Written Answers Nos. 149-165
149. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review the eligibility criteria for SEAI grants for solar panels to extend its availability to all householders, including those purchasers who bought and occupied their new home after 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47675/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there have been any changes in the administration of SEAI grants for solar PV as part of Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48349/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 173 together.
The Solar PV grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme.
In 2022, the SEAI received 16,819 applications to the Domestic Solar PV programme, which resulted in grant support for 10,018 homes, at a cost of €24.4m and a total installed capacity of 46.5 MW. This indicates an average installation size of 4.6kW. This is a significant increase from 2021 when 4,077 homes received grant support, with 16.3 MW capacity installed. Moreover, current projections indicate a record level of applications will be supported this year. There have been no adjustments to the administration of the domestic solar PV grant announced as part of Budget 2024. However a planned mid-scheme review of the MSS is currently underway, which will assess the effectiveness of both the eligibility criteria and grant amounts, in line with the intentions set out in the MSS final scheme design. The high interest levels being seen suggest that the current design of the MSS is working well. However the scheme’s operation will be kept under review by my Department in conjunction with the SEAI. In relation to building eligibility, homes built during or after 2021 are not currently eligible for the Domestic Solar PV grant. The construction of these homes followed Part L of the Building Regulations, which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. There are options to meet this requirement under the standard by including heat pumps and/or Solar PV, with the cost of installing Solar PV systems during the new build process significantly lower than for existing homes. Consequently, houses built since 2021 already enjoy significantly higher energy performance and resultant energy efficiency, compared with older houses. Solar grant eligibility criteria will be kept under review, and changes to the MSS scheme will be made when necessary. One such review and adjustment was approved on July 4th of this year, when Government approved amendments to the existing Non-Domestic Microgeneration Scheme, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to significantly expand the grant support available for business and other non-domestic PV installations. Additionally, on 1 May 2023, the rate of VAT for solar PV installation in private dwellings as part of a supply and install contract was dropped to zero.
150. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he has the results of the 2023 salmon survey for the Feale/Cashen fishery; and if he is in a position to indicate if that fishery will be opened in 2024. [47681/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra163. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Inland Fisheries Ireland will release the 2023 stock figures for the River Feale, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48067/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 163 together.
In line with normal practice, the management regime for salmon (and seatrout over 40cms) for 2024 will have regard for the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by the latest scientific advice and assessments of each salmon river from the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). IFI have indicated to my officials that this advice will be available in November 2023. When this advice is received a public consultation process on the draft legislation will commence for a period of 30 days.
The draft legislation will provide for, inter alia, the proposed status (open, open to catch and release angling or closed to all exploitation) of, and the harvestable surplus (if any) available, on each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon rivers.
151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline what Government grants are available for households to install a wood pellet stove system. [47682/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. SEAI grants for homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use and our carbon emissions.
Grant supports for wood pellet stoves are not available under the SEAI residential energy upgrade schemes. However, grant support is available for installing heat pumps in place of fossil fuel heating systems. The package of supports launched by Government in February 2022 to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades included grants of up to €10,500 to support the installation of a heat pump.
There are other grants and schemes available from Government that could be of assistance where there is an urgent need for home repairs. This includes the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Urgent Needs Payment available through the Community Welfare Service at local DSP offices.
152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47730/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses advertising to promote a range of services, supports and initiatives for people and communities across Ireland.As the media landscape has evolved over the past number of years, advertising expenditure has grown to address the diverse needs of different audiences, including costs associated with achieving national reach for important public messages. For example, my Department has run a significant national campaign in 2022/23, Reduce Your Use, designed to support every household in Ireland dealing with rising energy costs. In recent months, advertising expenditure has also grown to ensure that we are meeting our Irish language advertising requirements under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
My Department is committed to supporting regional media, as an integral part of Ireland’s media landscape, and as a crucial tool for us to connect with communities and regional audiences across Ireland.
All Department advertising is procured via a media buying agency, and the weighting assigned to regional media is determined by best practice and securing value for money.
My Department is unable to provide the Deputy with advertising spend by title, as this is commercially sensitive information that we cannot share.The table below sets out overall advertising/media buying expenditure in my Department over the years specified by the Deputy. The table also identifies expenditure on regional media as the information has been made available to my Department by our media agencies.
|
Total Press |
National Press |
Regional Press |
Total Radio |
National Radio |
Regional Radio |
Total TV |
|
|
2022 |
€972,676.90 |
€740,172.56 |
€232,504.34 |
€1,834,405.00 |
€1,004,398.62 |
€830,006.38 |
€806,662.00 |
|
2021 |
€121,116.57 |
€47,968.95 |
€73,147.62 |
€30,372.05 |
€9,552.05 |
€20,820.00 |
€99,998.00 |
|
2020 |
€61,788.51 |
€55,226.73 |
€6,561.78 |
||||
|
Totals |
€1,155,581.98 |
€843,368.24 |
€312,213.74 |
€1,864,777.05 |
€1,013,950.67 |
€850,826.38 |
€906,660.00 |
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. My Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested.
153. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the government of Israel, any state body of the government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47805/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Deputy’s question, there has been no such engagement.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
154. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47823/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Deputy’s question, there has been no such engagement.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
155. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that have been undertaken by local authorities in terms of CCTV monitoring of illegal dumping, including dog fouling and anti-social behaviour, since the enactment of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, in tabular form. [47849/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of CCTV to monitor anti-social behaviour is outside the remit of my Department and I am therefore not in a position to comment on any local authority measures to manage this issue.
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is continuing to work on the finalisation of draft Codes of Practice and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), which are fundamental to the future operation of CCTV schemes aimed at assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts, including the monitoring of illegal dumping and dog fouling. The LGMA recently circulated draft Codes of Practice and DPIAs to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister for Justice and the Data Protection Commission as part of the required consultation process.
Separate codes of practice are required for the operation of CCTV schemes under both the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act, while a further Code of Practice is required for the use of "mobile recording devices" (e.g. bodycams etc) under the Waste Management Act. DPIAs must also be carried out as part of this process.
I am currently examining these documents with a view to providing the LGMA with feedback as soon as possible on the significant volume of work conducted to date in preparing the draft Codes of Practice and DPIAs. Once the consultation process is complete, the LGMA will then be in a position to formally submit the draft Codes of Practice and DPIAs to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for approval.
156. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what changes are proposed to the criteria for SEAI grants; and if those changes will be extended to include windows and doors. [47884/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
Grant support for window and door upgrades is not offered as an individual energy upgrade but may be available as part of a suite of upgrades under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One-Stop-Shops) and the Community Energy Grant Scheme. When a homeowner is completing a whole home energy upgrade under these Schemes, the overall fabric of the property is assessed through the home energy survey and assessment. The assessment may recommend particular measures, including windows and doors, to ensure that home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump.
Under the Warmer Homes Scheme, in certain circumstances windows may be recommended following a survey and provided where suitable. Eligibility for the Warmer Homes Scheme requires applicants to be in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments.
My officials engage with their counterparts in the SEAI on an ongoing basis in relation to the operation of the schemes and as part of this will continue to ensure that grant rates and measures available under the various grant schemes are kept under review taking account of evolving science, innovation, technology and other relevant factors.
157. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will give consideration to bringing in age restrictions on the sale of mobile phone devices (i.e., aged 15 and under - phones with calling and texting functions only; age 15 and over - phones with full multimedia functionality); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47910/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans by Government to introduce age restrictions on the sale of mobile phone devices.
I assume the Deputy is raising the question in the context of accessing content on mobile phones.
The Deputy may wish to be aware, that one of the key findings from 'The Growing Up In Ireland' report of July 2023, a joint project of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Central Statistics Office, is that 98% of 13 year olds had sole use of a smartphone.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the issue of the availability of illegal and harmful online content and access to age-inappropriate online content is being addressed through the implementation of European Union regulations like the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the Digital Services Act by the newly established independent regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.
158. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the schemes available to retrofit redbrick and stone-built houses constructed before 1940, mostly categorised as traditionally built buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47940/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra159. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to extend the warmer homes scheme to traditionally built buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47941/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. As the retrofit industry transforms to accommodate much higher levels of output in line with our national targets, quality must be maintained at a high level to ensure value for money for the tax-payers and to sustain consumer confidence and demand.
Contractors operating under any scheme supported by an SEAI grant must carry out the works in line with the Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:
• NSAI S.R. 54:2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings
• Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents
• The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines
• NSAI Agrément certificates
• Irish, British or European Standards Guides
• Codes of Practice for the programmes
Older stone-built buildings (generally those built up until around the 1940s) and constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction usually fall into the category of traditionally built buildings.
160. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the village of Cloone, County Leitrim is not included in the National Broadband Plan, despite a number of queries from local residents who work remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47979/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The rollout of high speed broadband to all primary schools in Leitrim is now complete.
There are also 11 Broadband Connection Points now available in Leitrim which can be viewed at Broadband Connection Points - NBI.
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 5,498 homes and businesses in Leitrim with gigabit services, with plans to pass a further c.6,300 homes and businesses over the next 2 – 3 years, bringing their total fibre-based investment in the county to over €5m.
The National Broadband Plan intervention contract provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
Fibre broadband will be delivered across Cloone by eir through its commercial rollout (to the Blue areas) and by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under their Contract with the State (to the Amber areas). NBI have advised that all premises in scope of their rollout in the Cloone area, ie the intervention area, have now been surveyed, with the various deployment areas that are part of Cloone deployment set to be delivered in 2024, 2025 and 2026. By 2026 all homes and businesses in the Cloone area will have access to full fibre broadband with minimum speeds of 500Mbps.
NBI advise that as of 27th October 2023, 191,146 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. 58,332 premises are already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network.
Furthermore, as of 31st October 963 premises in County Leitrim have now been passed by NBI with a high-speed fibre broadband network and are available for immediate connection, with 235 premises connected so far.
Commercial operators and NBI will continue work in County Leitrim and across all counties over the next three years to complete their fibre rollouts. All efforts are bring made to speed up to the rollout and my Department is working extremely hard with Local Authorities to ensure any barriers encountered by these operators are dealt with quickly through day to day engagement and through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Leitrim and can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. A county update can be selected to provide the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall Government 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. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. `
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2, 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing significantly as it is deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also indicates that c.40% of homes and business throughout the State now have access to gigabit services through either fibre (576,856) or cable (359,669) infrastructure.
161. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has engaged with stakeholders on a strategy to improve mobile phone coverage for those in the village of Cloone, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47980/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roll-out of infrastructure for mobile telecommunications services in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 11 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002.
To assist consumers to choose the network provider that best meets their needs, ComReg continually updates and enhances its online national outdoor mobile coverage map (available at: Service Coverage - Commission for Communications Regulation (comreg.ie), which provides clear information on where operators have good 2G, 3G and 4G coverage. In 2022, ComReg updated this map to include 5G data.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been in operation since 2016 and has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. The Mobile Phone & Broadband Taskforce continues to implement actions specifically designed to remove barriers to telecoms infrastructure rollout.
162. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and details of contracts currently held by his Government Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48309/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48689/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48705/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputies is set out in the following table. There is 1 contract currently held with McKinsey and Company, 3 with PWC and 4 with EY:
|
Contract Description |
Company |
Contract Value (EX VAT) |
Duration |
|
Provision of Technical support services to inform, assist, and support the preparation of Climate Action Plan 2024. |
McKinsey and Company Inc Ireland |
€750,000 |
7 Months |
|
National Postcode System, Eircode: technical and advisory support services defending a High Court Challenge. |
PWC |
€60,000 |
12 Months |
|
provision of Economic, Strategic, Financial and Technical advisory services on the advancement of the Irish policy for International Connectivity in Telecommunications |
PWC |
€1,138,840 |
24 months |
|
Provision of technical, commercial, and financial advice and assistance in respect of the National Postcode Project |
PWC |
€290,050 |
18 months |
|
Provision of Consultancy Services in relation to the development of the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce |
Ernst & Young (EY) |
€247,500 |
8 Months |
|
Commercial and Financial Managed Services, Advisory Services and Personnel in support of the National Broadband Plan |
Ernst & Young (EY) |
€7,717,460 |
48 Months |
|
Provision of Consultancy Services in relation to the strategic development of the Department |
Ernst & Young (EY) |
€1,570,189 |
24 Months |
|
Java Developer |
Ernst & Young (EY) |
€250,000 |
6 Months |
164. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider a compensation package for draft net fishermen allowed to fish on tidal stretches of the River Feale as they have not been allowed to fish on the river since 2019 due to reduction in stock figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48069/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommercial salmon fishing licences are public licences which must be taken out annually under the provisions of the Fisheries Acts. Such licences are entirely permissive in nature, confer no rights on the licensee, are not the property of the holder nor can they be held on a permanent basis.
In that context the issue of compensation does not arise. In addition, given the nature of the public licences they are not inheritable or capable of transfer or sale.
In 2007, the Government established a €25m hardship scheme open to all holders of a commercial salmon licence. The majority of active fishers availed of payment under the measure and the scheme closed in 2008 with all funds expended.
There are no plans to re-introduce a similar scheme.
165. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has any plans to purchase the Abhainn Mhór/Owenmore fishery near An Leithtruigh, Corca Dhuibhne. [48229/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no plans to purchase any fishery. Under Section 60 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is empowered to acquire fisheries in accordance with that Section, subject to the necessary Ministerial authorisations. IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries regarding operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
