Holly Cairns
Ceist:172. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high-speed rural broadband in Cork south west. [12778/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBroadband Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (172, 174)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:174. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure the provision of broadband to Brookdale, Riverstick, County Cork. [12780/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 174 together.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, 3 March 2023, over 131,300 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed gigabit fibre broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 120,500 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. As of 28 February 2023, over 33,800 premises have been connected.
There are 81,755 premises in County Cork that will be passed by NBI with high-speed gigabit fibre broadband as part of the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan. Approximately 27,107 of these premises are in the Cork South-West constituency.
To date in Cork over 15,892 premises are passed by the NBP high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. As of 28 February 4,718 premises have been connected in Cork.
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 3 March, 880 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 598 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 BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCP’s. In County Cork all 24 BCPs have been installed.
In County Cork 86 schools BCPs have been installed by NBI 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 are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
Brookdale Estate is located in the Deployment Area (DA) of Kinsale which is currently pending completion of survey work and is anticipated for connection between January and December 2026.
NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps
Postal Services
Ceisteanna (173)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:173. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that new Eircodes are assigned in a timely manner rather than in batches every few months. [12779/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following work by my Department, An Post, Tailte Éireann, An Post GeoDirectory and Capita, Capita released the first monthly assignment of Eircodes for new build properties earlier this month, with each new Eircode published on the free-to-use Eircode Finder app. In addition, a notification letter will be issued to the property occupant containing the new Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database file is provided to licensed business organisations for use.
Question No. 174 answered with Question No. 172.
Energy Prices
Ceisteanna (175, 177)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:175. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty calling for 'A Community Energy Advice service would provide a local, tailored service to support people to access the financial advice they need, to install 'quick win' measures, and to apply for appropriate retrofitting grants'. [12781/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHolly Cairns
Ceist:177. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty. [12784/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together.
Government is acutely aware of the impact higher energy prices has been having on households, in particular those in or at risk of energy poverty. This is why a total of €1.57 billion has been spent on providing support totalling €800 (inc. VAT) to over 2.1 million domestic electricity accounts over the last year.
People experiencing difficulties with meeting electricity and gas bills should contact their supplier in the first instance. Under the industry led Energy Engage Code a customer will not be disconnected as long as they continue to engage with their supplier. Suppliers offer a range of supports to customers, including hardship funds or emergency credit for pay as you go accounts. Suppliers also work with the Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS), Alone and SVP in relation to accessing these funds on an individual’s behalf.
Any customer that is in need of additional support may apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection, including customers on a Pay As You Go meter who have a need for financial assistance to facilitate their continued energy supply. Every effort is being 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.
The Energy Poverty Action Plan (www.gov.ie/en/publication/159cb-energy-poverty-action-plan/) sets out the range of measures that have been implemented across Government this winter, as well as longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes.
As part of the implementation of the Plan, my Department is currently establishing a €10 million Energy Costs Support Fund. The Fund will provide a further, targeted, safeguard to people struggling to meet their energy costs that is additional to supplier hardship funds and the Additional Needs Payment.
Communication on how to manage energy and access the supports available is indeed crucial for how we support people at risk of energy poverty in the long term. Research commissioned by my Department is showing very high levels of awareness and support for the the Reduce Your Use/Stay Warm & Well campaign which provides information on energy saving measures and where to go for help with meeting the cost of energy. It is also finding that there is a strong desire among people facing financial challenges to be proactive on saving energy. The Steering Group for the Action Plan will be engaging with key stakeholders as part of its work and I fully expect that ways to further develop the provision of energy advice to communities and people at risk of energy poverty to better enable them to access supports will be central to those discussions.
Energy Prices
Ceisteanna (176)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:176. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty which highlights 'the remaining gaps in retrofitting support, this includes the ongoing lack of strategic action to address poor energy efficiency in the private rented sector: we welcome announcements of future regulation, but a clear pathway is needed to ensure tenants see the benefits of improvements in housing quality'. [12782/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise that rental properties can present a specific challenge for energy efficiency improvements. This is an issue found in most countries where the incentives to invest in energy upgrades can be misaligned between landlords and tenants.
The Government’s Housing for All Plan commits to the introduction of a minimum BER for private rental properties, where feasible, from 2025, and to develop a roadmap to implement these standards. Additionally, as part of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, the Government has approved a new package of supports targeting homes that were built and occupied pre-2011. These supports have been made available to non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to undertake home energy upgrades, with lower energy bills and to improve the efficiency of their rental properties including:
- The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) provides grant support of approximately 50% of the typical cost for private landlords with higher supports available for AHBs.
- The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides support to landlords for step-by-step retrofits.
- 80% grants are available to landlords for attic and cavity wall insulation, which are low-cost measures that can be installed quickly and cost effectively.
In addition to these supports, a new tax incentive to encourage small-scale landlords to undertake retrofitting works while the tenant remains in situ was announced last year. This measure provides for a tax deduction of up to €10,000 per property, against Case V rental income, for certain retrofitting expenses incurred by the landlord on rented residential properties, for a maximum of two rental properties. Full details are set out in Section 32 of the Finance Act 2022.
It should also be noted that the Housing for All plan commits to the retrofitting of 36,500 local authority homes by 2030 as part of the achievement of the Climate Action Plan retrofit targets.
Question No. 177 answered with Question No. 175.
Broadband Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (178)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:178. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that residents in a location (details supplied) are not in receipt of broadband. [12816/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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, 3 March 2023, over 131,300 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 120,500 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. As of 28 February 2023, over 33,800 premises have been connected.
NBI has advised that 15,892 premises in County Cork are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. As of 28 February 4,718 premises have been connected in County Cork.
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.
Each DA creates a ‘fibre ring’ which is essential to ensure reliability, robustness and resilience. Critical to the success of the network, NBI’s fibre rings are built with back-ups, ensuring that in the event of one fibre cable being disrupted, the whole network continues to perform, protecting customer experience. Each fibre ring that NBI deploys is designed in a way that is non-discriminatory, meaning that as the rollout progresses, it may pass relatively urban areas at the same time as passing some of the most remote premises within the intervention area. The design utilises existing infrastructure to a very significant degree.
The NBP network build that started in 2020 is scheduled to be completed by 2027. NBI advise that the premises referred to in the question is at a status of “Network Build in Progress” with an anticipated date of connection of January 2024 – June 2024.
NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps
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 03 March 2023, 880 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 598 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 Cork all 24 BCP’s have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/ .
In County Cork 86 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/
Broadband Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (179)
Michael Collins
Ceist:179. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21 February 2023, if he will address a series of issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12890/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With reference to this Question and to the reply given to Question No.179 of 21 February 2023 whilst all schools in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area will be passed by the fibre network over the course of the seven year build programme, Government and National Broadband Ireland agreed to accelerate the rollout of high-speed broadband to 679 schools across the State with the use of alternative technologies to ensure a high-speed broadband service was installed, with speeds of at least 150Mbps, to every primary school in the Intervention Area by H1 2023. The aim of accelerating the rollout of this high-speed broadband service was to ensure that the children attending primary schools in rural Ireland were afforded equitable education and learning opportunities as those children attending primary schools in urban areas.On completion of the NBP project, and once sufficient data is available, a Cost Benefit Analysis will be undertaken to determine the benefits of the NBP versus the costs of the programme. In particular the CBA will consider the benefits that high-speed broadband has delivered to primary schools, farms, homes and businesses located in the Intervention Area.Officials in my Department would be happy to facilitate a meeting with representatives from the organisation referred to and would ask this organisation to contact my officials on NBPCommsUnit@decc.gov.ie in order to arrange this meeting.
Sustainable Development Goals
Ceisteanna (180)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:180. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made by his Department in respect of targets and goals set out in sustainable development goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; and if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines. [12901/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious framework. A whole-of-Government approach to its implementation has been taken in Ireland. My Department leads on the delivery of 19 SDG targets: 3.9; 7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 8.4; 9.4; 11.6; 12.1; 12.2; 12.4; 12.5; 12.8; 12.c; 13.1; 13.2; 13.3; 13.a; 17.14 and 17.17.
Ireland’s Second National Implementation Plan for the SDGs, 2022 – 2024 was published in October 2022. The Plan was developed by my Department in collaboration with all Government Departments and key stakeholders, and was also based on input from two public consultation processes. A key objective of the Plan is to achieve greater policy coherence for sustainable development with the aim of accelerating achievement of the SDGs at all levels of Government.
The Plan is supplemented by two supporting documents: an SDG policy map which identifies the lead Departments and relevant national policies for each of the 169 SDG targets; and a Policy Update document for each of the SDG targets. These documents are available at www.gov.ie/sdgs
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), in collaboration with all Government Departments, has prepared a series of statistical publications which monitor and report on how Ireland is progressing towards meeting its targets under the 17 SDGs. Reports are available for SDGs 1 – 16 and can be found on the CSO website.
Ireland will present its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2023. The VNR report will comprise a high-level data section and a more detailed appendix reporting on progress in respect of achieving the SDGs and related targets.
Question No. 181 answered with Question No. 156.
Question No. 182 answered with Question No. 169.
Mining Industry
Ceisteanna (183)
Michael Ring
Ceist:183. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action that will be taken to address an issue (details supplied); the plans to reinstate this location; if any works are planned or currently taking place in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12957/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tynagh Mines are on private lands, and the current owners have primary responsibility for management at the site. Any planned works that would be due to take place at the site and enforcement of the environmental legislation as it applies to the owners of the site, is a matter for Galway County Council.
I am aware that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produced a report on the site in 2003 which stated that Galway Council is responsible for enforcing environmental legislation within its functional area, and the EPA has responsibility for enforcing compliance with the conditions of Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Licences for current activities on the site. The current activities do not include mining.
Mining Industry
Ceisteanna (184)
Michael Ring
Ceist:184. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a licence has been granted in a specific area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12958/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
No Prospecting Licenses have been granted in the area referred to in the Question.
Harbours and Piers
Ceisteanna (185)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends making money available to an organisation (details supplied) or to local authorities to develop piers, slips and loading places on inland lakes, including improving existing ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13015/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The funding allocation provided to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) by my Department is not generally disaggregated for individual specific purposes such as those raised by the Deputy.
The allocation of such resources towards development and other functions, related to fisheries, under, for instance, the National Strategy for Angling Development and other programmes, is an operational matter 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
The provision of funding to Local Authorities for the development or improvement of infrastructure in their ownership such as piers and slipways is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Other Public bodies, such as Waterways Ireland, also have a stake in inland waters infrastructure as regards such matters leisure craft and accessibility.
Question No. 186 answered with Question No. 164.
Angling Sector
Ceisteanna (187)
Robert Troy
Ceist:187. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps his Department is taking to stop the decline of trout and other fish stock in the River Shannon, which has hurt by recreational fishing and slowed the fishing tourism business along the river. [13170/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Fisheries on the Shannon are in the ownership of ESB and details of their engagement in stocking of fish into the river and other measures is available directly from ESB.
There are significant brown trout and coarse fishing opportunities on the River Shannon, and its lakes and tributaries, for anglers to avail of.
I recently enacted the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations for 2023 which set out inter alia, the status of each of Ireland‘s more than 140 salmon rivers including both the Upper and Lower Shannon. These regulations are based on the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by independent annual scientific assessments by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) on the basis that each river has a genetically unique salmon stock.
The TEGOS assessment for 2023 indicates the River Shannon Upper (above Parteen) is below its Conservation Limit and is therefore closed for harvesting whereas the Lower Shannon is open for Catch and Release angling.
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
Environmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (188)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address concerns that an approved body operating a farm plastic scheme (details supplied) which may be operating sites in counties Kerry, Cavan, Kilkenny, Mayo which has farm plastic stored loosely held for more than the required time, and is piled in such a manner as to potentially be in contravention of environmental regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13200/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department oversees the policy, governance and legislative framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
The enforcement of waste legislation is a statutory function of local authorities. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, I am precluded from the exercise of any power or control in relation to the performance in particular circumstances of the statutory functions of a local authority.
In relation to the other matters, raised by the Deputy in the details supplied, such as the Bord Bia certification scheme and rules about silage bale storage, these are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Postal Services
Ceisteanna (189)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:189. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that new eircodes are added to applications (details supplied) and other common navigating tools in a timely manner. [13227/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns Eircodes to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on all new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Tailte Éireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory (APG), a subsidiary company of An Post and Tailte Éireann, issue a new release of database files monthly to Capita in accordance with their revised licence agreement.
The Eircode Finder, is a free to use website that members of the public and businesses use to find Eircodes for addresses and to get directions to address locations using the Eircode website like a SatNav.
Each new postal address assigned an Eircode is published monthly on the Eircode Finder website, a notification letter is issued to the property occupant containing the Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database and file is provided to licenced businesses for their use. Since launch over 208,360 property addresses have been assigned an Eircode.
Capita have informed my Department that once the Eircode database is updated they provide updates to commercial operations on a monthly and quarterly basis in line with the terms of their licence agreements. The timely release of each monthly and quarterly update is consistent across all licenced businesses, including the applications referred to by the Deputy. Capita are liaising with the relevant organisations on the issue raised.
Operational matters and commercial decisions of private commercial operators, including the updating of their applications, are a matter for these commercial operators and one in which I have no direct function.
Postal Services
Ceisteanna (190)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:190. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that An Post uses the eircodes system. [13228/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister of State in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, I have responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, to ensure the company is fully compliant with the code of practice for the governance of State Bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters and the development of commercial strategies for mail delivery service, including use of Eircodes, is a matter for the Board and the management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.
An Post have advised the Department that Eircodes have been fully integrated into the Company’s automated sorting systems, including their mail centres and An Post’s national automated parcel hub (DPH) where Eircode has also been fully integrated in the plant’s operating system. An Post actively encourages the use, by mailers, of a full postal address including Eircode.
Electricity Grid
Ceisteanna (191)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:191. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 22 November 2022, if he and his Department will amend and/or revoke the current Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, which is in direct conflict with other domestic and EU environmental legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13250/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Bye-Law referred to has been in place on a National basis for some 17 years. The Bye-law provides for the killing and retention by anglers, of up to 4 coarse fish (including roach) per angler per day on all waters within the State.
In that regard, the effectiveness of any amendment to such secondary legislation, in the context of contributing to management of any species, critically depends on angling effort on the particular species in the specified waters.
I have asked Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to advise on angling effort on roach in Lough Melvin and, based on this, to consider whether a specific Bye-law for Lough Melvin, would be an effective measure. Lough Melvin is a transboundary waterway and management proposals require engagement with fisheries authorities in Northern Ireland.
Roach is included as a “non-native” species in the third schedule of S.I. 477 of 2011. The schedule provides that regulations 49 and 50 of that SI apply to the species included therein. This SI is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and my Department and IFI are currently liaising with NPWS regarding potential vires for IFI under S.I. 477.
Environmental Policy
Ceisteanna (192)
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:192. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the current waiting times for applications to SEAI (details supplied); his plans to shorten the waiting time for applicants to SEAI for these urgent environmental works; the resources he will provide to SEAI to expedite these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13314/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government supports households most at risk of energy poverty to improve the energy performance of their homes through schemes administered by the SEAI. In 2022 this included the Warmer Homes scheme and the Warmth and Well-being pilot scheme.
Delivering these free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing waiting times is a key priority for Government. There are currently over 12,000 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. Demand for these upgrades is very high with over 9,900 applications received in 2022 and over 2,000 additional applications received in the first two months of 2023. For homes completed in 2022, the average time from application to completion was 26 months. This was an improvement of 1 month on the average waiting time for homes completed in 2021. The monthly target of an average of 400 completions for the scheme has been met since June 2022.
Data provided by SEAI indicates that last year:
- A record €98 million was spent on these schemes;
- This delivered 4,438 free energy upgrades - an increase of 85% on 2021;
- The average value of the upgrades provided in the second half of 2022 was almost €22,000. This compares to an average spend of €3,450 in 2017 and gives a clear indication of the scale of work now being carried out in these homes;
A range of steps have been taken to enhance the capacity of the scheme and deliver increased numbers of upgrades. This includes additional staff in SEAI working on the scheme as well as measures to deal with ongoing supply chain and inflationary pressures. Additional funding of €248 million for the scheme has also been secured for the period to 2027 from the European Regional Development Fund.
Looking to this year, an unprecedented budget of €148.5 million has been allocated to the scheme which will deliver 6,000 additional home upgrades.
My Department is working with the SEAI to identify approaches that can further increase the number of energy upgrades delivered to low income households. This will include a new contractor panel for the scheme to be established later this year. It is intended that the panel will be in place for 4 years, with an estimated contract budget of €700 million for that period.
Diplomatic Representation
Ceisteanna (193)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:193. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will allocate an additional full-time environment attaché and communication attaché to be posted at the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU. [13358/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are currently 4 staff from my Department who are are on secondment to the Department of Foreign Affairs and are serving in attaché posts with responsibility for a specific area in the Permanent Representation to the European Union. The attaché posts are as follows: Telecommunications; Energy; Environment and Climate.
A competition was recently conducted by my Department to appoint an additional attaché with responsibility for Cybersecurity, and the successful candidate will be taking up their post this year.
My Department continues to keep the staffing allocation and portfolio of its staff assigned to the Permanent Representation under review to ensure that Ireland's interests are adequately and appropriately represented.
Departmental Reports
Ceisteanna (194)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish the ministerial accountability framework referred to in his opening statement to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate on 13 September 2022. [13365/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The ministerial accountability framework refers to the agreed initial allocation of responsibility amongst Government Ministers for the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings.
The framework was published online as part of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings Summary Report on 20 September 2022, which is available at: gov.ie - Sectoral Emissions Ceilings (www.gov.ie)
The Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to reviewing of the framework this year.
Climate Action Plan
Ceisteanna (195)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:195. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on Action RE/23/19 in the Climate Action Plan Annex of Action. [13366/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Action RE/23/19 in CAP23 calls for Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to develop an action plan to support sustainability in SFI-funded and publicly funded laboratories, establish certification processes to track improvements, and ensure that sustainability is a key factor in SFI's granting processes. I welcome this initiative and look forward to the Action Plan being published in 2023.
Climate Action Plan
Ceisteanna (196)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:196. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount transferred to the fund manager of the Climate Action Fund for emissions from official air travel pursuant to Circular 01/2020, broken down by each Department for each of the years 2020-2023, in tabular form. [13367/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has responsibility for the Climate Action Fund (CAF) into which payments in accordance with the provisions of Circular 01/2020 (Procedures for Offsetting the Emissions Associated with Official Air Travel) are made.
It is important to note that payments are not made directly into the CAF, as any transfers into the CAF are subject to prior approval from the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. This approval is usually sought towards the end of a year so as to allow for error corrections or late payments.
A breakdown of the payments received and approved for transfer into the CAF in the years 2020 and 2021 is attached in tabular form. Final figures for 2022 and 2023 are not yet available.