Written Answers Nos. 1-6
1. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department has 72 staff* seconded to State Agencies and other public bodies, according to records held on each secondment none of these 72 are in receipt of a higher duty/acting allowance.
Of the 72 staff seconded, 2 have been seconded for more than 10 years. Records indicate that there are no staff seconded for more than 20 or 30 years.
*36 staff assigned to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and in post immediately prior to the establishment of the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), were seconded to the CEA on its establishment on 7 July 2022. Additionally, 15 staff within the total of 72 are seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and posted to embassies and missions abroad.
2. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the basis on which critical skills are added to or removed from the critical skills occupations list; the last time this list was amended; the next time it is intended to be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55720/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market.
The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for an employment permit where there is a surplus of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market.
In order to maintain the relevance of the lists to the needs of the economy and to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) of my Department, SOLAS and by a public consultation.
Account is taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and known contextual and their impact on the labour market. Consideration is also taken of the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, chaired by my Department and of the relevant policy Departments represented on the IDG.
In order to have an occupation considered for adding to or removal from the Occupations Lists, evidence is sought demonstrating that recruitment difficulties are due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Sectors are also required to demonstrate structural engagement with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.
The most recent full review concluded on 27th October 2021. The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances. Outside of the full review process the Department continues to be in contact with other relevant policy departments to address particular challenges as they arise. The timing of the next Review of the Occupational Lists is being kept under consideration.
3. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason standing charges on gas and electricity have increased exponentially given these type of charges are within Ireland's own competency, rather than influenced by outside factors; and if he will direct policy to ensure standing charges are reduced substantially, or waived, given the huge increases in energy prices. [55678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra4. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the standing charge for night-rate electricity usage is much more expensive than the day rate, especially given the public is constantly encouraged to use off-peak electricity. [55679/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), as the independent regulator was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation, has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations.
The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by your question, is solely a matter for the CRU, which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999.In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, CRU ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014.Price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Each such company has its own different approach to pricing decisions over time, in accordance with factors such as their overall company strategic direction and developments in their cost base. CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
5. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has set a deadline for the establishment of the approved body to run the deposit return scheme for beverage bottles and cans; the estimated total cost of the scheme; the proposed deposit to be charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55726/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1st July 2022, I granted approval to Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (DRSI) as the approved body to operate a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Ireland. This approval was a vital foundational element for the project, giving DRSI the legal standing to establish a DRS and commence formal engagement with producers, retailers and other operators. Ireland's national DRS will be launched later this month, when the scheme will open for registrations from producers and retailers. This is a major project involving the development of complex IT, infrastructure and communication systems, which will be delivered by DRSI over the course of 2023. DRS is a producer-led scheme and will operate at no cost to the Exchequer. As set out in the DRS Regulations (SI No. 599 of 2021), the DRS will be funded through producer fees, income from sale of material collected and unredeemed deposits. Under the DRS regulations, DRSI are required to submit their advice to me on the appropriate level of deposit and the type of deposit. I expect to receive that advice soon.`
6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact, if any, the flooding of the bogs in the midlands will have on flood attenuation in the Shannon catchment; the progress to date on re-wetting the Bord na Móna bogs across the Shannon catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55770/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) is a five-year programme, currently in its second year of operation. The EDRRS was established in 2020 as part of the Just Transition and it is sponsored by my Department and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with Bord Na Móna acting as the operators of the scheme. The EDRRS provides for the enhanced rehabilitation of 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands that had been previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation. All of the lands being rehabilitated are operated under Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licences granted by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the EDRRS is building on, and complementing, the measures required under IPC licences. The rehabilitation works will take place on 82 bogs over a 5-year period and will improve ecological and hydrological conditions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reinstate carbon sequestration conditions over time.
As of the end of September 2022, 10,183 hectares of bog have been rehabilitated with the projected total rehabilitation to completed by the end of December 2022 being 12,200 hectares. Across the Shannon catchment, approximately 6,500 hectares have been rehabilitated to date.
The rehabilitation of degraded peatlands to a condition in which they regain their ability to deliver specific ecosystem services has considerable potential for initial mitigation gains and future carbon sequestration. Additional benefits of peatland restoration include positive socio-economic outcomes for the Midlands, increased natural capital, enriched biodiversity, improved water quality and flood attenuation. In time, the rehabilitation measures being undertaken will return the natural water retention function on these degraded peatlands, and it is generally anticipated that this will provide increased attenuation for intense rainfall events, as water will be slower to leave the bog.
