Matt Carthy
Question:54. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the meetings he has had, and-or the briefings he has received, in respect of the North-South Interconnector. [21467/24]
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
North-South Interconnector
I ask the Minister of State to outline the meetings and briefings he and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, have had in respect of the North-South Interconnector.
The North-South Interconnector is an essential infrastructure project that will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland, leading to a more secure, affordable and sustainable supply of electricity across the island.
As a transmission project, the North-South Interconnector is being undertaken by EirGrid, which is independent of the Minister, with EirGrid determining the means of delivery of the project. In so doing, it seeks to work in close collaboration with affected landowners and local communities. The Minister does not have a role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground and this is in line with the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure.
The Deputy has asked about meetings and-or briefings that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has had in respect of the North-South Interconnector. The most recent meeting was for the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, where the Minister met with his party colleague, then Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh. Both the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and I, wish to take this opportunity to wish Conor well in his recovery.
The Minister, Conor Murphy, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, discussed the North-South Interconnector, with the Minister, Conor Murphy, also acknowledging the benefits the interconnector will bring to the island of Ireland, including lower-cost electricity, an improved security of supply and a greater investment in renewable electricity. The briefing for this meeting was provided by officials from the Department, who have responsibility for policy that is related to the development of the electricity grid. They brief the Minister on grid-related matters, including the North-South Interconnector, from time to time and as necessary.
According to the Minister of State's response, the only briefing that was received was in respect of the North-South Ministerial Council. The only meeting-----
The most recent.
But that is not the question.
It asks about the meetings and briefings the Minister has had.
Yes and this is important. The Ceann Comhairle has ruled several questions on the North-South Interconnector out of order because the Department now claims that those questions do not fall under the remit of the Minister, despite the fact that similar questions have been previously answered by the Minister and his predecessors, and now-----
Let us not get into the debate. Let us just talk about the issues. The issues clearly are the meetings the Minister has had and the briefings he has received.
I just want clarification on this. The response indicated that there was one meeting and one briefing. Is the Minister of State saying that there were others or that was the only information he had? Were they the only briefings or meetings that were held by either the Minister of State or the Minister?
Sorry, that is the information I have to hand. It only relates to the most recent meeting. I am not aware of whether there were other meetings or briefings before that. If the Deputy has a specific period in mind, as the project has been going on for decades at this stage, I will come back with a better answer.
Okay, but with due respect, the Minister has not been in office for decades. The Minister has been in office for four years. Either there were briefings and meetings that were too numerous to relay in a response to a parliamentary question, or there was a small number over that four-year period. If there was a small number, that information could be given to the House.
The one thing I do know is that neither the Minister of State nor the Minister has actually engaged with any representatives of the communities affected who tell us that more than 90% of landowners have made it absolutely clear that they will not facilitate entry by EirGrid or anybody acting on its behalf to their lands. Essentially, EirGrid has outlined that it is planning to engage in a collision course with local communities. In my view, this is a collision course that will lead to a substantial, further delay to this project.
If there are benefits to the project, as I agree there are, then we should be trying to ensure the project is delivered as quickly as possible. The way to achieve that is through undergrounding the interconnector. The only way is if the senior Minister directs EirGrid to pursue that.
I am glad that the Deputy agrees with his colleague, Conor Murphy MLA, that there are great benefits to this project. I absolutely agree that there has to be good engagement with landowners. EirGrid manages the national electricity grid. It recently issued letters to about 400 landowners on the route of the planned North-South interconnector. The letters outline the infrastructure proposed on landholdings and the compensation payments being offered to landowners which are approximately €50,000 per pylon and €160 per metre of overhead lines. Plans are in place to liaise with those homeowners situated within 200 m of the proposed electricity line who will receive proximity payments. I understand that EirGrid, ESB Networks and the CRU are considering their next steps in the event that a sufficient number of landowners do not reach a voluntary agreement with EirGrid.
That is precisely what is going to lead to conflict and delay. What I find staggering about the Green Party Ministers, supported by all accounts by their Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael counterparts, is that they seem completely oblivious to the realities on the ground. If EirGrid pursues its current trajectory the only thing to be delivered will be court cases, delays, frustration and the lack of whatever semblance of goodwill it is still possible to achieve. Has the Minister asked EirGrid precisely how many landowners have indicated specifically that they will not engage directly with it? In percentage terms, that information should be provided to the Members of this House.
The Minister of State's response seems to be in the wrong tense because that consultation has already happened. EirGrid knows exactly the response. The Minister has a responsibility to find out exactly where that project is. Deputy Carthy is absolutely right. If as the Minister of State says, EirGrid, ESB Networks and the CRU are considering their next steps, that is a direct collision course with communities and will further delay this project.
In Deputy O'Rourke's previous question about curtailment, he clearly showed an understanding of what the problems are when we have too much electricity in one part of the island and not enough in another and we cannot share it from one to the other. I am sure he understands what the benefits of the project are. Like any infrastructure project, whether building a road or a greenway, there is always a need for engagement with local communities and a need to obtain consent as far as possible. The project has to be built eventually. It has to go through all the due diligence and due process, and eventually issues need to be worked out with the landowners on the ground. It is never easy but this process has not been rushed. We have been hearing about this for many years. There have been many rounds of engagement and legal process with the involvement of An Bord Pleanála, open hearings and oral hearings. I have heard about it for many years at this stage. We are now at the point where landowners are being are being offered compensation and we will have to see what the response is.
Recycling Policy
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:55. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the engagement his Department has had with local authorities to progress the next phase of the deposit-return scheme development and roll-out; the number of local authorities that have registered interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21563/24]
Alan Farrell
Question:59. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the implementation and operation of the deposit-return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21557/24]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:60. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of ongoing concerns with the roll-out and operation of the deposit-return scheme; the measures he is taking to address these concerns; if he will report on Ireland’s experience thus far when compared with other EU states based on data he received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21492/24]
I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on the engagement his Department has had with local authorities to progress the next phase of the deposit-return scheme development and roll-out, and the number of local authorities that have registered interest to date.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 59 and 60 together.
Since the deposit-return scheme, DRS, went live on 1 February, more than 100 million containers have been returned and €18 million has been refunded to consumers in deposits. Daily return rates are growing all the time, regularly exceeding 2 million containers. It reached 3 million on Sunday.
A four-month transition period is in place to allow for the selling-off of existing non-DRS stock and also to focus on supporting consumers and retailers through the critical set-up period. As with any new scheme of this scale and complexity, there have been some teething issues, but I am satisfied that Re-turn is taking the right actions to sort these out.
I am very encouraged by the early engagement rates. While Re-turn is providing periodic data to me, it is important not to draw final conclusions prematurely. In reality, a full 12 months of operation will be needed to make that first meaningful assessment. Such a period is essential for the scheme to mature, ensuring that the metrics we eventually use and report to the EU are both accurate and reliable.
At present, there are almost 2,700 retail return points, about 90% of which are reverse-vending machines, with the rest being manual. The scheme also allows for non-retail operators, such as local authorities, to provide take-back facilities, complementing the collection infrastructure provided by retailers. My Department and Re-turn continue to engage with the sector and already five local authorities have approached me about installing reverse-vending machines at civic amenity sites as part of the next phase of roll-out.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. In that response he referred to five local authorities. I ask him to name them specifically. If engagement with any other local authorities is at an advanced stage, he might indicate how many, even if he cannot name them. I broadly welcome the scheme. The initial Amárach research showed that over 80% of the population were in favour of it and committed to engaging with it. I listened to Ciaran Foley on RTÉ Radio One as I drove up this morning. If that 3 million figure that the Minister of State quoted in his response can be replicated, I would like to think that people will continue to positively engage with the scheme.
I ask the Minister of State to expand on the issue of the excess money. This morning Ciaran Foley alluded to the fact that Re-turn is working with community groups and charities on what might happen to that money. I ask the Minister of State to outline to the progress on that.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. Like every new scheme, there are bound to be teething problems and there were a few along the way in the last few weeks. Like my colleague, I broadly welcome the success rate that has been illustrated. I note with appreciation the amount of time that the Minister of State gave to the Oireachtas joint committee recently where he went through this in great detail.
Reliability is an issue with some of the machines in place. I wish to discuss the possibility of transferable credit, rather than being stuck with credit for a particular retailer. People often choose to return to a particular location for convenience's sake rather than in a retailer that one might use on a regular basis because of that reliability issue.
There are deposit-return-style schemes in other jurisdictions where they have the capacity literally to pour a bag of bottles and cans into a machine and the machine does the work and will most likely kick out ones that are not appropriate. Can we investigate moving to such machines? It would be of extreme convenience for people and make the experience a little less onerous at the weekends in particular. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the queues in his own constituency as I am in mine.
I have a similar question. I hope for the successful implementation of the scheme. I believe it has been reported that less than 1% of the machines have performance issues. Is there proper oversight regarding internal malfunction of the machines? What training regimes are in place to ensure they are operational as much as possible?
People are now seeing an increasing number of bottles and cans with the Re-turn logo on them. Is the Minister of State satisfied that the transition period will run according to schedule?
Deputy O'Sullivan asked me to name the local authorities. I know my own council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, is engaging with councils in other European countries to figure out how they manage it. I hope it will be one of the first. I do not have a list of the other four local authorities, but when I get it, I will send it to the Deputy.
On the question about excess money, I outlined the financial model to Deputy Whitmore. It is not for profit. The scheme has significant running costs and the largest cost of running it is payments to retailers to handle the bottles. They receive a handling fee for each bottle or can they return and they use that handling fee to pay for the machines. This feeds back into Deputy O'Rourke's question about training for machines, reliability and so on.
The machines are the responsibility of the shops which pay for them and enter a service level agreement with the different suppliers. It is their responsibility to make sure the machines are emptied, the tickets are refilled and that they are working. We are at an 86% reliability rate for machines at the moment. I expect that to go above 90% soon.
Regarding the question about transferable credit and whether a credit note could be used if you go from one shop to another, our transferable method of credit is that you are always entitled to cash. Money is the form of transformable credit, which you can bring from one shop to another. You do not have to accept store credit.
Could you pour a bag of cans into a machine? There are machines that are shaped like washing machines. You could get a bin bag filled with 100 cans, pour them in and the machine quickly sorts them. I expect the county councils will opt for those models of machine because there is a high volume when you are going to your recycling centre.
I again mention following up with the local authorities. The only concern I had listening to Ciaran Foley this morning was when he was asked about the accessibility of some of the machines for people who have issues. They might not be very mobile or able to reach the machine, depending on the type. He said some machines were capable of tending to the needs of people in wheelchairs, for example, but he did not confirm that all machines were accessible. If the local authorities are going to roll this out, I ask that at least those machines would be accessible for all, as opposed to the hotch-potch that might be there at the moment. As I said, all speakers in the House tonight have spoken about the positivity of the scheme and how we want people to engage with it.
To follow up on what Deputy Farrell said, I note the Minister of State's response about cash being a genuine way to reimburse people but perhaps there could be some kind of app on a phone that could be credited. I am not going to say it should be Revolut or whatever, but if there was something like that that could credit someone's personal account, it might be more efficient.
Lastly, on the reliability issue, I know this morning Ciaran Foley said most machines were functioning properly. There could be some kind of app flagging that machines-----
Thank you, Deputy.
-----were out of order.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am pleased to hear there may be scope for the sort of machines to which I referred to be introduced by local authorities. That would be good. To refer to some of the remarks made by Deputy O'Sullivan regarding accessibility, it is an issue. Will the Minister of State investigate whether, as standard practice, these machines could be a particular height, including where precisely the entry point for the cans and bottles is located as it does matter?
My other question is twofold. The first is on retailers clearing out old stock and either deliberately or unfortunately applying the return cost. I have no evidence but have heard remarks made by constituents that this is occurring. The other relates to restaurateurs. Are they to charge for the DRS for cans they serve at a table? When they clear the table they take the can back. Again, it is a question, not an accusation.
I want to go back to that question of whether the Minister of State is satisfied. It is positive we are seeing increasing numbers of cans and bottles on the shelves with the return logo. Is he satisfied that this transition is going to continue? There were initial problems - more than problems - with databases and barcodes not matching up and lots of teething problems. I echo those points on accessibility. The Minister of State would have heard them loud and clear at the committee as well. It is a piece that needs to be front and centre in terms of reviews and the ongoing implementation.
I also raised the point at the committee of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht areas. It is something that has been raised with me by colleagues. To make a success of the programme and to ensure it is operating to the highest possible capacity, these are matters that need to be kept under constant review.
Deputy O'Sullivan suggested that the local authorities should have the most accessible machines and that is a very good suggestion. I will go back to the local authorities on that. He asked about credit being applied to people's phones. Local authority civic amenity sites do not handle very small quantities of cash, such as 15 cent. They are really looking at what the solution is for dealing with cash. Credit to a phone may be the answer. There is a difficulty with transaction charges on very small amounts of money, which is why electronic transactions are not usually used. The Deputy also suggested flagging on an app when the machines are out of order and this is a good suggestion. If that data is available, I will ask Re-turn to do that.
Deputy Farrell asked about the height of machines. This is set at 1.2 m. There was extensive consultation with the National Disability Authority before the Re-turn scheme went live. A forum of people representing those with disabilities and those with lived experience with disability is sitting this month to see how the scheme is working in practice and if any changes are needed. Retailers should be selling off their old stock at a discount before the end of the month-----
Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. Tá an t-am istigh.
-----because if they try to sell to sell any stock that does not have the Re-turn logo from 1 June, they are liable to fines of up to €5,000.
Questions Nos. 56 and 57 replied to with Written Answers.
Cybersecurity Policy
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:58. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the role of the National Cyber Security Centre in tackling cyber scams [21487/24]
Will the Minister of State outline the roll of the National Cyber Security Centre in tackling cyber scams?
There is close co-operation across many sections of Government regarding cyber risks and threats and the specific issue of cybercrime is under the remit of the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána. The National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, which is part of my Department, monitors, detects and responds to cyber security incidents in the State, and builds resilience in IT systems with particular emphasis on critical infrastructure and Government. Those resilience-building measures include a set of security requirements applied to critical infrastructure which is to be augmented and expanded through the transposition of the new network information security directive, NIS2; a formal information sharing network, which is called the CyberCORE network; a development of national and EU certification schemes; and advisories circulated relating to vulnerabilities and risks across critical infrastructure and Government. The NCSC works closely with An Garda Síochána, ensuring we have a cohesive national response to cyber-related risks. The national programme for EU Cyber Security Month is organised jointly by both organisations. An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice are members of the national counter ransomware task force, which was founded by the NCSC.
When we hear of cyber scams, we initially think of the attack on the HSE in 2021, or the large-scale attacks on our institutes of higher education. These are the headline stories but the reality is that there is no one in Ireland today who has not been touched in some way by cyber scams. Whether it is a credit card scam, a hacking of a social media account or the stealing of a password, cybercrime is now unfortunately a common occurrence. These crimes can have devastating personal, professional and financial consequences for victims. The mid-term review of the national cybersecurity strategy committed to developing and publishing, on a more frequent basis, tailored advice and guidance documents on steps that can be taken by citizens to prevent and mitigate these cybercrimes. Will the Minister of State confirm if the tailored advice and guidance documents are being updated and published frequently in order to protect our citizens?
I can confirm the NCSC is doing that in co-operation with An Garda Síochána because the gardaí are the people who see first-hand what the effect of these scams is. The scams are always changing because people are protecting themselves. It is an arms race. The criminals then change their methods. Then the NCSC and An Garda Síochána communicate to the public through communication campaigns. They have a cybercrime week in October when they tell people about how to protect themselves from cybercrime. It is not just aimed at vulnerable or older people. It is aimed at everybody because it could happen to you or me. You are not concentrating for a second, you click on a link or follow something and you are scammed. These crimes are not just about a large organisation being hacked. They are also about having your identity stolen, your social media account or your bank account hacked. There are stories of people experiencing this, and not just stories. An Garda Síochána reports that people lose their entire life savings or are encouraged to take out loans and then transfer the money. It is an increasing problem which the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau tackles.
What the Minister of State is saying is correct. This was brought to my attention. Just last week, it was discovered that 76,000 websites had been set up by a network of criminals based in China. The websites were marked as official sites of well-known brands, many of which have a well-established customer base in Ireland.
Experts are now calling it one of the biggest online scams ever. Up to 800,000 people, mostly in Europe, were tricked into providing personal and financial information to these bogus sites run by criminals. While An Garda Síochána is not as yet aware of any Irish citizens impacted by the scam, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Irish people have fallen victim to this or a similar highly-sophisticated scam. What is being done to protect the citizens from these sophisticated scams, which are not easily identified as scams and, therefore, may trick a large number of people? I know the Government is working with An Garda Síochána but what is happening is mind-boggling. This is really worrying. As the Minister of State said, it affects everyone. What else can we do?
A lot of us learned, if we had not already understood, the dangers of cybercrime with the HSE attack. We all get scams through mobile phones, whether number generation and a call from Revolut or text messages that plague us every day. It is an issue. It impacts everybody. So many are sent that, unfortunately, even if a small percentage are executed, it will impact a huge number of people on the basis of the information they get. Is there any update on whether the legislation has been progressed around Pegasus and Predator? They are directed Trojan horses. We all know that the clients of the companies that use them are generally inhospitable people and some inhospitable regimes. They are generally directed at politicians and journalists and others. We need to make sure, particularly with anything operating in this State, that there are rules and regulations to deal with them.
It is not just a matter for the Garda. As our lives go online, criminals go online. We spend more of our time there so it is natural that more crime happens online. That is why the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is a growing division of the Garda - as so many crimes are reported. During the pandemic, there was a huge increase in the amount of scam texts and calls with people trying to get money with fake deliveries and so on. I convened a meeting of the chief executives of all the phone companies and asked them to work together. Through co-operation with ComReg, we came up with an action plan and a number of scams were defeated as a result. There were five different points, which I cannot reveal because that would give the information to criminals. Representatives of banking organisations work closely with us because the money stolen from people ends up in banks. They help to provide guidance to the NCSE and the Garda on how to stop that movement of cash out of the system. Regarding Pegasus and Predator, Ireland signed up to a global anti-spyware initiative to stop the companies that produce these technologies operating in an unfair way in our jurisdictions.
Questions Nos. 59 and 60 taken with Question No. 55.
National Broadband Plan
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:61. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action he is taking to progress areas still pending survey in mid-Cork under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21551/24]
I wish to clarify with the Minister of State the plan to advance the roll-out of the national broadband plan in areas around Macroom and west of the town, where there are no surveys pending and no expectation of a national broadband plan until 2025 or 2026.
Ireland's digital connectivity strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. Through the national broadband plan, all sectors will be provided with the connectivity needed to fully exploit digital opportunities, leading to more balanced regional development, while supporting the green transition. There are more than 283,989 premises in County Cork, of which over 82,000, 29%, are within the AMBER area. They will be provided with high-speed broadband through State-led intervention. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland the following in relation to deployment areas in mid-Cork regarding pending surveys which are imminent. Dunmanway survey will commence in May 2024. It is anticipated it will be completed in August 2024. Ballingeary survey will commence in July 2024. It is anticipated that survey will be completed in August 2024. Carriganimmy is to commence in August 2024. It is anticipated that survey will be completed in September 2024.
Also in County Cork, there are five deployment areas that have premises passed: Templemartin, Carrigaline, Midleton, Youghal and Rathmore and one deployment area that is premises build complete, Tallow. There are ten deployment areas that have commenced - Eyeries, Skibbereen, Lauragh, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Kanturk, Meelin and Abbeyfeale. There are six deployment areas that are premises design complete: Dursey Island, Bere Island, Kilcrohane, Schull, Bantry and Killavullen. There is one deployment area that is survey complete, Grenagh, and one deployment area under way, Charleville. As of 30 April 2024, 26,723 premises in the AMBER area in County Cork are passed and available for immediate connection. This means 32% of those premises in County Cork are now covered by the programme.
Locals in the areas of Kilmichael, Ballingeary, Baile Bhuirne, Carriganimmy up towards Aubane asked about the roll-out of the national broadband plan. When they log onto the website and see 2025 or 2026, one can imagine it is frustrating. I appreciate the details the Minister of State has on the different switches in Carriganimmy, Dunmanway and Ballingeary. It is not available to the public when they log on to the website. They look down the Lee Valley towards the city and see other switches were switched on, such as Templemartin, which covered a huge area from Crossbarry to Coachford. That was a positive development. There is another switch in the middle of that area, in Baile Bhuirne, which the Minister of State did not reference. Perhaps he could clarify if the Baile Bhuirne area will be covered by one of the nearby switches in Carriganimmy or Béal Átha an Gaorthaidh.
As the Deputy said, this information is not available on the website at the moment. When I started in this position, at the launch of the national broadband plan, there was no information beyond two years. If it was beyond two years, it just stated some time between now and 2026. I asked the NBI to provide the exact date or at least to the nearest quarter when it would be provided to tell people what it was, even though it could change. That has been useful and allowed people to plan. If they know they are not getting it until the last year, they know they can use some type of intermediate solution like low earth orbit satellite, other fixed wireless access or some other type of wireless connection. Regarding Ballingeary, I mentioned that the survey will start in July 2024 and complete in August this year. I do not have data on Baile Bhuirne. I will come back to the Deputy on that. If he comes to my office I will give him the answer. That applies to any other area the Deputy is curious about. I will go back to NBI to see if it can provide more detailed information on when surveys are happening. People are curious to know when their area is coming next. We have a very high take-up rate and people do have access.
The Minister of State is right; if the information was available, it would ease some of the stress on people. You look down the valley and you see places the Templemartin switch, which was connected, bringing a fantastic service in areas from Crossbarry, Newcestown, Coachford, An Chúil Dubh and a wide area there. The focus has now been moved up towards the Donoughmore area. On this area, west of the town, if the Minister could give clarity regarding those communities and the opportunity, it would be very positive. At the moment, they look at the website and see a date of 2025 to 2026. I will give the Minister of State the details of the different settlements and parishes, from Aubane, Carriganimmy, Clondrohid, Béal Átha an Gaorthaidh, Baile Bhuirne, Inchigeelagh and towards Kilmichael, Togher, Coppeen and that area as well. Will the Minister of State clarify that?
I am willing to give the Deputy or any other Deputy information like that if they seek it in particular. About 240,000 homes have now been passed. About one third of the people passed have connected to the service. I expect that will keep rising until about 80% of people passed will connect. We will also reach the halfway mark for the project and will complete by the end of 2026. We will complete on time and on budget.
Later this year we are going to connect to the Black Valley in neighbouring County Kerry, one of the hardest to reach areas in the country for infrastructure. They will have full fibre broadband for everybody in the valley who wants it by later this year, in the next couple of months.
Renewable Energy Generation
Catherine Connolly
Question:62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 16 April 2024, the status of the community-led projects that were successful in RESS 2; the number that remain in the process; if these projects are on track to energise by 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21571/24]
My question relates to the renewable electricity support scheme. I have a particular interest in it because having community involvement is an essential part of the solution to being sustainable in Ireland. What is the status of the community-led projects under the renewable electricity support scheme 2? How many remain in the process, and when will they be energised? Will it be 2024, 2025 or 2026?
Through the first two renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category. Ten community projects were successful in the RESS 2 auction. Of these, eight signed implementation agreements to deliver under the RESS 2 terms and conditions and remain in the scheme. Those projects are proceeding through the scheme milestones. Some may develop through alternative routes to market, including the upcoming small-scale renewable electricity support scheme, SRESS. The final date for projects to achieve commercial operation in RESS 2 is 31 December 2026. There is evidence of significant challenges which renewable energy community projects may face with the competitive, auction-based nature of RESS, along with grid and other barriers to project delivery. Community projects therefore will now transition to the non-competitive small-scale renewable electricity support scheme. The export tariff phase of SRESS to support small-scale and community renewable projects is due to be launched in the coming weeks with the announcement of relevant tariff support rates which will be a major step forward in supporting the community energy sector. It will include similar community energy-enabling technical and financial supports that are currently provided under RESS.
I welcome the last part where the Minister of State said the new SRESS scheme will be announced in the next few weeks. A climate emergency was declared in 2019, as he well knows. The renewable electricity support scheme was introduced in 2018. It is now six years later, and we seem to be limping on and limping on. I am really trying to find out information about the first RESS scheme. I did not ask about that specifically tonight, but my question is based on a series of questions trying to get a handle on the community-based projects. On the specific question asked tonight the Minister of State tells me ten applied and eight remain in the scheme. Can we get any details on where those eight are? What happened to the other two? He then said they are going to progress through different stages and through the market. When and how will that happen? It seems that it is all slowly evolving in a reactive way as opposed to a planned approach to community involvement for maximum effect.
I start by acknowledging that community energy is really important. It creates a sense of ownership and belonging and the mechanisms that might work in the commercial sector have not worked in the community. The mechanism of auction has not proved appropriate in the community sector. It is because of this that a new scheme is being launched. There was extensive engagement with communities to try to devise a scheme that would be suitable and successful whereby instead of bidding for a price, a price would be agreed through negotiation. These are not, after all, large profit-making companies and a scheme that was more appropriate for a smaller community-led project than one that was backed with large corporate finance could be determined. I have full faith at this stage that it will succeed.
I do not share the same faith with the Minister of State, although I share the importance of community involvement. I will repeat that this has been going on from 2018 to 2024 and we are limping on and limping on. I have no handle on which communities have been successful. I want to share that with my own constituents in Galway. The private sector has a huge offshore plan in Sceirde that is causing great community division with the scale and size of it offshore. We will come to that another day. We are here talking about success stories in theory, but I do not know where they are. I do not know how many relate to solar or how many relate to wind, what is the involvement or what are the challenges. I know that the auction-based method did not suit. We knew from day one that it was never going to suit. Indeed, the total corporatisation does not suit either, but that is perhaps a discussion for another day. Will the Minister of State guide me? I am not tired asking questions, but it is a slow and painstaking way of trying to elicit information that should be upfront. If these are success stories, we should be celebrating them, learning from them and rolling them out more.
Can the information be provided to the Deputy at an early stage?
I will ask the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to provide that information to the Deputy directly.
It is presumably not secret.
I do not imagine it is. I do not know if there is any legal impediment to releasing it. All the Deputy has asked for is the nature of the products - whether they are solar or wind, who the projects are, and what the status is of the eight projects proceeding. I will ask the Minister to provide the Deputy with more details on that. I do not have details of those particular eight projects, and I am not sure if that is asked for within the question. However, I will ask the Minister to provide her with that information and I reiterate that the new small-scale scheme is due to be announced in the coming weeks.
Climate Change Policy
Bernard Durkan
Question:63. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which Ireland continues to make progress towards meeting climate change issues with particular reference to flooding prevention, land drainage or management and any other issues of potential positive impact in meeting the various climate challenges in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21542/24]
This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which measures to meet climate challenges are successful, and if there is available to the public some scientific evidence to indicate that their efforts are being rewarded and that, if continued, their efforts will be of benefit.
The statutory 2018 national adaptation framework, NAF, sets out Ireland's climate adaptation policy. Following my Department's review of the framework I approved the development of a new NAF, and the draft was completed in December 2023. It incorporates key sectoral and stakeholder input, including from the Climate Change Advisory Council. A statutory public consultation was undertaken earlier this year. The NAF will be submitted to Government for approval shortly, with publication anticipated in the second quarter of 2024. The new NAF integrates national and international policy developments since 2018, and includes work progressed at local authority level, sectoral adaptation plans and climate research. It outlines a whole-of-government and society approach to climate adaptation in Ireland. By taking a sectoral approach through relevant Departments, it aims to improve the enabling environment for mainstreaming adaptation action through key sectors and local government, along with civil society, the private sector and the research community. According to the Climate Change Advisory Council's 2023 climate change adaptation scorecard report, the agriculture, forestry and seafood sector was rated as moderate overall, with good progress observed in mainstreaming adaptation into new policies, planning and financing frameworks. The flood risk management sector was rated as good overall, with the OPW found to have strong internal co-ordination structures in place to co-ordinate the planning, implementation and monitoring of its SAP. Following Government approval of the NAF, key sectors including flood risk management and agriculture will develop new SAPs to address the negative impacts of climate change and to benefit from potential positive impacts.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am also thinking that in order to succeed in any such situation there needs to be evidence available to support the concept. We have, for example, for want of a better word, flashpoints around the country where severe flooding takes place and has taken place again and again. We call it a hundred year flood or whatever it is. The fact is that there is a means to stop it. We have the means to stop it. A drainage system, if operated, will curtail the kind of flash floods we have in the centres of towns and villages and so on. To what extent can we deal with that more quickly than we have done in the past? The same floods appear again and again, and the same floods threaten houses again and again, year after year.
Why should that be? Is it not possible with today's technology to be able to ensure the drainage takes place to be able to alleviate the potential for flooding?
We spent most of our time talking about the climate action plan, the ways to reduce emissions and prevent the worst effects of climate change from happening, and the adaptation plans are what is done when it does happen, and when flooding occurs, how we build the infrastructure to prevent it from happening.
There are many questions in this House on flooding. They are answered by the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. It is the OPW which has responsibility for making one of these sectoral adaptation plans and it is its job to make sure it is incorporating all the science and research to make sure it can prevent floods from happening in blackspots. From listening to the replies from the OPW, there seems to be a very long list of places in the country that are affected by flooding. It seems the once in a hundred year events that are marked on the flood risk maps happen much more frequently than that. We can look back at the experience in Midleton and see how important it is that we find a way to prevent these things from happening.
I thank the Minister of State for that reply. Again, I am a bit puzzled that we have the incidents repeating and we have the technology to alleviate the problem. While we can say in the long term that we can reduce emissions, which is beneficial to the environment, at the same time we have a situation where parts of the island are being rewetted. I would think most people would agree that over the past 12 months, and over the past six months especially, this island has been rewetted sufficiently to worry some people. I appreciate the work that is being done. However, the EPA published a report recently that said we are doing very well, that praised the country and the Minister for their efforts, but that said more needs to be done. Well then, let us do it. Let us do the job that has to be done to alleviate the flooding and to stop it - the 100-year flooding and the 50-year flooding and the 200-year flooding or whatever it is – because that is achievable in the short term.
I agree with everything the Deputy is saying but it is very important these questions are put not just to the Minister for the environment, Deputy Ryan. He is not alone in being responsible for dealing with all of these problems. That is why there are sectoral plans that are allocated to each of the relevant Ministers. For example, there is an agriculture, forestry and seafood plan for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There is one for biodiversity which is with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Then, as I said, flood risk comes under the OPW. The effects on health come under the Department of Health and effects on transport come under the Minister for Transport, who is also the Minister for the environment. It is important we do not allocate all the environmental problems in the country to the Minister for the environment and that we have a whole-of-government solution. That is why there are allocated Ministers in each of these sections. I encourage the Deputy to put the question to those relevant Ministers to see what they are doing to satisfy and complete their sectoral adaptation plans to make sure they are taking responsibility for their share of the problem.
I can assure the Minister of State I have done so.
National Broadband Plan
Bernard Durkan
Question:64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which broadband provision throughout the country is progressing as intended; if efforts continue to bridge communication gaps that have become obvious; if he can see a means whereby the provision of broadband throughout all the regions can be maximised in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21543/24]
I know there have been similar questions to this on broadband. It is on the ongoing drive to provide a full scale level of high-speed broadband throughout the country. We have had tremendous success and there are areas where there have been huge improvements. Then there are other cliff-edge areas between those areas which have received no adequate service at all yet. When will we join them all up?
Ireland's digital connectivity strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030, which is high speed and future-proofed. National Broadband Ireland, NBI, is rolling out a broadband network through its contract with the Minister. The intervention area covers in excess of 1.1 million people living and working in more than 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 672 schools. NBI is connecting about 4,000 homes each month. NBI expect to have passed in excess of 300,000 premises by the end of 2024, with about 120,000 premises passed each year thereafter until the end of deployment. I am advised by NBI that more than 243,000 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. In excess of 80,200 premises are already connected to the national broadband plan's high-speed broadband network.
My Department has engaged with NBI at every opportunity to explore options that might increase the pace of roll-out. For example, my Department has been working with directors of service and broadband officers from each of the 31 local authorities, the Local Government Management Agency, the County and City Management Association, the Road Management Office and other Departments, where appropriate, to ensure any possible barriers that might delay the roll-out are addressed as soon as possible. Engagement with other bodies such as Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Rail and ComReg are also undertaken. I understand that NBI is in regular discussions with Eir, which is responsible for the remediation of poles, to increase the rate of pole replacement each month and Eir has responded positively to these requests. NBI has also procured the necessary subcontractors, materials and equipment to support the programme into the foreseeable future to ensure there are no bottlenecks in the supply chain.
The network roll-out for the NBP is divided into 227 deployment areas across the country. These typically measure approximately 25 km in radius and cover 96% of Ireland's landmass. The network is specifically designed based on Eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks which allows NBI to reach every premises quickly.
Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State and ensuring the targets set out in the digital connectivity strategy are achieved.
We should recognise and acknowledge the fact the provision of broadband is a massive leap forward in communications in this country. It is hugely important to business and industry, education, hospitals, schools and science in general. It has been speeded up dramatically by the availability of a reliable and adequate high-speed broadband. However, there are chasms in the system still that people do not really understand. They will say the broadband is at the top of the road and has gone by there and the people in the next townland or village are enjoying it. They will say they are all in favour of it but they have none and they cannot do the job they are supposed to do until there is an extension. Insofar as it can be done, can we extend to cover those gaps and blackspots to improve the service overall?
The nature of the plan is 100% coverage. The country has been divided into 227 areas. The contractor only gets paid when it connects 100% of premises within that area. In other words, it has to pass fibre past every farm, business and home to get its payment. This is not a scheme that leaves people out. It completes by the end of 2026 and at that point 100% of the premises in the intervention area in rural Ireland – 560,000 houses and 1.1 million people – will have access to fibre broadband if they want it. In fact, at that point, at the rate we are going, urban Ireland may not have everybody connected. It is urban Ireland that will have the problem with blackspots unless I devise a blackspot scheme for urban Ireland. In fact, rural Ireland will get there first in 2026 at the current rate of progress. Urban Ireland will be covered by the end of 2028.
I agree entirely. There may be other blackspots that have not appeared just yet, but the lack of appeals on their part should not inhibit us in any way from making the changes the Minister of State referred to in identifying blackspots that need urgent attention and to do it now, insofar as it can be done and thus eliminate many of the delays.
There are crews working in every county in Ireland. The plan was devised in such a way that, rather than go from one county or province to the next, the whole county would be worked on at the same time. It is not a case that one county or community is being left out. Naturally, with a seven-year plan, there are people who will be passed in year 7 and they will not be as happy as the people who got passed in year 1. Naturally there are borders. Just as there are county borders and areas that have been completed, there will be somebody next door who will not get the connection for a while. I understand that is frustrating for people. That is why I have asked NBI to provide as much information as possible to people on their website so that people can plan and will know how many months away they are from getting their connection and whether they will need to use some kind of stopgap. I agree with the Deputy when he says it does have the effect of revitalising rural Ireland. In the past, the dream was that a factory or employer might come to a village and then there might be some life or some money in the town.
Now people can go home and work from home. They can live close to their families. They can pay a mortgage and can shop locally. They can bring all that business because they can work remotely and bring cash into their rural area.
Questions Nos. 65 to 78, inclusive, replied to with Written Answers.
Energy Conservation
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:79. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress being made in the installation and promotion of communal and district heating schemes in the State; if there are targets for the number that could be installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21525/24]
I am asking for an update on any progress made in the installation and promotion of communal and district heating systems in the State, any targets for the number that could be installed and if the Minister of State will make a statement on the matter. I do not think he will be shocked I may raise the issue of Carlinn Hall in my supplementary answer. I have met SEAI about possible solutions. I think there is a long journey to go and I hope there will be governmental support for the residents.
I am not sure I have the answer to the question at hand. My apologies.
I can just give the Minister of State a number of requests and he could say "Yes". I would be reasonably happy with that.
I would like to give the Deputy a proper answer.
If the Minister of State does not have that question response to hand-----
I do not think I do.
Can I take it that the Minister of State and the Deputy will correspond and that he will give the Deputy a written response?
I will correspond with the Deputy and I am happy to give him a full answer. Does Deputy Ó Murchú want to make a point on the general issue?
I appreciate that. In fairness, I welcome that the feasibility study was carried out by SEAI with regard to geothermal and heat pump technology to replace what is in the gas-fed system. We all know the issue that 50% was lost. It used to take two units of gas to provide one unit of heat and that there was a loss in the system. I met the SEAI and am very happy it is willing to facilitate the possibilities. We are now looking at third-party companies from a point of view of putting a proposal together. There will be a need for a greater level of analysis to be carried out. It is just making sure that if necessary, with regard to any governmental pieces, I think we are looking at a grant scheme similar to what would be offered to biomass. I do not think it is as straightforward but it can be done because we know this is not good from an environmental point of view. It is the almost the Achilles heel of district heating systems, which we all welcome. We need to look at one of these types of solutions or, in a perfect world, a district heating solution that would be perfect. There are possibilities here. My intention is that between the management company, others, some of this third-party expertise and myself that we can put a proposal together. If the residents are reasonably happy with it, it can be put together with all the funding schemes and all of those necessary parts that could improve the system.
Is féidir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scríofa ar www.oireachtas.ie .
Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.