Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There was an increase in staff in the Department this year and there will be a significant increase next year. We need to increase the ability of our administration to deliver the targets we are setting ourselves, particularly in the area of energy. It will not just be in the Department but also in agencies such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which needs a significant increase in resources to be able to meet the targets we are setting ourselves. The target of going from deep retrofitting 1,000 or 2,000 houses a year to 50,000 houses a year is no small task. Going to at least 70% renewable energy, developing 5 GW of offshore wind in the Irish Sea will be a huge challenge. It is an opportunity for the State. All of these examples and many more of the actions we will take on energy will bring huge investment and benefits to the country. It is appropriate, as the Department needs to be strengthened to be able to help deliver these. This year, compared to what is coming, it was a relatively small increase and we will see a much more significant increase next year.