Written Answers Nos. 26-37
26. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding given under the Green Schools Initiative in Cork by school in the years 2019 to date respectively in tabular form. [62686/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGreen Schools Programme in Ireland is one of the most successful in the international Foundation for Environmental Education network and operates in over 94% of schools nationwide. It promotes climate literacy in a fun and interactive way, engaging children from a young age, as well as providing participants with practical tools to make changes in their daily lives and involve them in delivering solutions in their communities.
My Department does not provide funding to the Green Schools Initiative in Cork directly. We provide annual funding of €200,000 to An Taisce to run the Green Schools and Green Campus Programmes nationally. The Funds are provided under a grant agreement in accordance with the provisions of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014 (Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds).These programmes constitute an important component in promoting climate literacy and improving people’s capacity to act through non-formal education.
27. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of all fines, including the amounts, that his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department, have paid since the start of the 33rd Dáil term to the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62419/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not paid any fines to the European Commission in respect of infringements for failures to transpose EU law since the commencement of the 33rd Dail.
28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposals, if any, to introduce additional financial supports for persons, particularly for those on low incomes, who wish to retrofit their homes; if his attention has been drawn to the long delays in sourcing support from existing schemes; if a grant aid scheme can be introduced to ensure that unacceptable delays are eliminated in having applications processed and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62456/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme.
The support available under the scheme is significant, with an average cost of upgrades provided per home under the scheme so far this year of €18,750, reflecting the increase in the range and depth of measures supported.
Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times on the Warmer Homes Scheme waiting list is a top priority for my Department and SEAI.
In order to achieve a doubling of monthly average completions to 400 this year, the following actions have already been taken:
- The budget, at €109 million, is nearly three times the 2021 outturn (€38 million):
- SEAI has been allocated additional staff for the Warmer Homes Scheme;
- SEAI is working to Increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management.
The budget for the scheme will be further increased for next year.
It is important to note that in recognition of the increase in energy prices over recent months, Budget 2023 provides that all domestic electricity customers will get €600 credit to help reduce electricity bills. The credit will be paid in 3 instalments of €200 each in November 2022, and January and March 2023. Households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will get an additional once-off payment of €400 in November 2022.
On 13 December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023, including people on PAYG meters. The fund will provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from suppliers and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.
There are also supports for people in difficulty paying their energy bills, such as the supplier hardship funds or the Additional Needs Payment scheme run by the Department of Social Protection.
29. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62489/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year Government launched a package of new supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. These new measures included significant increases in grant supports through the Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes, by installing one or two energy upgrade measures at a time. Most notably, a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation was introduced. These enhanced grants focus on low cost, high impact measures, where the balance of the cost to the homeowner is minimal.
- Apply themselves and have the grant refunded once works are complete;
- Apply themselves and have the grant paid to their contractor who can choose to offer them a discount upfront; or
- Apply through a registered Energy Partner who will carry out the works for the homeowner and pass on the grant savings as a discount on the works.
Some of the registered Energy Partners operating under the BEH are also ‘obligated parties’ with legal requirements to help energy users save energy under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS). The EEOS has been redesigned in response to amendments to EU legislation and climate priorities, with a new scheme being introduced in January 2023. While the changes being introduced place a requirement on obligated parties to help homeowners to achieve a minimum savings uplift to achieve part of their targets, the new EEOS also continues to allow obligated parties to help those carrying out their retrofit through individual and/or shallow measures. That said, should one or more of those companies decide themselves to discontinue their role as an Energy Partner, other Energy Partners remain on the list and continue to offer this service.
My Department and SEAI recognise the valuable role of the Energy Partners to date in helping support homeowners to access energy efficiency measures, by avoiding the need for them to pay the full amount of the works upfront. This is particularly important in light of the current energy crisis, and are committed to protecting this delivery approach.
30. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the €600 energy grant given that they are living off the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62506/22]
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). The first payment has been made with the second due in the January/February billing cycle and the final payment in March/April. The estimated cost of this scheme for over 2 million domestic electricity accounts is €1.211 billion. This is in addition to the first Electricity Costs Benefit Scheme which cost €377 million.
The payment is being 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 includesaccounts with pre-pay meters. The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN)to ensure that payment can be made to those accounts automatically and without application or means testing.
ESB networks, the electricity distribution system operator is operating the scheme by virtue of its existing interface with all electricity suppliers. ESBN make payments to the individual energy suppliers, who then credit individual domestic electricity accounts. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is charged with oversight of the scheme.
Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme Budget 2023 also introduced measures including:
- €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients
- €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment
- Double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children
- €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November
- €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability payment
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members at oireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them raise questions for timely, direct, reply.
31. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of threats of legal action and or legal cases that have been brought against the State by energy investors between 1995 and 2021 including international arbitration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62525/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlthough no legal cases have been brought against Ireland under the Energy Charter Treaty, significant concerns remain about the compatibility of the Energy Charter Treaty with the Paris Climate Agreement and about the ECT’s dispute resolution mechanism, which allows investors to sue States, who are party to the ECT, for failing to protect energy investments, in particular fossil fuel energy investments in the context of decarbonising energy systems. We have expressed our strong views within the EU and we believe that our views carry more weight in international negotiations by advocating them as part of the European Union. We continue to reserve the option to support a co-ordinated EU withdrawal from the ECT if it is not modernised to align it with the Paris Agreement and to address our concerns and support the international effort to decarbonise electricity systems and promote more renewable energy. To date, Ireland has not withdrawn from the ECT because a majority of EU Member States, and the European Commission, are still signed up to the Treaty, while a modernisation reform process of the ECT is being negotiated. Ireland will review its position having regard to the outcome of the ECT Conference and in this context, if a decision is made for a coordinated exit of EU Member States from the Treaty, Ireland will support that position and withdraw.
32. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has a role in deciding whether the pension fund in the State bodies under his authority are providing sufficient increases to their members to match rising costs of living, where the fund has adequate resources to pay more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62550/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation and funding of pension schemes for employees in Bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Body. The respective responsibilities of the Department and the State Bodies are set out in the Remuneration and Superannuation Protocol of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) Circular 16 of 2021. Where an increase is submitted to me for Ministerial consent, NewERA’s views on the proposal are sought and it is then assessed by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with the advice provided by NewERA and the requirements of DPER Circular 16/2021.
33. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a limited company that is not part of the European Emissions Trading Scheme can offset carbon emissions' through green energy generation such as solar and wind privately owned and generated by the company and or from planting forestry on company property. [62574/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile Ireland does not have a specific voluntary national carbon credit trading system, we participate in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The Commission have recently published proposals for the first EU-wide voluntary framework to reliably certify high-quality carbon removals. The proposal will boost innovative carbon removal technologies, sustainable carbon farming solutions, and significantly improve the EU's capacity to quantify, monitor and verify carbon removals. Actions such as restoring forests and soils; management of wetlands and peatlands; bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS); direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS); and carbon storage in long-lasting products and materials will be eligible. The proposed scheme will be open to all land managers. While there is no offsetting in relation to solar energy, there are a number of initiatives to encourage the deployment of solar energy. Micro generation of solar energy is part of the Government's overall renewable electricity strategy. While micro generators are primarily producing electricity for self-consumption, the Clean Export Guarantee was launched in February 2022. This provides a mechanism by which micro-generators can be paid (by energy suppliers) for excess electricity exported back into the national grid. This will allow for an offset on the cost of investment. Along with other supports provided for the installation of solar panels, these policies are designed to encourage the deployment of solar power which will have the effect of reducing electricity supply costs and associated emissions for enterprises.
34. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 8 November 2022, the details of the community project which was successful under RESS 1 but which has not remained in RESS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62576/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The RESS supports communities in a variety of ways including through a separate category for community projects and a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme. The projects under development within the RESS, both developer and community, will contribute significantly towards Ireland's renewable energy targets and carbon budget commitments.
A number of projects, including a community project, have not proceeded through the first RESS competition (RESS 1). Details of these projects cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivity.
35. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if licences for drilling at a mine (details supplied) have been suspended; if it is the case that new licences are not being issued from 29 December 2022; and if this will lead to job losses at the location. [62617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not suspended any licences associated with the mine referred to in the Question, nor have I suspended the issuing of licences after the 29 December 2022. Prospecting Licence 4502 is due to expire on the 29 December 2022. It is a prospecting licence and is not linked to the operation of the State Mining licences and Leases under which the mine referred to operates.
The Company which holds the licence for the mine has applied for the renewal of the prospecting licence and it is currently under consideration by the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) of my Department. As this regulatory process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
36. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions that he has taken to support the Just Transition process since 27 June 2020. [62782/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna. A Just Transition Commissioner was appointed by the Government in November 2019 with the mandate to engage with those affected by the accelerated exit from peat for electricity generation in the Midlands region and to recommend to Government the essential elements of a just transition for those workers and communities.
The Commissioner prepared four progress reports, all of which are available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/e0e7e-climate-action-plan-to-tackle-climate-breakdown-just-transition/. The Government has responded to the Commissioner’s recommendations through the Midlands Implementation Plan, published as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, which outlines the targeted measures by Government to directly support the Midlands region as it transitions away from carbon intensive industries. This plan will be updated as part of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan 2023. The Department is funding 56 projects in the Midlands through the National Just Transition Fund. The Fund will provide up to €22.1 million in grant funding over the lifetime of these projects, which will mobilise an estimated €15 million in additional funding to the region and support an estimated 178 direct and 999 indirect jobs, as reported by the grantees. Approximately €4 million has been drawn down from the Department to date by these projects. Details of all supported projects can be found on the Fund's webpage at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/
The Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS), approved by the Government in 2020, 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. It is sponsored by my Department and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The total expenditure to date under EDDRS is €20.3 million. A new EU Just Transition Fund will seeks to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories concerned and promoting a balanced socio-economic transition. I have appointed the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as Managing Authority for this Fund, and my Department and EMRA have jointly developed the Territorial Just Transition Plan and Programme. The final Plan and Programme were approved by the Government on 29 November and formal adoption by the European Commission is expected shortly.Ireland has secured €84.5 million under this Fund which will be matched by the Exchequer, giving a total programme size of up to €169 million for expenditure until 2027.
Ireland’s Programme will focus on:
1. Generating employment for former peat communities by investing in the diversification of the local economy by supporting productive investments in enterprise, SMEs and community actions
2. Supporting the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded peatlands and the regeneration and repurposing of industrial heritage assets
3. Providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition.A total of €29 million of funding will be available to Midlands communities from my Department in 2023 under the National and EU Just Transition Funds.
37. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the amount spent per platform. [62803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing the highest standard of communications, stakeholder engagement, and open and transparent dialogue in order to inform policy making and enhance our services for everyone. Social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) is critical in supporting this objective. Social media channels are actively evaluated to ensure they are engaging with Irish people on relevant issues that are important to them.
In 2022, my Department, as outlined in the National Energy Security Framework (April 2022), sought to ensure that clear and timely information relating to the energy crisis is made available to people through relevant channels. As part of the Governments Reduce Your Use/Stay Warm and Well campaign, targeted messaging informs families, households and businesses of supports and services that are available to them in order to help them to stay well and warm this winter.
The spend, per campaign, per platform, per year is set out in the table below:
2021
Solid Fuel Regulations Consultation €307.50 Facebook
Circular Economy Strategy Consultation €122.55 Twitter
Climate Conversation €457.11 Twitter
Climate Conversation €26,071.06 Facebook / Instagram
Circular Economy Grant Scheme €364.15 Twitter
Sustainable Development Goals Consultation €381.30 Twitter
Sustainable Development Goals Consultation €369.00 Instagram
EU Cyber Security Month €951.42 Twitter
EU Cyber Security Month €984.00 Facebook / Instagram
National Development Plan €491.69 Twitter
Climate Toolkit 4 Business €246.00 Facebook
Total €30,745.78
To date 2022
Climate Toolkit 4 Business €369.00 Facebook
Sustainable Development Goals €710.02 Twitter
Climate Conversation €6,696.00 Facebook / Instagram
Climate Conversation €6,498.00 Twitter
EU Cyber Security Month €1,168.50 LinkedIn
EU Cyber Security Month €1,168.50 Twitter
Solid Fuel Business Preparedness €5,718.00 Facebook / Instagram
Solid Fuel Business Preparedness €2,521.00 Twitter
Circular Economy €8,896.00 Facebook / Instagram
Circular Economy €3,697.00 Twitter
Reduce Your Use €25,136.12 Facebook / Instagram
Reduce Your Use €19,419.17 Twitter
Reduce Your Use €3,813 LinkedIn
Disposable Cup Consultation €911.00 Facebook / Instagram
Total to date €86,721.31
