Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to meet the select committee today to discuss the 2020 Estimates for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. I am accompanied by Ms Patricia Cronin, assistant secretary with responsibility for governance and operations in the Department. The total provision for the Department in 2020 is €541.5 million, comprising €404.8 million capital, inclusive of €27.3 million in capital carryover from last year, and €136.7 million for current spending. Being before the committee at this time of the year to give a presentation on the 2020 Revised Estimates is unusual.

This time last year, the budget was framed to progress some key projects and policy objectives. These span a number of areas of strategic national importance and encompass climate action, energy efficiency, communications, the environment, natural resources, waste management and inland fisheries. In looking at each of the programme areas in detail, I will highlight some of the key areas. Programme A, communications, was considered yesterday by the Select Committee on Transport and Communications Networks, so I will start with the energy area.

Programme B in energy aims to deliver energy-efficiency measures across the residential, public and business sectors. This year the programme provides €12.2 million to cover the operational costs of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and €137.2 million to fund expanded sustainable energy programmes. The focus this year was on the achievement of targets in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the continued incentivisation of the uptake of electric vehicles to support further the transition to a sustainable future. Funding for the sustainable energy programmes includes: the better energy warmer homes scheme, to deliver a range of energy-efficiency measures free of charge to low income households; the better energy homes scheme for homeowners, to provide grants towards a range of energy-efficiency measures; better energy communities programme, to encourage community partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the building stock in energy poor homes; targeted interventions in the commercial and public sectors, to deliver significant energy efficiency and energy savings while reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels; and grant funding to incentivise the purchase of new electric vehicles, support the installation of home charge points and the provision of on-street public chargers. The programme also includes investment of €10.7 million for energy research, include applied energy research and demonstration projects aimed to accelerate diversification away from fossil fuels to green energy.

The aim of programme C, natural resources, is to manage Ireland's mineral, hydrocarbon and other geological resources in a sustainable and productive manner. Funding under this programme allows the Department to provide reliable geoscience support for environmental protection and the sustainable development of Ireland's natural resources, and to address the health and safety implications of certain historical mining sites. The programme includes an allocation of just over €11.6 million for Geological Survey Ireland services, including €7 million for the Tellus and INFOMAR mapping projects. The Tellus mapping project consists of airborne, geophysical measurements and ground geochemical sampling. Data from the project will allow for improvement in geological maps and will facilitate better land use, planning and research. The INFOMAR project is Ireland's national seabed survey and is managed by Geological Survey Ireland in co-operation with the Marine Institute. Under the groundwater programme, the Geological Survey Ireland national network of turlough flood level gauges will provide enhanced data and models on turlough flooding to the Office of Public Works, OPW, and local authorities. A sum of €5 million is provided for mining services, including €1.1 million for mine safety and monitoring work at the Avoca mines site.

There is also funding to develop an overall plan for the remediation of the legacy mines at Avoca and Silvermines.

Programme D covers inland fisheries. It provides grant funding to Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is responsible for the conservation, management and regulation of Ireland's inland fisheries resource. This year, Inland Fisheries Ireland has continued to deliver its licensing, permitting and enforcement responsibilities along with the rehabilitation of our rivers and streams. The national strategy for angling development will ensure that Ireland's fish stocks and angling infrastructure are protected for their economic value and recreational benefit. The inland fisheries programme includes an allocation of just under €20.3 million towards the staff costs of Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Loughs Agency. The Loughs Agency is a North-South body and is co-funded on a 50-50 basis by the Department and Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Also included in the programme is €13.6 million for non-pay current and capital expenditure by the two agencies.

Programme E covers environment and waste management. The purpose of the programme is to promote the protection of our natural environment, the health and well-being of our citizens and the transition to a resource-efficient circular economy in support of ecologically sustainable development, growth and jobs. The environment and waste management programme includes an allocation of €43 million towards staff costs, namely, non-pay current and the capital costs of the Environmental Protection Agency to allow it deliver on its mandate, research commitments in areas such as ambient air quality as well as the broader climate change agenda. The programme includes €11.25 million grant funding for the remediation of landfill sites. A further €1 million has been allocated for a waste management campaign to increase awareness of the necessity to minimise waste and increase recycling.

In the area of climate initiatives, an allocation of €2.5 million will fund a range of Irish academic and research institutions involved in technical research and modelling to inform policy measures. Funding of €10 million is being provided for the climate action fund to cover potential drawdowns this year by the seven projects approved for funding of up to €77 million. This support is expected to leverage total investment of €300 million in the period up to 2027. A total of €6 million is being provided for the just transition fund in 2020 to support innovative projects and the wider midlands region as it transitions away from peat.

Appropriations-in-aid are income receipts of the Department other than from the Exchequer. Receipts are in the main comprised of mining and petroleum income amounting to €8.8 million, a total of €3.7 million in pension levy and pension contributions to the Department and its agencies, and a receipt of €10 million from the energy efficiency national fund.