My 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. The scheme is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and Exchequer funding. It will also 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, this 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. It is anticipated that the Scheme will provide a lending portfolio of up to €500 million.

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 development of this innovative scheme is a complex process involving several stakeholders. Intensive engagement to develop the scheme is ongoing, with all stakeholders committed to finalising the details and it is expected that the loan guarantee will be in place in the coming months.

On 13 December Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan. The Plan is available on gov.ie and sets out the range of measures being implemented this winter, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes.

Effective ways of defining, measuring and tracking energy poverty are essential for designing sound policy responses. Chapter 3 of the Plan sets out the challenges in doing this. Currently, the measurement of energy poverty in Ireland used by the ESRI is based on the level of expenditure on energy in a household. Households spending above 10% of total income on their energy needs (excluding energy for transport) are counted in the current measurement of energy poverty. Using this metric the ESRI estimated that the share of households that could be at risk of energy poverty had risen to 29.4% in 2022. However, this measurement does not account for the energy efficiency of a home and is unable to identify households with the largest burden after increases in energy prices. It also does not capture levels of energy deprivation, which is where people are not spending money on energy in the first place because they can't afford it.

In response, as set out in the plan, as part of the ESRI’s research programme, Government is providing funding to examine whether existing supports are well-targeted towards those who are at risk of energy poverty and the impact of those supports on the level of energy poverty. As part of this research the ESRI will:

- propose a metric for measuring energy poverty that combines expenditure and energy efficiency;

- propose metrics to measure changes in the trend of fuel poverty regarding the number of households and its severity;

The implementation of the new Action Plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental Steering Group, chaired by my department.

Ireland’s strategic approach to the Circular Economy is currently set out in the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023. Section 7 of the Circular Economy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (‘the Act’) provides a statutory basis for future iterations of the Strategy, and also requires that such iterations include targets aimed at promoting circularity across the range of resource-intensive economic sectors specified in the Act.

My Department has begun preparing the second iteration of the Strategy, which will be published on a statutory basis and will be fully in compliance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Act. The new Strategy will be submitted for Government approval, following a public consultation, before the end of this year.

In order to provide a robust evidence base for the new Strategy, my Department is in the process of commissioning a national circularity assessment and material flow analysis, based on an internationally recognised methodology. This assessment will inform the sectoral priorities of the new Strategy in general and the setting of sectoral targets in particular. I intend to publish the results of the assessment either alongside or as part of the Strategy.

Additionally, a sectoral Circular Construction Roadmap is being prepared my Department, in conjunction with an expert subgroup of the Construction Sector Group chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This work will, inter alia, inform the new Strategy’s approach to the Construction sector including target setting. The Roadmap will also be submitted to Government before the end of this year.

For the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol (2013 to 2020), EU Member States contributed collectively to the EU’s emissions reduction targets by meeting nationally binding annual emissions reduction targets set out in the EU Effort Sharing Decision (ESD). These targets cover sectors outside the EU Emissions Trading System and Ireland has been fully compliant in every year.

The legislative framework of the ESD provides for a number of compliance options beyond direct emissions reductions, including purchasing international carbon credits and trading surplus annual emission allowances (AEAs) between Member States. This approach enables flexibility among Member States to achieve targets as efficiently and as fairly as possible.

Since 2019, the State has purchased 2.94 million international carbon credits and is in the process of purchasing 4.15 million AEAs from Slovakia - a total of 7.09 million carbon credits/emissions allowances at a combined cost of €5.02 million.

The ESD is succeeded by the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which covers emissions for the years 2021 to 2030. While the revised ESR is yet to be formally adopted, the stated objective of government policy is to comply with EU targets through direct emissions reductions and, if necessary, to avail of the other compliance options available under the ESR. Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out the necessary additional policies and measures that Ireland must take to meet these revised emissions reductions targets and Government Departments will continue to prioritise climate action and full implementation of Climate Action Plan measures.

The Government supports households most at risk of energy poverty to improve the energy performance of their homes through schemes administered by the SEAI. In 2022 this included the Warmer Homes scheme and the Warmth and Well-being pilot scheme.

Delivering these free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing waiting times is a key priority for Government. Demand for these upgrades is very high with over 9,900 applications received in 2022 and over 900 additional applications received in January 2023 alone.

Data provided by SEAI indicates that last year:

- A record €98 million was spent on these schemes;

- This delivered 4,438 free energy upgrades - an increase of 85% on 2021;

- The average value of the upgrades provided in the second half of 2022 was almost €22,000. This compares to an average spend of €3,450 in 2017 and gives a clear indication of the scale of work now being carried out in these homes;

- Over the course of 2022, SEAI achieved an average of more than 400 upgrades per month, more than double the monthly average of 177 in 2021;

- Average wait times under the scheme reduced slightly from 27 months in 2021 to 26 months in 2022.

A range of steps have been taken to enhance the capacity of the scheme and deliver increased numbers of upgrades. This includes additional staff in SEAI working on the scheme as well as measures to deal with ongoing supply chain and inflationary pressures. Additional funding of €248 million for the scheme has also been secured for the period to 2027 from the European Regional Development Fund.

Looking to this year, an unprecedented budget of €148.5 million has been allocated to the scheme which will deliver 6,000 additional home upgrades.

My Department is working with the SEAI to identify approaches that can further increase the number of energy upgrades delivered to low income households. This will include a new contractor panel for the scheme to be established later this year. It is intended that the panel will be in place for 4 years, with an estimated contract budget of €700 million for that period.

I am advised that during the period 2010-2021 EirGrid, the body responsible for developing and managing the national electricity grid, entered into 16 connection agreements for the purposes of data centre connections. However, no new data centres have been offered a connection to the grid since the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published on 23 November 2021 the “CRU Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing” (CRU/21/124). This decision requires data centre connections to have on-site generation (and/or battery storage) that is sufficient to meet their own demand.

In July 2022, the Government published a new statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s enterprise strategy. The statement addresses sustainable data centre development to align with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, security of supply, sectoral green house gas emissions, and climate priorities. The goal of this policy is to ensure the positive benefits for sustainability are maximised and that digital technologies are used in a sustainable manner to ensure the energy and circular economy challenges from digitalisation are aligned with our climate objectives. My Department is working regularly across relevant agencies and government departments to support the effective implementation of this policy.

The recently published Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out a plan to implement the carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings along with a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as was committed to in the Programme for Government. The plan sets out measures and actions to ensure electricity demand is managed in line with our climate objectives.

Flexible and decarbonised demand from large energy users, such as data centres, is critical to protecting security of supply and ensuring consistency with the binding carbon budgets. As such the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will publish an Electricity Demand side strategy and implementation plan this year. Additionally, the CRU will also carry out a review into the current gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users.

The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 were signed into law on 27 January 2023. The regulations extend the exemption for the burning of green waste generated by agricultural practices, which expired on January 1, 2023, for a further two-month period to March 1, 2023, and then re-opens the exemption for a further three-month period from September 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023.

The Climate Action Plan includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents one of the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide and is a core element of the Government's plan to reduce emissions from the residential sector.

In order to reach this target, the Climate Action Plan 2023 includes targets to: retrofit the equivalent of 120,000 dwellings to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent level and install 45,000 heat pumps in existing dwellings in the period 2019-2025.

For the second half of the decade, targets will ramp up significantly to deliver on average, approximately 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades per year from 2026 to 2030 to achieve the overall target by the end of the decade. Final data from the SEAI shows that 27,200 home energy upgrades were delivered last year, exceeding the targeted level.

The National Development Plan and National Retrofit Plan have ring-fenced €8 billion in capital funding to the end of the decade to support the achievement of these objectives.

Budget 2023 has provided an Exchequer allocation of over €356 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including the Solar PV scheme).This allocation is the highest ever and will deliver over 37,000 home energy upgrades this year including over 13,800 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 and 6,000 free upgrades under the SEAI free energy upgrade scheme.

At present, the waste management industry in Ireland relies, in part, on the export market to meet its processing needs for the volumes of waste packaging produced. While there is no EU or international waste code that facilitates PET data collection, several organisations collate data on different aspects of PET, plastic waste, recycling and exports.

- The National Transfrontier Shipment Office maintains records of waste exports much of which is published online.

- The Environmental Protection Agency collects packaging waste data and publishes this information online.

- Repak, the national packaging producer responsibility scheme, incentivises domestic recycling providing a reprocessing subsidy of €80 per tonne for plastic re-processors based in Ireland.

Under the Single Use Plastics Directive, Ireland will be required to report on separate collection for recycling targets of plastic bottles in 2025. The Deposit Return Scheme launched in November last year will provide specific data on PET plastic bottles.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020 - 2025 commits to examining measures to support increased use of recycled materials in packaging including the possible introduction of a virgin plastic levy. However, any intervention in the market must be carefully assessed and take account of a fast-evolving policy landscape in the EU. Recent European Commission proposals for new Packaging and Packaging Waste legislation that includes mandatory recycled plastic content rates will be particularly influential. It will be important that any measures taken nationally will not run contrary to the policy direction evolving across the single market.

In Climate Action Plan 2023, Government set an ambitious target of having an 80% share of electricity generation capacity coming from renewable sources by 2030. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help Ireland meet that target.

Wind is, by far, the largest contributing source of renewable electricity in Ireland, and is second only to natural gas in terms of electricity generated in Ireland in 2021, as per the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s 2022 Energy in Ireland Report. With approximately 4,403 MW of connected wind generation capacity, we are in the top five globally for installed wind power capacity per capita and it is clear wind will continue to play a vital role in decarbonising the electricity sector as we aim to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction (RESS 1) was held in 2020 and as a result of that pathway being provided for renewable developers, 2022 was a record year for the connection of renewable electricity capacity to the grid. More RESS 1 projects are expected to connect to the grid throughout 2023. The second RESS auction (RESS 2) was held in 2022, with the successful projects in that auction representing a nearly 20% increase on current renewable electricity generation capacity. Projects from RESS 2 will start to connect to the grid between the end of this year and 2025.

Officials in my Department are currently working on progressing the next two RESS auctions, RESS 3 for onshore renewables, and ORESS 1 (Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme) for offshore wind, with both expected to be held later this year.

I have no function with regard to the policy or legislation in respect of single house wastewater treatment systems. This is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 118 and 144 together.

The Climate Action Plan 2023 includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in buildings and the National Heat Study contains the detailed analysis that is informing the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050. The Study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels such as HVO, solid biomass, biogases and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks.

The recommendation of the Heat Study is that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also being a competitive option that can be widely deployed. There are, therefore, no current plans to provide grants for conversion to hydrotreated vegetable oil from kerosene.

Liquid renewable fuels may be best used in transport systems that are more difficult to decarbonise and their use should be incentivised in the transport energy market. HGVs and the aviation sector have no alternative for sustainable fuel, unlike the domestic heating for which we can turn to other alternatives. Biofuels are a core transitional technology relied upon for the medium-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector.

To facilitate the decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of our building stock, the Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Task force and will publish a new National Policy Statement on Heat to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors.

The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. The budget of €8 billion to the end of the decade and annual allocations set out in the National Development Plan and National Retrofit Plan, underlines the Government’s commitment to achieving these targets.

A particularly important aspect of the Retrofit Plan was the launch, last year, of a new package of enhanced SEAI retrofit supports. Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including Solar PV) was exceptionally high following the introduction of these measures. Over 50,000 applications were received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.

The Department is working with SEAI to build on this strong performance across the schemes. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for 2023, and a record €348 million Exchequer allocation for residential and community retrofit was announced as part of Budget 2023 to support the achievement of this target.

My Department has also established a District Heating Steering Group which will, by end March, make recommendations to Government on district heating matters such as; governance, regulatory framework; planning; and legislation.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. On 28 July, the Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, (i.e. 2021-2025 and 2026-2030), with the exception the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which will be determined later this year. For our agriculture sector, this process has set a 10% emission reduction target by 2025 and a 25% emissions reduction target by 2030.

The 2023 Climate Action Plan has outlined how these emissions reductions can be achieved in the coming years, by increasing our ambition for efficiency in the sector while also promoting the diversification of agricultural activities. The targets set will improve animal breeding, feeding and finishing and will expand the organic sector to 450,000 ha, and the tillage sector to 400,000 ha. It will also reduce our use of chemical fertilizer to a maximum of 300,000 tonnes by 2030.

My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our carbon emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. The challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our agriculture sector while ensuring our food security, is also a key opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our family farms will fully exploit the opportunities of this transition without compromising on sustainable food production.

Data from our network of monitoring stations demonstrates that the measures we have taken to protect our air quality have been effective overall. Where periodic spikes in air pollution levels have been observed, they have been primarily due to the burning of solid fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency advises that such “spikes” occur primarily during times of certain weather conditions, such as still air and fog, when pollutants are not dispersed in the usual manner.

Nonetheless, each year, some 1,300 people die prematurely in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning. I remain committed to addressing this critical public health and environmental challenge through enhanced regulation of all solid fuels, and enforcement of those regulations. Last year I introduced new regulations to set minimum standards for all solid fuels being placed on the market in Ireland, ensuring that the most polluting can no longer be made available. Using solid fuels less often and using only low smoke fuels is the best way to reduce this source of air pollution.

In addition, the national Clean Air Strategy, currently being finalised by my Department, will commit us to further cutting levels of the most damaging and dangerous pollutants in order to help us move towards the guideline limits recommended by the World Health Organisation. The Strategy will also identify and promote the integrated measures and actions across Government that are required to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner air, while delivering on wider national objectives.

The consultation on the review of the security of energy supply for Ireland electricity and gas systems was published on the 19 September 2022 and the deadline for responses was the 28 October. My Department received over 450 consultation responses from a broad range of stakeholders and these responses are providing valuable insights into the views of stakeholders which will assist in informing the energy security of supply review. The completion of the review is a priority and once complete, I will bring my recommendations to Government for consideration.

Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices has had on households and has prioritised action across Government to support people to stay warm and well through this winter. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and the third will be credited by suppliers to accounts from 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.

The payments apply 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). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process.

Despite this advantage, the scheme does have limitations. While one credit is applied per domestic MPRN, there are cohorts such as households on commercial connections, that did not receive the payment. Officials from my Department are examining this matter to determine if a solution can be developed.

Any customer that is in need of additional support may apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection, including customers on a Pay As You Go meter who have a need for financial assistance to facilitate their continued energy supply. Every effort will be made to ensure that these vulnerable individuals in financial distress, and who qualify, receive an Additional Needs Payment on the same day or as soon as possible where it relates to electricity and heating expenses.

On 13 December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023, including people on PAYG meters. Officials from my Department are working with colleagues from other relevant Departments to get this fund up and running. The fund will provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from suppliers and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.

I note the ESRI’s assessment of the embodied emissions in Irish imports and welcome the insight it provides. While Ireland’s climate policy primarily focuses on reducing production-based emissions in line with international accounting rules for national greenhouse gas inventories, it also considers the wider impacts of climate policy, including consumption-based emissions. The 2023 Climate Action Plan sets out cross-cutting and circular economy policies which will shape public procurement and the use of resources in our economy. Other policies included in the 2023 Climate Action Plan which aim to target production-based emissions can also reduce our carbon footprint. For example, policies designed to stimulate demand for alternative construction materials will lower the use of high carbon intensive products.

A well-established circular economy provides more access to better designed products, which can be shared, reused, repaired and remade thereby minimising the use of resources. This provides opportunities for local manufacture and remanufacture, supporting jobs and services while reducing the impact on the quality of our water, air, soil and health. Moving to a circular economy will play an important part in reducing global carbon emissions and protecting our natural resources, environment and health. The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 is a key step in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and provides a robust statutory framework for moving from a focus on managing waste to a much greater focus on adapting patterns of production and consumption.

At EU level, provisional agreement has been reached on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In addition to reducing carbon leakage and enabling a reduction in the free allocation of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System, the policy will also incentivise emissions reductions in third countries. This protects Irish and EU industries facing carbon pricing from cheaper carbon-intensive imports, and while that high emissions production processes are not simply relocated to third countries.

While full and final emissions data for 2022 is not yet available, recent reports from the EPA and Eurostat have indicated that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2021 and may also have increased in 2022 as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. While EPA models for projected emissions are unable to take into account all policies and measures which have been committed to in our Climate Action Plans, the EPA’s reporting suggests a concerning trend which underlines the challenge of the climate crisis and the urgency with which we must respond.

Notwithstanding the anticipated increase in emissions in 2021 as the country emerged from the most severe Covid-19 restrictions, we must consider how to accelerate the measures and actions that will not only reduce our emissions but will also support new ways of conducting business and encouraging innovation. To reverse the current trajectory of emissions and meet our 2030 and 2050 targets, a significant shift is required in the speed at which we implement the policies, measures and actions that will decarbonise our economy and improve our indigenous supply of sustainable and renewable energy.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, significantly strengthens the legally binding framework for climate governance in Ireland, and the sectoral emissions ceilings set out a clear pathway for meeting our carbon budgets and Ireland’s commitment to a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030.

These ceilings are reflected in the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), which was published on 21 December 2022. CAP23 builds on the 2021 Plan and sets out the policies, measures and actions needed to keep us within our carbon budgets and on the pathway to a net zero-emissions economy by no later than 2050. The process to deliver CAP23 included my Department engaging with other Government Departments, State Agencies and civil society to identify opportunities for accelerating climate action.

The establishment of delivery task forces to accelerate and drive climate action delivery in a number of key areas (including Offshore Wind; Heating and the Built Environment; and Sustainable Mobility) will support the acceleration in implementation of impactful decarbonising measures.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment has responsibility for the sectoral emissions ceilings for both industry and commercial buildings. My Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports to enterprises, which can assist the sectors (including SMEs) in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions. A summary of the existing support schemes administered by SEAI is set out in the table below. There has been a high uptake by SMEs, in particular, of the community energy grants and the support scheme for energy audits.

The Schemes are kept under regular review to ensure their effectiveness. There is a clear imperative for the commercial and industry sectors, including SMEs, to accelerate activity to reduce carbon emissions and in that context there is active consideration of whether further financial supports from SEAI to assist SMS are needed.

There are a broader range of enterprise supports (funded from a variety of sources) available to assist businesses. Further information on the broader supports can be found on the “Climate Toolkit for Business” website www.climatetoolkit4business.gov.ie/next-steps-and-further-information/.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 109 together.

On 22 November, 2022, the Government approved the introduction of measures to address windfall gains in the energy sector through the implementation of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices.

The Government approved the placing of a cap on market revenues in the electricity sector which will operate from December 2022 to June 2023.

The Government has also approved the implementation of the temporary solidarity contribution which will apply to fossil fuel production and refining for the years 2022 and 2023. Taxable profits which are more than 20% above the baseline period from 2018 to 2021 will be subject to the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 75%.

While the Government has not yet determined how best to distribute the proceeds collected from the cap on market revenues and temporary solidarity contribution, these proceeds must be used in line with the requirements of the Council Regulation. These requirements, including the need to be non-discriminatory, are unlikely to allow the proceeds to be allocated only to a specific area of the country.

My Department is currently developing the legislation required to implement the cap on market revenues and the temporary solidarity contribution.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action. It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan within 12 months from when I formally issue a request to the sector to begin the preparation of such plans. I will issue this request shortly.

In order to increase the capacity of Local Authorities to support the preparation and delivery of the local Climate Action Plans, I allocated €3.5m in 2022 to support the Local Authorities to secure staffing resources. My Department issued a letter to the Chief Executive of each Local Authority, including Galway City and Galway County Councils, on the 26 October 2022 informing them of the provision of these resources. I will be writing shortly to all Local Authorities informing them of their 2023 allocation.

Beyond this, I have had no direct engagement with Galway City or Galway County Councils in relation to supporting and promoting efforts at Local Government level on climate action.

My Department continues to support and work with the four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group and the CARO Management Group.

The CAROs work with Local Authorities to coordinate, facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local Adaptation Strategies and the Climate Charter, and assist in the preparation of the Local Authority Climate Action Plans.

The Climate Action Plan includes a target to reduce emissions from the residential sector by retrofitting the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and installing 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by the end of 2030.

In February last year, the Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. The key measures introduced include:

- a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.

- establishment of a network of One Stop Shops offering a start-to-finish project management service for home energy upgrades.

- aligning many of the grant supports available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme with the NHEUS rates.

- a special enhanced grant rate of 80% for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households in recognition of the importance of high-impact shallow measures.

Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 as the figures below highlight:

- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported compared to 15,246 in 2021 - a 79% increase year-on year.

- Of these, 8,481 upgrades were to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better, compared to 4,345 in 2021 - a 95% increase year-on-year.

- Of the overall figure, 4,438 free energy upgrades were delivered under SEAI energy poverty schemes, compared to 2,398 in 2021 - a 85% increase year-on-year.

- Over 50,000 applications received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.

My Department is working with SEAI to build on this strong performance. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for 2023, and a record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI this year for residential and community retrofit to support the achievement of this target.

I have appointed Mr. Tom Barry and Mr. Seamus Neely under Section 18(5) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 to perform the functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) pending the appointment of a new, full Board through the statutory appointments process, with the support of the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

This ensures that IFI is in a position to continue to perform its functions effectively.

I intend to appoint new members of IFI, in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, as soon as possible.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 145 together.

The District Heating Steering Group was established further to the 2021 Climate Action Plan to coordinate the roll-out of policies and measures to support the expansion of district heating in Ireland. The Steering Group is led by my Department and includes officials of a range of Government organisations with a wide range of relevant expertise in the sector. The Steering Group met on ten occasions in 2022 and undertook an examination of the necessary actions to facilitate the roll out of district heating in the context of ambitious targets for the sector as outlined in the 2021 and 2023 Climate Action Plans.

The work of the Steering Group has centred on the key thematic areas that are integral to the development of the sector: finance, regulation, planning, and research. Working Groups were formed to conduct detailed analysis of these issues. The Steering Group Report is being finalised with a view to submission to Government shortly.

District heating schemes are large-scale systems that are supplied by one or several centralised or decentralised heat sources and serve multiple buildings and multiple customers. Group, or communal, heating schemes are smaller-scale systems that already supply single buildings or complexes. End users in group or communal heating schemes are supplied with heat rather than fuel and the heat supplier in these schemes purchases the fuel at commercial rates, primarily natural gas.

My Department is currently liaising with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to ensure the development of an appropriate regulatory framework for district heating, which the Government plans to facilitate at scale in Ireland, to include regulation of group heating schemes. The statutory functions of the CRU in relation to regulation of district heating are contained in SI 350 of 2022 and SI 630 of 2022.

The 2020 Programme for Government committed to a target of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity in Ireland’s maritime area by 2030 and made a commitment to develop at least 30GW floating wind beyond 2030.

In addition, in 2022, the Government agreed to target the delivery of an additional 2GW of offshore wind for the production of green hydrogen in order to create the necessary environment to develop a floating energy and hydrogen industry.

The Government is delivering on our climate and energy ambitions for offshore wind energy through a number of phased developments. The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II (OREDPII), which is now open for public consultation, is one of the building blocks for developing the enduring regime for offshore renewable energy. This is the long-term vision for how the State will develop on our significant renewable energy potential to deliver benefits for all beyond the immediate 2030 targets. The OREDP II sets out the spatial strategy as to how we will go about identifying the best locations for renewable energy technologies. This includes the potential for floating wind energy in our deeper waters. The maritime area is a shared space and so identification of these areas will be carried out in consultation with all maritime stakeholders.

Other elements of work underway will also inform the development of policy for the enduring or long-term regime for offshore renewable energy. This includes the development of Hydrogen Policy, Interconnector Policy and economic assessments, which are all in development. A draft policy on the Enduring Regime will be ready for consultation by the end of the year.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) submitted its draft 2021 Financial Statements to the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) on 31 March 2022 in accordance with Section 46(3) and (5) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010.

I understand that the C&AG has not yet finalised the Audit Report on the 2021 Financial Statements and is engaging further with the organisation on this matter.

The Commission of Regulation of Utilities which has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply, has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take sure measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and my Department. The CRU currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters.

The Security of Supply Programme of actions contains a number of both demand and supply side mitigation measures. These actions include: procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; additional use of grid-scale batteries; and improved demand side measures.

Margins are expected to remain tight throughout this year. The CRU is continuing to work with key stakeholders to implement appropriate mitigation measures to further reduce risks during this and next winter and lower peak demand during these periods.

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.

The new North-South Interconnector, which will allow for the flow of 900 MW electricity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, will be critical for improving the operation of the all-island Integrated Single Electricity Market (ISEM). It will also help to facilitate the achievement of the goal of generating up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland's economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.

The option of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions. Most recently, the key finding from the International Expert Commission's report of October 2018 was that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this critical electricity infrastructure.

Notwithstanding this, it was deemed appropriate to carry out a further short review to assess if the overall finding from the 2018 report remained valid. Having requested tenders from a number of grid experts across Europe, two international experts were selected to carry out the study. When the report is finalised and considered by Government, publication will follow in due course.

On 31 October 2022 I introduced new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland. They introduced minimum standards that apply across all solid fuels, to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.

My Department has engaged extensively and continues to engage with all Local Authorities with regard to enforcement of the new regulations, developing guidance and training, and supporting the sharing of best practice in relation to a range of legislative obligations that are under the remit of the Local Authorities. A workshop for Local Authorities was held last October, in advance of the regulations taking effect, and a further workshop is to take place in March. In addition, a detailed guidance document on enforcement of the new regulations has been developed and circulated to all Local Authorities, and further training will be provided later this year.

I have also made grant funding available to support Local Authorities through a Solid Fuels Enforcement Pilot Scheme to support innovation and enhanced enforcement of the new regulations. We will continue to work with the sector in the coming months to provide further co-ordination and support as appropriate.

I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection.

National Broadband Ireland had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January and this target was exceeded.  NBI is on track to meet or exceed its 2023 cumulative target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.

The Government of Ireland’s National Digital Strategy (NDS), Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, is helping to drive the digital transition across the economy and society, to the benefit of all.

The Digital Connectivity Strategy which is a sub-Strategy of the NDS was published on 9th December 2022.  Its ambition is to make connectivity available to everyone, including through the National Broadband Plan, Remote Working Hubs and Broadband Connection Points, with a target of having all Irish households and businesses covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 and all populated areas covered by 5G no later than 2030.

NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/

My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

The Climate Action Plan includes a target to reduce emissions from the residential sector by retrofitting the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and installing 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by the end of 2030.

In February last year, the Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. The key measures introduced include:

- a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.

- establishment of a network of One Stop Shops offering a start-to-finish project management service for home energy upgrades.

- aligning many of the grant supports available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme with the NHEUS rates.

- a special enhanced grant rate of 80% for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households in recognition of the importance of high-impact shallow measures.

- grants of up to €10,500 to support the installation of a heat pump with emitters such as radiators.

Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 as the figures below highlight:

- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported compared to 15,246 in 2021 - a 79% increase year-on year.

- Of these, 8,481 upgrades were to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better, compared to 4,345 in 2021 - a 95% increase year-on-year.

- Of the overall figure, 4,438 free energy upgrades were delivered under SEAI energy poverty schemes, compared to 2,398 in 2021 - a 85% increase year-on-year.

- 2,269 heat pumps were installed in 2022, compared to 1,972 in 2021 - a 15% increase year-on-year.

- Over 50,000 applications received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.

My Department is working with SEAI to build on this strong performance. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for 2023, and a record €356 million capital funding has been allocated to SEAI for residential and community retrofit to support the achievement of this target.

My 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. The scheme is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and Exchequer funding. It will also 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.

Regarding potential uptake of the loan, detailed research undertaken by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland indicates a significant level of interest by homeowners, and it is anticipated that the scheme will provide a lending portfolio of up to €500 million.

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 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. All stakeholders are committed to finalising the project and it is expected that the loan guarantee will be in place in the coming months.

There are 81,507 premises located in County Cork that will be passed by National Broadband Ireland with high-speed gigabit fibre broadband as part of the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection.

As of January 2022, 4,514 premises were passed and 1,275 premises connected in Cork. As of 31st January 2023, NBI advise that 15,788 premises in total in County Cork have been passed and were available for immediate connection and 5,794 connections in total had been made to the NBP Gigabit network in County Cork.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

NBI have created a portal that serves as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed. The high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. In County Cork all 24 BCPs have been installed, of which 2 were installed in 2022. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/

In County Cork 85 schools have been installed to date for educational access of which 55 Schools were installed in 2022. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

As of now, registrations of both producers and retailers are in line with the projections of the scheme operator, Re-turn. Producers representing about 70% of the beverage market, by volume, and 135 retailers have completed the first stage of the registration process.

Last year saw the NBP network build programme achieve real momentum and this momentum is set to continue this year. As of 17 February, over 129,400 premises can order, or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. Connections to the NBP network have a minimum speed of 500 Mbps and to date 32,502 premises have taken up a connection.

National Broadband Ireland had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January and this target was exceeded. NBI is on track to meet, or exceed its 2023 target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.

NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. Further details can be found on NBI's website. (nbi.ie/bcp-map/)

By mid year this year every school in Ireland will have a connection to a high speed broadband service.

Ireland will contribute to the reduction of methane emissions globally as outlined in Climate Action Plan 2023, in line with our national climate targets and the Global Methane Pledge. The Global Methane Pledge, agreed at COP26, involves over 100 countries contributing to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, with 2020 as a baseline.

Ireland can impact on methane emissions domestically and internationally by adopting renewable energy sources, decreasing waste sent to landfill, and reducing methane emissions in our agriculture sector.

Fugitive methane emissions are released in the production and transportation of natural gas and oil. Our dependence on fossil fuels will fall considerably over the coming decade. As committed to in the 2023 Climate Action Plan, up to 80% of electricity will be generated using renewable energy by 2030, at which point we aim to have EVs constituting one third of our passenger car fleet. We are also targeting significant modal shift to EV buses and an expanded electrified rail service. Our demand for natural gas will be further curbed by ensuring our homes are more energy efficient with 2030 targets of 500,000 homes retrofitted, over 400,000 heat pumps installed in existing homes and district heating reaching 2.5TWh of energy demand.

Landfill waste also contributes to methane emissions. Ireland will reduce methane emissions from waste by sending less waste to landfill by 2030, reducing our waste overall, and adopting a more circular economic model which ensures products are renewable and reusable.

Our agriculture sector is the highest emitter of methane in our economy. The 2023 Climate Action Plan increases our ambition for efficiency in the sector while also promoting the diversification of agricultural activities. These actions will on one hand improve animal breeding, feeding and finishing and on the other will encourage farmers to diversify into more sustainable sectors including organics, tillage and biomethane production. Additionally, a target has been set to reduce chemical nitrogen to a maximum of 300,000 tonnes by 2030. The actions outlined target a 10% overall emissions reduction by 2025 and a 25% overall emissions reduction by 2030.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 committed Ireland to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. The carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings adopted under the Act require the electricity sector to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 75% by 2030 compared to 2018.

The 2023 Climate Action Plan sets out the roadmap and actions to deliver on this electricity sector emissions reduction and commits to 80% of Ireland’s electricity being sourced from renewables by the end of the decade. Among the most important measures in the CAP 2023 is the target of at least 5GW of installed offshore wind energy by 2030 to meet the electricity needs of Irish households and businesses by the end of the decade.

Fixed-bottom wind turbines are the only proven offshore wind technology currently in operation at scale in any jurisdiction around the world. Because of this, most of Ireland’s proposed offshore wind farms for this decade will utilise this technology. Given this, in the initial years of our offshore energy sectoral development in Ireland, our objective will be achieved through the deployment of this technology.

Floating wind is a developing technology, and I am fully committed to a longer-term plan that will enable the siting of floating wind turbines in our Southern and Western maritime area pending technological developments. Through the work currently being carried out on the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan, my Department is preparing for this now and well ahead of time and over the next few years we will build a framework of plans to support and develop this unique opportunity for Ireland.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the Climate Action Plan 2023 target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

Of the seven successful community projects in RESS 1, four projects remain within the scheme. Of the ten successful community projects in RESS 2, one project has withdrawn to date. Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS.

To simplify and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition, consideration is being given to providing support for eligible community projects through the Small-Scale Generation Support Scheme (SSGS) which is due to be launched later this year. The SSGS is not anticipated to include an auction process and is expected to be a simpler route for community participation.

In October 2022, my Department published a consultation on the design of the third RESS auction (RESS 3), which will take place this year, including options for continuing the community category in RESS in light of the development of the SSGS. A decision on the final design of the third RESS auction will be made shortly.

The Communities Energy Grant is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.

Since its launch in 2016, the Communities Energy Grant scheme has been allocated current and capital funding totalling €249.5 million.

In 2023, a record €68 million capital funding has been allocated to the Scheme with €0.3 million current funding also provided. This allocation reflects the very strong demand seen for the Scheme in 2022 and the strong pipeline of works in place for this year.

The Community Energy Grant Scheme guidelines for 2023 have been updated recently to reflect the changing environment and ensure that the programme continues to target and support our communities. All project coordinators have been notified of these new guidelines.

The SEAI advise that live updates are available for project coordinators for the Community Energy Grant Scheme on the SEAI web site.

The Climate Action Plan includes a target to reduce emissions from the residential sector by retrofitting the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and installing 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by the end of 2030. An Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 has been ring fenced to support the achievement of these targets.

The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach for achieving these targets. The Plan is underpinned by a number of principles including fairness and universality and as such, there is a need to ensure that all housing types and consumer cohorts can participate. This was reflected in the package of supports launched by Government last February to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. This included grants of up to €10,500 to support the installation of a heat pump with emitters such as radiators.

Through the implementation of the actions set out in the Climate Action Plan, National Retrofit Plan and the Energy Poverty Action Plan, Government will continue, improve and expand the accessibility and affordability of retrofitting for those in energy poverty.

Work in SEAI is ongoing in relation to the Energy Poverty Action Plan commitments to explore options to further support homeowners to convert from oil and solid fuel heating to heat pumps and to ensure that homeowners continue to have the option of only paying the cost of their upgrade "net of grant" with outputs from this work expected shortly.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 141 together.

Bord na Móna (BnM) is already obliged to comply with climate, biodiversity, water and other environmental objectives set out in the Programme for Government, Government strategy and policy documents and legislation. There are a number of tools and mechanisms available to ensure that this happens such as Shareholder Letters of Expectations, rolling corporate plans and strategies and consideration of consent requests from the Company.

BnM is progressing through a period of radical change underpinned by its ‘Brown to Green’ strategy. This includes major investment in renewable energy, restoration of depleted boglands and further development of its integrated waste management business. The Government increased BnMs borrowing limit from €400m to €650m to support its strategy.

These measures support the delivery of the targets and ambition set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the Climate Action Plan 2023, and the delivery of the Government's circular economy agenda.

There are no plans to amend the Turf Development Acts at this point.

I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection, with 31,502 premises haven taken up a connection to date.

Over 3,601 premises in County Cavan, and 4,965 premises in County Monaghan are passed by a Gigabit fibre broadband network and are available for immediate connection. As of 31 January NBI advise that 1,323 premises in Co Cavan and 1,455 premises in Co Monaghan are connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cavan and Monaghan through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. In County Cavan 12 BCPs have been installed to date with 16 BCPs installed in County Monaghan. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/

In County Cavan 19 schools SCPs have been installed by NBI to date for educational access with 14 SCPs installed in Monaghan. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

I welcome the research work of Teagasc on improving our emissions data for the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. Greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with LULUCF are reported in Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These new emission factors will be fully reflected in the inventory in due course.

This research underscores the importance of having robust scientific evidence and is an example of the uncertainty that is evident in the LULUCF sector with regard to the underlying data and emissions factors. This uncertainty is being reduced through several research projects such as this Teagasc work across a number of LULUCF land-type categories.

In June 2022, with work on the sectoral emissions ceilings (SEC) almost complete, the EPA published its latest emissions projections, showing net LULUCF emissions as being projected to rise to 11 MtCO2eq. in 2030 from a previously forecast figure of 7 MtCO2 eq. in 2030. This significant development in projected net LULUCF emissions materially altered the parameters for setting the LULUCF SEC, and it was decided to defer finalising the LULUCF SEC for up to 18 months to allow for incorporation of these changes.

However, pending finalising the LULUCF SEC, the Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to accelerating measures and actions for achieving emissions reductions in the sector. These actions include increasing our annual afforestation rates from approximately 2,000 hectares (ha) per annum in 2022 to 8,000 ha per annum from 2023 onwards; promoting forest management initiatives in both public and private forests to increase carbon sinks and stores; improving our management for carbon sequestration of 200,000 ha of grasslands on mineral soils; reducing the management intensity of grasslands on 25,000 ha of drained organic soils; and continuing the rehabilitation of 33,000 ha of peatlands as part of the Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme and EU LIFE People and Peatlands programmes.

My Department published Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025 in November 2022. The development of a Food Waste Prevention Roadmap is a key commitment in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. The Roadmap sets out a number of priority actions to bring the focus on food waste prevention, across key sectors in the food supply chain, together in a coherent manner.

Food donation and redistribution continues to play an important role in preventing food waste and is a key focus of the Roadmap. Food donation and redistribution initiatives already in practice include the work being undertaken by FoodCloud to connect businesses that have surplus food with charities and communities who need it. In 2020, for example, FoodCloud's Irish operations rescued over 3,100 tonnes of food. Other consumer and business facing platforms such as Olio and Too Good to Go are also examples of current initiatives that are facilitating food donation and redistribution in Ireland.

My Department looks forward to continue working with key stakeholders to progress the implementation of food donation and redistribution actions included in Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025.

A Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy for a Circular Economy is being finalised by my Department. This represents an important step in addressing the barriers to the development of geothermal energy in Ireland. It will help draw attention to its potential to decarbonise the heating and cooling of buildings, for industrial processes requiring heat and in the longer term, to generate electricity.

The policy statement reflects consideration by the Geothermal Energy Advisory Group of how my Department responded to the submissions received during the Public Consultation on the development of the policy. Subject to the Government's approval in due course, the policy statement will outline the preferred approach to be taken in developing a regulatory framework and the scope of a strategy to promote the sustainable development of Ireland’s geothermal resources.

In relation to communal heating schemes, a central part of the solution to dependence on natural gas for heat lies with cost-effective energy efficiency measures and accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources, to include consideration of geothermal energy, where appropriate.

Throughout 2022, the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports for households and businesses, and as part of Budget 2023, introduced a package of measures worth €2.5 billion. This included the €1.2 billion Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme, through which €600 (inclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments. The third €200 electricity credit is due to be applied in March/April.

Furthermore, any individual who is in need of additional support to facilitate their continued energy supply can apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection.

On 13 December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023. The fund will ensure that people in most need can access financial supports quickly and directly provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from supplier hardship funds and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.

I have no function with regard to the treatment of Wastewater this is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Deputy may wish to be made aware that the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Council analyses and reports on strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic, social, environment and sustainable development and on occasion commissions research in this regard. Details of the Council's work programme are available on www.nesc.ie.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 123, inclusive, together.

The persons currently employed in the Department of the Taoiseach as Special Advisers in my office, the office of the Tánaiste and the office of the Leader of the Green Party are detailed in the table below.

The appointment of special advisers are made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and subject to Government approval. The relevant contracts will be laid before the House of the Oireachtas in due course.

The Shared Island Dialogue series which has taken place over the past 24 months has so far engaged more than 2,500 citizens and civic representatives from across all regions, sectors and communities on the island of Ireland. Each Dialogue event has a different thematic focus, related to all-island cooperation and relationships under the Good Friday Agreement. A moderator with experience of facilitating discussion on relevant themes is contracted for each Dialogue event. Further Shared Island Dialogues are planned this year. The average fee across the 11 Dialogue events outlined below was €1,247 inclusive of VAT where applicable with a total expenditure of €13,718.25.

In 2021 the COVID-19 #Antiviral communications campaign was designed by and for young people, allowing them to share their experiences of the pandemic, while reinforcing key public health guidance. Pluto Communications were paid €185,742 for the creation and production of this campaign which included the use of social media influencers.

The Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality paid €300 to Cathal MacCoille for moderation of one of the Assembly’s sessions in 2021. A payment of €16,250 was made to Dr Aoibhínn Ní Shúilleabháin in January 2023 in recognition for her work as Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity.

In 2021, the members of the Future of Media Commission were paid a stipend for their work on the Commission of €13,750. Members under the category requested by the Deputy include Lynette Fay, freelance broadcaster, and Sinead Burke, writer and academic and founder of Tilting the Lens. These payments are sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform.

The National Economic and Social Development Office, the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, have not engaged with any social media influencers, online personalities, television and or radio personalities between 2021 to date.

Following a public procurement process published on e-tenders and OJEU the official Journal of the European Union in early 2022, the Department of the Taoiseach, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, awarded a contract for data strategy services to support the implementation of the Housing for All plan to Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants. Expenditure under the contract is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. No payments have been made by the Department of the Taoiseach to Ernst & Young.

No other awards or expenditure have been made to the organisations identified, from 2018 to 2022, by the Department of the Taoiseach or by the National Economic and Social Development Office which is the only body under the aegis of the Department.

No awards have been made to the organisation in question, from 2018 to 2022, by the Department of the Taoiseach or by the National Economic and Social Development Office which is the only body under the aegis of the Department.

Each year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment, and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.

In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.

My Department is currently working closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland with a view to finalising a Ministerial-led trade mission programme for 2023. Consideration of the programme is still ongoing, and no final decisions have been made in relation to Quarter 2. In the meantime, Minister Richmond will be visiting Spain and Portugal in March as part of the 2023 St Patrick's Day programme which will see the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Government Ministers take part in an extensive international programme to promote Ireland and Irish interests around the world.

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that, on 3rd October 2022, a General Employment Permit application for the person concerned (in the details supplied) was received.

On 23rd November 2022 the General Employment Permit application was refused. A request for a review of the refusal decision was subsequently submitted and is currently under consideration by the Reviewing Officer. On 25th January 2023 the Reviewing Officer requested additional information from the applicant by email in relation to the application. The applicant was given 28 days to respond to this request and informed that on receipt of the requested information the application would receive further attention. The information requested by the Reviewing Officer remains outstanding.

If the requested information is not provided to the Department a decision in respect of the application will be made based on information already held.

On 3 August 2022, the former Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail announced his intention to issue an Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector. The Order was to apply from 29 August 2022.

On 24 August 2022 my Department was informed that High Court had granted an injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry.

At this moment in time the Order cannot be proceeded with and the matter is before the courts.

Details of the social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by my Department and its Offices from 2021 to date in 2023, are set out in the table attached. The information provided includes: the fees expended; name of personality; campaign they were engaged on; and the key performance indicators in respect of their engagement.

Separately, I have requested that the state agencies under the remit of my Department provide the information requested and I will forward this to the Deputy once received.

Delivering balanced regional growth and job creation is a core objective for me and this Government, and is a key component in the recently published White Paper on Enterprise.

My Department contributes to this agenda in a number of ways, including through oversight of development and implementation of nine Regional Enterprise Plans.

A key feature and strength of the Regional Enterprise Plans is that they are developed using a ‘bottom-up’ approach, developed by regional stakeholders who are keenly aware of the growth opportunities and vulnerabilities in their region, and of the benefits of working collaboratively.

The West Regional Enterprise Plan covers Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and was launched in Castlebar on the 4th of March last year.

Each Regional Enterprise Plan is overseen and monitored by a Steering Committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior level private sector businessperson. The West REP Steering Committee is chaired by Evelyn O’Toole, Founder and CEO of Complete Laboratory Solution (CLS).

The Steering Committee members include representation from the Local Authorities, the Enterprise Agencies, LEOs, Regional Assemblies, Higher Education bodies and others, all of whom are focused on creating and sustaining employment opportunities for the region.

Since publication and launch, the West REP Steering Committee and Working Groups have been meeting to drive implementation of the actions.

I attended the last meeting of the Steering Committee on the 29th of November in Claremorris. At that meeting I saw the progress that has been made to date and am of the view that valuable work is being done in delivering the West Regional Enterprise Plan. Since my last visit to the West, great work has been done getting PorterShed a Dó operational. I visited PorterShed on 25th February and I was very impressed with the work being done there, also.

I can advise the Deputy that my Department is continuing to work with Enterprise Ireland to prepare the launch of the first call under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which will drive implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plans. I am keen to get this funding out to the regions as soon as possible. Due to the work of the West REP Regional Steering Committee, I strongly believe that the region is well-placed to benefit from this funding.

Finally, the Deputy may be aware that my departmental colleague, Minister Simon Coveney has recently announced that the Department intends to hold several ‘Building Better Business’ conferences around the country which will focus on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation and decarbonisation and will showcase the government and agency supports available to small and medium enterprises.

The first of these ‘Building Better Business’ conferences will be held in the North-West on Friday, 3rd March at the Letterkenny campus of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Donegal. The event in the West will be held later this year.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.

My Department operates a devolved procurement function whereby each business unit and Office of the Department is responsible for the procurement of their own goods, services and related contracts, with corporate oversight via a Procurement Co-ordination Unit, headed at Principal Officer level.

The Offices of the Department include the Companies Registration Office (which incorporates the Registry of Friendly Societies and the Register of Beneficial Owners), the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission.

With regard to awards made without a holding a tender process, as the Deputy may be aware, under the terms of the Department of Finance Circular 40/2002, my Department, including the Offices, is required to provide an annual report to the Comptroller and Auditor General providing details of any contracts for goods or services valued at €25,000 or more (excluding VAT) that were awarded without first holding a competitive process i.e. obtaining quotations or advertising on eTenders, the Irish Government’s electronic tendering platform administered by the Office of Government Procurement.

In order to provide the Deputy with the information sought to the fullest extent for each of the entities in question spanning the past five years, it will not be possible to provide the details requested within the timeframe specified. These details will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible over the coming days.

Procurements and contracts entered into by the Agencies of my Department are a day-to-day matter for the Board and Chief Executive Officers of the Agencies, and also subject to annual examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Much has already been done to improve the employment permit system and my Department is always focused on improving the service, with initiatives such as the Trusted Partner Registration system, and the introduction of the electronic employment permit and the Multi-Site General Employment Permit for Doctors.

Waiting times for Employment Permit processing have been greatly reduced over the past year, falling from 21 weeks to 4-7 business days. The Department plans to maintain processing times for all applications at this level, on the assumption that estimated demand remains at current levels for 2023.

Ireland has a clear division between economic migration and general immigration policies. Currently, a recipient of an employment permit undergoes a separate application process with the Department of Justice for a visa to enter the State, if they are a citizen of a visa-required country. Over 60 non-EEA countries, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil, are not visa required so their citizens do not have to apply for an entry visa.

In time, I would like to see the development of a single application procedure for work permits and entry visas. My Department and the Department of Justice are currently establishing an Inter-Departmental Group to examine the legal and operational changes required to deliver a more seamless customer experience for users of the employment permits and entry visa systems. It is expected to make recommendations to Government within six months.

My Department is currently building a new Employment Permits IT system that will take advantage of the latest technologies to deliver a fast and efficient service. We will ensure that the new system is developed in tandem with the Department of Justice so that both systems can deliver a more seamless service in the future.

EU Regulation 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services, the "Digital Services Act", provides that recipients of an intermediary service shall have the right to seek, in accordance with Union and national law, compensation from the provider of that service. This right is only in respect of circumstances where the damage or loss suffered is due to an infringement of the obligations under the Digital Services Act. Those obligations do not include any new obligation on online platforms with respect specifically to fraudulent content.

The obligations under the Digital Services Act relating to advertising place responsibilities on online platforms to ensure transparency of advertisements and to prohibit certain types of targeting. For example, there is an obligation to show where content is in fact an advertisement and information on the person placing the advertisement. They must also show information on who paid for the advertisement, if that person is different from the person who placed it. They must also show the information which has been used to cause the recipient of the service to be presented with the advert.

There are additional obligations on platforms and search engines that are designated as "very large" online platforms and search engines, that is those that have over 45 million users in the European Union. They must conduct an assessment of the risks that may arise from the design or functioning of their systems and provide for the mitigation of risks identified. Mitigation measure may include, where appropriate, adapting their advertising systems and adopting targeted measures aimed at limiting or adjusting the presentation of advertisements in association with the service they provide.

In addition to the information provided by ordinary online platforms, these "very large" platforms must make available a repository containing specified information relating to the adverts which they are displaying or have displayed over the previous year.

The eligibility criteria for the Warmer Homes Scheme (Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Scheme) are mainly linked to Department of Social Protection (DSP) means tested payments. Priority is then given to those living in the worst performing homes, with Building Energy Ratings of E, F or G. These criteria are in place with the aim of targeting the support to those on the lowest incomes in the least efficient homes, so that the resources available to the scheme can have the greatest impact. The eligibility criteria are kept under ongoing review by my Department, together with the DSP, to ensure they are consistent with and complementary to the other income support schemes offered by that Department.

Householders should contact the DSP to determine whether they are eligible for any of the Warmer Homes eligible payments, such as the Fuel Allowance. However, this would be subject to the household meeting the relevant DSP operational guidelines and means test where required for the respective payment. My Department has no function in relation to DSP schemes, means testing or payments.

For those that do not meet the qualifying criteria for free upgrades, the Government also provides supports to homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Included in these supports are grants for attic and cavity wall insulation which were tripled in value last year, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s overall response to high energy prices and the increased cost of living. Details are available on SEAI’s website at www.seai.ie/grants

There are also other Government grants and schemes available that could be of assistance where there is an urgent need for home repairs. These include the Department of Social Protection Urgent Needs Payment available through the Community Welfare Service at local DSP offices, and the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme which is administered by the Local Authorities.

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. A record budget of €148.5 million has been allocated to the scheme for 2023. The average cost per home completed in the last three months of 2022 was €21,376.

The eligibility criteria for the Warmer Homes Scheme are mainly linked to Department of Social Protection (DSP) means tested payments. Priority is then given to those living in the worst performing homes, with Building Energy Ratings of E, F or G. These criteria target the support to those on the lowest incomes in the least efficient homes, so that the resources available to the scheme can have the greatest impact. There are no plans currently to amend the eligibility criteria.

Households in receipt of the following DSP payments can apply for the Warmer Homes Scheme:

- Fuel Allowance;

- Job Seekers Allowance for more than six months (and having children under 7);

- Working Family Payment;

- One-Parent Family Payment;

- Disability Allowance for more than six months (and having children under 7);

- Domiciliary Care Allowance;

- Carer’s Allowance where you live with the person you are caring for.

For those that do not meet the qualifying criteria for free upgrades, the Government also provides other supports to homeowners to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Included in these supports are grants for attic and cavity wall insulation which were tripled in value last year. Details are available on SEAI’s website at www.seai.ie/grants . A programme of retrofitting for Local Authority Housing is also being funded through the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

There are also other grants and schemes available from Government that could be of assistance where there is an urgent need for home repairs. These include the Department of Social Protection Urgent Needs Payment available through the Community Welfare Service at local DSP offices, and the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme which is administered by the Local Authorities.

Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices has had on households and has prioritised action across Government to support people to stay warm and well through this winter. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and the third will be credited by suppliers to accounts from 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.

On the 21st of February Government announced a further €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients from April to July and an extension to the reduced VAT rate on electricity and gas bills until October.

The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme payments are made 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). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. On this basis each payment has reached over 2.1 million accounts, representing well over 90% of eligible accounts.

Despite this advantage, the scheme does have limitations. While one credit is applied per domestic MPRN, there are cohorts such as households on sub meters, that may only received a proportion of the payment. Officials from my Department are examining this matter to determine if a solution can be developed.

Any customer that is in need of additional support may apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection, including customers on a Pay As You Go meter who have a need for financial assistance to facilitate their continued energy supply. Every effort will be made to ensure that these vulnerable individuals in financial distress, and who qualify, receive an Additional Needs Payment on the same day or as soon as possible where it relates to electricity and heating expenses.

On the 13th of December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023, including people on PAYG meters. The fund will provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from suppliers and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.

In July 2022, the Government published a new statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s enterprise strategy. The statement addresses sustainable data centre development to align with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, security of supply, sectoral green house gas emissions, and climate priorities. The goal of this policy is to ensure the positive benefits for sustainability are maximised and that digital technologies are used in a sustainable manner to ensure the energy and circular economy challenges from digitalisation are aligned with our climate objectives. My Department is working regularly across relevant agencies and government departments to support the effective implementation of this policy.

The recently published Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out a plan to implement the carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings along with a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as was committed to in the Programme for Government.

The plan sets out measures and actions to ensure electricity demand is managed in line with our climate objectives. Flexible and decarbonised demand from large energy users, such as data centres, is critical to protecting security of supply and ensuring consistency with the binding carbon budgets.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published on 23 November 2021 the “CRU Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing” (CRU/21/124). This decision requires data centre connections to have on-site generation (and/or battery storage) that is sufficient to meet their own demand and this generation should also be capable of running on renewably sourced fuels (such as renewable gas or hydrogen) when supplies become more readily available. As part of the Climate Action Plan there is a commitment to review the current gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. This programme of actions contains a number of both demand and supply-side mitigation measures to address any potential shortfall. The actions include: procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; and improved demand-side measures.

The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below:

There are no advisers appointed by Minister of State Smyth or Minister of State Chambers to this Department.

The 3 advisers referenced above work across the portfolio of both this Department as well as that of the Department of Transport. All three are included in this response as the payment of salaries is made through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. 

All payments are made in line with the Ministerial Appointments and Expenses circulars and guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

CRU, ESB and GNI are already obliged to comply with national and international climate and environmental law and other environmental objectives set out in the Programme for Government, Government strategy and policy documents and legislation. The Climate Action Plan 2023 and the Climate Action Framework for the commercial semi-State sector for example will help ensure that they can play a lead role in Ireland’s transition to a carbon neutral economy and society.

There are a number of tools and mechanisms available to ensure that this happens, such as Shareholder Letters of Expectations, oversight agreements, rolling corporate and strategic plans and consideration of consent requests from the organisations. My Department strongly encourages  all our State Bodies to engage with the public and local communities  to build trust and consensus, which is critical to achieving our climate and environmental objectives.

There are no plans to amend the Gas Act, Electricity Regulation Act and Electricity Supply Act at this point.

The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. NBI has advised that 15,788 premises in County Cork are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.

The network roll-out for the NBP is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass. The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the Eir exchanges, or the metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built. Villages, townlands and counties may be covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the roll-out across county areas.

Each DA creates a ‘fibre ring’ which is essential to ensure reliability, robustness and resilience. Critical to the success of the network, NBI’s fibre rings are built with back-ups, ensuring that in the event of one fibre cable being disrupted, the whole network continues to perform, protecting customer experience. Each fibre ring that NBI deploys is designed in a way that is non-discriminatory, meaning that as the roll-out progresses, it may pass relatively urban areas at the same time as passing some of the most remote premises within the intervention area. The design utilises existing infrastructure to a very significant degree.

The NBP network build that started in 2020 is scheduled to be completed by 2027. NBI advise that the premises referred to in the question is at a status of Survey Pending.

Surveys are needed to establish the condition of existing poles and ducts, to ascertain whether repairs are needed. NBI’s contractors walk the fibre route to inspect infrastructure and gather detailed information on local conditions and this work is on-going. Further steps are then required prior to fibre build and connections including:

- Survey results fed back to NBI’s design teams who then develop detailed designs for each of the 227 Deployment Areas for submission to the Department for “Approval to Proceed” with fibre build;

- Repair/activities (“Make Ready”) carried out to ensure existing infrastructure is sufficiently prepared to pass the premises with fibre;

- Installation of and connection to electronic equipment in each Local Exchange building;

- Laying of the physical fibre along the poles and ducts;

- Fibre build quality checks, network testing and handover within NBI;

- Upload of specific fibre build details by premises to computer systems within NBI, enabling retail service providers to make connection orders visible on their respective systems which in turn allows premises’ owners to place orders.

- On completion of network build works customers can then place an order and request a connection to be scheduled with the retail service provider of choice.

NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high-speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Cork 24 BCPs have been installed to date. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/.

In County Cork 85 schools have been installed to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

I intend to appoint a new board to Inland Fisheries Ireland, as soon as possible in accordance with Section 12 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 with the support of the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

My Department has not engaged with any social media influencers or online, television or radio personalities in the period referred to in the Question.

The information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

My Department published Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025 in November 2022.  The Roadmap sets out a number of priority actions to bring the focus on food waste prevention, across key sectors in the food supply chain, together in a coherent manner. Food donation and redistribution plays an important role in preventing food waste and is a key focus of the Roadmap. 

In this context it should be noted that significant volumes of surplus food are already donated by retailers to organisations such as FoodCloud for onward distribution to charities.

Examples of actions in the Roadmap that are aimed at further preventing edible food in the retail sector being wasted include:

- Investigate the potential impact of a prohibition on the destruction of edible food in advance of its ‘use-by’ date.

- Investigate the regulatory and legal barriers to ‘Good Samaritan’ acts of donation and whether mandatory donation of edible food from retail outlets would reduce food waste.

- Using the EPA’s Food Waste Charter, support a voluntary target with retailers and the processing industry for a percentage of edible food to be donated.

My Department will be progressing the implementation of such actions in accordance with the associated timelines set out in the National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025.

I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed and available for immediate connection. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. The level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is exceeding projections.

There are 22,874 premises in County Clare that will be passed by National Broadband Ireland with high-speed gigabit fibre broadband as part of the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan. To date in Clare over 5,092 premises are passed by the NBP high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. As of 31 January 1,272 premises are now connected in County Clare. 

National Broadband Ireland had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January and this target was exceeded.  NBI is on track to meet, or exceed its 2023 target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. In County Clare all 7 BCPs have been installed.

In County Clare 28 schools BCPs have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

The Climate Action Plan includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents one of the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide and is a core element of the Government's plan to reduce emissions from the residential sector.

In order to reach this target, the Climate Action Plan 2023 includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 120,000 dwellings to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent level and install 45,000 heat pumps in existing dwellings in the period 2019-2025. For the second half of the decade, targets will ramp up significantly to deliver on average, approximately 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades per year from 2026 to 2030 to achieve the overall target by the end of the decade.

Final data from the SEAI shows that 27,200 home energy upgrades were delivered last year, exceeding the targeted level. Of the total home energy upgrades supported in 2022, 608 were in County Clare. The data requested by the Deputy for the period 2018-2021 is not routinely reported by SEAI. Further information on the SEAI programmes and schemes can be requested by emailing oireachtas@seai.ie.

My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance in 2022. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for this year, and a record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI this year for residential and community retrofit to support the achievement of this target.

The Draft Planning and Development Bill 2022, which is currently undergoing Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, contains a draft head on costs in relation to Judicial Review proceedings. This provision, while dealing specifically with judicial review cases under planning legislation, also addresses the Aarhus Convention and EU law obligations to ensure that access to justice in environmental matters is not prohibitively expensive and is predictable in relation to the likely costs to be incurred.

It provides for this in respect of protection for applicants from the costs of the respondent, in the case of an unsuccessful case, by requiring the court to make no order as to costs in any judicial review proceedings relating to non-compliance with national law, or the law of the European Union, relating to the environment. This reflects recent case law in relation to these matters.

Provision is also made in a draft head in the Bill for an administrative scheme to cover the costs of taking judicial review in environmental litigation. The draft head requires me as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, or a body authorised to do so on my behalf, to establish this scheme, having consulted the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister for Justice, and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. I will be working closely with these colleagues and other stakeholders in the development of this Head as the Bill progresses.

Consultation with the Minister for Justice on the establishment of the scheme, will include, inter alia, consideration of the review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme and the establishment of the Planning and Environment Court.

There is a strong commitment by Government to the environment as set out in the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future. My Department together with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are leading in relation to key areas including, climate, the broader environment and environmental protection, circular economy, biodiversity, water, air, soils, and land-use. My Department is engaged on an ongoing basis with a number of other Government Departments and Agencies in developing policy and furthering implementation in these areas. My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are also actively engaged in supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal in Ireland, including the transposition of European legislation, and in supporting Ireland’s wider global environmental commitments and responsibilities.

While structures are in place across Government to facilitate coherent and co-ordinated policy development and implementation including structures to enable a whole-of-Government response in key areas, my Department has commenced work on an overarching statement on environment policy to be published by Government in 2023. An inter-departmental and agency group will be established shortly to guide this work.

It is envisaged that the development of a statement on environment policy will facilitate more comprehensive integrated policy development and effective implementation by strengthening governance structures. It will also enable synergies between different policy areas to be maximised by ensuring that policy development and implementation across different areas (e.g., climate and biodiversity) are aligned. In addition, it will facilitate better monitoring and reporting in relation to the commitments and targets arising from international, EU and national agreements, policies, primary legislation, directives and regulations.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

The information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

My Department has not made an award with or without a tender process to the organisation Microsoft for any of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive.

The information sought by the Deputy regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 require producers of farm plastics (manufacturers and/or importers) to either establish a deposit and refund scheme for farm plastic waste or to participate in an approved compliance scheme for its recovery and recycling. Since the introduction of the farm plastics extended producer responsibility (EPR) model, producers have chosen to participate in the compliance scheme which is run by the Irish Farm Film Producers' Group (IFFPG) CLG.

My Department sets the policy and legislative framework for farm plastics waste, including EPR.  IFFPG manages the scheme's operation. I have no role in directing the business of the scheme beyond its compliance with regulatory matters.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 158, inclusive, together.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 17th February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection and over 31,500 premises have taken up a connection.

As of 31st January 2023 NBI advised that 2,506 premises in Kildare have been passed and were available for immediate connection. 847 connections were made to the NBP Gigabit network in Kildare in the same period.

The NBP network build that started in 2020 is scheduled to be completed by 2027. NBI had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January 2023 and this target was exceeded. NBI is on track to meet, or exceed its 2023 target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.

The network roll-out for the NBP is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass. The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built. Villages, townlands and counties may be covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the roll-out across county areas.

Each DA creates a ‘fibre ring’ which is essential to ensure reliability, robustness and resilience. Critical to the success of the network, NBI’s fibre rings are built with back-ups, ensuring that in the event of one fibre cable being disrupted, the whole network continues to perform, protecting customer experience. Each fibre ring that NBI deploys is designed in a way that is non-discriminatory, meaning that as the roll-out progresses, it may pass relatively urban areas at the same time as passing some of the most remote premises within the intervention area. The design utilises existing infrastructure to a very significant degree.

Surveys are needed to establish the condition of existing poles and ducts, to ascertain whether repairs are needed. NBI’s contractors walk the fibre route to inspect infrastructure and gather detailed information on local conditions and this work is on-going. Further steps are then required prior to fibre build and connections including:

- Survey results fed back to NBI’s design teams who then develop detailed designs for each of the 227 Deployment Areas for submission to the Department for “Approval to Proceed” with fibre build;

- Repair/activities (“Make Ready”) carried out to ensure existing infrastructure is sufficiently prepared to pass the premises with fibre;

- Installation of and connection to electronic equipment in each Local Exchange building;

- Laying of the physical fibre along the poles and ducts;

- Fibre build quality checks, network testing and handover within NBI;

- Upload of specific fibre build details by premises to computer systems within NBI, enabling retail service providers to make connection orders visible on their respective systems which in turn allows premises’ owners to place orders.

- On completion of network build works customers can then place an order and request a connection to be scheduled with the retail service provider of choice.

NBI's website provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps/.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high-speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 17th February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Kildare all 3 BCPs have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/.

In County Kildare 9 schools have been installed to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

While full and final emissions data  for 2022 is not yet available, recent reports have indicated that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2021 and may also have increased in 2022. While EPA models for projected emissions are unable to take into account all policies and measures which have been committed to in our Climate Action Plans, the EPA’s reporting suggests a concerning trend which underlines the challenge of the climate crisis and the urgency with which we must respond.

Notwithstanding the anticipated increase in emissions in 2021 as the country emerged from the most severe Covid-19 restrictions, we must consider how to accelerate the measures and actions that will not only reduce our emissions but will also support new ways of conducting business and encouraging innovation. To reverse the current trajectory of emissions and meet our 2030 and 2050 targets, a significant shift is required in the speed at which we implement the policies, measures and actions that will decarbonise our economy and improve our indigenous supply of sustainable and renewable energy.

In December 2022, the Government published the Climate Action Plan 2023, which reflects the emissions pathways set by our carbon budgets and sectoral emission ceilings. CAP23 builds on the ambition of the 2021 Plan and sets out the policies, measures and actions needed to keep us within our carbon budgets and on the pathway to a net zero-emissions economy by no later than 2050.

Furthermore, the establishment of delivery task forces to accelerate and drive delivery in a number of key areas regarding our climate action will serve to support our focus on accelerating the implementation of meaningful and impactful climate action.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. On 28 July, the Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, (i.e. 2021-2025 and 2026-2030), with the exception the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which will be determined later. For our agriculture sector, this process has set a 10% emissions reduction target by 2025 and a 25% emissions reduction target by 2030.

The 2023 Climate Action Plan has outlined how these emissions reductions can be achieved in the coming years, increasing our ambition for efficiency in the sector while also promoting the diversification of agricultural activities. These actions will on one hand improve animal breeding, feeding and finishing and on the other will encourage farmers to diversify into more sustainable sectors including organics, tillage and biomethane production. Targets include expanding the organic sector to 450,000 hectares, growing the tillage sector to 400,000 hectares and construction of up to 200 Anaerobic Digestion plants. It will also reduce our chemical fertiliser use to a maximum of 300,000 tonnes by 2030.

My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our carbon emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. This represents a key opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our family farms will fully exploit the opportunities of this transition without compromising on sustainable food production.

Under the EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), legally binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets are set for each Member State for the period 2021–2030. The regulation covers sectors of the economy that fall outside the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS); including transport, buildings, agriculture, light industry and waste. The ESR is a key tool for the EU to reduce its emissions and is a central component of the EU’s implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Targets set under the ESR are to be delivered collectively by the EU. The targets are established in a way that balances considerations of fairness, cost-effectiveness and environmental integrity, and the governance framework is underpinned by principles and flexibilities that support this approach.

The legislative framework of the regulation provides for a number of compliance options beyond direct emissions reductions to enable Member States to achieve targets as efficiently and effectively as possible; including banking, borrowing and trading annual emissions allowances.

Ireland’s target under the current ESR (adopted in 2018) is to reduce non-ETS emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2005. The updated ESR, revised as part of the EU Fit for 55 Package and awaiting formal adoption, increases Ireland’s target to a 42% reduction in emissions. Notwithstanding the challenge inherent in reaching this revised target, Ireland supports the increased ambition.

Ireland’s climate objectives, as legislated for in the 2021 Climate Act, and our domestic 2030 target, as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023, are fully aligned with our obligations under the Paris Agreement and with the enhanced ambition at EU level.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 165, inclusive, together.

Under the Climate Action Plan 2023, Government has set an ambitious target of having an 80% share of electricity generation capacity coming from renewable sources by 2030.

With approximately 4,403 MW of connected wind generation capacity, we are in the top five globally for installed wind power capacity per capita. In order to build on this success and increase wind and solar generation on the grid, my Department is delivering a regular programme of auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).

The RESS auctions provide pathways for renewable developers to plan and develop their projects, with supported technologies including, but not limited to, onshore wind, solar, and hybrids (co-located wind, solar, and/or storage), with offshore wind projects participating under the dedicated Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS). This method allows Ireland to take advantage of new technologies as they emerge.

The first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction (RESS 1) was held in 2020 and as a result of that pathway being provided for renewable developers, 2022 was a record year for the connection of renewable electricity capacity to the grid. More RESS 1 projects are expected to connect to the grid throughout 2023. The second RESS auction (RESS 2) was held in 2022, with the successful projects in that auction representing a nearly 20% increase on current renewable electricity generation capacity. Projects from RESS 2 will start to connect to the grid between the end of this year and 2025.

Officials in my Department are currently working on progressing the next two RESS auctions, RESS 3 for onshore renewables, and ORESS 1 (Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme) for offshore wind, with both expected to be held later this year.

Further auction rounds are expected in future years and an updated RESS auction schedule will be published shortly.

Ireland’s digital connectivity strategy aligns with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030. Providing telecommunication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by ComReg, to mobile operators who advise that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years came to €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile services covering both voice and data, throughout Ireland.

ComReg completed a Multi-band Spectrum Award in January this year to assign long term rights of use in four spectrum bands to enable the market to provide improved services to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile data and new services. This award will represent a 46% increase in the harmonised spectrum assigned for the provision of wireless broadband services in Ireland and will include significant coverage obligations for operators.

ComReg has developed an online national outdoor coverage map and app to provide clear information on where operators have good coverage. The map will continue to be updated quarterly.

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force is a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide to alleviate mobile and fixed connectivity barriers. The current work programme focuses on Planning and Licensing, Improving Information and Access to Assets and Infrastructure, and Improving Consumer Information, Advice and Experience.

My Department worked with EU Member States to develop the EU Connectivity Toolbox, a collection of best practices which Member States can implement at national level to lower the cost of deploying very high-speed networks in order to foster better connectivity across the EU, which is being implemented via the new work programme of the Task force. The best practices include streamlining administrative and permitting granting procedures, and improving access to State assets.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and bus shelters.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

The completion of a central record of all insured vehicles, the Motor Insurance Database, will play a key role in reducing uninsured driving.

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, currently before the Oireachtas, will strengthen the operation of the Database. Under the new provisions, motor insurers must provide the policy number and, for all insured under the policy, their names, addresses, dates of birth, and driver numbers to the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland within 5 working days of a policy being issued, cancelled or amended. Vehicle registration numbers will also have to be provided for all vehicles covered by the policy.

The Database will assist An Garda Síochána to identify uninsured vehicles or drivers. As uninsured drivers tend to be involved in other road traffic offences, reducing uninsured driving will assist Ireland to meet its long-term goal of achieving zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2050. Reducing the numbers of uninsured vehicles and drivers will also help to bring down the cost of insurance for law-abiding drivers.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 200 and 202 together.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), has statutory responsibility for the operation of the test and deals with all application and scheduling matters. The Department of Transport does not have access to individual applications nor have I, as Minister, any power to intervene in individual cases.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.

Driver licensing applications are handled by the National Driver Licence Service, the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to individual applications.

Driving licence applicants with certain medical conditions must submit a medical report when applying for or renewing a licence or learner permit. The information provided is considered in determining the application.

This consideration is done in the context of Sláinte agus Tiomáint, the Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines, prepared by the National Office of Traffic Medicine (jointly run by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the RSA). The current guidelines for driving with epilepsy, published April 2022, are available at: www.ndls.ie/images/Documents/Guidelines/10421_Epilepsy_Seizures_and_Driving_DL_(hi-res_screen).pdf.

A complaint may be made through the RSA website at www.rsa.ie/help-support/online-support-centre. In the section “Do you have a different query”, select “contact us” as the category, “make a complaint” as the topic, and “I wish to make a complaint” as the subtopic. Alternatively, the RSA can be contacted on 096 25000 or by email to lqueries@rsa.ie.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Cork.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The query raised by the Deputy in relation to the amount that Iarnród Éireann spent on personnel security within its stations and trains in 2022 is an operational matter for the company. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

Eligible local authorities are advised as early as possible at the start of each year of the grant amount available to them under the Restoration Maintenance, Supplementary Restoration Maintenance, Restoration Improvement, Discretionary Grant, Drainage Grant, Training Grant and PSCI Survey Support Grant Programmes. The bulk of the grant funding provided to local authorities for regional and local roads is directed to maintenance and renewal works. Once the grants are notified to local authorities it is a matter for each local authority to draw up their annual programme of pavement works which must then be submitted on the Asset Management System which is hosted by the Road Management Office.

As regards other grant programmes, each year the Department issues Circulars to eligible local authorities seeking grant applications for the following year for the Bridge Rehabilitation, Safety Improvement, Former National Roads, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, Signage Grant Programmes. In the case of the Community Involvement Scheme applications are sought for a 2 year period.

The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific (road improvement schemes costing up to €5m.) and Strategic (improvement schemes costing over €5m.) Grant Programmes. Instead it considers projects proposed by local authorities on a case by case basis taking into account the availability of funding and the outcome of project appraisals. Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programmes must comply with the requirements of the DPER Public Spending Code and the Department’s Capital Appraisal Framework.

Following the notification of the grants to local authorities the Department lodges an allocations booklet to the Oireachtas Library which sets out in tabular form the allocations provided to each local authority. The allocations booklets for 2021 and 2022 are available in the Oireachtas Library.

As regards the end of year position, payments booklets which set out the outturn under the various programmes for 2021 and 2022 are also available in the Oireachtas Library.

As regards 2023, the allocations booklet will be lodged to the Oireachtas Library shortly. Details of the 2023 regional and local grant allocations are available at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/2381e-626-million-for-regional-and-local-roads-announced/.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the deputy in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The matter raised in relation to issues with bus services to and from Donegal town is an operational matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

Further, Bus Éireann's Expressway services, including route X30, are commercial bus services and responsibility for the operation of those services is a matter for the company.

I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and bus shelters.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 193 together.

As the Deputies may be aware, the Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The results of the review will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.

The Strategic Rail Review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities, including the potential for higher/high-speed; enhancing regional accessibility; supporting balanced regional development; and rail connectivity to our international gateways.

A draft report is currently being finalised and will be submitted to the Departments shortly. After the necessary approvals have been secured on both sides of the border, including by the Government, my Department will publish the report.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.

As of 20 September 2021 and in line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Investment in Greenway projects is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code and necessary statutory approvals.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.

From July 2020 costs for special adviser(s) to the Minister for Transport were absorbed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

The salary cost of the advisers to Minister of State Jack Chambers are detailed below:

CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.

In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.

The questions raised by the Deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

The Programme for Government (PfG) commitment to establish a National Public Transport Forum was incorporated into the Government's National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) - published in April 2022. The policy commits to delivering a significant and ambitious increase in active travel and public transport journeys between now and 2030.

To support this ambition, and to ensure full engagement with all key stakeholders, my Department are working to convene a national forum in April 2023. The National Sustainable Mobility Forum will mark the first anniversary of the SMP, and will provide stakeholders with an update on progress to date, and with an opportunity to shape future efforts for expanding and enhancing the availability and attractiveness of sustainable mobility options - walking, cycling, shared and public transport.

It is intended to issue to invitations to stakeholders in the coming weeks.

The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I would like to assure the Deputy that the Authority is working closely with my Department to address the issue of Driver Testing waiting times.

The Driver Testing service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand which is 28% up on 2021 figures and 27% up on 2018 pre Covid-19 pandemic figures.

I am told that the current increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include: an increase in learner permits in circulation which has grown by about 30% since Q3 2019; increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test when the service resumed post Covid-19 and an increase in Approved Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers which has increased the volume of learners becoming eligible and ready to take their test.

The Authority conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the driver testing service in 2022, following which my department sanctioned an increase in the permanent driver tester headcount from 100 to 130. I am informed that the RSA has deployed the majority of successful candidates across the driver testing service, with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting lists. It is expected that the remainder will be deployed by the end of Q1 2023.With the need for further review given the continued backlog, the RSA conducted an updated analysis of demand and capacity in late 2022 and early 2023. My Department is actively engaged with the RSA in evaluating this subsequent request for additional resources.

My Department has not engaged any social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities in 2021, 2022 or to date in 2023.

The information requested by the deputy in relation to a schedule of social media influencers etc, which operate under the remit of my department is more appropriate to the state bodies concerned and is not held within my Department.

Accordingly, I have asked the agencies under my department’s remit to respond to you directly. If you do not hear from them within 10 working days, please advise my private office.

The National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

However, I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet high demand for tests and the delays which vehicle owners are encountering. My officials are continuing weekly meetings with the Authority to monitor ongoing progress in reducing test delays and to ensure all possible actions are being taken to bring the waitlist to an acceptable level, as well as supporting all appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance. Considerable progress is now being made to increase capacity at test centres and I am assured by the RSA that the business-as-usual waiting period of 12 days will be restored by the beginning of Q3.

In the interim, I am advised that customers seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly, by calling 01-4135992, or may avail of the priority waiting list function via the NCT website, www.ncts.ie. In the majority of cases, these vehicle owners are provided with an appointment within 30 days.

Insurance Ireland has advised my department that its members will be pragmatic and understanding in their approach to the current delays at the NCT. Cover will continue to be provided where customers, through no fault of their own, are unable to obtain an NCT appointment due to backlogs at test centres. Under the current circumstances, provided motorists make every effort to book appointments in the normal way, insurance companies will recognise that the current issue is not the fault of the customer. Motorists should keep evidence of their appointment booking.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.

Since 2018 and prior to the 20th September 2021, two applications were made for funding to the Department; one application in 2018/19 for sections of the Clew Bay Greenway and another in 2020 as part of the Carbon Tax Funding round to support the initial phases of the Ballina - Castlebar - Westport Interurban Greenway project. The table below summarises the total amount sought and granted over the period 2018/19 to 2021.

As of 20 September 2021 and in line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Investment in Greenway projects is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code and necessary statutory approvals.

I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to TII for a direct reply in relation to applications made and funding granted post September 2021. In addition, they will be able to answer the specific query relating to the Murrisk to Louisburgh/Roonagh project.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised in relation to the continuing poor service of the number 15 bus service is a matter for Dublin Bus. The issue of inaccurate real time information provided on the Dublin Bus 15 route would be a matter for both Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority (NTA). Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to both Dublin Bus and the NTA for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 it is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to procure public transport services by means of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts.

In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific question in relation to public transport services provided under public service obligation contracts in Galway city, including the individual routes and the companies that are operating them, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure.

Details regarding revenue and usage of public bike schemes fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA) working in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.

Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to that agency for a more detailed reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office. 

As requested by the Deputy, my Department made the awards set out below to the following of the consultancy firms specified for the years 2018-2022.

Contracts awarded by bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency involve and. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days. 

While my Department did not make any contract awards for the provision of goods and services directly to Microsoft in the period 2018 - 2022, Microsoft products have been procured by the Department via an authorised Microsoft supplier. Details of such procurements are being compiled by my Department and will be provided to the Deputy within 10 working days.

Contracts awarded by bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency involved and I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

As Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The maintenance of train stations, including the ones referred to by the Deputy, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.

In view of the Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years.

Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. It is also an essential part of ensuring just and equal access to EVs across Ireland, including in rural areas.

Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging and workplace charging.

In July last year, I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. A suite of new grants and initiatives have been launched and further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.

ZEVI has significant funding available in 2023 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

Last month I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. The strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

The Strategy outlines a need for fast Taxi-Charging Hubs to support the greening of the taxi fleet, which will enable drivers to quickly charge and go. The provision of dedicated EV charging infrastructure for e-car clubs and at taxi ranks, as well as in strategic rural locations, is key. It will support the transition to electric and sustainable mobility in communities with low car ownership or population densities, and where demand for publicly-accessible charge points may be limited. In all instances, decisions about charge point locations and types require a strategic and data-driven approach to ensure that Irish EV charging infrastructure meets future needs.

ZEVI has established a Public-Private Vehicles Stakeholder Group with expertise to support and inform electric vehicle roll out. Representatives from the taxi industry are included on this group and can contribute to the consideration of EV taxi drivers' charging needs.

In addition, the eSPSV Infrastructure Scheme was designed to encourage more taxi drivers to convert to electric vehicles. The project involves installing taxi-dedicated electric vehicle charge points at major transport hubs nationwide. Officials from my Department have engaged with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann on this matter. Since 2020, charge points have been installed in Dublin (Heuston), Cork (Kent) and Limerick (Colbert) train stations as well as at Dublin and Cork airports.

Further funding was made available in 2022 to support the installation of 150 KW charge points at an additional 5 Irish Rail locations which are due to come onstream shortly. In total, my Department has committed €1.6m to this initiative to date.

Under Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, motor insurance is required to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place. However, the provision of insurance cover to individuals is a commercial matter for insurance companies and not something I am in a position to comment on.

I would like, however, to inform the Deputy that Insurance Ireland operates a free insurance information service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. All queries regarding refusal to quote, or quotations that are so excessive as to be in effect a refusal, should be directed to Insurance Ireland.

The operation of any scheduled air service is a commercial decision for airlines, in consultation with airports and other market actors, based on the commercial viability of the route in question and other operational factors.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The question raised by the deputy in relation to the additional buses and drivers that would be required to increase the frequency of Dublin Bus route 44 to every 30 minutes in both directions between the hours of 7.30am to 5.30pm on Mondays to Friday is an operational matter for Dublin Bus.

I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

I am advised by Revenue that the estimated cost to date of the temporary reductions to Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) on Petrol, Diesel, and Marked Gas Oil (MGO), since their introduction in March 2022, are shown in the following table.

I am advised by Revenue that the scenario outlined in the Deputy’s Question currently qualifies under the rent-a-room scheme.

Sums arising to an individual in respect of the letting for residential purposes of a room or rooms in an individual’s “sole or main residence”, including the provision of meals, cleaning, laundry or other services supplied in connection with the letting, may be exempt from income tax where the conditions set out in section 216A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 are met.

To qualify for rent-a-room relief, the total payment for the letting must be below the annual limit, which is €14,000. In establishing whether the income exceeds the limit, the gross amount is taken into account and no deduction is allowed for any expenses that have been incurred in connection with obtaining the income. The relief does not apply to short term lettings of 28 or fewer days, except in certain defined circumstances (lettings to students, disabled individuals, and “digs” for a minimum of four consecutive days per week for at least four consecutive weeks). There are also restrictions relating to lettings to immediate family members and lettings paid for by the individual’s employer.

Further information on rent-a-room relief is available from the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/land-and-property/rent-a-room-relief/index.aspx.

There are no specific confirmation of payee requirements in legislation and payee name is not a required part of the identification of a beneficiary.

There are some disadvantages to using the name of the payee as part of the identification of the beneficiary, including unintended rejections of transactions due to minor discrepancies between the name provided by the payer and the actual name of the payee, and mistakes stemming from the use of different languages.

However, payment service users (PSUs) may not be aware that payment service providers (PSPs) are not required to check whether the IBAN and the name of the payee match. PSUs bear the liability and the related financial loss under Article 88 of PSD2 if they have provided a wrong IBAN.

As part of the ongoing review of the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), a recommendation has been made to the Commission to introduce requirements requiring PSPs to inform PSUs that their PSP and the PSP of the payee are not required to check whether the IBAN of the payee and the name of the payee match. This would ensure that PSUs are made aware that such checks are not being carried out by PSPs and the consequences where they provide a wrong IBAN.

Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 precludes the Revenue Commissioners from directly or indirectly disclosing taxpayer information to third parties unless this is specifically provided for in legislation. Therefore, neither Revenue nor I can comment on the tax affairs of any individual or company, so I can only refer to publicly available information.

The latest data available for the estimated value of the relevant banks’ deferred tax assets is from their 2021 annual reports. According to their year ended 31 December 2021 financial statements, the deferred tax assets (DTAs) being held in relation to trading losses forward are as follows:

In 2018, Department of Finance officials produced a detailed technical note for the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on the subject of both bank losses and corporation tax losses more generally (see www.gov.ie/en/publication/436ff7-technical-note-on-the-potential-consequences-of-changes-to-the-treat/). The technical note considered in some detail the potential implications of restricting the use of losses carried forward, or the introduction of a specific time limit or “sunset clause” on loss relief, for Irish banks, for the wider banking sector, or for the corporate sector as a whole.

As the Deputy is aware, loss relief for corporation tax is a long-standing feature of the Irish corporate tax system and a standard feature of corporation tax systems in most OECD countries. It recognises the fact that a business cycle runs over several years and that it would be unfair to tax income earned in one year and not allow relief for losses incurred in another. Loss relief works by allowing a deduction for losses incurred in one accounting period against profits earned in another period.

In the case of banks in which the State holds, or previously held, an ownership stake, the value of these tax losses to the State is realised through share sales. The banks’ share prices recognise a certain value for the tax losses and, as such, the State receives value for the balance of tax losses as sell-downs complete.

The estimated revenue which could be raised by introducing a 25 percent or 50 percent cap, respectively, on corporation tax loss relief utilised in a single year, either by NAMA participating banks only or by all banks, would be dependent on the future profitability of the banks and therefore cannot accurately be forecast.

It is possible to estimate the annual yield which could have arisen from such a restriction in respect of all banks for each of the last four years for which data is available (2018 - 2021), and this is set out in the table below. Having regard to its confidentiality obligations under s851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, Revenue is not able to provide a further breakdown of these figures between NAMA participating banks and all other banks.

All Banks

The Deputy will also be aware that, in 2018, Department of Finance officials produced a detailed technical note for the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on the subject of both bank losses and corporation tax losses more generally (see www.gov.ie/en/publication/436ff7-technical-note-on-the-potential-consequences-of-changes-to-the-treat/). The technical note considered in some detail the potential implications of restricting the use of losses carried forward, or the introduction of a specific time limit or “sunset clause” on loss relief, for Irish banks, for the wider banking sector, or for the corporate sector as a whole.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Living City Initiative (LCI) (provided for in Finance Act 2013 and commenced on 5 May 2015) is a tax incentive aimed at the regeneration of the historic inner cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford. The scheme provides income or corporation tax relief for qualifying expenditure incurred in refurbishing/converting qualifying buildings which are located within predetermined 'Special Regeneration Areas' (SRAs). Such developments may include both residential and commercial elements.

The LCI was reviewed as part of the Tax Strategy Group process in 2022. The review noted that the scheme is a very specific tax incentive, established in compliance with the Department of Finance’s Tax expenditure Guidelines, with the aim of encouraging businesses and home-owners back to the centre of Irish cities in order to preserve historic buildings in special regeneration areas.

In relation to the creation of new tax incentives, and the Deputy will appreciate, decisions regarding taxation measures are usually made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process and at the appropriate time. Such decisions also must have regard to the sound management of the public finances and my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines. The guidelines make clear that any policy proposal which involves tax expenditures should only occur in limited circumstances where there are demonstrable market failures and where a tax-based incentive is more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention. In relation to this final point, there are already significant direct expenditure measures, such as the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) scheme, in place to promote residential development in urban areas.

Ireland’s past experience with tax incentives in this sector strongly suggests the need for a cautionary stance. They created distortions in the construction sector and were, with ended a over decade ago.

I will continue to work with my cabinet colleagues to ensure that any further interventions in the housing market are appropriately calibrated, represent the best use of scarce public resources and boost the supply of housing in both the public and private sectors.

I have no plans at present to commission a report along the lines suggested.

Following clarification from the Deputy’s office, I understand that the purpose behind the question is to clarify if the income tax changes introduced in Budget 2023 apply to persons aged 65 or over and in receipt of occupational pensions.

As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2023 included a significant income tax package amounting to a cost of €1.13 billion in 2023 and consisted of both personal income tax and Universal Social Charge (USC) changes. In relation to the income tax changes, the Standard Rate Cut-Off Point for single persons was increased by €3,200, or 8.7 per cent, from €36,800 to €40,000, with commensurate increases for persons who are married/in civil partnerships. In addition, the main tax credits – the personal tax credit, employee tax credit and earned income credit - were all increased by just over 4.4 per cent, or €75 each, from €1,700 to €1,775. The home carer tax credit was also increased by €100, from €1,600 to €1,700, which equates to a 6.3 per cent increase. These tax changes will provide a real benefit to all individuals who pay income tax by reducing their overall income tax liability.

Turning to the USC, the ceiling of the band for the 2 per cent rate was also increased by €1,625, from €21,295 to €22,920. It is also worth pointing out that the USC concession for medical card holders who earn less than €60,000 per annum was extended for a further year, which means such individuals will continue to pay a reduced rate of USC in 2023. Further details can be located at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ccc22-budget-2023-taxation-measures/.

To answer the Deputy’s specific question, these tax measures will generally apply to all taxpayers, including PAYE income earners, persons in receipt of occupational pensions and self-employed income earners, as appropriate to their individual circumstances and income levels.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.

The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain charitable organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Principal Medical Officer (PMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA). To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

My predecessor Minister Donohoe committed to a comprehensive review of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (DDS) as part of a broader review of mobility supports. In order to achieve this objective, Minister O’Gorman agreed in September 2021 that the DDS review should be incorporated into the work of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group (TWG).

The NDIS TWG was tasked, under Action 104 of the NDIS, with reviewing all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability and for making proposals for transport and mobility solutions for those with a disability.

The Working Group, under the Chairpersonship of Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, held a number of meetings across 2022 and produced a report which has just been published ( 27 February 2023) by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who led the NDIS TWG and were responsible for the review.

As part of its engagement in this process, the Department of Finance established an information-gathering Criteria Sub-group (CSG) at the start of 2022. Its membership comprised of former members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) and Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) in the HSE. Its purpose was to capture their experiences, expertise and perspectives in relation to the practical operational and administrative challenges of the DDS, as well as to explore what alternative vehicular arrangements were available for those with mobility issues based on international experience. The CSG work led to the production of five papers and a technical annex, submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in July 2022.

The main conclusion of the CSG is that the DDS needs to be replaced with a fit for purpose, needs-based vehicular adaptation scheme in line with best international practice.

This conclusion, together with design principles and parameters for the new scheme as based on international practice, were incorporated into a response by the Department of Finance to three questions posed in September 2022 to members of the NDIS Transport Working Group, in respect of proposals for enhanced, new and/or reconfigured supports to meet the transport and mobility needs for those with a disability.

In respect of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals, as the Deputy is aware the previous members of the DDMBA resigned effective from 30th November 2021. Since then two Expression of Interest campaigns have been held, seeking suitable candidates for the Board. The Department of Health has led on all actions and tasks with respect to the Expression of Interest Campaigns. Department of Finance officials have provided support to the Department of Health in this matter.

The first campaign closed on 29th April. As there were insufficient suitable candidates arising from the first campaign, a second round was issued with a closing date of 5th July 2022. Five members are legislatively required for a functional Board with a quorum of three needed for any appeal hearing. Two other candidates were recently nominated by the Minister for Health. All five candidates have now successfully completed Garda Vetting.

I had hoped that I could finalise these appointments and recommence the work of DDMBA in the next few weeks, but unfortunately the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) have just informed me that they wish to cease their involvement with the scheme. As their facilities and secretarial service, which are funded by my Department, are integral to the operation of the DDMBA, there is likely to be a further delay before the appeals process can re-commence. My officials are currently examining what other alternative options may be available to get the scheme up and running again.

You should be aware that assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place. In this regard, an important point to make is that even though there has been no appeal mechanism since the previous Board resigned, applicants who have been deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC are entitled to request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.

Details of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) are set out in Finance Act 2022. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023 and is available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria.

Self-employed individuals, partnerships or companies who carry on a business may be eligible for payments under the TBESS.

The TBESS operates by reference to bills for the metered supply of natural gas and electricity. It is available to eligible businesses whose average unit price of electricity or gas has increased by at least 50% for the relevant billing period between September 2022 and April 2023, as compared with the average unit gas or electricity price in for the corresponding reference period in the previous year. Where this threshold is met, payments will be made to qualifying businesses on the basis of 40% of the amount of the increase in eligible electricity or natural gas costs between the bill amount which is the subject of the claim and the bill amount in the corresponding reference period in the previous year.

The TBESS legislation provides, in respect of the metered supply of electricity or gas, that the electricity or gas bill should be provided or made available by an electricity or gas supplier to an eligible business. The legislation also requires that the electricity account or gas connection should be held by the eligible business who uses or consumes the electricity or gas.

A business that does not hold an energy account, and therefore does not receive bills directly from an energy supplier, will not be able to make a claim for payments under the TBESS because the business does not meet the qualifying criteria.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 to 222, inclusive, together.

As Minister for Finance, I do not have a role in the credit assessment, risk assessment or debt resolution processes of any bank, even one in which the State has a shareholding. Decisions in this regard are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of banks in which the State has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks, which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market.

Neither I nor officials in my Department receive information in relation to the debt write-downs granted by the banks in which the State has/had a shareholding in, these are commercial decisions which would have been made by the banks on a case-by-case basis having reviewed the information available to them at the time of the decision.

Appointments to the boards of the banks in which the State has a shareholding are made on foot of the Minister’s rights as shareholder in each of the banks and not using the powers contained in the Credit Institutions Financial Support (CIFS) Act as was the case with Public Interest Directors. Pursuant to these rights the Minister can nominate up to two directors to be appointed to the boards of both AIB and PTSB. While these bank directors are nominated by the Minister for Finance, they must carry out their functions on an independent basis. While a nominated bank director’s primary duty is to the bank itself, there is periodic communication with the Department of Finance and/or the Minister on any important matters of interest or concerns relating to the Minister as shareholder from a board level. Typically, any decisions around customer debt write-downs would not be a matter for the board of a bank.

Government is aware that a small number of activity-related sectors, including motorcycle sports, are currently facing difficulty in terms of affordability and availability of insurance. We have prioritised the implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, which aims to improve the cost and availability of insurance for all groups, including sporting organisations. The latest Implementation Report, published in November 2022, demonstrates that significant progress has been made, with approximately 90 percent of the actions either delivered or initiated.

Work remains ongoing on a whole-of Government basis to ensure the timely implementation of the remaining elements of the Action Plan. Of particular relevance to sports insurance are the proposed amendments to the duty of care legislation. The policy intent is that these measures will have a significant impact on the issue of ‘slips, trips and falls’, and thus should assist the activity sector as a whole in relation to accessing insurance cover.

Separately, the Deputy may also be aware that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is working closely with Sports Ireland to investigate the question of insurance in the wider sports sector. Accordingly, National Governing Bodies have been invited to contribute to this exercise. All queries regarding this study should be directed to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

In conclusion, I wish to reassure the Deputy that it is my intention to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the implementation of the Action Plan will continue to have a positive impact on the affordability and availability of insurance for all groups, including sporting clubs and organisations.

Details of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) are set out in Finance Act 2022. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023 and is available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria.

Self-employed individuals, partnerships or companies may be eligible for payments under the TBESS.

The TBESS operates by reference to bills for the metered supply of natural gas and electricity. It is available to eligible businesses whose average unit price of electricity or gas has increased by at least 50% for the relevant billing period between September 2022 and April 2023, as compared with the average unit gas or electricity price in for the corresponding reference period in the previous year. Where this threshold is met, payments will be made to qualifying businesses on the basis of 40% of the amount of the increase in eligible electricity or natural gas costs between the bill amount which is the subject of the claim and the bill amount in the corresponding reference period in the previous year.

The TBESS legislation provides, in respect of the metered supply of electricity or gas, that the electricity or gas bill should be provided or made available by an electricity or gas supplier to an eligible business. The legislation also requires that the electricity account or gas connection should be held by the eligible business who uses or consumes the electricity or gas.

A business that does not hold an energy account, and therefore does not receive bills directly from an energy supplier, will not be able to make a claim for payments under the TBESS because the business does not meet the qualifying criteria.

The formulation and implementation of monetary policy is an independent matter for the European Central Bank (ECB). As the Deputy is aware, the ECB has increased official interest rates over recent months as it attempts to combat inflation. The level of official interest rates will influence the overall level of interest rates throughout the economy. However, in a market economy the determination and adjustment of retail and business lending rates are commercial decisions for individual lenders in line with the terms of the particular credit contract and I have no function or role in such decision making matters by financial institutions.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the weighted average interest rate on new Irish mortgage agreements at end-December 2022 was 2.69 per cent (this was unchanged when compared to December 2021) and this compares to the equivalent euro area average of 2.95 per cent (this was 1.29 per cent at the end of 2021). The rate on new Irish mortgage agreements has now been less than the euro area average since October 2022 and is now among the lowest in the euro area.

Furthermore, the weighted average interest rate on new fixed rate mortgage agreements in December 2022, which constitute the majority (93%) of total new mortgage agreements, was 2.61 per cent. However, weighted average interest rate on outstanding Irish mortgages was 2.88 percent at end-December 2022, which was 43 basis points higher than December 2021 and was also higher that the equivalent euro area average of 1.89 per cent.

The Central Bank also introduced a number of increased protections for variable rate mortgage holders in February 2017. The enhanced measures, which are provided for in an Addendum to the Consumer Protection Code, require regulated entities to explain to borrowers how their variable interest rates have been set, including in the event of an increase. The measures also improve the level of information required to be provided to borrowers on variable rates annually about other mortgage products available from their lender which could provide savings for the borrower.

The lender must also signpost the borrower to the CCPC’s mortgage switching tool.

I would also like to add that there is a comprehensive consumer protection framework in place for mortgages. For example, the Central Bank Consumer Protection Code and Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears seeks to ensure that Central Bank regulated entities are transparent and fair in all their dealings with borrowers and that borrowers are protected from the beginning to the end of the mortgage life cycle.

For example, through protections at the initial marketing/advertising stage, in assessing the affordability and suitability of the mortgage and at a time when borrowers may find themselves in financial difficulties.

My Department has not paid for any promotion of any of the social media posts it has made, or used social media influencers, online personalities, television and or radio personalities for this purpose.

I am advised that none of the bodies under the aegis of my Department engaged social media influencers, online personalities, television or radio personalities during the timeline specified.

In January of this year, officials from my Department compiled a ministerial briefing on the temporary 9 per cent VAT rate, which included an economic assessment of the measure.

The material outlined the macroeconomic backdrop to any extension of the 9 per cent rate, noting that the economy has rebounded strongly from the pandemic and that economic activity is now above pre-pandemic levels.

The briefing also contained an analysis of employment trends, reporting that employment in the sectors covered by the 9 per cent rate was near pre-pandemic levels last year. While job vacancies in the 9 per cent sectors were lower than the economy overall, they are still higher than the long-term average. Economy-wide employment could be classified as what economists term full-employment.

In addition, the briefing noted that the reduced rate is both regressive and very costly, and that this cost represents a transfer from taxpayers to the sectors which it covers.

The Government accepted the Department’s economic assessment, which found that there was no longer an economic case for the temporary 9 per cent rate, and, therefore, decided upon a reversion to the 13.5 per cent VAT rate. Specifically, the Government decided that the 9 per cent VAT rate for the tourism and hospitality sectors will only apply until 31 August 2023. This decision was made in recognition of the employment provided in the sectors to which the 9 per cent rate applies, as well as to give businesses a transition period to adapt to the changing economic and policy environment. Finally, the Government was cognisant of avoiding adding to upward pressure on prices while inflation remains so elevated.

This extension, therefore, strikes a balance between the estimated €300 million cost to the public finances and the provision of support for these sectors through the busy summer period, after which the reduced rate will cease.

It is important to note that capital gains tax and the taxation of exchange –traded funds (EFTs) are separate and apply in different circumstances.

Capital gains tax is a tax you pay on any capital gain made when you dispose of an asset. It is the chargeable gain that is taxed, not the whole amount you receive. The chargeable gain is usually the difference between the price you paid for the asset and the price you disposed of it for. CGT is payable by the person making the disposal.

The current approach to CGT in Ireland is a flat rate of 33% for all gains, together with a range of targeted reliefs including principal private residence relief, retirement relief and revised entrepreneurs relief.

The term “Exchange Traded Fund” or “ETF” is a general investment industry term that refers to a wide range of investments. ETF investments can take many different legal and regulatory forms even where they are established within the same jurisdiction.

An ETF is an investment fund that is traded on a regulated stock exchange. A typical ETF can be compared to a tracker fund in that it will seek to replicate a particular index. ETFs tend to be tax opaque, which means that an investor in an ETF is not taxed on any income earned by, or gains accruing to, the ETF, but rather the investor is taxed on any distributions received or gains made on the disposal of the units in the ETF. This is not dissimilar to a shareholder in a company – the shareholder is not taxed on the profits of the company as they arise but rather on distributions received from the company or on any gain arising on a disposal of shares in the company.

There is no separate taxation regime specifically for ETFs. As collective investment funds, they generally come within the regimes set out in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for such funds. The domicile of the ETF will generally determine the applicable fund regime, specifically whether the ETF falls within the domestic fund regime or the offshore fund regime. This response confines itself to the position for domestic ETFs and ETFs deemed ‘equivalent’ to a domestic ETF located in the EU/EEA/OECD. However, I would note that, in order to assist taxpayers in determining the appropriate tax treatment for investments in ETFs, Revenue has published guidance, which is available at: www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-27/27-01a-03.pdf. This guidance provides a roadmap to detailed guidance for the different types of ETF.

The domestic fund regime applies in the case of an Irish domiciled ETF or a foreign domiciled ETF that is deemed equivalent to an Irish domiciled ETF. Under this regime, a ‘gross roll-up’ applies such that there is no annual tax on income or gains arising to a fund, but the fund has responsibility to deduct an exit tax in respect of payments made to certain unit holders in that fund. To prevent indefinite or long-term deferral of this exit tax, disposal is deemed to occur every 8 years. The rate of exit tax applied is generally 41% in the case of an individual.

As the Deputy may be aware, as part of his Budget 2023 speech, my predecessor announced the intention to establish a working group to consider the taxation of funds, life assurance policies and other investment products as well as commencing a review of specified institutional investment regimes. Specific detail on the parameters of such a review and timelines are still being worked out and once a thorough consideration of the matter takes place, I will share the terms of reference in due course.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.

The ‘National Public Procurement Policy Framework’ issued by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in November 2019, sets out the procurement procedures to be followed by government departments and state bodies in accordance with EU rules and national guidelines.

In addition, my Department has its own internal policy and guidance documents to assist staff to comply with all procurement regulations.

Moreover, in compliance with ‘Department of Finance Circular 40/02’, my Department returns an annual report to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), in respect of contracts valued €25,000 or more in aggregate (exclusive of VAT) that were undertaken by this Department without a competitive process.

No awards have been made to Microsoft by my Department in the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive. In general, Microsoft products are purchased from Microsoft resellers and are not purchased directly from Microsoft.

I have set out below details of the contracts awarded by my Department to the companies named by the Deputy. All of these contracts were awarded competitively.

In relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, it was not possible for Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Home Building Finance Ireland, Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, National Asset Management Agency, National Treasury Management Agency, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Office of the Controller & Auditor General, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Tax Appeals Commission to provide the information sought in the time available and, therefore, I will make arrangements to provide the information in line with Standing Orders.

Details of the contracts awarded by the remaining bodies are set out in the attached table.

At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the difficult position that Ms. Gath faces in relation to her tax bill as a result of importing an adapted vehicle into the State from the UK.

The Deputy should note that I will be meeting Ms. Gath on Wednesday 1st March to discuss her concerns.

As background you should be aware of the following. The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme is designed to cater for a wide range of scenarios and allows for relief of up to €10,000 for adaptations, €16,000 for specific adaptations, and €22,000 for extensive adaptations. It is my Department’s understanding that this generally covers the needs of most of those who are eligible for the scheme.

These reliefs apply to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and VAT on the purchase and adaptation of a car, whether new, second hand or imported. Revenue has indicated that Ms. Gath was approved for the scheme for extensive adaptations which carries a maximum upper limit of €22,000. They also confirmed that Ms. Gath had an exemption of €22,000 applied against VRT liability. This left a VRT balance due of €1,643. However, they also indicated that there was VAT due on the vehicle of €21,436, meaning that there is €23,372 in tax outstanding to the Revenue Commissioners.

It has always been a requirement that VAT is payable on the importation of new cars into the country, even prior to Brexit. The system operates in such a way that generally the purchase of the car in the UK is zero rated for VAT , and the VAT payment is made on the import into this country.

Unfortunately, whilst appreciating the difficulties that this VAT charge places upon Ms. Gath, I am not in a position under the current legislation to waive the payment of this sum, as it could create a precedent for the treatment of VAT on the import of new vehicles generally from the UK. This position is reinforced by the fact that VAT is a tax underpinned by EU legislation, and any waiver could lead to action being taken against Ireland by the EU Commission.

As indicated above, I propose discussing this matter with Ms. Gath on 1 March.

Finance Act 2022 introduced the Rent Tax Credit, which is provided for in s. 473B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This is an income tax credit of up to €500 per year (or up to €1,000 for jointly assessed couples) which may be claimed in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2025.

It is a general principle that in order to avail of income tax reliefs a person must pay income tax. The amount of Rent Tax Credit you can claim will depend on the amount of rent you pay and the amount of income tax you pay. In the case of a single person, the amount of tax that must be paid to fully avail of the Rent Tax Credit is €3,900 in 2022 and €4,050 in 2023. The Rent Tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit. An international student / an individual on a Stamp 2 visa who pays rent in Ireland will be entitled to claim the Rent Tax Credit if they pay income tax in Ireland and satisfy the conditions which must be met in order for a claimant to qualify for the credit.

Full details of how to claim the tax credit and the conditions that apply are set out in the relevant Tax and Duty Manual (Part 15-01-11A) available on the Revenue website at the following link: www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/land-and-property/rent-credit/index.aspx.

Revenue’s primary function is to ensure that all taxpayers and businesses meet their tax obligations in a timely manner. Any delay in the collection of tax impacts on the level and timeliness of the financial resources available to the Exchequer. Accordingly, Revenue has a strong focus on making sure that everyone complies with their responsibilities to file and pay the right amount of tax on time.

I am advised by Revenue that the timeline indicated by the Deputy is a ‘worst case scenario’ where there is absolutely no response or engagement from the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s agent. Where a taxpayer or agent responds to the payment request or to the final demand, additional time, with a hold on enforcement action, will be allowed once there is meaningful engagement and an effort made to address the payment issue. Revenue’s clear preference is to engage with taxpayers and, if they are experiencing tax payment difficulties, to agree a mutually acceptable phased payment arrangement (PPA). Revenue only refers outstanding tax liabilities to its enforcement agents, including Sheriffs, as a last resort. Before any such action is taken, every effort is made to engage with the taxpayer to resolve the situation and Revenue has a strong track record of success in this regard.

I am assured that Revenue is mindful of the challenges businesses are experiencing in the current economic climate and may extend greater flexibility when negotiating the terms of a PPA with a business that has temporary cash flow difficulties. To assist customers, Revenue has made available an online phased payment facility through the Revenue Online Service (ROS). This facility affords businesses considerable flexibility to self-manage their tax payment schedule in line with their operating needs or temporary cash-flow challenges, including reduced down payments, longer repayment periods and the option to take a payment break.

As regards the Deputy’s reference to difficulties businesses are facing due to energy issues, I would like to draw attention to the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) which was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. The scheme provides for a cash payment to qualifying businesses and an extension of the scheme, together with relaxed eligibility conditions, has been announced. These proposed changes should see additional businesses qualifying for the scheme and benefit from an increased payment for the extended claim periods.

The revised Payment Service Directive (2015/2366/EU) (PSD2) is a maximum harmonisation directive and insofar as the Directive contains harmonised provisions, Member States shall not maintain or introduce provisions other than those laid down in this Directive. PSD2 provides the customer with recourse for unauthorised transactions. However, it does not directly provide recourse for the customer in the case of authorised push payment fraud.

The European Commission are currently undertaking a review of PSD2, which is expected to cover a wide variety of areas related to the Directive. As part of the review fraud prevention mechanisms, strong customer authentication rules and their impact on fraud rates are being assessed, particularly authorised push payment fraud where fraudsters use social engineering scams (i.e. phishing) in combination with more sophisticated online attacks. Transparency requirements and rules on single payment transactions and framework contracts are also being reviewed in light of market developments including the rules related to rights and obligations, such as the right of refunds.

Officials from my Department have been engaging with the Commission’s review on areas of Irish interest. The outcome of the review will enable the Commission to decide whether EU coordinated action and/or policy measures are warranted. It is likely that when the review is complete the Commission will bring forward a proposal for a new Directive (PSD3).

I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 242 together.

The matter referred to by the Deputies relates to the civil service status of staff serving in An Garda Síochána in the context of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill being advanced by the Minister for Justice. Officials in the Department of Justice are engaging with my officials on the issues in question.

Garda CO National Bulletin

I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 241 together.

I will answer PQs 9628 and 10371 together, as they refer to the same matter.

As the terms and conditions applying to any given cohort of civil or public servants can vary for a number of reasons, the impact of changes to the classification of civil servants to public servants are assessed on a case by case basis. Typically, such changes are addressed within the primary legislation that establishes the relevant organisation. Consequently such issues are a matter for the relevant Department in the first instance, involving engagement with my Department as appropriate.

As I understand the Deputy is referring to civilian civil servants in An Garda Síochána and the implications of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, I would note that the Bill is currently at 2nd Stage in the Dáil and, as such, I am not in a position to comment further.

I refer to the Deputy’s question regarding the delays experienced by retired members of Technological Universities in receiving pension increases under the Building Momentum Agreement.

The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) operate the pension payroll on behalf of the Technological Universities.

The NSSO is working closely with the various institutions to process these pension increases as quickly as possible.

When the outstanding increase payments for these pensioners have been notified, the NSSO will endeavour to deliver the pay increases as soon as possible to their customers

In relation to the person (details supplied), pension increases were notified to the NSSO by the relevant institution and increases will be applied by the end of Quarter 1, 2023.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. announced her approval to proceed to the design phase of the Natural History Museum redevelopment project on 4th January 2023.

During this phase of the project the OPW will be working with the National Museum of Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to develop the Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy as per Public Spending Code guidelines.

This will comprise of a number of steps including the confirmation of scope, confirmation of underpinning assumptions, an assessment of risks and the development of a Risk Management Strategy and the clear articulation of all design requirements and restrictions.

The NMI are responsible for the operations of the Natural History Museum and, as such, the planning for closures of the museum and decant of the collection.

All of this will feed into the development of a detailed delivery programme and project execution planning. Until that stage it would be premature to comment on phasing or duration of any elements of what will be a complex but exciting project that will see the museum continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.

The OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing up to €0.75 million each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

Under this scheme, the OPW has provided funding to Mayo County Council for the construction of embankments in the Carraholly area to protect individual properties from coastal flooding.

The Department of Finance has overall responsibility for policy matters in relation to insurance and has provided the following information for inclusion in the response to this PQ:

"It should be noted that the provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies providing the service and is based on an assessment of the risks that such companies are willing to accept. Under the EU Solvency II Directive, neither the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland can compel insurers to provide such cover.

The Government continues to engage on all aspects of insurance reform, including flood insurance. These matters are a priority for this Government and efforts continue to be made to encourage a responsive approach from the insurance industry in regard to this issue."

The Office of Public Works can confirm that a routine inspection early last year at Shannon Garda Station raised concerns in respect to cracking observed in the external façade of the building. The OPW appointed external consultants to investigate the cause of this cracking and the consultant’s report confirmed the presence of pyrite in the external leaf of the building.

Further in-depth testing is currently underway to determine the extent of pyrite present. The OPW will assess the remediation options available, when the results of these additional investigations are complete.

Based on the professional advice to date, the building is safe to occupy. The situation is being closely monitored with regular inspections scheduled.

Works at Shannon Garda Station will be limited to necessary routine maintenance, with the proposed painting of the external façade on hold until further notice.

The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled by the Office of Public Works that will provide an answer to the Deputy regarding the matter.

The information requested by the Deputy for my Department, which includes the Office of Government Procurement, and the bodies under its aegis is set out in the tables below. The Deputy will note that the names of the individuals who provided the services in question have not been included as this would constitute the provision of their personal information in the context of the General Data Protection Regulations.

The Deputy may also wish to note that, in addition to the information below, my Department has a contract with Carr Communications who are responsible for curating a series of webinars on the area of Health and Well-being, to support the Civil Service Health and Well-being Framework, enabling staff to positively manage and nurture their own mental and physical health. The webinars are hosted on WebEx, recorded and made available on the OneLearning Learning Management System for a specified period of time. Carr Communications source and provide all of the speakers for these event. Webinars are sponsored by individual Civil Service Bodies on a rota basis, who are invoiced directly by Carr Communications.

Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

Office of Government Procurement (OGP)

Bodies under the aegis

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Public Appointments Service (PAS)

The Office of Public Works (OPW) arterial drainage maintenance programme comprises 11,500km of river channel and approximately 800km of embankments. This provides drainage for 260,000 hectares of agricultural lands, as well as a level of protection from flooding to infrastructure, including in excess of 21,000 properties, 2,400 kilometres of roads and 77 towns and villages.

The OPW’s operational staff will generally contact a landowner prior to accessing their land. The maintenance work carried out on embankment E5 is included in the 2023 East Region Maintenance programme. The catchment was assessed by the OPW Environment Section, and Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were notified about the 2023 programme.

An error occurred in this case, as it was thought that the area in question belonged to a different landowner. Following communication from the landowner, all work stopped and cut branches and trees were left in place. A member of the OPW staff contacted and apologised to the landowner concerned.

A review of the Graduate Architect Scheme is currently in progress and is expected to be completed shortly. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland pay graduate architects directly and set the pay scale for their graduates. The OPW reimburse the RIAI for this service. Pay increases for graduate architects are not a matter for individual Departments or Offices to negotiate as consistency across Civil Service Departments and relativities with wider pay scales are essential.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to her in respect of these two Parliamentary Questions, in line with Standing Order 51(1)(b).

As the Deputy may be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes.

However, operational matters regarding an individual's pension are initially a matter for the Minister of the parent Department for the body concerned, in this case the Minister for Justice. As a matter of course, this Department does not hold detailed information on individual public service pensioners.

To provide clarity in relation to the most recent pay deals and the pension increases applicable, please note that members of public service pension schemes other than the Single Pension Scheme 2013 are entitled to have pay increases applied to their pension where the pensionable rate of remuneration is less than or equal to the current salary scale of the grade.

The pay increases for 2022, and the first scheduled increase of 2023, are as follows:

- From the 2nd of February 2022, a 3% increase.

- From the 1st of October 2022, a 1% increase or €500, whichever is greater when applied to the payscale.

- From the 1st of February 2022, the equivalent of a 1% increase was provided via a sectoral bargaining fund. The use of this fund varies across sectors and may not always result in an increase for current or retired staff.

- From the 1st of March 2023, a 2% increase.

These increases may be fully or partially applicable based on the progress of FEMPI restoration for the relevant individual. The applicability of each increase should be checked by the pension administrator, who will confirm which increases should apply.

If a public service body are experiencing difficulty in applying the relevant circulars, or calculating the pension increases that apply, then this Department remains available to provide advice as needed.

The Office of Public works can confirm that refurbishment works, with costs in excess of €5,000, were carried out to Garda Stations in Meath Garda division in 2022 and to-date in 2023. The Garda Stations along with the nature and status of the works is outlined in the table below.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.

I recently gave my approval for the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) to proceed to the design phase for the redevelopment of the Natural History Museum. This important capital investment will restore the building fabric of this cherished historic building, address long-standing accessibility issues and enhance visitor experience, better supporting the museum to communicate the richness of biodiversity. In partnership with the OPW, the project will deliver new internal staircases, create fit for purpose exhibition spaces and enhance compliance with fire, health and safety regulations as well as modern sustainability and environmental control standards.

It is vital that the museum’s irreplaceable collections be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. In addition to the recent well-publicised decant of parts of the collection to facilitate preparatory works for the restoration of the roof, the NMI has carefully planned a full decant of the remaining collections into storage, which we envisage will commence in late 2023 to protect these precious artefacts during construction work. In the interim, and in recognition of the Natural History Museum’s important educational work with families and children, the NMI will keep open the ground floor galleries of the museum for as long as it remains safe to do so. Since the ground floor reopened in August 2022, nearly 200,000 members of the public have been able to access these galleries.

Ultimately the redevelopment work will necessitate a temporary closure of the building. The project programme is subject to a number of gateway decisions and milestones including planning application, tender etc. As such, it is not appropriate at this stage to provide a definitive date for closure, however, any closure will be signalled well in advance to the public. To ensure this important collection remains accessible to the public, I am pleased to note that the NMI is currently developing plans to present the natural history collections at Collins Barracks during the period of closure. This satellite “Dead Zoo” will ensure the continuity of programming and engagement with these unique artefacts for families, school children and other priority audiences.

My Department in its current configuration was established in September 2020. I wish to advise the Deputy that no funding was provided by my Department to this organisation in the period since then.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 to 257, inclusive, together.

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Thousands of projects have been completed under the scheme and the Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The final grants under the latest round were announced were announced on Tuesday 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.

The priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage and my Department continues to support and guide grantees from past rounds as they manage their grants. This requires detailed engagement with all grantees. In relation to any extensions to timelines or requests for "change of purpose" for grants, my Department continues to adopt a sympathetic and reasonable approach provided any new proposal also adheres to the terms and conditions of the SCEP.

With regard to the timing of the next round, following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. The Review is nearing completion and I hope to publish it shortly. Amongst the items being considered as part of the Review is whether it is necessary to increase the amount that applicants can apply for. Any recommendations arising from the finalised Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.

Regarding additional funding for a project with an existing provisional allocation, funding can be sought for any sports project provided work has not already commenced. If work has not commenced, an application can be submitted but the previous allocation will form part of the consideration if an additional grant amount is being recommended. Previous funding awarded to an organisation under the SCEP is also considered when scoring all applications.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.

At all times value for money is a critical consideration when engaging in expenses for Department programmes and campaigns. The operation of such practices in the bodies under the aegis of my department is a day-to-day matter for the body concerned.

My Department in its current configuration was established in September 2020. I wish to advise the Deputy that of the companies named, the following contracts only were awarded in the period since then:

My Department in its current configuration was established in September 2020. Procurement within the bodies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day operational matter for the bodies themselves. I wish to advise the Deputy that of the company named, the following contracts only were awarded by my Department  in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The Programme funds all-weather pitches, among other works, and any club can apply once it satisfies the terms and conditions of the scheme. Local authorities can also apply for funding and the terms and conditions of the Programme can be found at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.

In terms of future applications, the final grants under the latest round were announced on Tuesday 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. The priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage.

Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. A draft of the Review is complete and I expect to be in a position to publish this Review shortly. Any recommendations arising from the finalised Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 311 together.

On 7 December 2022 the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and the priority drafting of the Bill which provides for the establishment of a new registration system for short-term lettings to be operated by Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy and action plan. This work is being led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Updated Planning Guidelines on short-term letting, which are aimed at providing clarity on the planning permission and exemption requirements for properties operating in this area in both rent pressure zones and more rural areas and which will also address the issue of properties where bedrooms may not be attached to the main home, are currently being prepared by my Department to supplement the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill. It is intended that the updated guidelines will be published on the enactment of the Bill. In light of the commitment in Housing for All to address this issue, it is not intended to amend the planning requirements in respect of short-term letting.

The Minister is empowered under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct a planning authority to take measures to ensure that its development plan complies with national or regional planning policy, upon receipt of a recommendation from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).

The decision to issue or not to issue a Direction rests with the Minister, or the Minister of State where this function has been formally delegated. The process is informed by a period of public consultation and detailed assessment of the issues arising, including consideration of the views of the elected members and the recommendation(s) of the local authority’s chief executive.

In the period in question, final Directions have issued to the following planning authorities in connection with their development plans.

With the exception of the Direction to Wicklow County Council, which issued in February 2023, all of the above Directions issued in 2022. In addition, final decisions are yet to be made with regard to draft directions issued to Galway City Council and Kilkenny County Council.

The Directions issued in the period in question covered a broad range of complex planning issues, including, but not limited to, inappropriate land use zoning objectives, renewable energy policy, and flood risk. Copies of the Directions issued may be accessed on the OPR’s website at the following link: www.opr.ie/recommendations-made-by-the-opr-to-the-minister/

Directions issued are also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are placed on my Department's website. Where I, as Minister, do not agree with a recommendation of the Office a written statement of reasons is prepared, and this statement is also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and placed on my Department’s website.

It is worth noting that the OPR publishes quarterly activity reports on its website that provide an overview of its plan evaluation activity.

Persons granted international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) can access State provided supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals. The rights to family reunification are set out in the International Protection Act 2015.

Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority. Where household composition changes, such as in the case of family reunification, an application can be made to the local authority for a new HAP payment for another property.

Broader policy in relation to such matters is set out in the White Paper to end direct provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service. My Department supports the work of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the detailed design of the new model of accommodation as set out in the White Paper. It is within that context that any adjustments will be examined as part of the broader social housing reform agenda.

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), a division of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection (asylum) process. My Department has no role in this regard.

The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords, including Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority.

Local authorities regularly select AHB properties for inspection for compliance with the minimum rental standards Regulations. They are also very responsive to requests to inspect private rented dwellings where a tenant believes the standard is not being met and in this regard I would encourage tenants, including AHB tenants, to contact their local authority and request an inspection to assess whether their accommodation meets the minimum requirements. Contact details for all local authorities can be found on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/help/departments/#local-authorities

The Electoral Reform Act 2022, which provides for, among other matters, the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission - An Coimisiún Toghcháin, amends Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 in respect of the review of local electoral areas. Under Chapter 8 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, future reviews of local electoral areas are now a function of the newly-established An Coimisiún Toghcháin.

Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 empowers the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to divide a local authority area into local electoral areas and to amend those areas. However, in advance of deciding to make an order under section 23 of the Act, the Minister must, in accordance Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 (as amended), request An Coimisiún Toghcháin to make a report having regard to such matters as may be specified by the Minister.

Following the completion of a review, the Minister must publish the report of An Coimisiún and must have regard to the report in deciding whether to make an order in relation to any amendment to local electoral area boundaries.

Notwithstanding the above, I have no plans to make an order under section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 amending local electoral areas in advance of the 2024 local elections.

The Building Control Management System (BCMS) is centrally hosted by the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office on behalf of the 31 local authorities. The BCMS is readily available and searchable at the following weblink: nbco.localgov.ie/

Using the BCMS as its data source, my Department publishes commencement notice data, broken down by local authority area, on a monthly basis which can be accessed via the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/

Schedule 1 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as inserted through the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 allows for “Reserving land for use and cultivation as allotments and regulating, promoting, facilitating or controlling the provision of land for that use.”

The identification and implementation of recreational and amenity spaces is a matter for local authorities, primarily through City/County Development Plans and identifying land for allotment development in a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members in considering and making the plan. The provision of allotment or similar facilities on local authority land is a matter for each individual local authority including their elected members and is subject to availability of resources and community inputs and support for such proposals.

The draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 was published in January and a final Bill will be published once pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill has been finalised. It is intended that the final Bill will then commence in the Houses of the Oireachtas with the intention that it will be enacted by this summer, subject to the Oireachtas schedule. There are some further changes to be made to the draft Bill before the final Bill is published and I can confirm that allotments will be provided for in the final Bill, in line with existing provisions.

My Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000).

Housing for All commits to reviewing the full suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. A report on the review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds and grant limits for all three grant schemes. I will be giving careful consideration to the review report and expect to make a decision on the recommendations in the report as soon as possible.

Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year over the next decade.

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional building construction, including innovative systems such as cross laminated timber (CLT) and glue laminated timber (GLT).

In general, the promotion of MMC has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland as set out in Housing for All. Indeed, the Housing for All Action Plan Update, which was published on 2 November 2022, reiterated this point and includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) has overseen the establishment of and chairs an interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group to support the coordination of initiatives to develop Modern Methods of Construction, including in relation to issues around public procurement, sustainability, housing and the education and skills agenda in the construction industry, including:

- The recently launched Construct Innovate Technology Centre, funded by DETE through Enterprise Ireland.

- The establishment of a Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction MMC at the Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre, operated by Laois Offaly Enterprise and Training Board (LOETB), in conjunction with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science D/FHERIS and SOLAS.

- Progressing a package of proposals which will further support the use and development of MMC in delivery of social housing by my Department.

My Department participates actively on this Group.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibit any necessary rent increase in an RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The Act also provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 31st December 2024, occur no more frequently than biannually. This provides rent certainty for tenants outside of RPZs for a minimum 2 year period at a time.

Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to me, as Minister, that an area should be considered as a RPZ. Following receipt of such a proposal, I, as Minister, request the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish whether or not it meets the criteria for designation and to report to me on whether the area should be designated as a RPZ.

The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Acts for designation as an RPZ are as follows:

- the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and

- the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, is –

- in the case of counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow or a local electoral area (LEA) in any one of those counties, above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the 4 Dublin Local Authority areas, or

- in the case of any LEA outside of the Greater Dublin Area (i.e. Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow), above the average rent in the State excluding rents in the Greater Dublin Area.

Each RTB quarterly Rent Index Report includes a table of the data used to establish whether each LEA fulfils the criteria for designation as a RPZ.

The Housing Agency and the RTB continue to monitor national rents and if any LEA in county Donegal meets the designation criteria it will be designated as a RPZ.

A €5 million project management fund has been put in place to assist local authorities in the administration and management of the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP). This funding, available as part of the yearly allocations, was introduced to cover consultancy costs, tendering costs, training costs to upskill staff, such as becoming qualified BER assessors, for resourcing additional staff and other necessary administration costs. The fund was set up originally to fund the EERP but it is envisaged that it will support local authorities to resource their maintenance teams more generally.

The recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and the Public Appointments Service. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request by my Department where such is required it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate.

Staff sanction requests are considered in light of Government priorities and other requirements when received and consideration is also given to the overall staffing levels of the local authority and its ability to meet the ongoing costs involved.

Galway City Council sought formal sanction from my Department for a number of additional staff for housing maintenance programmes on 13 February 2023. My Department has been in contact with the Council in this regard and will process the sanction requests received without delay.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum annual reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports.

The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose. It ensures the scheme is sustainable and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period. For these reasons, certain social welfare payments, including Widows, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner Pension are not currently considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income.

Changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.

The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, primarily supports eligible first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. It also supports certain other purchasers, who have previously owned a home, under the 'Fresh Start' principle. The scheme is administered by the First Home Scheme DAC, and further information is available on the official website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie.

In line with Action 1.2 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), I have requested that the First Home DAC consider the potential to expand the scheme to cover new self-build homes. This includes the governance, financial, and operational implications of such a change. I understand that this is under consideration by First Home at present.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published in due course.

My Department does not hold data on the occupation status of properties acquired for social housing in 2022. For 2023, an amendment is being made to my Department's statistical returns to collate information on the number of properties acquired where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination.

The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments.

Long term lease arrangements of privately owned dwellings can be entered into by either local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Under these arrangements the local authority or AHB acts as the landlord to the tenant. The terms of these agreements are set out in standard template agreements provided by my Department which must be used by all local authorities and AHBs. Agreements may be entered into for periods of between 10 to 25 years in duration.

A breakdown by year of the total number of long-term leases delivered by Fingal County Council from 2018 to Q3 2022 with the average annual cost can be found in Table 1 below. My Department does not collate data on property size.

Table 1: Fingal County Council Long-Term Leasing Delivery 2018 to Q3 2022

This data includes local authority direct leasing, enhanced leasing, and AHB private leasing. Delivery data for Q4 2022 is being collated at present. Average annual costs are based on properties claimed under SHCEP at the end of each year/period.

My Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis. As SHIP-funded construction projects by local authorities must, like all publicly-funded construction programmes, comply with the Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework, my Department periodically issues Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) for each local authority area, for use as a key benchmark for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage.

While not a record of actual delivery costs, UCCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and are updated based on published tender index information. To monitor tender cost trends and to inform the UCC levels, my Department analyses the tender data for the construction cost element of new build schemes approved under the SHIP and CAS four-stage processes.

Outlined in the tables below are average construction costs per unit (incl. VAT) for each local authority, recorded as part of the aforementioned analysis for projects tendered in the years 2020 to 2022. The tables also set out the range of average unit costs across different projects. The range of costs recorded vary, depending on design, mix of unit types (e.g. bedroom numbers, apartment/house); and on the level of abnormal requirements for each scheme, for instance site conditions, demolitions, service diversions, site access requirements, etc. Average abnormal costs are also separately identified in the below tables.

While the average construction costs per unit (incl. VAT) are shown in the above tables, there are other items that make up the all-in delivery costs for such projects, including:

- Design/technical fees: Design fees vary from project to project, depending on the location, size and complexity of a scheme and depending on whether design services are provided by a local authority in-house or via external appointment. As a guideline/indicator, design fee are generally expected to range between 7.5% to 12.5% of construction costs;

- Land cost: Land costs can vary significantly from project to project, depending on location and ownership status (e.g. land costs could vary from local authority owned land with little or no cost to land acquired at market value);

- Utilities:  This includes connection fees for Irish Water, ESB, gas, etc. As a guideline/indicator, utility connection costs are generally in the order of €7k per unit;

- Other Costs: Other items that might make up the all-in delivery cost can include site investigations/surveys, archaeological requirements and Percent for Art contributions and they will vary from scheme to scheme.

In advancing social housing projects, a range of factors can impact on the costs for individual projects. Project-specific issues will always arise and can impact on how a project can be advanced and the costs for same. These factors are covered in the regular engagement that happens between my Department and local authorities which is focussed on facilitating the earliest possible delivery of new social homes.

My Department is aware that Emo Court House hosts an important roost for Brown Long-Eared Bats, and is further aware that complex stabilization and restorations works were undertaken by the OPW at the House over recent years.

My Department has been in ongoing contact with the OPW in regard to its obligations under the Wildlife Acts and the modalities of compliance in the context of its natural and fixed heritage obligations at the site, the complexity of the works undertaken and the matrix of dynamics connecting the fixed and fragile structure and the natural habitat and ecosystems connected to it. Concerns were raised in relation to the works. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department investigated this matter and such issues as arose were resolved with the OPW.

To assist public authorities in meeting their obligation to respect the strict protection given by EU law to bats and their roosts, the NPWS published a series of guidance documents dealing with the practical aspects of bat conservation. These are available at www.npws.ie. My Department is happy to work with public authorities in order to assist them in meeting their obligations.

The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The €70 million revolving Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA fund) was established with effect from the 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios from banks and financial institutions that could then be used for social housing. The target for the HAA fund was to acquire 1,600 units over a four year period to 2020 with this target subsequently extended out to 2021.

The HAA fund has enabled the Housing Agency to actively engage with banks and investment companies in relation to the acquisitions of properties. Through the provision of direct access to capital funding for the Housing Agency, the aim was to simplify the current acquisition process for vacant portfolio purchases; speed up the acquisition process and to encourage investors to make additional supply available. The HAA fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units primarily to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector and the funds received are recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions.

This was intended to be a medium term initiative, targeting the vacant property portfolios of financial institutions and investment companies, in direct response to the social housing shortage that would be designed to complement, not displace, ongoing targeted acquisition activity by local authorities and AHBs.

As at Q4 2022, 903 units were acquired under the HAA fund programme. A further 52 properties were delivered under the HAA fund programme but bought directly by local authorities in 2019/2020 using capital funding through the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme. The Housing Agency also completed the acquisition of 582 properties while acting on behalf of local authorities.

Under the commitment in Housing For All, my Department completed a review of the HAA fund which investigated the challenges faced by the fund and explored opportunities that centred on potentially repurposing the fund to support other initiatives within Housing for All. My Department has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on these proposals. Most recently, my Department further explored the scope of the HAA fund to add to the social housing system through converting non-residential premises or larger residential units into smaller units and, as appropriate, some communal / community use, particularly for social housing applicants experiencing homelessness. My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on this proposal.

Housing for All (September 2021), is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play.

Over the past decade, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding model has worked very successfully. Under the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), a specific objective, Action 4.1 is to “review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the AHB sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas, and to identify resulting actions for implementation.”

My Department, in conjunction with colleagues in the Housing Agency and relevant stakeholders, prepared a number of draft recommendations and a draft report on the CALF Review. I have considered these draft recommendations and my Department is currently finalising discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

I intend to make an announcement in relation to this shortly.

Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published in due course. Data for 2023 will be published for each quarter, following the end of the relevant reporting period.

My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and procurement processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2022. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2b4cd-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2022/.

Last year represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. A pipeline of affordable housing delivery is being developed by local authorities, by AHBs using the Cost Rental Equity Loan and by the Land Development Agency. Furthermore, local authorities have begun collating information on the delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently done for social housing. It is intended that information across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics in Quarter 1 2023.

Since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants and returning wastewater safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner. My Department has no operational function in this matter.

Uisce Éireann is regulated by the Health Service Executive and the Environmental Protection Agency in respect of public health protection and environmental compliance. The Environmental Protection Agency as environmental regulator, is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU Directives and national regulations for the provision of drinking water.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is responsible for the economic regulation of water which includes that Uisce Éireann provides appropriate service to its customers.

Enterprise Ireland engages with the property technology (or ‘proptech’) sub-sector, with some 20 or so proptech companies on its books, as well as many more that are defined as ‘construction services’ companies.

The proptech sub-sector contains many start-up companies providing services, including real estate data driven decision platforms; enterprise-ready Client Relationship Management (CRM) specifically for contractors, product suppliers and construction professionals; and, sophisticated online platforms intended to revolutionise the private treaty sales process for commercial and residential property.

Enterprise Ireland offers a combination of financial supports for start-ups in this space, such as equity investment, development grants and non-financial supports such as capability building, engaging with clients in-market via EI’s overseas offices, connecting founding teams with potential investors and with strategic partners, and identifying business opportunities for clients. Further information in this regard can be accessed on the Enterprise Ireland’s website: www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/

In addition, Housing for All is also marshalling cross-government efforts to drive innovation and enhance productivity in construction sector. To this end, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) chairs the inter-departmental Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Leadership and Integration Group to support the coordination of initiatives to develop MMC, which incorporate a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques and provide alternatives to traditional building construction. The inter-departmental group, of which my Department is a key participant, coordinates initiatives to support innovation, public procurement, sustainability, housing and the education and skills agenda in the construction industry, including:

launching the Construct Innovate Technology Centre, funded by DETE through Enterprise Ireland;

establishing a Demonstration Park for MMC at the Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre, operated by Laois Offaly Enterprise and Training Board, in conjunction with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and SOLAS; and

supporting the development and use of MMC to deliver social housing.

The information requested in relation to my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork City Council.

This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.

The Quarter 4 2022 social housing statistics are being collated and will be published in due course.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities. The published data is based on statistical returns submitted by each local authority to my Department. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.

Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.

The Ó Cualann Co-Housing Alliance is a not for profit approved housing body making a valued contribution to the provision of affordable housing in Ireland and are currently overseeing the construction of a mixed tenure development of 51 homes at Dun Emer in Lusk, Co Dublin, where 39 affordable purchase homes are being delivered in conjunction with Fingal County Council.

Ó Cualann have recently worked with Dublin City Council to deliver 37 affordable purchase homes at Oileain na Cranóige in Poppintree, Ballymun, and have also partnered with Dublin City Council to deliver other affordable purchase homes in the Ballymun area.

I am advised by Ó Cualann that they remain very active in affordable housing provision. They have informed my Department that they are currently working with a number of local authorities to develop 7 projects intended to yield homes for purchase and cost rental along with some general needs social homes and homes for older people.

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.

Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.

An annualised breakdown by local authority of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014-2022 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme.

Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the level of vacancy and by local authority. The most recent report, relating to 2021, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:

noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NOAC-PI-Report-2021-FINAL.pdf.

Further details in relation to vacancy periods should be available upon request from each local authority.

The information requested is not collected by my Department, as the approval or confirmation of proposals for the compulsory purchase of land or property by statutory authorities is a matter for An Bord Pleanála.

In this connection, arrangements have been put in place by each Agency under the remit of my Department, including An Bord Pleanála, to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.

My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.

Under the Exchequer funding arrangements in place between the Department and housing authorities, decisions on the funding, organisation and range of accommodation services to be provided are a matter for the individual housing authorities in consultation with the Statutory Management Group of the relevant regional Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, and the Department has no function in relation to operational matters. As such the identification of the need for additional resources is a matter for the local authorities in the first instance.

The budget for 2023 makes provision for €215m in funding for homeless services, an increase from €194 in 2022. The extra funding for Homelessness reflects the priority that this Government is giving to Homelessness.

The funding will allow local authorities to continue to focus on preventing homelessness in the first instance and to provide support to those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It will also aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach in line with commitments made in Housing for All, provide for a planned extension of outreach and intensive engagement services to our most vulnerable and provide accommodation to those experiencing homelessness. Additionally there remains a firm focus on ensuring that pathways out of homelessness for those individuals and families in emergency accommodation are secured as quickly as possible.

The aim of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter emergency period and ensure that there is no cliff edge impact on 1 April, the Act provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 295 together.

I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings. The Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue.

In this regard, on 18 January 2023 I received Government approval to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. This legislation will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes with such defects.

It is intended that a whole building approach will be taken to remediate relevant defects and to improve the safety of all occupants in the building. This means that all parts of the building (e.g. the common areas, the individual apartments etc.) must be considered together when addressing defects. In light of their existing legal responsibilities and ownership of common areas, it is envisaged that Owners’ Management Companies will be funded to carry out the necessary remediation works, with specific limitations or exemptions on certain commercial owners.

In order to ensure that important life-safety works are not paused, remediation works related to fire safety defects, entered into or commenced from 18 January 2023, will form part of the remediation scheme, subject to terms and conditions. Such works will need to be agreed with local authority Fire Services. The details of this process will be worked out. In this regard, it would not be appropriate for those in charge of affected buildings to delay the undertaking of any remediation work that is considered necessary from a life safety point of view.

I have listened to calls from homeowner representative bodies and Government has approved the principle of allowing remediation costs already incurred or levied to be covered under this scheme once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the scheme. The details and mechanics of this will be worked out as the legislation is drafted.

Work is now underway to draft the required legislation which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme which will become operational following implementation of the required legislation. Subject to the legislative process, it is intended that a scheme would be in place in 2024.

In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019 and provide good comfort levels for occupants.

Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, my Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013, over 77,500 local authority social housing dwellings have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of over €251 million.

In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.

Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. Works are typically carried out in this order. The installation of gas/oil boilers or solid fuel/inset stoves including wood pellet stoves are not supported by the Department under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme.

The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million in 2023 with details of this years programme including target allocations being finalised. Due to the BER requirement of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent under the programme, it will ensure that each property will have improved energy efficiency performance post upgrade works. With regard to the local authority properties which are selected to be retrofitted through funding available from the EERP, the selection of properties is a matter for each individual local authority.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the case you have outlined is an operational matter for the RTB.

It would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, or my Department to comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case.

Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie

Complaints directly relating to the quality of the service provided by the RTB should be made in writing (email or letter) to the Quality Customer Service Officer (QCSO). The QCSO can be contacted by email at customer.service@rtb.ie or by letter addressed to the Quality Customer Service Officer, Residential Tenancies Board, PO Box 47, Clonakilty, County Cork.

Full details of the RTB’s complaints procedure is outlined in their Customer Charter and is available to download from their website at: www.rtb.ie/rtb-freedom-of-information-publication-scheme/customer-charter

Complaints concerning operational matters of the RTB should be forwarded to the Director of the RTB, Mr. Niall Byrne, or if the complaint involves the Director, it should be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mr. Thomas Dunne. Complaints to the Director or Chairperson of the RTB can be directed to:

Mr. Niall Byrne / Mr. Thomas Dunne,

Residential Tenancies Board,

PO Box 47,

Clonakilty,

Co. Cork.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 to 300, inclusive, together.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy). The remit of the RTB covers the private rental sector, the not-for-profit housing providers commonly known as Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and Student-specific Accommodation providers (SSA).

My Department and I, as Minister, are responsible for the oversight of the RTB which is underpinned by governance arrangements including an Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) in place with the RTB making clear the requirements for reporting to my Department, in line with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

The PDA sets out both inputs and outputs and key performance indicators for which RTB is accountable and any risks to their delivery. The agreement is produced on a three yearly basis and revised annually, to reflect changes to the legislation which in turn impacts on the RTB’s mandate and resources. Monitoring of RTB performance under these agreements is done through regular communication and engagement between the Department and the RTB, including Quarterly Governance Meetings, performance review meetings and other meetings as required.

Following the passing of legislation in 2019, with effect from 4 April 2022, landlords are required to register their tenancies with the RTB every year, within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began. This applies to both new and existing tenancies.

To facilitate Annual Registration the RTB implemented a new tenancy Management system which is an operational matter for the RTB. Although many landlords and agents have successfully registered their tenancies on the system, I have been made aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy registration system. The RTB has assured my Department that it is working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to assist anyone experiencing difficulties. The RTB has further assured officials that it is very conscious of the need to ensure that any landlord or letting agent renewing a tenancy during Cycle 2 of Annual Registration has a much-improved experience of the system than they may have had during Cycle 1. During Q1 and Q2 2023, progressive improvements will be implemented in the registration system addressing key areas of functionality and addressing known issues causing difficulty for landlords and agents. The RTB is also implementing incremental improvements and bug fixes within the registration system via regular service patches. These are being released on an ongoing basis.

Following recommendations in the RTB Workforce Plan (2018 – 2021) and engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), the RTB received sanction for significant additional staff over the past three years. The RTB has a sanctioned staffing compliment of 110. It currently has 100 permanent staff and is carrying 10 vacancies. The RTB is actively recruiting to fill the remaining vacancies and to date this year, the RTB has appointed 15 new recruits to permanent positions. Separately, on 18 January 2023 DPER sanctioned a 3rd PO Digital & Data Services post within the RTB Executive Management Team Structure which is now advertised on the RTB website. Additional funding of €2m will be provide to the RTB for 2023, bringing its total allocation to €13.37m.

The RTB is also supported by a third party outsourced service provider who carries out the RTB’s call centre, document management and data entry functions. This contract gives the RTB the flexibility to increase resources as and when required. The outsourcer’s staff are not RTB employees. The RTB has recently almost doubled the staffing in its outsourced call centre to deal with the issues that have arisen following the introduction of annual registration and it has been working hard to find the right balance between ensuring contracted staff are adequately trained and capable of assisting customers with their queries, ranging from linking tenancies, verifying accounts, and data-inputting paper applications. My Department will continue to work with the RTB to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to deliver on its expanded mandate, including any specific requests with regard to annual registration.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is currently providing part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.

To this end, the URDF has already provisionally allocated in excess of €1.6 billion under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018. Providing assistance to 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 subprojects, URDF projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.

In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the URDF, I announced a provisional allocation of €11,027,500 in URDF support for Mayo County Council's two successful projects - Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project (€8,527,500) and Castlebar Military Barracks Project (€2,500,000).

This followed Mayo County Council's successful application for €141,391 in URDF support towards technical assistance for the advancement of the Castlebar Military Barracks project under the URDF's first call for proposals in 2018.

A preliminary Business Case for each of the Call 2 projects was recently approved by my Department. This represents Decision Gate 1 in the project life cycle of the Public Spending Code and gives approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to the development of a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for submission to the department as part of the approval process for the next decision gate (Decision Gate 2 – Pre Tender Approval).

The overall Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project is made up of a number of sub-projects, including the repurposing of the former Castlebar Post Office as a Community Youth Resource Centre, for which a provisional allocation of €1,500,000 in URDF support has been approved as part of the overall €8,527,500 allocation.

While my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Mayo County Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of these URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, Mayo County Council. Any queries regarding the timeline of the projects should be directed to the Council.

It should be noted that all URDF supported projects must be carefully developed and managed by the Sponsoring Agency in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects including, exercising appropriate cost control and delivering projects as approved, and in full compliance with the Public Spending Code.

Regarding the progression of subprojects independently, my Department has, where appropriate, been actively encouraging local authorities to consider such an approach. Any proposal from Mayo County Council which demonstrates that progressing the subprojects independently represents the most cost efficient and timely way to deliver the overall project will be supported.

The Building Momentum Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 provides for the following pay adjustments over the period of the Agreement:

- a general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2021;

- the equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basis salaries to be used as a sectoral bargaining fund on 1 February 2022; and

- a general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2022.

Moreover, in accordance with section 5.7 of the Agreement, a review of Building Momentum was conducted in acknowledgement of changes to the underlying assumptions of the Agreement regarding inflation. This review resulted in agreement on the following pay adjustments in addition to the existing pay terms of Building Momentum:

- an increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 3% on 2 February 2022;

- an increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 2% on 1 March 2023; and

- an increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 1.5% or €750, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2023.

In respect of each such pay adjustment, notifications and/or circulars issue from my Department to the public sector employers under the aegis of my Department. It is then a matter for each such employer to apply the relevant pay adjustment in respect of its public servants.

The Electoral Commission - An Coimisiún Toghcháin - was established on 9 February 2023 by way of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Establishment Day) Order 2023 and is now operational. In this regard, section 30(3) of Electoral Reform Act provides that an Coimisiún shall be independent in the performance of its functions.

I understand that An Coimisiún is currently undertaking a review of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in line with its functions under Chapter 7 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. I also understand that An Coimisiún has announced a public consultation inviting written submissions in relation to its review of constituencies. The public consultation is available on An Coimisiún's website at www.electoralcommission.ie/constituency-reviews/.

The Electoral Reform Act 2022 provides that the Report of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in respect of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies will be completed and published within three months of the publication of final Census results. With the final Census results expected by the end of May, I expect that the report from An Coimisiún will be available by the end of August 2023.

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The table below sets out the awards made to Microsoft by my Department in each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive

My Department provides funding to local authorities so as to enable them administer the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The schemes are means tested and operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa.

A number of payments from the Department of Social Protection are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Typically these payments are paid in respect of individuals who are either caring or financially supporting a third party, for example a child, a relative with an enduring impairment or a child in foster care. Specific payments related to basic needs such as fuel allowance etc. are also disregarded. These disregards are designed to ensure that the provision of financial assistance for living costs or care do not disadvantage an individual applying for grant assistance under the scheme. Payments such as Disability Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or Non-Contributory Pension are not disregarded as they are income subsidies paid directly to an individual, and are therefore assessed as income under the means test in line with the regulations.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds, the grant limits, the application and decision making processes, including supplementary documentation required. A report on the review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been prepared by my Department. I will be giving careful consideration to the review report and expect to make a decision on the recommendations in the report as soon as possible.

Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes. Acquisitions of second hand properties for social housing fall under a number of local authority and AHB acquisitions programmes.

In January 2022 my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities advising that social housing acquisitions by local authorities and AHB CALF acquisitions in 2022 would be focused on a number of priority areas, as follows:

- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;

- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and

- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs;

Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability.

In April 2022, a further circular letter issued to local authorities in relation to social housing acquisitions. The key purpose of this circular was to advise local authorities that I had reinstated the delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions which are:

(i) in one of the priority categories set out in the January circular letter;

(ii) in line with acquisition cost guidelines; and

(iii) can be completed during 2022.

The reinstatement of delegated sanction has allowed local authorities to respond more flexibility to secure acquisitions which support a household to exit or to prevent homelessness. I have requested local authorities to be proactive in acquiring properties which can prevent homelessness, including properties where a notice of termination has been issued to the tenant.

Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister, I am precluded by housing legislation from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of social housing support regarding any individual application.

Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.

The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.

The enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I have extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council.

The decision made by Government last November called for a number of reviews to be completed. This included a review by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) of the I.S. 465:2018 standard and the consideration of other potentially deleterious material e.g. pyrrhotite and the impact, if any, on foundations. I have asked NSAI to carry out their review of I.S. 465 and identify the necessary research required to support review of the relevant standards as a matter of priority. NSAI is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and, as such, detail on its programme of work and delivery is a matter for the NSAI and its parent Department.

An interagency Defective Concrete Blocks – Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to support and inform the NSAI Standardisation Program in relation to technical issues. The steering group includes representatives from NSAI, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Housing Agency (observer), and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Steering Group has agreed a process to specify, procure, fund and manage research projects, subject to budget constraints, and research proposals have been developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks, potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations etc.

GSI has established a Framework for the Provision of Laboratory Analysis Services in support of Geological Survey Ireland’s “Irish Construction Materials” Project: Concrete Products. GSI will project manage research projects under the framework. In this regard, research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks has been commissioned and I understand that research on the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations will commence shortly.

Once the necessary reviews have been concluded and any revised standard published by the NSAI, I can confirm that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will be reviewed at that point having regard to any amended standard, in the event that such amendments are required. However, it would not be appropriate to delay the introduction of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme while these reviews are being undertaken by the NSAI. I am keen to ensure that the significant enhancements contained in the new scheme are made available to homeowners who have not yet applied under the current grant scheme, and that those enhancements can also be retrospectively applied to existing applicants to the current grant scheme, as soon as possible.

My Department recently published a comprehensive and updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them. It can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/.

My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.

Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Both Departments are engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources. My Department and DECC hope to bring these discussions to a close shortly.

It should also be noted that the review and finalisation of the Guidelines has been included as a specific action in the recently published Climate Action Plan (CAP). My Department is engaging with DECC with regard to the specific timelines to be included in the CAP Annex of Actions while also taking into account the aforementioned discussions on noise in this regard.

When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála, must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.

I am aware of recent media reports indicating that researchers have succeeded in identifying the possible location of the remains of Patrick Sarsfield, first Earl of Lucan, in Belgium.

This is a welcome development and one of great historical significance if confirmed. I applaud the efforts of all those involved including the Honorary Consul of France in Limerick, Dr Loïc Guyon, Limerick Civic Trust, the Belgian Embassy in Dublin and the local authorities in Huy, Belgium. It is obviously likely to be some time yet, possibly not until next year, before any excavation and confirmed identification of remains can be made.

Our Embassy in Brussels will continue to monitor developments in relation to this issue and stands ready to engage further on this matter if requested.

I took part in over 20 meetings and events at the Munich Security Conference from 17-19 February. Unfortunately, schedules did not allow for a meeting with my South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Park Jin, at this year's event. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland the Republic of Korea and the bilateral relationship is strong. Last week, senior officials from my Department met with their South Korean counterparts for political consultations, the first such meeting since October 2021. I look forward to meeting Foreign Minister Park when the next occasion arises.

Ms Gráinne Weld and Ms Laura Mannion are Special Advisers employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Both Ms Weld’s and Ms Mannion’s appointment are subject to government approval, pursuant to section 11(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 (No. 27 of 1997).

Ms Weld is Special Adviser to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin TD, and is paid as per the Principal Officer PPC standard scale.

Ms Mannion is Special Adviser to the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Peter Burke TD, and is paid as per the Assistant Principal PPC standard scale.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.

I am aware of this case and would like to extend my sincere sympathies to the citizen and his family who have suffered a terrible ordeal. I wish to acknowledge that this has been, and remains, a difficult time for them.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is precluded from intervening in the legal processes of another jurisdiction, in line with the Consular Assistance Charter, available at www.dfa.ie/travel/assistance-abroad/consular-assistance-charter/. However, I can confirm that the case has been raised with the authorities in Malta.

The Department, through the Embassy of Ireland in Malta, has provided consular assistance to the family - and remains available for contact at any stage should the family wish to discuss the matter further.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has not retained any social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities for any media campaigns during the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.

The Government responded very quickly to support people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. We announced, and have allocated, €10 million in direct humanitarian funding for trusted partners delivering life-saving assistance on the ground in both countries. This support includes ensuring the provision of urgent medical care.

In Türkiye, we are supporting emergency health needs through our funding to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) who are providing mental and physical health services, shelter, food and water. With our funding, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA have scaled up the protection of the health and rights of women and girls and repositioned their existing health units to treat emergency needs of the most vulnerable.

Ireland’s support to the Syria Cross Border humanitarian Fund, managed by the UN, has allowed medical supplies and equipment to be transported quickly to people in the worst affected parts of Syria. In both countries, we are funding Irish NGOs who are providing psychological and trauma support, amongst other needs, to thousands of people in need.

Over 130 tonnes of emergency supplies have been provided under Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative. This includes tents, thermal blankets, solar lamps, hygiene kits, kitchen sets and water jerry cans, distributed by Concern and Goal in Türkiye and by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Northwest Syria. The total provided to date is worth almost €1 million, with an additional consignment planned.

Ireland also contributes to global funds and is providing core funding to key agencies including UNICEF which are allocating funding to the earthquake response. We are also supporting the World Health Organisation (WHO) which has sent health supplies to reach over 400,000 people in the areas affected by the earthquakes.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date. The issue by date for the application is 8 March 2023.

The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to advise of the option of booking an Urgent Appointment for passport renewal at the Passport Service public office in Mount Street.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has contracted a number of the listed management consultancy firms in the period 2018-2022, primarily for the provision of audit services to Embassies managing significant development cooperation programmes, as well as to a small number of units at Headquarters. In overseas locations, the contracts are awarded locally to independent affiliates in each respective location. Details are as follows:

EY – Contracts awarded in Ireland

EY – Contracts awarded in Overseas Locations

KPMG– Contracts awarded in Overseas Locations

PwC – Contracts awarded in Overseas Locations

Deloitte – Contracts awarded in Overseas Locations

Under the terms of contracts with third party suppliers, the Department of Foreign Affairs avails of support services from Microsoft for Microsoft products deployed globally by the Department, including software and hardware licensing.

Annual payments for these services are directly invoiced by Microsoft. Details of payments in the period 2018-2022 are provided below:

The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:

The Deputy may also wish to note the following projects which are scheduled for commencement in 2023 :

No major capital refurbishment works were carried out in Cathal Brugha in the period stated referenced by the Deputy.

The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department has allocated €10m this year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This devolved budget is a regular feature of the Delegated functions assigned to the Defence Forces by my Department. The individual prioritisation of specific projects to be carried out is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping with the delegated nature of this budget.

While discussions are ongoing at EU level about the possibility of directly procuring additional military support on behalf of Ukraine, no formal proposal has been presented to EU Member States by the European External Action Service (EEAS).

However, a non-paper, prepared jointly by the EEAS, the European Commission and the European Defence Agency on speeding-up delivery and production of ammunition for Ukraine, has been circulated and is expected to be discussed at next week's informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers, during which I and my colleagues will have the opportunity to further discuss the EU's support to Ukraine.

Moreover, at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 February, which I attended in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs, High Representative Borrell and a number of Member States drew attention to the significant Ukrainian needs on the ground, particularly in terms of ammunition supplies.

Ireland will engage fully in the discussions that follow any formal proposal as they progress, mindful of the commitments in the Programme for Government and the position that we have consistently taken in relation to the European Peace Facility, with a view to ensuring that any Irish contribution is directed exclusively towards non-lethal military support.

Since my appointment as Minister for Defence Ms. Grainne Weld has been appointed as Special Adviser to me, as both Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs. She is employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and her salary and expenses are administered by that Department.

I wish to advise the Deputy, that while my Department did not engage any social media influencers, online personalities, television and or radio personalities in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, there was one instance for the Defence Forces as follows:

September 2022

The Gardner Brothers - Social Media Recruitment Project

Gardiner Bros are brand ambassadors for Guinness, Coke & on TikTok they have 2 million followers.

Fee - €10,000 for three videos (Army, Navy, Air Corps - €3,333 per video)

KPIs for engagement:

>100k views across TikTok & Instagram

>5k new followers on TikTok& Instagram

67% of viewers were 18-24yrs (recruitment demographic)

Featured on

Ray Foley Show (Today FM)

The LadBible (>1 million followers)

Her.ie (150k followers)

In May 2022, the then Minister for Defence appointed a Senior Counsel to establish whether the actions taken on behalf of the Minister by Civil Servants in the Department of Defence and the military authorities on foot of correspondence received by the Minister from a former member of the Defence Forces were correct having regard to the regulatory frameworks, policies and internal grievance systems in place.

For the purposes of clarity, the Terms of Reference for Counsel do not seek a report into unlawful and or inappropriate sexual behaviour in the Defence Forces.

Counsel's report has been received and has been subject to the advice of the Office of the Attorney General. It is my intention that the report will be published. Prior to doing so, my officials are to engage with the former member who submitted the correspondence.

Given that the correspondence received is linked by way of timing and content with matters considered by the Independent Review Group, my officials are working on these two strands of work simultaneously. I hope that officials from the Department will be in a position to meet with the former member of the Defence Forces soon and present him with a copy of the report.

The awards made both with and without tender process to the management consultancy firms (details supplied) by my Department for each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive are as follows:

My Department has no record of any awards made to the organisation referred to by the Deputy for the years 2018 -2022 inclusive.

My Department uses Microsoft products, such products are purchased from authorised Microsoft resellers through central Office of Government Procurement frameworks and not purchased directly from Microsoft. Standard government procurement guidelines are followed.

The following table provides the number of engine room artificer vacancies as of 24th February 2023.

*includes 16 personnel undergoing training to become Engine Room Artificers.

Vacancies are filled in line with promotional arrangements, as appropriate, and by recruitment. A direct entry recruitment competition for engine room artificers is ongoing.

The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. At the request of my Department the military authorities are conducting the search, retrieval and collation of same. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

There are four state-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) providing primary initial teacher education (ITE) and one independent private provider of primary ITE.

The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.

Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by my Department up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints. The rate of student grant for 2023 has been set at an average of €815. This will cover the cost of the undertaking the fortnightly course in 2023. This grant will be made available for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes.

The property in question is not and has not been in the ownership of my Department. Its use as a school discontinued a number of years ago.

In this instance the maintenance of the building and site security matters are a matter for the current property owners. Any queries in respect of this privately owned property should be addressed to those owners.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education. The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department's Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post Primary teachers. For the purposes of prior relevant non-teaching service, the relevant Circular for Post Primary teachers is 29/2007.

This circular provides for the award of incremental credit for both prior teaching service and prior relevant non-teaching service. Relevant non-teaching service is defined as service other than teaching service. This criteria includes that the relevant non-teaching experience so gained must be demonstrated by the teacher, to the satisfaction of the school authority (including Education and Training Boards as appropriate) and of the Department, to be directly relevant to the requirements of the post to which the teacher has been appointed.

When applying for incremental credit a teacher must be in an Oireachtas funded post. If the teacher is working in an ETB school, their application should be directed towards the HR Unit of that ETB. Further information on Circular 29/2007 and the application form can be found on the Department’s website at the following link Circular 29/2007.

In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018.

The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas for existing teachers, and following a request from my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) issued a funding call to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish in late 2019. These were identified by the Steering Group as among the most challenging subjects in terms of teacher recruitment. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.

Funding for these programmes was put in place following a competitive call to all initial teacher education providers for proposals. It is intended to commence an upskilling programme in Irish in 2023/24 and consideration will be given to programmes in other subjects. The allocation of funding for any future programmes will be dependent on a competitive process for potential providers.

There is no provision to reimburse teachers for the costs of initial teacher education programmes, such as the programme referred to by the Deputy.

The project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage3 – Tender Action and Award. A tender process can take between 8-12 months to complete, subject to no issues arising.

My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project referred to by the Deputy. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction.

My Department is currently assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Under the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate published in 2022 is driving the public sector climate action agenda and confirms the provision of a dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate that can best reflect the particular circumstances of schools.

The dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate is structured in line with Public Sector Climate Action Mandate while also recognising the variance between large public bodies and the school sector and the distinctive role schools are playing in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

This approach in relation to the school sector enables the development of a single standardised climate action mandate for all schools. This aggregated approach for the schools sector will help to minimise the administrative burden for individual schools while at the same time provide flexibility within it to cater for the specific circumstances of each school.

The Department's consultation process for the School Sector Climate Action Mandate focused on stakeholders across the schools sector only and was primarily focused on the most appropriate amendments to the already published Public Sector Climate Action Mandate to reflect the specific circumstances of the schools sector. The school sector stakeholders consulted involved representatives of Patrons, Boards of Management, School Principals, Teachers and Students.

The consultation process was completed at the end of 2022 and the mandate has now been finalised and is due to be published shortly on the Department's website. The mandate includes a requirement that it will be updated annually.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 360 together.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.

There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 273 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023 - most of which will be completed in 2023.

I am very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget, €300m additional capital funding was provided in 2022. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 which was reflective of the strong delivery by the Department of school building projects – particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. My Department’s overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.

My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €0.86 billion. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with roll-out of school building projects to construction in 2023.

Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The school to which the Deputy refers is among the many school accommodation needs across the country being considered as part of this process.

The permanent school building project for the site referred to by the Deputy is a campus project to deliver a 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

The campus project is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. The application for planning permission for the campus project was lodged with Dublin City Council on 31st May 2021. The initial grant of planning was received on 22nd July 2021 and was subsequently the subject of a third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the campus development was received on 1st April 2022.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and their patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.

I can confirm the school building referred to by the Deputy became vacant in 2022 following the amalgamation of Cree National School and Clohanbeg National School in September 2022.

When a school building becomes vacant as a result of closure or amalgamation, the future use of the building is in the first instance a matter for the Patron. When the Patron applies to the Minister for permission to either use the property for community purposes or to sell it, my Department makes an assessment as to whether the property is required for future educational use. If it is concluded that the property has no viable future educational use, my Department permits that it may be used for community or other purposes or may be sold. It is a matter for the Patron to decide if the property is to be disposed of.

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021 to enable it to build 2 x 80m² Mainstream Classrooms, including en-suite toilets, 2 15m² SET rooms, 1 SEN Base.

A Stage 1/2A submission was received in my Department which was forwarded to the Department's Professional & Technical (P&T) team. Subsequent queries were issued to the school body and the responses to these queries have been submitted to the Department. The P&T Team is currently reviewing this submission and will revert back to the school when this review is completed with a view to moving the project forward as expeditiously as possible.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established as an independent statutory body by order of the Minister for Education and Science in December 2003. The council was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children.

A local service is delivered through the NCSE’s national network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) who interact with parents and schools and liaise with the HSE in providing resources to support children with special educational needs.

The NCSE deal with over 20,000 applications for support a year and deliver decisions to schools. In sanctioning resources for schools the council operate within Department of Education policy parameters. However, in doing so their SENOs talk to schools, parents , HSE providers and other professionals before making decisions to ensure that the decision made is the best fit for the individual pupil.

A key aim of the Council is to progressively improve the co-ordination between the education and health sectors in providing the supports for children with special educational needs. This is done through participation in the Education/Health Cross Sectoral Group which includes representation from the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE at national level and through interaction with the HSE and their service providers at local level.

The NCSE has a substantial research programme and have published a number of report which helps to inform best practice in the special education area and provide a basis for developing policy advice as appropriate.

The 2023 budget allocation for NCSE of €28.3m is made up of €18.2m pay and €10.1m non pay. This will provide for expansion of the service enabling an organisation of 426 staff members.

A further breakdown of the NCSE 2023 budget and employees by grade is attached.

Staffing

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

For 2023, the spend by the Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Responsibility for provision in the early years sector lies with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of preschool within the eligible age range, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in preschools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, preschool children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream preschools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.

The AIM programme provides seven levels of universal and targeted supports to children with special educational and additional needs. DCEDIY commissioned an evaluation of AIM at the end of its third year. This evaluation was carried out by a consortium led by the University of Derby from December 2020 to December 2021 (delayed due to COVID-19). Its purpose was to investigate the implementation and impact of AIM from the perspective of multiple stakeholders and to consider options for its potential expansion. The final draft version of the evaluation report is currently in preparation. It is expected that the publication of the report will be followed by a period of policy development on the potential for expansion of AIM which will be led by the DCEDIY.

NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including ASD Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. There are currently 151 Early intervention classes nationwide. On occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement. Information on the location of EI classes is available on the NCSE website.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available.

The scheme also provides for early educational intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who meet the scheme’s criteria, aged from 2.5 - 5 years before they start in school. There are 70 children sanctioned for Home Tuition in the 2.5 to 3 years old category and 548 children sanctioned for home tuition in the 3 years + category for the current school year.

Where parents of children, who are eligible for home tuition under the terms of the scheme, and for whom home tuition has been approved, have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition, my Department has responded by putting arrangements in place with private preschool providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting.

In recognition of the demand for group arrangements by parents of children, who are eligible for Home Tuition under the scheme, my Department now advises all such parents of the option to enter into a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been sanctioned. Currently 425 children of the 548 mentioned above are being catered for through these group arrangements. For the vast majority of the remaining children, they are attending Early years settings supported by the Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and are being supplemented by the home tuition grant, until a placement is available in an Early Intervention Class.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.