Written Answers Nos. 101-121
101. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of Ukrainian persons issued PPS numbers in 2022, analysed by gender and those aged under 18 and above 18 years of age, respectively; and the number of those issued with PPS numbers who are now in employment. [5950/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecords from the Department of Social Protection show that on the 2 January 2023 a total of 69,607 PPS numbers had been issued to persons arriving from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55 EC). A breakdown by sex, and those aged under 18 years and 18 years or above is shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Cumulative PPSN allocations to arrivals from Ukraine by sex and broad age groups as of 2 January 2023
|
Male |
Female |
All |
|
|
Persons under 18 years of age |
10,846 |
10,252 |
21,098 |
|
Persons aged 18 and over |
15,047 |
33,462 |
48,509 |
|
All persons |
25,893 |
43,714 |
69,607 |
Of the 69,607 persons issued with a PPS number, 12,407 had an active employment record with Revenue on the 3 January 2023 as per the Revenue Payroll Notification system.
102. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the number and details of compensation or redress schemes put in place by his Department since 1998, in tabular form; the number of claims made; and the total cost of the scheme. [6470/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsideration of any specific policy matter and associated compensation or redress scheme by Government is a matter for individual Departments in line with their statutory functions. Based on reasonable checks and searches undertaken in the time provided, this Department has not put in place such schemes arising from the responsibilities and work of the Department.
103. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and details of compensation or redress schemes put in place by his Department since 1998, in tabular form; the number of claims made; the total cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6459/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on records held in my Department, no compensation or redress schemes were put in place by my Department since 1998.
104. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he met with the CEO of a company (details supplied) during his recent visit to the west coast of the United States. [6673/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week, I met with a number of IDA client companies based in the US West Coast. The visit was an opportunity for me to meet with enterprise leaders and discuss challenges in the tech sector, as well as highlighting Ireland’s value as a location for foreign direct investment. The company mentioned by the Deputy did not feature as part of this visit but I hope to have the opportunity to meet with them and other key employers in Ireland over the coming months.
105. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will licence the export of car parts from this jurisdiction (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6690/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI note in the first instance that the theft of cars is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Secondly, Trade policy, including export controls, is an EU competence, encompassed by the EU's Common Commercial Policy. Ireland, therefore does not implement unilateral trade restrictions.
My Department is the National Competent Authority for EU Export Controls in respect of a range of sensitive goods, principally, 'dual-use' items and defence-related equipment.
‘Dual-use’ items are products and components, including software and technology, that can be used for both civil and military applications. The legal basis for regulating the export of these items is provided by an EU Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2021/821 , which has direct effect in all Member States of the EU.
The ‘Dual-use’ exports from Ireland are predominantly mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software, (networking, data storage, cybersecurity). They are categorised as ‘Dual-use’ items as a consequence of the fact that they make use of strong encryption for data protection purposes.
Controls on the export of defence-related equipment are administered in accordance with the European Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment, which is given legal effect in Ireland by the Control of Exports Act 2008. The list of equipment subject to these controls is set out in the Common Military List of the European Union.
My Department is also the National Competent Authority in respect of the Trade elements of EU Restrictive Measures i.e. trade sanctions, and again the legal basis for these measures is provided by EU Regulations.
106. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to have a trade mission to the west coast of United States of America in the next three months. [6976/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goals of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland that are aiming to grow business overseas, and so increasing domestic employment and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.
In recent years the majority of ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors, including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
Last week, I travelled to the US West coast for a series of high-level meetings with a range of companies including existing IDA client companies based in the region. The visit was an opportunity for me to meet with enterprise leaders and discuss challenges in the tech sector, as well as highlighting Ireland’s value as a location for foreign direct investment.
My Department is currently working closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland on developing the Ministerial-led trade mission programme for the remainder of 2023. Consideration of this programme is still ongoing, and no final decisions have been made. In the meantime, my Department will continue to work closely with its agencies to identify opportunities to help Irish companies access new markets and increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland.
107. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE vacancies by job title at the Corporate Enforcement Authority as of 30 January 2023; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [6977/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) was established on 7th July 2022 delivering on the action in the Programme for Government to establish the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) as a stand-alone statutory body.
My Department is committed to ensuring that the Authority is appropriately resourced, both in terms of both the human resources and financial support required.
The CEA's budget for 2023, its first, is €9,706 million, a budget uplift of 25% over its 2022 allocation. In preparation for the establishment of the CEA my Department approved an additional 17 civil servants to be assigned to the CEA. In addition, the new Authority’s full-time Garda complement is, compared to the former ODCE, increasing from 7 to 16 officers (comprising of 1 Detective Inspector, 3 Detective Sergeants and 12 Detective Gardaí).
The current status of WTE vacancies by job title and the expected date for the filling of each is set out in the table below.
Corporate Enforcement Authority WTE vacancies
Status as of 30 January 2023
|
Job Title |
Number |
Status |
|
Director of Civil Enforcement |
1 |
Shortlisting of candidates has been completed and interviews are scheduled for early February. |
|
Senior Enforcement Lawyer |
1 |
Shortlisting of candidates is scheduled for early February. |
|
Senior Communications Manager |
1 |
Shortlisting of candidates is scheduled for early February. |
|
Senior Enforcement Manager - Criminal |
1 |
Shortlisting of candidates is scheduled for early February. |
|
Assistant Principal - ICT |
1 |
A suitable candidate has been assigned from a PAS panel. It is envisaged that the vacancy will be filled in the coming month(s). |
|
Executive Officers |
7 |
Interviews were held recently for these seven positions, and a panel has been formed. Pre-employment checks are currently being carried out. It is envisaged that all vacancies will be filled in the coming month(s). |
|
Clerical Officers |
6 |
A request was made to PAS in October 2022 to drawdown from its Clerical Officer panel. An update on the status of that request is awaited. |
Corporate Enforcement Authority AGS Vacancies
Status as of 30 January 2023
|
Job Title |
Number |
Status |
|
Detective Inspector |
1 |
Recruitment for the Detective Inspector will commence when the Detective Sergeant position is filled. |
|
Detective Sergeant |
1 |
Recruitment for the D/Sgt position has commenced and the role has been advertised. |
108. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is incumbent upon an employer to provide all employees with three days sick leave on full pay in 2023 without requiring proof of a sick note from a GP or doctor, in relation to the Sick Leave Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7049/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sick Leave Act 2022 commenced on 1st January 2023, and introduced a new statutory right to employer-paid sick leave.
This Act provides protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, the scheme provides an entitlement to 3 days employer-paid sick leave. In many cases this will cover the 3 "waiting days" before eligibility for Illness Benefit from the State. The entitlement will rise from the initial 3 days to five days from January 2024, to 7 days from January 2025, and to 10 days from January 2026 onward.
Sick pay will be paid by employers at a rate of 70% of an employee’s wage, subject to a daily threshold of €110. The rate of 70% is set to ensure excessive costs are not placed on employers, who in certain sectors also have to deal with the cost of replacing staff who are out sick.
This progressive Act ensures that employees have financial protection from day one of a medically certified absence and it is being introduced on a phased basis in order to take account of the current economic climate and the existing financial pressures on businesses. An employer is only required to provide sick pay in respect of a medically certified absence and at the lower of 70% of the employee's wage or €110 per day.
109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the views of his Department have been provided to the Department of Social Protection regarding the recognition of long Covid as an occupational illness; if not, the reason therefor, in view of the fact that a failure to act in this regard is leaving long Covid sufferers who contracted Covid while working on the front line during the pandemic in unacceptable limbo (details supplied). [7274/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Departmental colleague, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, recently received correspondence from the Minister for Social Protection concerning a communication from the EU Commission about the addition of COVID-19 to the list of reportable occupational diseases.
A reply issued to the Minister for Social Protection in early February. In that reply it was outlined that the implications of the EU Commission communication on the occupational safety and health remit of my Department, and that of the Health and Safety Authority, are minimal. This is primarily because COVID-19 has already been recognised as a biological agent under a 2020 EU Commission Directive (2020/739) (relating specifically to SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19) which came into effect in Irish law through the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 539 of 2020).
In conjunction with the introduction of the Regulations the Health and Safety Authority introduced the 2020 Biological Agents Code of Practice. Under this Code of Practice an employer who becomes aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an employee, as a result of the employee carrying out direct or deliberate work with coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is required to notify the Health and Safety Authority.
However, I would stress that these Regulations have no bearing on the specific and separate issue of the inclusion of COVID-19 in the Department of Social Protection’s Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme. Any decision to include COVID-19 in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme rests solely with the Minister for Social Protection and is not one on which I can offer a recommendation as I have no statutory responsibility for social protection matters.
110. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proceeds that have been collected from taxable profits by the temporary solidarity contributions from 2018 to 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6594/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCouncil Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices came into force in October 2022 provides for a temporary solidarity contribution on profits in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors. The temporary solidarity contribution shall apply on taxable profits for 2022 and/or 2023 which are more than 20% above the average of the 2018 to 2021 baseline period.
On 22 November 2022, the Government decided that the temporary solidarity contribution will apply for 2022 and 2023, taxable profits which are more than 20% above the baseline period from 2018 to 2021 will be subject to a rate of 75%, and losses from previous years will not be taken into account in the calculation of the taxable profits.
Legislation will be required to implement this Council Regulation and my Department is continuing to work with other Departments and stakeholders in developing this legislation.
No proceeds have been collected from the temporary solidarity to date. The proceeds will be collected in 2023 and 2024 and distributed in line with the Council Regulation.
111. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and details of compensation or redress schemes put in place by his Department since 1998, in tabular form; the number of claims made; the total cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department Officials will revert to the Deputy with the answer in due course.
|
Title/ Purpose of Scheme |
Number of Claims |
Qualifying Claims (2018–2020) |
Administrative Cost (2018–2020) |
Total Cost (2018-2020) |
|
Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme The fishery and the internal market for eels has been closed, for conservation reasons, since 2009 under the National Eel Management Plan, approved by the European Commission under EU Regulation 1100/2007. In 2018, a Support Fund was established by the Government to provide a restitution payment to address the hardship experienced by former eel fisherpersons. The fund was administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). |
121 qualifying applicants. |
€2,021,500 |
€72,410 |
€2,093,910 |
112. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 31 January 2023 (details supplied), if he will provide a breakdown for D6W, D8, D12, D10 and D20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6476/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.
113. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland, which operates under his Department’s aegis, has never completed an appropriate assessment screening, as required under the EU habitats directive, for the operation of a hatchery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6515/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues in relation to the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) facility, referred to by the Deputy, are operational matters for IFI in which neither I nor my department have any function.
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.
114. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the procedure to allow residents (details supplied) to avail of the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6541/23]
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) is being 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. The payment is 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 that payment can be made to those accounts automatically and without application or means testing.
Despite this advantage, the scheme does have limitations. While one credit is applied per domestic MPRN there are cohorts such as households on commercial connections that did not receive the payment.
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
Budget 2023 also announced the introduction of a new Rent Tax Credit: Rent Tax Credit (revenue.ie) www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/rent-credit/index.aspx
Any customer that is in need of additional support may apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection, who have a need for financial assistance to facilitate their continued energy supply. Every effort will be made to ensure that these vulnerable individuals in financial distress, and who qualify, receive an Additional Needs Payment on the same day or as soon as possible where it relates to electricity and heating expenses.
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.
Officials from my Department are examining the specific matter raised to determine if a solution can be developed.
115. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will expedite the provision of high-speed broadband to a home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6569/23]
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 27th January 2023, over 120,000 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 109,500 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. NBI has advised that 2,506 premises in County Kildare are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
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.
NBI's website 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: nbi.ie/reps/.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare 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.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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. As of 27th January 2023, 860 SCP sites (281 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 579 schools) have been installed 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 Kildare 3 BCP’s have been installed to date. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/.
In County Kildare 9 schools have been installed to date for educational access. 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/.
116. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the further progress being made in signing-off on pension increases due to retired An Post workers for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6578/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the relevant Code of Practice from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, An Post must seek Ministerial approval to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Circular 16/2021 states that pension approval requests should be submitted for approval well in advance of any decision to implement changes in acknowledgement of the necessary processes that must be completed and in order to ensure that pension increases are not unduly delayed. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.
An Post has undertaken to submit a request for a proposed increase of up to 2% for An Post pensioners with effect from 1st January 2023. As per Circular 16/2021, such proposals require NewERA’s views, as well as a business case setting out the strategic, policy and financial rationale for the proposed increase. When the request and associated documentation is received from An Post, the standard process will have to be followed, with NewERA’s views and assessment by officials being required for the 2023 proposed increase prior to the consent of both Ministers being sought.
This is the same procedure that must be followed for any State body.
117. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that he has made with the relevant agencies and stakeholders to deliver the annual support of €75 for the disposal of medical incontinence wear for vulnerable persons to help meet the average cost of disposing of domestic waste; when the support will be implemented and through which agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6666/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No 142 of 20 September 2022. :
My Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations such as Family Carer’s Ireland, Age Action, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and public bodies such as the National Disability Authority, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection, in an effort to see how best to support persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear.
Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017, and continued to operate until December 2020, to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings were observed during the period in which the PMG operated, the overall trend was relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.
In September 2020, I launched a new national waste policy for the period 2020-2025, A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. This plan contains a range of measures to empower households through enhanced consumer protection requirements including an enhanced monitoring of the market to ensure continued relative price stability.
The position is unchanged.
118. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the independent report by a person (details supplied) which the Government commissioned into energy supply, security and wholesale market matters is complete; if so, when it was completed; if not, when it will be completed; and when the report will be published. [6719/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI engaged Mr. Dermot McCarthy, former Secretary General to the Government and the Department of the Taoiseach, to conduct an independent review into the circumstances requiring emergency measures to be introduced to secure electricity supply over the coming winters. Mr. McCarthy's engagement, along with the terms of reference for the review, were noted by Government at its meeting on 14 June 2022.The review was conducted under the following terms of reference: to identify factors which have contributed to the capacity shortfall, including the possible role of the growth in demand for data centres and the associated policy; to identify factors which contributed to any underestimation of the risk of capacity shortfall; to identify factors associated with the respective roles and responsibilities, which may have contributed to this situation; to identify learning, which may be relevant to strengthening policy, capacity, governance and operational effectiveness in this area; and to identify any further technical analysis, which may be helpful in this regard.
The independent review by Mr Dermot McCarthy as to how the present situation has arisen has been received and is under consideration by my Department. This review will be brought to Government shortly as part of a wider energy security package and will be published thereafter.
119. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter (details supplied) relating to solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6747/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 15 February 2022 I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. Key aspects for eligibility include having an export grid connection, a smart meter and being a renewables self-consumer. The CRU encourages customers to contact their supplier to obtain information on their suppliers' CEG tariff arrangements.
More information is available here: Clean Export Tariff - Commission for Regulation of Utilities (cru.ie)
Solar PV installations are supported under my Department, through the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS), which is targeting over 60,000 small microgeneration connections less than 6 KW and 10,000 connections between 6 kW and 50 kW.?Grants are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and are up to a maximum of €2,400, with supported applicants also permitted to avail of the CEG tariffs, for any residual renewable electricity not consumed on the premises of these microgenerators
Solar PV installations are also supported under the Department for Agriculture, Food and Marine’s Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme, as well as the Young Farmer’s Capital Investment and Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage schemes, as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). However, it should be noted that installations supported under the TAMS scheme are only supported to meet self-consumption needs and are not permitted to export electricity. I understand that this program is currently being reviewed by the Department for Agriculture, Food and Marine.
120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 31 January 2023, if pensioners will receive an increase (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6752/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my previous response to the Deputy on 31st January 2023, I confirmed that request is currently being evaluated.
In order to consider the request, a report was requested from NewERA on the pension increase proposal. This report is currently being prepared.
Following completion of this report, a determination will be made by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
121. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland is on course to stay within the legally binding carbon budget 2021-25; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6820/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile full and final emissions data for 2022 is not yet available, recent reports of provisional data from the EPA have indicated that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.7% in 2021 compared to 2020 and are now 1.1% above 2019 pre-COVID restriction levels. The recently published Climate Action Plan 2023 includes the EPA's latest emissions data, disaggregated for each sector, and illustrates the carbon budget remaining for each sector under the first carbon budget period (2021-2025).
This emissions data provides a strong reminder of the challenges Ireland faces as we seek to meet our ambitious, yet necessary, climate objectives and emissions targets. While the increase in emissions in 2021 was anticipated, as the country emerged from the most severe Covid-19 restrictions, we must now focus relentlessly on how to accelerate the policies, measures and actions that will not only reduce our emissions, but will also support new ways of conducting business and encouraging innovation. To reverse the current trajectory of emissions and meet our 2030 and 2050 targets, a significant shift is required in the speed at which we implement the Climate Action Plan so as to decarbonise our economy and improve our indigenous supply of sustainable and renewable energy.
