Results 641-660 of 28,135 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. The Programme for Government outlines the Government's policy position in relation energy policy, housing policy, FDI growth and the many other goals and objectives of the Government. It reflects the balance between the many opportunities and challenges facing the country and the actions that will be taken over the lifetime of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm I have met with representatives of the CRU on the following occasions since taking office: On the 31st of January, I met with CRU commissioners in DCEE Offices, regarding the impact of Storm Eowyn and CRU's connection policy. On 12th of February, I met with CRU commissioners in Leinster House, regarding the impact of Storm Eowyn and CRU’s LEU connection policy. On...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Issues regarding the development and operation of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. Both entities are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity sector is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future, recommitted to the national land use review. The first phase was published in March 2023 and focused on evidence gathering. It was led by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Final Report for Phase 2, entitled A Living Land, has been received by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 147, inclusive, together. The EPA’s most recent Quarterly Greenhouse Gas Emissions Indicator Report for Quarter 1 2025, published in July, shows that emissions rose by 2.9% compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to higher fertiliser sales - due to delayed purchases in 2024 following adverse weather - and a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The National Peatlands Strategy and its implementation is being led by National Parks and Wildlife Service. The latest review contains an action to ‘identify opportunities for additional peatlands for enhanced rehabilitation, to bring significant benefits and contribute to Ireland’s target of being carbon-neutral by 2050’. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2024 a complete series of reports (including technical notes) were published by DCEE on the contributing factors that led to three major peatland failures in 2020. This was a joint project between Geological survey Ireland (DCEE) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (DHLGH) initiated as a recommendation from the Shass Mountain/Drumkeeran Inter-Agency Working Group. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Geological Survey Ireland (DCEE) provided airborne geophysical data and technical assistance from the Tellus Programme to a research group in University Galway who have carried out a proof of concept for peat mapping using this dataset. This was applied to areas with available Tellus data and proved highly effective when compared to previous mapping using remote sensing or aerial photography...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 152 and 153 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 reserve...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, which launched in April 2024, is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. It was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested which has been provided by the SEAI is set out in the following table(s). Please note that the retrofit figures represent grants provided through SEAI, while SPV on new homes are typically installed to meet Part L Building Regulation requirements. 2025 End July Installation Type Number of Installations New Builds (Solar PV) ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. These schemes include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation), as well as solar PV and heat pump installation. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for solar PV installations. Micro-generation has an important role in creating opportunities for homes, schools, community groups and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies, by generating and consuming their own...

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...