5.3 Priority Axis 2: Environment and Risk Prevention

The objective of this priority is:


"to contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas and the protection and enhancement of the rural environment by protecting surface and groundwater from pollution. The priority will also stimulate energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment and the integration of sustainable energy practices into public policies"


The rationale for this priority is outlined in chapter 4. The Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) on the quality of water intended for human consumption places a number of obligations on Member States, principally a requirement to ensure that water intended for human consumption is wholesome and clean. Significant investment has taken place under the NDP/CSF 2000-2006 on water services infrastructure. Complementary niche investment is needed to protect vulnerable sources from point and diffuse sources of pollution. Rural drinking water quality deficiencies primarily exist where water is provided through private group water schemes, which depend on rivers, lakes or boreholes for their source of supply.


Production of energy from renewable sources along with energy conservation measures makes a positive environmental contribution by protecting existing environmental assets and decreasing reliance on other harmful energy sources.


Intervention: Rural Water Source Protection

It is proposed to provide funding towards source protection initiatives for the protection and enhancement of sources used for the abstraction of drinking water with an emphasis on high risk locations. It will apply the lessons of pilot projects undertaken in 2006 in implementing effective and workable source protection investments to protect valuable raw water sources. This intervention will complement the on-farm waste management measures and the on-farm rural environmental protection measures proposed under Axes 1 and 2 respectively of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13.


Intervention: Pilot Village Sewerage Systems

Many small rural villages/communities do not have any waste water collection and treatment systems in place. An integrated strategy is required to protect rural drinking water sources and to deal with the waste water treatment needs of communities depending on these sources. This provides a rationale for the expansion of the collective sewerage treatment facilities in rural settlements. This intervention will provide funding towards the expansion of the collective sewerage treatment facilities in rural settlements. This is a sustainable cost efficient method based around the Septic Tank Effluent Drainage System (STEDS), whereby filtered effluent is discharged to a small treatment facility for final treatment. The added value of this pilot initiative will derive from its demonstration effects for mainstream investment programmes.


Intervention: Renewable Energy

The efficient use of energy from more sustainable energy sources and the integration of sustainable energy principles into urban development are the principal aims of this intervention. It is designed to assist Ireland in devising and implementing the most effective means to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and their associated greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to meet Ireland’s Kyoto commitments.


The Sustainable Energy intervention will fund market and technological innovation to help structure a fertile environment for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. Its promotional component will assist the stimulation of energy efficiency and wider uptake of uptake of renewable energy sources. Financial support will be made available through a suite of schemes with clear aims and objectives for the stimulation of energy efficiency, renewable energy production, the development of efficient energy management systems, and for the promotion of clean and sustainable public transport, particularly in urban areas.


The intervention will pilot renewable energy generation demonstrations and focus market interest in energy efficiency, whilst developing and maintaining a supportive institutional framework to ensure continuity of action. It will also focus on the integrated development of best-practice renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices and demonstrate their feasibility and their integration with transport in Sustainable Development Zones.

Investment in the sustainable energy sector during 2007-2013 will focus on the following priority measures:

    1. Energy efficiency first measures: The focus is placed on preparatory action which will enable the later stages of, and go beyond the Government formal targets under the Energy Efficiency Action Plan which is required for the Energy Services Directive.

    2. Renewable energy deployment measures: The primary focus will be on addressing barriers to the large-scale deployment of wind, the emerging potential and deployment of small scale biomass and the integration of bio-fuels, together with preparatory action on ocean energy and deployment of other technologies such as solar and geothermal technologies.

    3. Integration and innovation measures: Integrating sustainable energy practices and structures into public policies and the development of regional and national infrastructures is the core objective. There will be two sets of activities: the integration of sustainable energy policy measures at a regional and city level, and the smaller-scale piloting, demonstration, and evaluation of sustainable energy technology options, including those in the renewable energy, energy efficiency and urban transport areas.

Indicative activities to be supported are as follows:


Stimulate Energy Efficiency First

  • The promotion of fuel efficient vehicles through the provision of a number of Low Emission and High Efficiency transport vehicles.

  • The delivery of an Industrial Best Practice Initiative targeting small and medium enterprises that supports investments that demonstrate the use of best-practice energy saving equipment and processes that address gaps in energy efficiency.

  • The development of a ‘Green Office and Public Buildings’ demonstration programme that supports public sector and commercial organisations to innovatively apply more sustainable energy design strategies, technologies and services in new and retrofit projects. This Programme will support generic design studies and model new and retrofit building projects.

Renewable Energy Deployment

  • A Renewable Energy Research Development and Demonstration Programme that adopts an aggressive technology-led approach to renewable resolving technology and market barriers such as energy storage and demand management in the electricity sector. Innovative plug-in hybrid vehicles and smart metering technology will be considered for support.

  • The development of a CHP and Bioheat Boiler Deployment Programme to assist in the deployment of small-scale fossil fired CHP, and biomass CHP and heating systems in industrial, commercial and public sectors.

  • The establishment of a Green Buildings Information Office (GBIO) that promotes the use of renewable technologies and resources in an energy efficient setting and provides information and advice on related financial, social and technical issues.

Integration and Innovation

  • The integration of sustainable energy policy measures at a regional or “gateway town “ level through Sustainable Development Zones (SDZs) that will embrace a combination of all building types across all economic sectors including, industry, institutional, leisure, commercial and industrial buildings. This will be a flagship initiative within the Regional OP with high visibility and will demonstrate in a comprehensive, integrated manner new approaches to urban design, transport, energy efficiency, deployment of renewable energy etc in existing urban settings.

  • The promotion of Public Sector Innovation through direct participation in infrastructure and service development including public/private partnership.

Performance Indicators

Indicator Class Indicator Baseline Final Target (2013)
OUTPUT No. of rural water source protection projects supported
0
12
  No. of STEDS projects supported
0
12
  No. of energy schemes introduced
0
8
RESULT Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Reduction in protected sources
n/a
75%
  Population equivalent served by STEDS schemes
0
2,800
  No. of energy efficient/renewable energy buildings supported
0
492
  No. of Sustainable Development Zones
1
4

Intermediary Bodies

The Intermediary bodies for the interventions under this priority will include:

  • Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

  • Sustainable Energy Ireland

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of EU co-financed assistance under this priority will include:

  • Local Authorities

  • Group Water Schemes

  • Public transport providers

  • Businesses

  • Public Bodies

Relevance to Earmarking

The operations envisaged under the renewable energy intervention are eligible for consideration as contributing towards the Lisbon objectives (see Annex 7).

Note 60 Where feasible, core indicators recommended in the Methodological Working Paper on Monitoring and Evaluation have been used

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