Written Answers Nos. 131-142
131. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of WTE attachés with responsibility for cybersecurity from his Department based at the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased this year. [17796/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that there is one full time attaché post with responsibility for cybersecurity from my Department, based at the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU in 2023 and to-date in 2024. This is set out in the table below as requested.
The current holder of this role is acting in a temporary capacity to cover maternity leave.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not currently plan to add any additional attachés with responsibility for cybersecurity in 2024.
|
Year |
Attachés |
|
2023 |
1 |
|
2024 |
1 |
132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if wood products are permitted to be burned in urban areas; and if they are subject to particular conditions nationally or under local by-laws. [17883/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022), which took effect from 31 October 2022, introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting fuels can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.
The primary focus of these regulations is on improving air quality and improving people’s health, by restricting the retail, online and commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood. The regulations do not vary between urban and rural areas.
The Solid Fuel Regulations set technical standards for all solid fuels including wood. Fuel products which are 100% biomass products, including wood products and wood logs, supplied in units of two cubic metres or less, must have a moisture content of less than 25%. Wood logs supplied in units of two cubic metres or more must now be accompanied by a notice outlining the need to store and season wet wood until it is sufficiently dried.
Prosecutions under the Solid Fuel Regulations are brought in accordance with the Air Pollution Act, 1987 which provides for a range of fines of up to €500,000 on conviction on indictment.
133. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if air quality standards apply to emissions from household burning outside of the bans on certain products that are in place; and the procedures for monitoring air quality that may be associated with such uses. [17887/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClean air is essential for our quality of life. While recent decades have seen significant improvements in air quality in Ireland, air pollution continues to cause damage to both our health and environment. The European Environment Agency report Air Quality in Europe 2020 indicates that in 2018 there were 1,410 premature mortalities arising from air pollution in Ireland. The vast majority of these, 1,300, are attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which in Ireland is primarily associated with domestic solid fuel burning.
While air quality standards for our national emissions and ambient air quality are set out in national and EU legislation, these standards or limits do not apply to specific household premises.
There is legislation in place under the Air Pollution Act, 1987 which states that “the occupier of any premises shall not cause or permit an emission from such premises in such a quantity, or in such a manner, as to be a nuisance”. The relevant enforcement agencies are the Local Authorities and it is at the discretion of the relevant Local Authority to determine the most appropriate procedures to deal with these matters.
134. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline his policy with respect to the development and utilisation of hydrotreated vegetable oil in Ireland; the amount currently being used nationally; his projections for the future use of HVO; the timescales for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17902/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a bioliquid which can be used as a renewable energy and which, in a transport context, is classified as a biofuel.
In the context of HVO as a bioliquid for heating purposes, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in buildings, and the National Heat Study contains the detailed analysis that is informing the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050. The Study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels such as HVO, solid biomass, biogases and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks.
The recommendation of the Heat Study is that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for heating systems, with district heating also being an option that can be widely deployed. There are, therefore, no current plans to provide support for the use of HVO in a heating context.
The production and use of HVO in heating specifically is not currently monitored in Ireland.
135. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the exact nature and current status with regard to the European Commission’s announcement of 24 January 2024 that it was sending Ireland a formal notice (INFR(2024)0071) for failing to transpose Directive (EU) 2022/2380 amending Directive 2014/53/EU (‘the Radio Equipment Directive’); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17904/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications received a Letter of Formal Notice from the Commission in late January 2024 due to late transposition of Directive (EU) 2022/2380, the deadline for which was 28 December 2023. The necessary legislative measures to ensure its transposition and implementation have since been implemented by way of a statutory instrument, S.I. No. 30 of 2024, European Union (Radio Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, made on 1st March 2024. Notification of measures transposing the Directive was made to the Commission in early March. No further communication has been received from the Commission.
136. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the exact value of fines that will be paid to the European Union if Ireland fails to reach the targets set for emissions reduction by 2030. [17925/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, to 2030, are set by the EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR). The regulation covers those sectors of the economy that fall outside the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS); including transport, buildings, agriculture, light industry and waste.
The ESR sets binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for each Member State for the period 2021–2030. Beyond direct emissions reductions, the legislative framework of the regulation provides for a number of compliance options; including the banking, borrowing and trade of annual allowances. This approach enables flexibility among Member States to achieve targets as efficiently and as fairly as possible.
While the governance framework of the ESR does not provide for the imposition of direct fines from the EU, there are costs associated with availing of compliance options under the framework, in particular for trading.
The exact cost to the exchequer would be a function of the extent to which the State exceeded its target and the unit cost of Annual Emissions Allocation units (AEAs) available for purchase. This would largely be determined by the availability of surplus AEAs and, in turn, Member States’ collective progress towards the targets set by the regulation. The estimation of exact values is further complicated by the lack of an existing market for the trade of AEAs or any prior data on purchases under the ESR, at this point.
Spending Review 2023: Estimating the Potential Cost of Compliance with 2030 Climate & Energy Targets, published in February 2023, was prepared by officials from my Department and from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, as a first step at estimating the cost of compliance with EU climate targets under the ESR. The paper outlines the proposed approach to estimating the potential costs of compliance on an annual basis out to 2030, in order to present potential implications if Ireland fails to make sufficient progress towards its targets and in implementing the Climate Action Plan 2023.
My officials are continuing to work closely with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and other relevant Government Departments to keep on top of any developments on the fiscal risks associated with any failure to reach climate targets and to ensure we are achieving the best possible value for the Irish taxpayer.
137. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the exact nature and current status of the European Commission’s announcement of 24 January 2024 that it was sending Ireland a formal notice (INFR(2024/0072) for failing to transpose Directive (EU) 2023/958 amending Directive 2003/87/EC regarding aviation’s contribution to the Union’s economy-wide emission reduction target and the appropriate implementation of a global market-based measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17927/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the exact nature and current status of the European Commission’s announcement of 24 January 2024 that it was sending Ireland a formal notice (INFR(2024/0073) for failing to transpose Directive (EU) 2023/959 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union's greenhouse gas emission trading system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17928/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
My Department is currently progressing the transposition of Directive (EU) 2023/958 which will increase the ambition of emissions reductions in the aviation sector. In addition, Directive (EU) 2023/959 seeks to expand the existing EU Emissions Trading Scheme to the maritime sector and to incorporate several new sectors, such as buildings and road transport.
There has been a delay in completing the transposition, pending clarification on legal issues to ensure that the transposition is consistent with national law. This delay has resulted in the formal notices (INFR (2024/0072) and (INFR (2024/0073) from the European Commission. My Department has replied to the Commission providing a full explanation of the delay. The Commission has acknowledged the reply. Once the legal advice has been received and the implications assessed, my Department will proceed with the completion of transposition of the Directives.
Notwithstanding the transposition delay, the Environmental Protection Agency has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the new activities, with resources allocated.
139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work of the climate action regional offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17936/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFour Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) were established in 2018 to support local government in responding and adapting to climate change. They operate under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with my Department until 2023, with €10m of funding allocated.
In July 2023, my Department signed a new SLA with the four host Local Authorities (Cork County, Dublin City, Mayo County and Kildare County) to continue the work of the CAROs in supporting local government to coordinate and deliver climate action up to 2029, with €12m in funding allocated for this purpose.
The CAROs operate as a shared service which provides for a coordinated approach on climate action across the local government sector and a more joined-up approach to responding to the climate crisis at a regional level. Each office works closely with Local Authorities in their region to guide and inform them as they lead transformative change and measurable climate action in areas such as cutting emissions, biodiversity and adaptation.
The CARO Annual Work Programme for 2024 is currently underway and includes seven work packages. A key role for the CAROs in 2024 is to provide a support function to the Local Authorities for the Local Authority Climate Action Plans which have now been adopted in all 31 Local Authorities.
140. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the disposal of public assets through the sale of An Post offices is consistent with his Department’s policy. [18129/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister, 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.
In accordance with section 8.22 of the Code of Practice, all State bodies are required to seek the approval of the relevant Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in advance of any material acquisition or disposal of land, buildings or other material assets proposed by a State body.
An Post is aware of the requirement for compliance with the Code of Practice.
141. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a non-profit district heating scheme in Ireland; and his plans to transition existing schemes to a non-profit model. [18130/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe District Heating Steering Group Report, which was approved by Government in July 2023, contains a suite of recommendations setting the future policy direction for development of district heating.
The District Heating Steering Group Report noted that, following examination of the wide range of potential ownership and operation models that are in place across Europe, decisions regarding the ownership and operating models for district heating schemes will need to be taken to determine the most appropriate model for Ireland. The analysis to inform this work is underway.
In line with the Steering Group report, a National District Heating Centre of Excellence has been established within the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to fulfil a key recommendation to centralise the approach to development of the sector to ensure balanced and timely delivery of district heating networks. My Department has worked closely with the SEAI on the design of the core functions of the Centre of Excellence which will encompass, inter alia, the development of a national strategy for the long term growth of the district heating sector and identification of the optimum financial strategy for development of the sector.
My Department will also soon bring forward proposals for legislation to provide for an appropriate regulatory and legal environment for the sector.
Having fulfilled its initial mandate, the Steering Group has now been reconstituted to focus on delivery and implementation of the Government approved Report, and it now sits under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce, which has been established to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heating and decarbonisation of the building stock.
142. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 653 of 18 January 2023, if an update will be provided. [17311/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that the plaque bearing a misspelling at the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State, which is located in Merrion Square, Dublin was replaced in August 2023 and now contains the correct spelling of the word "emanates".
