Results 741-760 of 28,221 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. There are a number of home energy improvements...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 170 together. Our key priorities for the future are the security, affordability and sustainability of our electricity system. This will be achieved through the diversification of our energy supply. The Celtic Interconnector is a major strategic infrastructure project that will play an important role in Ireland’s energy security, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The preparation and adoption of statutory planning guidelines are a function of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, pursuant to section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). As such, I have no statutory role in their preparation or adoption of such plans.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Properties (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: All premises occupied by my officials are either State owned or leased by the OPW on behalf of the Department. The information sought in the question in relation to each agency or public body under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each of the State Bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In June 2025, my Department formed a National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government and Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. A key output of this Taskforce will be to develop an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This question refers to a temporary measure introduced under the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023, which was enacted in November 2023 and commenced on 4 December 2023. This Act implemented a cap on market revenues of licensed producers of electricity with a capacity greater than one megawatt, authorised intermediaries of such producers and persons...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The OECD predicts that plastic pollution is likely to triple by 2060 if left unchecked. This poses a serious risk to human health and the environment. A delegation from Ireland attended the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, INC5.2, which took place from the 5th - 15th August, with the aim of developing an international legally binding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 197 together. The damaging, dangerous and destructive nature of Storm Éowyn on 24 January 2025 was unprecedented, causing widespread power outages and leaving the electricity grid destroyed in parts due to broken poles, lines and wires. At the peak, 768,000 customers were without electricity supply. It also had a far larger impact on other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is finalising an open public and stakeholder consultation to inform the development of Ireland's Social Climate Plan. The consultation is on track to launch this week and will run for six weeks. Further stakeholder engagement is planned to take place following this consultation. A final draft Plan, as approved by Government, will be submitted to the European Commission for its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of Government supports on arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Data Centres (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy 2022 clearly states that “Islanded” data centre developments, which are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with government policy”. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, together. Earlier this year I received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Earlier this year I received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland's energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Along with officials from my Department, I have engaged with ESB a number of times this year to discuss a range of matters as the State continues to work to rapidly develop enduring generation capacity, in line with our commitment to a renewables-led electricity system that is secure, affordable and sustainable. The retention of existing conventional power generation, including Moneypoint, is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The Domestic SPV provides supports to applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations. In line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and are overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Price setting by energy suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. I am deeply aware of the impact which rising energy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191, 205 and 206 together. Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, work is underway to ensure compliance with the requirements of the recast Renewable Electricity Directive 2023/2413 (REDIII). The Directive sets an overall renewable energy target of at least 42.5% binding at EU level by 2030 - but aiming for 45%. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As of July 2025, the system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, report that 22 separate electricity storage systems with the capacity to provide over 1,048 MW / 2,519 MWh of electricity storage are connected to the grid network. One pumped hydro storage facility, Turlough Hill Co. Wicklow, accounts for 292 MW / 1,590 MWh of this capacity with the remaining 756 MW / 929 MWh provided by 21...