association
- Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
- SEAI
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Teagasc
Offshore Wind Delivery
Established April 2022
Has met 4 times
1. to accelerate and drive delivery by public bodies of offshore wind
2. to develop a system wide programme plan
3. identify all aspects of work on the critical path, including gaps, risks and opportunities.
4. to ensure that potential economic and societal opportunities associated with the development of the sector are captured.
Chair: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Department of Transport
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Department of Rural and Community Development,
- Enterprise Ireland
- Commission for Regulation of Utilities
- EirGrid.
Sustainable Transport
Established March 2022
Meetings of the LG take place every 4-6 weeks
The acceleration taskforce dealing with sustainable transport is the Leadership Group (LG) established under the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP).
The role of the LG is:
- to oversee and drive delivery of the SMP and its associated Action Plan.
- oversee delivery of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy SMP Action Plan
- bring together the expertise and insight of its member organisations to ensure the plan’s effective delivery and to identify solutions to any common obstacles which may arise
- agree proposals for the first national Sustainable Mobility Stakeholder Forum to take place in 2023.
Chair: Department of Transport
- Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage
- National Transport Authority
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland
- City and County Management Association
- Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
- Northern and Western Regional Assembly
- Southern Regional Assembly
24. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the European Commission definition of highspeed broadband; and the impact that this definition has on determining the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50535/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2020 Digital Europe Agenda (DEA) defines high-speed broadband as speeds above 30 Mbps. The purpose of the NBP is to promote the deployment of a Next Generation Access network (‘NGA’) comprising access segments and where necessary related backhaul segments in areas of the country where there is no broadband network in place capable of delivering reliably download speeds of at least 30 Mbps and where there are no plans for such coverage in the next seven years (i.e. ‘white’ NGA areas).
As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s State Aid Guidelines (SAG) on the application of the State aid rules to broadband networks. The SAG requires, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise and public consultation process to identify, as far as reasonably possible, those areas where intervention is required.
Since 2013, the Department has engaged in an extensive Mapping Process to map broadband availability across Ireland, in order to identify which geographic areas already have or will have access to Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband services, i.e. a broadband service delivering at least 30Mbps download speeds and which areas required intervention from the State. Extensive information has been published at every stage of the overall NBP process, including each iteration of the NBP Map and information on the Mapping Process and the development of the NBP Map itself. This information can be found at www.broadband.gov.ie.
The mapping process included a number of public consultations conducted over a six year period from 2013 to 2019. The most recent public consultation was in November 2019, which aimed to finalise the NBP Map in advance of signing the NBP contract. This public consultation confirmed the existing and planned coverage of broadband services across Ireland. It relied on the most up to date information available, shared by commercial operators, of their existing and planned broadband services. The Department undertook an analysis of this information and determined where broadband services existed and where it was planned.
The European Commission approved the National Broadband Plan in the context of EU State Aid rules. The Commission issued the decision on 15 November 2019. The Commission has published a non-confidential version of its detailed decision on the EU Commission website.
The NBP contract, which was signed on 19 November 2019, provides that a future proofed high-speed broadband network will be deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to people living and working in the intervention area. It is expected that over 600,000 premises will be connected including new builds. The NBP network will offer those premises in the Intervention Area a high-speed fibre broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset.
The EU Commission is currently in the process of updating the State Aid Guidelines for broadband, which could allow EU Member States to allocate public funding to locations where 100Mbps is not yet available. The revised guidelines will aid EU Member States in meeting the EU’s ambition of enabling Gigabit networks to all premises by 2030.
26. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if churches and parishes halls will be able to avail of supports for the payment of their heating and energy costs under measures recently announced by Government, aimed at assisting those who may find themselves confronted with unsustainable energy bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50661/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment 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 and as part of Budget 2023 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 an application/approval process. On 22 September I announced the extension of Government supports of up to €2,400 for the installation of solar PV panels for non-domestic buildings – aimed specifically at businesses, public organisations and community groups. The new grants are the next phase in the Government’s Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) and are administered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme provides grant funding of up to €2,400 towards the installation of solar PV technology up to a maximum of 6kWp, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. This provides an opportunity for all areas of the non-domestic sector to not only reduce their electricity bills, but to visibly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and Ireland’s broader climate action goals. At the current high electricity prices, businesses, including the community groups, have the potential to save €2,000-3,000 per annum from a solar PV system supported under this scheme. Moreover, with the introduction of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), any residual renewable electricity not consumed on the premises is now eligible for an export payment which further supports the investment. This means that the installation can pay for itself quickly – thus helping to protect businesses and organisations across the country against rising energy prices into the future. Solar PV is also one of a range of measures funded under the SEAI Communities Energy Grant Scheme which makes grant funding available to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock and is open to domestic and non-domestic applications. To apply for a grant, non-domestic applicants should visit www.seai.ie and follow the outlined steps.
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.
27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target number of attic and cavity wall insulation completions in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [50684/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of homes that require attic and cavity wall insulation upgrades. [50685/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together. 27 and 28 together,The Climate Action Plan set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030. Recognising that the achievement of this target will require a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, earlier this year the Government approved a package of 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.
One of the key measures included a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to up to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to very high energy prices.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have confirmed that, to date this year, approximately 3,400 homes have benefitted from roof/attic insulation with approximately 2,800 homes benefitting from cavity wall insulation directly through the Better Energy Homes grant schemes. Additional homes have benefitted from these attic and cavity wall measures through other schemes also but SEAI do not have those numbers immediately available. The level of activity in this area will rise in Q4 and along with a range of other measures and schemes will contribute to SEAI working to reach its overall target of 27,000 home energy upgrades for the year.
Budget 2023 included an exchequer capital funding allocation of €337.3 million for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including Solar and Microgen. €291 million of the exchequer allocation is being provided from carbon tax revenue. The 2023 allocation compares to €244.2 million in funding in 2022 (allocation following the Supplementary Estimate in July) and equates to an increase of €93 million.This overall allocation is the highest ever and means that the Warmer Homes Scheme, National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, Better Energy Homes, Community Energy Grant Scheme and the Solar PV Scheme and Microgen will each have record budget allocations for 2023 to support homes, businesses, and community organisations including approved housing bodies, helping to protect them against energy cost increases into the future, while also reducing our emissions.This investment will deliver over 37,000 home energy upgrades including over 13,800 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 and 6,000 free upgrades under the SEAI energy poverty scheme.
Regarding the estimated number of homes that require attic and cavity wall insulation upgrades, the SEAI estimate that there could be of the order of 500,000 homes that have attic insulation with a thickness of less than 120mm (4-5 inches) of mineral wool, while approximately 162,000 homes have cavity wall construction that could benefit from insulation, of which approximately 80,000 were constructed pre-1980 that could particularly benefit from cavity wall insulation.
29. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount in the form of grants or direct funding that his Department or agencies under his Department's remit have provided to local environment networks, public participation networks that are categorised under the Environmental Pillar; if he will provide a list of those organisations that are in receipt of monies in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50691/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested, in so far as it relates to schemes under the remit of my Department, will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.The information 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.
30. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a grant will be made available to those households upgrading to a wood pellet stove; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50696/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to reach a legally binding target of net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and a cut of 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels). The Climate Action Plan set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030.
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 or carbon equivalent and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide.
Recognising that the achievement of these targets will require a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, earlier this year the Government has approved a package of 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. The key measures include:
- A new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme 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.
- Significantly increasing the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty, to 400 per month from an average of 177 per month in 2021.
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.
To support the overarching policy objectives, the grant rates to homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use and reducing carbon emissions. On that basis, grant supports for wood pellet stoves are not available under the SEAI residential energy upgrade schemes.
31. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the French proposal to tax private jets at the informal meeting of transport ministers in Prague on 20-21 October 2022. [50395/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe mooted French proposal to tax private jets is not, as yet, included on the agenda for the upcoming informal meeting of transport ministers next week so I have no details on the matter. It's inclusion on the agenda is a matter for the Czech presidency.
32. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule of the number of staff by grade who are assigned on a full-time basis to liaise and provide support to the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in order for that Department to fulfil its areas of responsibility in respect of providing for the needs of those seeking international protection and persons categorised by virtue of the temporary protection directive by the European Union; and if he will provide a schedule of the services that his Department provides to the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in that regard. [50460/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two staff members from my Department assigned to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on a full-time basis to provide support in providing for the needs of those seeking international protection and persons categorised by virtue of the temporary protection directive by the European Union.
They are serving at Higher Executive Officer and Administrative Officer grades respectively.
33. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the only form of identity being accepted at NDLS centres when applying for the first time or renewing one's driving licence or learner permit is a public services card; if there is an alternative offered for those who do not have a public services card and are unable to obtain one due to work commitments and the waiting time in their local INTREO office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50484/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA public services card (PSC) is only compulsory when applying for or renewing a learner permit or driving licence online. The PSC is used to confirm a person’s identity and image in place of a face-to-face verification. The Road Safety Authority is recognised as a specified body for the use of a PSC under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009).
When applying for a driving licence, a person can verify their identity in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) front office with a passport, a recent Irish driving licence or UK photo driving licence, a national identity card for EU citizens, or an Irish certificate of naturalisation, in place of using a PSC. All NDLS offices are open to the public, but an appointment must be made to attend. It is no longer possible to walk into an office without an appointment. Appointments can be made online or by telephone at 0818 919 090. A PSC is not needed to book an appointment.
34. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if any consideration has been given to a further extension of age limits for taxis and hackneys considering the ongoing issues that the sector is facing to extend beyond the end of 2022, and in cases in which the car is tested to the highest standard levels available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50494/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits for SPSVs , is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. As such, the NTA has powers to make regulations in relation to the age limits of SPSVs.
Regulations made by the NTA in 2010 first established an age limit of less than 10 years old for new standard taxis and hackneys. The ten-year rule was adopted in recognition of the need to strike a balance between achieving standards that offer the customer confidence, comfort and safety, and allowing industry members to operate successfully. I would note that the Irish 10-year rule for standard taxis and hackneys is not particularly onerous by comparison with other jurisdictions.
Wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys are permitted to operate up to 15 years of age. No maximum permissible age is prescribed for limousines in recognition of both the vintage nature of many of these vehicles and their generally reduced mileage.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, standard age limits for taxis and hackneys were extended on several occasions, and are currently extended through to the end of 2022. This change helped ensure no operator exited the industry simply because of the need to replace a vehicle.
Within the last month a series of global circumstances has, in the NTA’s view, considerably worsened the capability of taxi and hackney licence holders to secure new vehicles, with lead times of one year not uncommon already. Therefore, the NTA has recently proposed to temporarily extend the maximum permissible age for taxis and hackneys with a current final operation date in 2023 and 2024, such that no current vehicle licence holder is forced out of the industry because a replacement vehicle cannot be purchased.
The NTA opened a public consultation on this proposal on 19 September 2022, which runs until 12 October 2022. Details and submission forms are available on the NTA website.
