Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024

The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes a list of all of the Statutory Instruments and Acts that it has sponsored, on the Department's official pages within gov.ie at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/22d66-acts-statutory-instruments/#acts

The Deputy will find below a list detailing from 20 February 2020 to date those Acts and Statutory Instruments which were necessitated either in whole or in part to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. 

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025 establishes a commitment to tackle the environmental degradation caused by textiles in Ireland, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

At EU level, my Department is actively participating in policy and legislative development regarding textiles and is aware of various different initiatives launched in individual Member States. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022) envisages that textile products placed on the EU market are long-lived and recyclable and ‘fast fashion is out of fashion’ so that citizens benefit from durable but affordable textiles. The Strategy also proposes measures to make producers take responsibility for products throughout the value chain including waste, aiming to make producers who manufacture and sell disposable goods for profit, environmentally accountable for the products they place on the market.

As part of the implementation of this Strategy, the European Commission published a legislative proposal for targeted amendments to the Waste Framework Directive in July 2023 with respect to food waste and textiles. The proposal aims to introduce a mandatory EU-wide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textile waste, similar to those introduced in France and the Netherlands.  Given the global nature of supply chains, in my view a harmonised approach to EPR across the EU has the best chance of success, particularly in smaller markets such as Ireland.  

In 2022, I established a Textiles Advisory Group (TAG), bringing together relevant expertise from industry, community and regulatory bodies. Information on the work of the TAG can be found at gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/528f7-circular-economy/#textiles).  The TAG is developing a new work programme for the next 18 months currently and the establishment of an EPR in Ireland is to be examined there.

A new plan-led approach to offshore renewable energy (ORE) was adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas in May 2023. Central to this plan-led approach is the requirement that all post Phase One offshore wind developments in Ireland must be situated in marine areas identified for this purpose that are located within Designated Maritime Area Plans, or DMAPs.

As adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas, Ireland’s first ORE DMAP is to be located off the South Coast, and will identify a suitable area or areas for future deployments of fixed bottom offshore wind projects that aim to assist in delivery of our 2030 target and beyond. Fixed bottom offshore wind is a proven technology that has been delivered at scale in other jurisdictions and offers the best prospects for the accelerated delivery of future offshore wind, at an affordable cost to Irish electricity consumers.

As set out in the Public Participation Statement for the South Coast DMAP, a statutory public consultation will begin following publication of a draft DMAP by the Minister in Spring 2024. Publication of the draft DMAP will be accompanied by a draft Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and draft Appropriate Assessment (AA) that have been carried out on the draft DMAP. While the timeline for this consultation will be dependent on the publication date of the draft DMAP, it is currently expected to run from early May 2024.

A new Future Framework policy will establish an evidence-based pathway for longer term ORE developments beyond 2030, including with regard to the deployment of floating offshore wind technology in deeper waters in Ireland's maritime area. The draft Future Framework was published on 22 January 2024 for public consultation. The Future Framework will be published shortly, contingent on Government approval. This will provide a framework for the subsequent establishment of future DMAPs.

The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched on the 24 April 2024. It was developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund.

The Government-backed €500 million Scheme is the first of its kind for both Ireland and the EIB Group and will play a crucial role in helping homeowners to invest in energy efficiency. Under the Scheme, homeowners can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 at significantly lower interest rates to make their homes warmer and cheaper to run.

PTSB is the first financial institution to offer loans to homeowners under the Scheme, with rates from 3.55% available now. AIB, Bank of Ireland, Avant Money and seven credit unions from the Irish League of Credit Unions (Clonmel, Connect, First South, Listowel, Naomh Breandan, North Midlands and Progressive) are finalising the approval process and legal requirements to provide the Scheme and are expected to commence offering loans shortly.

The development of this innovative Scheme was a complex process involving multiple stakeholders, extensive due diligence with a range of financial institutions, the establishment of a robust legal framework as well as the building of the required IT systems across a number of organisations.

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, including that:

• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028

• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and

• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023

NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.

The remaining targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.

The Department has noted the ComReg Decision D09/23 of 01.11.2023 titled “Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure”, which sets out the framework for switch-off of the Eir copper broadband network. Should Eir wish to proceed with switch-off of its copper broadband network, it must adhere to a clearly defined process across multiple phases that have been designed to ensure all end-users have access to a modern comparable service prior to switch-off and are kept fully informed about associated timelines. The Department has also established a working group with ComReg and Eir to keep appraised of any developments in this area and may seek to broaden stakeholder engagement on foot of developments in that working group.

It should be noted that the timing of the switch-off is a commercial matter for Eir subject to it complying with the provisions of ComReg’s decision.

Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3, 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also reports that at the end of Q4 2023, 75% of all premises in Ireland have access to gigabit services.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is available for homeowners wishing to avail of the complete home energy upgrade service provided through the one stop shops; the Community Energy Grant is available for homeowners seeking to carry out their deep retrofit as part of a community project; and the Better Energy Homes Scheme facilitates homeowners wishing to undertake home energy upgrades through a step-by-step approach. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy efficiency improvements to the homes of people who are vulnerable to energy poverty who are in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection administered welfare payments. The range of schemes available allows homeowners to choose the best home upgrade option to suit their particular needs.

Homeowners can contact SEAI directly by phone at 01 808 2100 or by email info@seai.ie to learn more about the schemes and what they can apply for. This information can also be found on SEAI’S website: www.seai.ie/home-energy/home-upgrades/.

With the advice of the National Disability Authority, Re-turn is embarking on an engagement process that will ensure accessibility issues for the Deposit Return Scheme are addressed meaningfully and in line with best practice.

Invitations to an Advisory Group will issue shortly to stakeholders and the first meeting is planned for May.  The Group will include representation from Disabled Persons' Organisations (organisations that are led by people with disabilities).

The Joint Declaration of Intent emphasises the willingness of both states to initiate their cooperation on research and development in the field of green hydrogen. The Declaration of Intent sets out the intent to cooperate within the EU Strategic Research and Innovation space and explore the potential establishment of a joint pilot green hydrogen project. Since its execution, my Department and the German Federal Research have met typically on a bi-monthly basis to progress these ambitions. Through engagement with the German Chamber of Commerce, a short list of potential candidate projects which could meet the objectives of this agreement are being developed. My Department is also planning to establish an early hydrogen innovation fund as set out in Action #2 of the National Hydrogen Strategy. It is envisioned that this fund could be used to support a joint pilot project in line with the ambitions of this Declaration of Intent.

A complete suite of Acts and statutory instruments is available to download at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/. A large portion of European Union legislation has been transposed through statutory instruments made under section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972, as amended. A link to all the statutory instruments made under that provision is also available at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/isbc/s3eutoc.html.

The carrying out of stock management operations on Lough Corrib SAC along with the other water bodies throughout the country are day to day operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function. National policy and legislation relating to inland fisheries matters are within my remit, in consultation with IFI.

In regard to operational matters such as stock management, IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI's objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. A record capital budget of approximately €430 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including Solar PV scheme) has been allocated for 2024. The overall allocation will mean that the progress made in recent years under the National Retrofit Plan will be further built on in 2024.

Grant support of up to €6,500 is available for the installation of air to water heat pumps as a standalone measure under the Better Energy Home Scheme. For homeowners undertaking a deep retrofit with a heat pump under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme or the Community Energy Grant Scheme, grant support of up to €10,500 is available. Full details on the range of SEAI supports available can be found at www.seai.ie.

The latest figures from SEAI (see table below) show that in the first quarter of 2024 there has been a total of 806 heat pump installations supported under the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes. This equates to a 3% increase on the same period in 2023.

Table: Heat Pump Installations supported by SEAI - Quarter 1, 2024:

A more detailed overview of the SEAI performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in their published quarterly reports, which can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/publications. The report for Quarter 1, 2024 is expected to be published shortly.

As part of Budget 2024 Government approved a new tranche of Emergency Electricity Credits which over 2.2 million households will benefit from - worth €450 in total per household.

The payments are being applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2).

Under Scheme III, usage levels are assessed to ensure that payments are withheld in relation to low usage electricity accounts identified by the distribution system operator, to prevent the payment from being applied to vacant houses.

ESB Networks identified accounts which consumed less than 150 kilowatt hours of electricity per quarter for four consecutive quarters between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. Domestic electricity accounts flagged as low usage accounts, will not be allocated a payment for that payment period. The payment will not be withheld for accounts with a financial hardship meter, accounts held by registered as a vulnerable customer or accounts which have low usage due to the exporting of energy to the grid through microgeneration.

The Scheme allows for review by a customer’s electricity supplier, if contacted by a customer who has not received the payment. The customer can seek further review by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which has oversight of the Scheme, following the decision of the electricity supplier. I would encourage any customer who thinks that they should have received the credit to contact their supplier at the first instance, and then the CRU if they have still not received the credit.

I welcome the invitation to meet with the Chief Executive of Bremore Port and his leadership team, which was sent to me in the context of the upcoming publication of the draft South Coast DMAP . I have informed them that I will be in touch about a meeting when the draft DMAP public consultation is complete and the Plan approved and adopted.

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, including that:

• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028

• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and

• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023

NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.

The remaining targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.

The areas in question, Kentstown and Skyrne are in the BLUE area on the broadband map. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services. ?

If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at  https://secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.

As the areas in question, Kentstown and Skyrne are declared as part of a commercial operator planned fibre rollout these premises cannot be add to the intervention Area covered by the NBI rollout. Under State aid rules, the Department is not permitted to crowd out 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 order to ensure that we are meeting the "Gigabit" targets as mentioned in the Digital Connectivity Strategy, my officials are continuously evaluating opportunities for adding premises to the Intervention Area, where appropriate. Alternatively, where it is not feasible for premises to be recategorised, we are addressing the issues through the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force (the Taskforce).

The Taskforce comprises State actors and industry representatives and is tasked with identifying and overcoming barriers to improved connectivity. The Taskforce was originally established in 2016 to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, and to investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP).

Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 45,100 homes and businesses in County Meath with gigabit services, with plans to pass a further 22,900 homes and businesses over the next 2 – 3 years, bringing their total fibre-based investment in the county to over €21m. Other commercial operators are also continuing to increase their network footprint right across Meath, with SIRO recently passing over 34,600 premises for full fibre, and Virgin Media passing over 22,800 premises.

Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3, 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing substantially as it is deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also indicates that c. 40% of homes and business throughout the State now have access to gigabit services through either fibre (667,771) or cable (348,251) infrastructure.

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, including that:

• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028

• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and

• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023

NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.

The remaining targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.

The Department has noted the ComReg Decision D09/23 of 01.11.2023 titled “Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure”, which sets out the framework for switch-off of the Eir copper broadband network. Should Eir wish to proceed with switch-off of its copper broadband network, it must adhere to a clearly defined process across multiple phases that have been designed to ensure all end-users have access to a modern comparable service prior to switch-off and are kept fully informed about associated timelines. The Department has also established a working group with ComReg and Eir to keep appraised of any developments in this area and may seek to broaden stakeholder engagement on foot of developments in that working group.

The timing of the switch-off is a commercial matter for Eir subject to it complying with the provisions of ComReg’s decision.

With respect to the percentage of households and businesses still using copper services, the Department notes that ComReg currently maintains such statistics which are published on a quarterly basis on its publicly available website.

Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3, 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also reports that at the end of Q4 2023, 75% of all premises in Ireland have access to gigabit services.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the National Broadband Plan and are located in areas of community importance, allowing local residents to quickly get free public access to high-speed broadband in advance of fibre deployment under the National Broadband Plan.

Broadband Officers in each Local Authority were tasked with consulting with local communities and businesses to find the appropriate mix of locations for BCPs to reap the maximum benefits.

NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.

The typical BCP will receive a 150/30mbps service from NBI. This will be achieved via a temporary wireless broadband connection that will stay in place until the premises is passed by fibre services.

Vodafone Ireland supplies and supports the superfast WiFi at each site. The equipment used is enterprise grade standard and includes indoors and outdoors WiFi access points.

My Department does not provide any assistance to alleviate costs for community halls providing broadband to members of the community.

Details of grand-aid returned or not drawn down by local authorities in 2022 and 2023 are set out in the tables below: Details of funds grants not drawn down in 2024 will not be known until year end.

Grant-aid returned by Local Authorities

Grant-aid not drawdown by Local Authorities

My Department is aware through engagement with various stakeholders, including commercial operators and ComReg, of the possibility that it may not be viable for commercial operators to reach all premises in urban areas to deliver on EU and National Targets. These are areas currently not within the scope of the National Broadband Plan.

An extensive mapping exercise will be required taking account of commercial deployments which are currently being rolled out, to identify the scale of this potential problem including identifying individual Eircode's impacted. My Department are currently engaged with ComReg on this exercise.

If it emerges that the market cannot deliver on EU and National Connectivity Targets, the Department will consider appropriate public policy tools required to ensure those targets are achieved.