Holly Cairns
Question:146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of BER assessors assigned to each county, by year, from 2019 to date, in tabular form. [22433/24]
View answerBuilding Energy Rating
Questions (146, 154)
Holly Cairns
Question:154. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the employment arrangements for BER assessors who work with the SEAI; whether BER assessors are obliged to work alongside companies subcontracted by the SEAI to carry out works in relation to grant schemes; and if his attention has been drawn to assessors' concerns in regard to these arrangements. [22502/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 154 together.
The Register of BER assessors provides contact information for each registered BER assessor. This includes the county they are located in and the areas they prefer to cover. BER assessors are not assigned to particular counties and are free to work in any county.
The numbers of BER Assessors per county, as of today, are as follows. The numbers per county for previous years are not readily available and SEAI have been requested to gather the information and to reply directly to the Deputy.
|
- |
Domestic |
Non-domestic |
|
Antrim |
1 |
1 |
|
Armagh |
1 |
2 |
|
Carlow |
22 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
17 |
3 |
|
Clare |
26 |
5 |
|
Cork |
105 |
20 |
|
Derry |
1 |
1 |
|
Donegal |
33 |
10 |
|
Down |
1 |
2 |
|
Dublin |
214 |
78 |
|
Fermanagh |
1 |
0 |
|
Galway |
54 |
10 |
|
Kerry |
33 |
6 |
|
Kildare |
34 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
13 |
2 |
|
Laois |
10 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
36 |
11 |
|
Longford |
9 |
3 |
|
Louth |
47 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
24 |
4 |
|
Meath |
48 |
9 |
|
Monaghan |
19 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
13 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
12 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
17 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
39 |
7 |
|
Tyrone |
2 |
2 |
|
Waterford |
24 |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
12 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
36 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
30 |
5 |
|
Total |
941 |
224 |
|
Domestic |
Non-domestic |
A BER assessment is a requirement of most SEAI grant and non-grant Schemes. SEAI operates a register of BER Assessors and there are approximately 940 Domestic BER Assessors and 225 Non-Domestic BER Assessors currently on that Register. SEAI does not oblige particular BER assessors to work alongside particular companies who avail of SEAI's grant or non-grant Schemes. Companies and property owners are free to choose a BER Assessor to perform their BER assessment. The BER Assessor Code of Practice stipulates that BER Assessors must carry out BER assessments independently of suppliers or installers of energy-related products or services. Hence, SEAI does not employ BER assessors. Regarding the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, SEAI has a framework agreement with a panel of Contractors. SEAI engages the services of an outsourced Managing Agent to perform pre and post BER assessments on homes upgraded by this panel under this Scheme. The assessments carried out by the Managing Agent are independent of the Warmer Home Scheme panel contractors.
SEAI has a history of routine engagement with the BER Assessor Association of Ireland which represents a significant proportion of BER Assessors, where concerns are aired and addressed insofar as they reasonably can.
Building Energy Rating
Questions (147, 148, 153)
Holly Cairns
Question:147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of people currently waiting on a BER assessment and the length of time each has been waiting, by local area, in tabular form. [22434/24]
View answerHolly Cairns
Question:148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of time individuals are expected to wait before receiving a BER assessment; if his attention has been drawn towards instances of excessively long waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/24]
View answerHolly Cairns
Question:153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current waiting times for a BER assessment, by scheme and local area, in tabular form. [22501/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 148 and 153 together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times for the Warmer Homes Scheme is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI.
Applications are assessed on the basis of when they first apply to SEAI. Homes with the worst Building Energy Ratings (E, F or G) are then prioritised for works. The requirement for a pre-works BER was introduced for applications made since February 2022. This was in order to allow SEAI to prioritise the worst-performing homes and to gather more information about the impact of the upgrades being provided.
SEAI advise that it can take 8 - 10 months from date of application to the pre-works BER assessment. Data on waiting times for pre-BER assessments at county level is not routinely compiled by the SEAI. There are 9,121 homes currently awaiting a per-works BER. SEAI has published up to date average waiting times for each stage of the scheme on their website which can be found here: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/fully-funded-upgrades-for-eligible-homes/
For the homes completed in 2023, the average waiting time from application to completion of works was 20 months. This is a reduction from 26 months for homes completed in 2022. The significant reductions in the average waiting time have been achieved through, inter alia, the following actions taken to reduce the timeline to completion and increase output under the scheme:
• Record funding has been allocated;
• SEAI has been allocated additional staff for the Warmer Homes Scheme;
• SEAI has worked to increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management;
• Actions were taken to address ongoing supply chain and inflationary pressures; and
• A new €700 million contractor panel has been put in place for the next 4 years, which has increased contractor capacity to 36.
My officials continue to work closely with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades provided under this important scheme.
Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 147.
Fisheries Protection
Questions (149)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:149. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his officials in the inland fisheries division fully support the ongoing legislative conservation of invasive roach in the Lough Melvin catchment and special area of conservation under the Conservation of Coarse Fish By-Law No. 806 (2006) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22473/24]
View answerWritten answers
As advised to in my reply to Question No 133 of 23 January 2024 and 42 of 7 February 2024, IFI, in conjunction with my Department, is carrying out a review of relevant inland fisheries bye-laws in force for 10 years or more and their continued application. Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 will be examined and reviewed as part of this exercise. The review process will take into account relevant legal acts of the European Union including the EU Water Framework Directive.
Fisheries Protection
Questions (150)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it was his intention to increase the overall brown trout daily bag limit per angler to six fish for the entire Lough Corrib SAC under two separate harvesting regimes, with four trout being harvested from the lake and two trout being harvested from the Clare river catchment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recently made a bye-law for the conservation of wild brown trout in the Clare River and its tributaries - Conservation of Trout in the Rivers Clare, Abbert, Dalgan, Grange and Sinking Bye-Law No. 1008, 2024 - on the basis of advice from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The purpose of this bye-law is to reduce the harvest of adult brown trout migrating from lough Corrib to their spawning grounds in the feeder streams of the Clare River catchment.
Comprehensive fish population surveys in this catchment in 2019 indicated that juvenile brown trout stocks had declined at a number of reference sites since previous surveys.
Public consultation prior to the enactment of this bye-law indicated support for this important conservation measure from stakeholders, including angling groups to actively participate in the preservation of their local natural resources.
Broadband Infrastructure
Questions (151)
Michael McNamara
Question:151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person will be facilitated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/24]
View answerWritten answers
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.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the broadband map, which is available on my Department's website, www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area is to be served by the network deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
Commercial Fixed line operators Open Eir, Virgin Media and SIRO are delivering high-speed broadband services in the blue area/ non-intervention area of the map.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available to this premises can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at: nbi.ie/map/. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
NBI have advised that the delay in connection is due to blockages occurring on the route of connection; civil works are required on third-party infrastructure in order to connect these premises. NBI is working with a third party that owns the infrastructure, to progress these works. As soon as work has been completed, an NBI contractor will reach out to the resident to schedule and prioritise an installation appointment.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (152)
Holly Cairns
Question:152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail which companies are contracted to carry out works by the SEAI for each of its grant schemes; the work being conducted by each company; and the value of each contract. [22500/24]
View answerWritten answers
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 schemes offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty.
SEAI only contracts directly for the delivery of works in relation to the free energy upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme. There is a framework agreement in place for the scheme with an expected value of €700m plus VAT over four years. There are 36 contractors on the framework. This is a framework agreement so the contractors are allocated works as they are offered by SEAI and consequently there is not a contract amount per contractor.
The contractors in the framework are as follows:
|
NO. |
Companies (in alphabetical order) |
|
1 |
Airpacks Limited trading as KORE System |
|
2 |
Anthony Coughlan Heating and Plumbing trading as C&S Construction Services |
|
3 |
Bayview Contracts Limited |
|
4 |
Big H The Plumber Limited |
|
5 |
Bluebuild Energy Limited |
|
6 |
Breffni Insulation Limited |
|
7 |
Brusna Energy Solutions |
|
8 |
CDM Contracts Limited |
|
9 |
Century Retrofit Limited |
|
10 |
Churchfield Home Services |
|
11 |
CK Energy Management Solutions trading as Encon |
|
12 |
CLÁR ICH CLG |
|
13 |
Cooper Insulation |
|
14 |
Decarb Contracts |
|
15 |
DMT Renewables Limited |
|
16 |
Eco Home Insulation Limited |
|
17 |
Eco Wise Insulation |
|
18 |
Envirobead |
|
19 |
Greenwatt Limited |
|
20 |
Hometherm Insulation Limited |
|
21 |
Kingdom Installation Limited |
|
22 |
Leitrim Warmer Homes CLG |
|
23 |
Luca Line Limited |
|
24 |
Midland Warmer Homes |
|
25 |
Moston Construction |
|
26 |
NCE Insulation |
|
27 |
O’Kane Plumbing & Electrics Limited |
|
28 |
Premier Insulations |
|
29 |
Premier Solutions NW Limited |
|
30 |
Quilter Insulation |
|
31 |
SE Systems |
|
32 |
Sligo Leitrim Energy Agency CLG |
|
33 |
SSE Airtricity |
|
34 |
TLI Group Limited trading as Transmission Links (Ireland) Limited |
|
35 |
Townlink Construction |
|
36 |
Waterford Insulation |
My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades provided under this important scheme.
Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 147.
Question No. 154 answered with Question No. 146.
Compulsory Purchase Orders
Questions (155)
Carol Nolan
Question:155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on proposals under the consultation on private wires to extend compulsory purchase order powers to commercial entities; if he has engaged with farming representative bodies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/24]
View answerWritten answers
During 2023, my Department held a public consultation on private wires. The consultation ran from 18th August until 27th October 2023 and during this time over 120 submissions were received. Work in respect of the consultation submissions is currently ongoing within my Department, with a report on submission responses expected for publication in Q2.
The aim of this consultation was to gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties alike, to consolidate our understanding of the role which private wires may play in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, as well as to identify the challenges and opportunities such a policy change may present. Publication of the consultation represented the first step towards a final policy and completed action EL/23/15 of the Climate Action Plan 2023.
If permitted for, private wires would allow private individuals and/or undertakings to install their own privately owned electricity infrastructure linking generation with demand. This would represent a major shift in electricity policy in the State and as such may impact upon all citizens while also overhauling aspects of the electricity sector which have been in place since soon after the foundation of the State. While the consultation included several questions on the topic of land ownership in the context of Private Wires, this does not constitute a position or proposal on the same.
A summary of responses to the public consultation is intended for publication by the end of Quarter 2. In accordance with Action EL/24/9 of the recently published Climate Action Plan 24, it is intended to publish a private wires policy during Q4 2024.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (156)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of the CRU in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22560/24]
View answerWritten answers
CRU is a “relevant body” under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021) (the “Act”) as the term “relevant body” includes a “public body”, which is defined by reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and includes “a company (within the meaning of the Companies Acts) a majority of the shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government”).
As a relevant body, it is required by Section 15 of the Act to, in so far as practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with—
a. the most recent approved climate action plan,
b. the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,
c. the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,
d. the furtherance of the national climate objective, and
e. the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
As such, CRU’s legal mandate does not require to be reformed to comply with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021).
Departmental Bodies
Questions (157)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of Gas Networks Ireland in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22561/24]
View answerWritten answers
GNI is a “relevant body” under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021) (the “Act”). The term “relevant body” includes a “public body”, which is defined by reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and includes “a company (within the meaning of the Companies Acts) a majority of the shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government”).
As a relevant body, it is required by Section 15 of the Act to, in so far as practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with—
a. the most recent approved climate action plan,
b. the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,
c. the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,
d. the furtherance of the national climate objective, and
e. the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
As such, GNI’s legal mandate does not require to be reformed to comply with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021).
Departmental Bodies
Questions (158)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of EirGrid in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/24]
View answerWritten answers
EirGrid is a “relevant body” under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021) (the “Act”) as the term “relevant body” includes a “public body”, which is defined by reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and includes “a company (within the meaning of the Companies Acts) a majority of the shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government”).
As a relevant body, it is required by Section 15 of the Act to, in so far as practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with—
a. the most recent approved climate action plan,
b. the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,
c. the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,
d. the furtherance of the national climate objective, and
e. the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
As such, EirGrid’s legal mandate does not require to be reformed to comply with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021).
Electricity Supply Board
Questions (159)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of ESB Networks in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22563/24]
View answerWritten answers
ESB Networks is a “relevant body” under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021) (the “Act”) as the term “relevant body” includes a “public body”, which is defined by reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and includes “a company (within the meaning of the Companies Acts) a majority of the shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government”).
As a relevant body, it is required by Section 15 of the Act to, in so far as practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with—
a. the most recent approved climate action plan,
b. the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,
c. the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,
d. the furtherance of the national climate objective, and
e. the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
As such, ESB Network’s legal mandate does not require to be reformed to comply with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021).
Marine Protected Areas
Questions (160)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a timeline for when the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan will be finalised and adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s first draft offshore renewable energy (ORE) Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) was published on 3 May 2024. The draft DMAP is focused on the sea area off the South Coast and identifies four maritime areas for proposed future deployments of fixed offshore wind to deploy by 2030 and beyond. This includes identification of one maritime area, known as Tonn Nua, for a proposed development of approximately 900 MW to be developed by the winner of Ireland’s second offshore wind auction, ORESS 2.1 by the end of 2024, which will aim to deploy by 2030 or as soon as feasible thereafter.
The draft South Coast DMAP was published alongside a draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement as well as an independently produced economic report on the potential benefits of ORE for the South Coast. This draft DMAP is currently undergoing a six-week period of statutory public consultation, which includes in-person events along the South Coast. This follows on from almost 10 weeks of non-statutory engagement from August to October 2023.
Upon completion of the draft DMAP consultation, an assessment of public engagements and written consultation responses will inform possible future amendments to the draft plan. Following the statutory public consultation period, the Draft DMAP and its associated environmental assessments will be submitted for Oireachtas approval.