Written Answers Nos. 169-184
169. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of successful applicants for the warmer homes scheme that come from each qualifying social welfare scheme, in tabular form. [22665/23]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 150,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The primary aim of the scheme is to provide upgrades to those living in, or at risk of, energy poverty. The depth of upgrade has increased significantly in recent years as evidenced by the average value of upgrades completed during Q1 of 2023 at €24,000.
Increased awareness of the improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme and the multiple benefits of retrofit are driving demand for the scheme. This can be seen in application numbers with over 9,900 applications received in 2022 and 4,407 applications received in the first three months of 2023 alone.
The shares of eligible applicants for the Warmer Homes Scheme per qualifying social welfare scheme for applications received in Quarter 1 2023 are set out below.
|
Qualifying Payment |
Share of Applications in Q1 2023 |
|
Carers Allowance, and live with person you are caring for |
9% |
|
Disability Allowance for more than 6 months, and child under 7 |
<1% |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
6% |
|
Fuel Allowance |
81% |
|
Job Seekers Allowance for more than 6 months, and child under 7 |
<1% |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
<1% |
|
Working Family Payment |
3% |
170. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property owner (details supplied) will be able to avail of high-speed broadband. [22696/23]
View answerThe premises referred to in the question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High-Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high-speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Under State aid rules, my Department is not permitted to displace commercial investment by intervening in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these State aid rules.
In 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 namely:
- 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.
The majority of digital connectivity across the State will be delivered through commercial investment by the telecommunications industry and this will be complemented by the National Broadband Plan.
Officials from my Department have investigated this issue and have been advised that this premises is connected to the Open eir network. OpenEir is a wholesale provider of telecommunications services in Ireland and they provide access to their network infrastructure to retail service providers (RSPs) who then offer those services to customers. The individual referred to in the Question should, therefore, contact a RSP of their choice to check what options are available to them to be connected to high-speed broadband.
171. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on progress towards meeting the target of 5% electricity demand reduction at peak time per Article 4 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. [22730/23]
View answer172. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide update on progress towards meeting the target of 10% gross electricity demand reduction per Article 3 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. [22731/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices sets out two obligations on Member States to achieve reductions in electricity demand consumption:
1. To endeavour to reduce overall electricity consumption in the period November 2022 to March 2023 by 10% (compared to the average of the previous five years over the same period) and,
2. To reduce peak electricity consumption in the period December 2022 to March 2023 by 5% (compared to forecasted consumption). This target is mandatory.
Under the Regulation, Ireland is obliged to report to the European Commission on its performance towards achieving the two targets described above.
For the first target, overall electricity consumption increased by c. 6% for the target period compared to the historical reference period. It is worth considering however the reference period for this target is one of comparatively lower demand as Ireland’s energy demand profile has increased in recent years. This makes achieving reductions in an Irish context particularly challenging in contrast to other Member States who have constant or declining consumption profiles over the past five years.
For the second target, there was an overall decrease of c.7% during peak times compared to projected consumption for this period.
It should be noted that the key difference between the overall target (which Ireland has not achieved) and the mandatory peak target (which Ireland has achieved) is that the former is compared to a historic baseline whereas the latter is against projections.
My Department will in the coming weeks publish on Gov.ie the measures pursued in order to comply with this aspect of the regulation along with recent data on electricity demand.
173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Local Energy Assessment Fund funding for sustainable energy communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22762/23]
View answerCommunities are currently supported by Government to develop plans for local energy projects through the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme. The programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. There are currently over 752 SECs in the SEC Network with a target to grow this number to 1,500 by 2030.
The Programme supports the low carbon energy transition by developing skills and capacity, at a community level, in assessing how to use less energy, adopting lower carbon options for transport and heating, shifting energy use to off-peak times or investing in smart technologies.
In 2022, co-funding of €500,000 was made available by SEAI and 17 Local Authorities to support 32 communities to undertake energy master plans. These plans allow a community to assess and understand it’s current and future energy needs (in electricity, heat and transport) in order for the community to make informed decisions and prioritise actions. The plans help communities to identify opportunities so they can become more energy efficient, use renewable energy where possible, and use smart energy technology if appropriate.
SECs will continue to be supported by Government to expand their roles as ‘activators’ in their community. Earlier this year, a number of adjustments were made to the entry points of Energy Master Plan grants to offer a more compelling proposition to communities and the consultants that develop the Master Plans. These adjustments will be particularly beneficial for smaller communities. Based on feedback from the network of SECs, and in order to facilitate further local sustainable energy activation, my Department and the SEAI are also working to finalise the development of an approach to better integrate the needs of Sustainable Energy Communities into the design of the Community Energy Grant programmes due for launch later this year.
174. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he has conducted any analysis on the effect of increasing demand for gross and peak electricity on the cost of electricity. [22849/23]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
175. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the low-cost loan scheme for energy upgrades will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/23]
View answerMy Department is working with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund to develop a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme, which will be backed by a counter guarantee provided by the EIB Group.
The loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme and will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords making comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. Further, it will signal to the banking sector, new sustainable business opportunities associated with retrofit and the transition to a low carbon economy as well as increasing the volume of retrofit activity within the State.
The development of this innovative scheme is a complex process involving several stakeholders. Intensive engagement to develop the scheme is ongoing and there has been extensive due diligence between the EIB Group and the Irish banking and credit union sector. Significant progress has been made to date, with two open calls for expressions of interest to participate in the scheme completed, and a number of banks and credit unions submitting formal expressions of interest.
The residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme will be the first consumer-focused guaranteed loan of its kind in Ireland. All stakeholders both at national and European level are committed to finalising the project and it is expected that the loan guarantee will be in place in Q3 2023.
176. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the last date the EPA independently completed a full audit of the water treatment plant responsible for water in Glanmire. [22972/23]
View answerI have no function in relation to this issue. The policy and legislation pertaining to water treatment plants is under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
I am advised that Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I understand that Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and that the team can be contacted directly via an email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number: 0818 578 578. Furthermore, the Agency is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, and is entirely independent in the exercise of its functions.
177. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on a grant application under the circular economy innovation grant scheme 2022 from a company (details supplied). [22991/23]
View answerAll applicants to the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme's [CEIGS] 2022 funding call have been informed by the Department, on 12 May 2023, as to whether or not they were selected for funding. A formal public announcement of the names of those applicants who have selected for grant funding will be made later this month. All awards of grant funding are conditional on a grant agreement being put in place between the Department and the grantee.
As with the previous funding call, applications in 2022 far exceeded the level of CEIGS funding available. The Department acknowledges the high level of interest that exists in relation to the CEIGS and intends to increase the total amount of funding available for the scheme's 2023 funding call later this year.
178. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of social media posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23028/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that information and services are accessible to all citizens. Our Irish Language Scheme sets out our commitments in terms of providing information, services and participation through Irish. We have an Irish Language Officer who is working with the social media team to ensure that we continue to grow our bilingual and Irish language content across all platforms.
In the period in question, my Department did not post exclusively in Irish. 31 posts were published bilingually (4% of total posts). This is out of a total of 763 posts across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. My Department will increase these figures across the remainder of 2023.
It is also worth noting that certain documents are published by my Department bilingually on gov.ie, including policy documents and public consultations. In some cases where my Department uses social media to raise awareness of policy initiatives, the information being highlighted by the post or tweet is available bilingually on gov.ie.
Two divisions in my Department have their own social media accounts (the Geological Survey of Ireland – GSI; and the National Cyber Security Centre – NCSC). The information in relation to these two accounts is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
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.
179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23046/23]
View answerMy Department takes a number of actions to ensure that reasonable accommodations as prescribed under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 are made available for employees. My Department’s Disability Liaison Officer works to ensure that suitable arrangements for disabled colleagues are available to ensure access to employment, advancement, and training.
New employees to my Department are provided with a confidential means to indicate if they require a reasonable accommodation. My Department’s Disability Liaison Officer, working in conjunction with the employee, will arrange for these accommodations to be put in place prior to their start date.
If a member of staff has a change in personal circumstances the Disability Liaison Officer will engage with them to identify and implement potential reasonable accommodations as necessary.
The Disability Liaison Officer is also available to all staff to offer advice and support relating to reasonable accommodations for their current roles, that could assist with future advancement, and in accessing any relevant training.
The information requested in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. My Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
180. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in light of the cost-of-living crisis, if he is aware that various waste collection companies have substantially increased their fees; if he has considered how this will impact low- and middle-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23102/23]
View answerThe waste management market is serviced by private companies, where prices charged are matters between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
As Minister I have no role in setting prices in a private market. However, in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection were phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018. In order to give effect to this measure, the permits of all household waste collectors were amended at that time.
Under the revised permit condition, waste collectors are required to charge fees which contain a weight based and/or per lift fee for collection of residual waste. Where a fee is charged for the collection of recyclable, food waste and bio-waste that fee must not negate the incentive to segregate waste and shall be lower than the fees applied for the collection of residual household waste. Collectors are allowed to charge a service fee, so long as there remains an incentive to segregate waste.
Within these rules, the structure of pricing plans is a commercial decision for the waste collection companies and as Minister I have no power to intervene in this. Given the significant market reforms due to be delivered this year, including introduction of incentivised waste collection charging in the commercial sector, the introduction of a "recovery levy" from 1 July and the nationwide expansion of kerbside bio-waste collections, I have however instructed my officials to reinstitute the Price Monitoring Group to monitor whether fair and transparent pricing is consistent in the market, in line with commitments given in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
Enforcement of the permit conditions is a matter for the relevant local authority. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority or local authorities of their statutory functions under the Act.
181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on three issues concerning legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23131/23]
View answerA request for an Oireachtas Money Message for the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 was received from the Bills Office by my Department on 13th May 2022. I intend to bring the matter to Government for formal decision shortly.
Following on from that, a response will be sent to the Deputy alongside the Chair of the Committee on Environment and Climate Action as soon as possible ahead of it being laid before the Oireachtas, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Dáil Éireann on Private Members Bills.
182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason an application by a person (details supplied) is taking so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23143/23]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting or certification of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health. In this context, the Agency is the competent authority for granting and enforcing industrial and waste licences.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is precluded, under the provisions of Sections 79(3) and 86(5) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, from becoming involved in the licensing of installations under that Act.
184. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the programmes, further supports and initiatives for enterprise and business community that are funded under his Department; the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for enterprise under his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/23]
View answerMy Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, provides various supports to enterprises, which can assist these sectors in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions. A summary of the existing support schemes administered by SEAI is set out below. There has been a high uptake, in particular, of the community energy grants and the support scheme for energy audits by SMEs.
|
SEAI Scheme |
Description |
Capital Budget (€M) |
Current Budget (€M) |
Total Budget (€M) |
|
Community Energy Grant |
Grant support for cross-sectoral projects including homes, businesses and other non-domestic applicants. Typically around 60% of total scheme funding is for non-domestic. |
€68 |
€0.3 |
€68.3 |
|
Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) |
Supports SMEs (€2,000 voucher) to carry out professional energy audits and thus encourages implementation of energy saving measures identified. |
€2.3 |
€0.8* |
€3.1* |
|
Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) |
SEAI assists the companies on energy improvements. Best practice guidance is shared among LIEN members on how to manage energy performance. |
€N/A |
€0.8* |
€0.8* |
|
Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design (EXEED) |
A certified program for a systematic energy efficient approach to design, construction, and commissioning new investments and upgrades at the earliest stages of the business lifecycle. |
€7 |
€0.5 |
€7.5 |
|
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) |
Grant support investment in renewable heating systems using heat pumps. An operational support tariff over 15 years for new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system and convert to using biomass or anaerobic digestion heating systems. |
€3.5 |
€0.44 |
€3.94 |
|
Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme |
Provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €2,400 for installations of up to 6kWp. |
€2 |
€0.2 |
€2.2 |
|
Energy Academy |
Online resource -access to high quality energy training |
€N/A |
€0.8* |
€0.8* |
|
Energy Contracting Support Scheme |
Energy Contracting Support Scheme provides supports and expertise across the business and public sectors to deliver energy efficiency through Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESCs) and Energy Performance Guarantees (EPGs). |
€N/A |
€0.3 |
€0.3 |
* €0.8m current budget shared between SSEA, LIEN and Energy Academy
The SEAI support schemes are kept under regular review to ensure their effectiveness. The EXEED programme was relaunched in March 2023 to provide projects with increased support to a maximum of €3 million and an improved application process. The SSRH relaunched in March 2023 will provide for an increase in the support for heat pump installations to a maximum of 40% of costs (subject to state aid approval) and inter alia provides for additional upgrade measures in buildings to facilitate the installation of heat pumps.
A new scheme for non-domestic retrofit aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises is in development and intended to be operational this year. The new scheme will support a range of measures that improve energy efficiency and decarbonisation in the commercial sector.
There are a broader range of enterprise supports available that assist businesses with energy and climate initiatives, with funding from a variety of sources (not just SEAI). Further information on the broader supports can be found on the “Climate Toolkit for Business” websitewww.climatetoolkit4business.gov.ie/next-steps-and-further-information/
