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The budget allocation for 2021 for the Departments of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport will allow for the delivery of Programme for Government commitments including:
Speaking today (Tuesday 13 October), Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport Eamon Ryan TD said:
"Retrofitting homes will play an important role in our economic recovery. It is a highly labour-intensive sector and can create high-quality, sustainable jobs in local communities throughout the country. The sector will be a source of significant employment growth over the coming decades and a career path for young people via apprenticeships. Increasing the numbers of homes retrofitted will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector as well as making homes more comfortable and delivering health benefits."
On the Transport budget, Minister Ryan continued:
"I am very pleased to be in a position to announce €3.5 billion in the overall budget allocation to the Department of Transport. This represents a very significant increase of €1 billion on gross expenditure levels over 2020. It will ensure that our transport network continues to grow sustainably in to the future, providing our citizens with viable and affordable transport alternatives, while also working to meet our climate and environmental objectives.
"We will now be heavily investing in more sustainable transport projects than roads projects. This shift in budgetary allocation will rebalance our transport network so we are providing viable travel options for years to come. Countrywide, we will continue to invest in our public transport network and progress major infrastructure projects such as BusConnects, Dart+, and Metrolink; as well as renewing our fleet in favour of hybrid and electric vehicles. This year’s Budget will also allow us to make significant change in the ways that we travel. In 2021 we’ll see €360 million allocated across Government to support walking and cycling projects nationwide. As part of this I have also secured approximately €50 million for Greenways. This is the highest ever allocation dedicated to these types of cycle ways."
Minister of State Naughton said:
"Throughout 2021, we will continue to invest in enhancing regional accessibility, investing over €1.3 billion in the maintenance of national and regional and local roads, as well as commencing the construction of a number of new road schemes. This investment is essential to delivering local services, supporting economic growth in rural and regional areas as while as driving job creation. This important investment also allows us to travel safely around our local areas on all forms of transport, whether by car, motorcycle, cycling or walking.
"We will also support the roll-out of a new Safe Routes to School programme. This will seek to accelerate the delivery of improved walking and cycling infrastructure to schools, enhance sustainable access onto school grounds; and expand the amount of cycle parking available at schools. Underpinning this new initiative, we will see €1 million per day spent on our walking and cycling infrastructure in 2021.
"As part of this budget we will provide exchequer support of €31.3 million to our regional airports. Under the Regional Airports Programme €21.3 million will be provided in 2021. This programme will ensure ongoing regional connectivity through our Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services on two routes, Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin as well as enabling the progression of a number of diverse capital projects at our smallest regional airports - Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West. For the first time, in recognition of the devastating effects of COVID-19, Shannon and Cork Airports will have access to capital funding under a separate €10 million Exchequer-funded programme. This funding will go some way to protect the cash position of the companies in dealing with the crisis. There will also be additional funding of €15 million to ensure that customers of insolvent travel agents and tour operators may be refunded in full.
"€108 million of funding will be invested in maritime transport and safety. This will ensure that the Irish Coast Guard can operate safely and effectively. Key priorities in 2021 will be to ramp up the building programme for the Coast Guard and increase investment in safety-related training, equipment and systems.
"Overall the money we have secured as part of Budget 2021 will help to further develop our transport system by linking and strengthening communities across the country."
ENDS
The government has signalled its support for driving the green economy in budget 2021, with significantly increased funding for the SEAI and a number of existing and new retrofit Schemes:
The balance of the residential and community retrofit budget (€112.5 million) will be spent on expanding existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new schemes. The new schemes are:
It is estimated that, in total, SEAI residential and community schemes will deliver over 29,000 retrofits including approximately 8,000 to a B2 level and support over 8,500 direct and indirect jobs.
The Minister also today announced that a new National Retrofit Office will be established in the SEAI. Additional staff and funding will be provided to the SEAI to resource the Retrofit Office and drive delivery of our retrofit targets.
There will be continued support for existing and new measures for the roll out of Electric Vehicles and related charging infrastructure in 2021. In addition to vehicle grants and home and public charging, the SEAI will be introducing support for destination chargers which can be provided at locations such as hotels, shopping centres or places of employment. SEAI will also launch a new EV marketing campaign to assist citizens in making informed choices and realising the environmental and economic benefits of driving an electric vehicle.
€3 million in capital funding has also been allocated for the Community Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) to stimulate locally-owned community energy projects.
€38 million in capital funding is being allocated to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the commercial and public sector. This funding is an almost doubling of the allocation provided in 2020 and will focus on supporting investments that are in keeping with the government’s commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
The aim of awareness programmes is to promote the protection of Ireland’s natural environment, the health and well-being of our citizens and the transition to a resource-efficient circular economy as outlined in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, in support of ecologically sustainable development, growth and jobs.
The Department will use these funds to continue the remediation of environmentally-degraded discontinued landfill sites operated by local authorities and private landfills taken into State ownership. Of these funds a sum of €15 million will be used in the remediation of the landfill site at Kerdiffstown in Co. Kildare, one of the most complex remediation sites in the programme.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology for connectivity – in business, in keeping in touch with our families and to access services. Continued support for technology to facilitate remote working especially will contribute to the achievement of our climate ambition. The government will continue its support and investment in digital connectivity and security in 2021.
National Broadband Ireland, the company contracted to deliver the NBP, is targeting 115,000 premises being passed by the new high-speed fibre network by the end of 2021. This will represent a significant ramp-up of activity and will start to yield major benefits for these households and businesses. This represents a major long-term investment in the regions and will address the connectivity challenges that rural communities face. All counties will see this investment in action, whether through the ongoing survey work or the subsequent building of the high-speed network.
The government has approved a five year National Cyber Security Strategy which sets out plans to improve Cyber Security capacity and resilience in the State. The strategy includes a series of actions aimed at the protection of critical national infrastructure, building resilience of public sector data and networks and supporting cyber security research and development initiatives in Ireland.
A Capacity Review of the NCSC has been commissioned to set out a roadmap for the future development of the organisation and additional capital funding has been provided to enable the NCSC to expand and meet the growing challenges from cyber security incidents and threats.
Funding of approximately €1.8 billion for sustainable mobility, including public transport, carbon reduction programmes, active travel and greenways.
Next year will see:
A significant additional allocation of €340 million will be made to Public Service Obligation (PSO) services provided by State operators and some private operators under contract by the National Transport Authority. Temporary support of €30 million will also be provided to key Commercial Bus Operators.
In addition to the above, investment will also be made in:
€360 million investment in walking and cycling across Government will support, major projects in all main cities, increased funding for greenways (now €50 million) and the roll out of the Safe Routes to School Programme.
Cycling, Walking and Greenway infrastructure projects include:
€27 million for tackling climate change through investment in carbon reduction schemes:
A 2021 allocation of €15 million will support up to 750 taxi and hackney drivers in scrapping their older vehicles and replacing them zero-emission capable electric alternatives. The scrappage scheme will be open for taxis and hackneys reaching their maximum permissible age limit in 2020/21. Up to €20,000 will be made available for eligible drivers switching to a new all-electric vehicle and up to €32,500 for those moving to a wheel chair accessible full electric vehicle. The roll-out of dedicated EV Taxi Recharging Points will also be stepped up to support the transition of this key sector, helping to encourage the wider vehicle transition and supporting cleaner air in our cities and towns. In addition, the Department is providing the necessary funding to the NTA to enable it to waive annual vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021.
A further €12 million will be allocated in 2021 towards a number of carbon reduction measures, including:
Approximately €1.3 billion for national, regional and local roads.
A 2021 allocation of €799 million will allow the Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to continue to provide grant support for the National Road network maintenance and renewal programmes. This includes funding to reseal roads and strengthen roads across the network. In addition, it will enable the progression of new major road schemes identified in the NDP 2018-2027 and will fund TII contractual obligations to Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects on national roads.
Works will progress on major Project 2040 road projects including:
Regional and Local Roads Programme
A 2021 allocation of €584 million will allow the department to continue to provide grant support for the regional and local road network maintenance and renewal programme. This includes funding to reseal roads and strengthen roads across the network. Funding will also be provided for safety improvement works, bridge rehabilitation works, maintenance of former national roads and Community Involvement Schemes.
Work will progress/continue on Project 2040 regional and local roads projects including:
Aviation
€31.3 million is being provided to support regional airports in 2021, consisting of €21.3 million for our smallest airports – Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock) under the Regional Airports Programme and €10 million for the regional State airports of Shannon and Cork.
The Regional Airports Programme provides targeted funding through a number of capital and operational grant schemes for safety and security related projects and activities as well as providing the necessary funds to support Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services on two routes, Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin.
For the first time, in recognition of the devastating effects of COVID-19, Shannon and Cork airports will have also access to funding under an Exchequer-funded programme. €10 million in capital support is being made available for safety and security projects at these airports. This funding will go some way to protecting the cash position of the companies in dealing with the crisis.
€15 million is provided order to ensure that customers of insolvent travel agents and tour operators may be refunded in full.
In terms of international aviation, we remain focused on ensuring that this sector can rebound and rebuild the network of international air services that will be key to our wider economic recovery. We are not yet at a point however where it is possible to permit a large scale return to air travel. The government has committed that measures to safeguard strategic connectivity and build resilience will be included in the National Economic Plan which will be announced shortly.
Maritime Transport and Safety
€108 million will be allocated in 2021 to maritime transport and safety:
This funding will support the work of the Irish Coast Guard; provide for the services of the Maritime Safety Policy Division, the Marine Survey Office, the Mercantile Marine Office, the Marine Radio Affairs Unit and the Department’s contribution towards the net cost of the Commissioners of Irish Lights operations all of which are responsible for ensuring productive and safe use of Ireland’s seas. In addition, funding is provided to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to allow it to carry out its functions to examine and if necessary carry out investigations into all types of marine casualties to, or on board, Irish registered vessels worldwide and other vessels in Irish territorial waters and inland waterways.