Results 861-880 of 28,135 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the scheme. The upgrades that will be recommended for a property will depend on many factors, including age, size, type, and condition of the property. For each eligible home, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Data (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to my Department. The schedule for Bord na Móna's dividend payments to members of its employee share scheme is a matter for Bord na Móna, and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market 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 to I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market 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 I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 203, inclusive, together. In March of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation and has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to accelerate the process of site designation for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a national ORE Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) is being developed. This plan has the objective of designating sites sufficient to deliver at least 20GW of ORE across Ireland’s entire maritime area by 2040. It is expected this DMAP...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Communications (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that I do not use personal email addresses for Government business.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has spent the following amounts on Travel and Subsistence in respect of the period 2021 to date in 2025. Year Travel and SubsistenceTotal expenditure 2021 €304,499.61 2022 €852,750.81 2023 €1,482,605.15 2024 €2,028,835.88 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Energy Poverty Steering Group was established in August 2022 and has met 8 times formally as a group. The Steering Group has overseen implementation of the Energy Poverty Action Plan. An Annual Report outlining progress under the various actions in the Energy Poverty Action Plan was published in May 2024 and is available on gov.ie. Headline achievements since December 2022 have included...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The EU Just Transition Fund aims to address the employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat. Ireland’s EU JTF Programme represents a total commitment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 259, 295 and 298 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a bioliquid which can be used as a renewable energy source and which, in a transport context, is classified as a biofuel. HVO is currently available for consumers to purchase for use for both transport and heating. The Climate Action Plan includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuels in heating systems in buildings; with the National Heat...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reserved Contracts are permitted under Regulation 77 of S.I. 284 of 2016. I can confirm that my Department has not procured services under Regulation 77 in the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Development Plan (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 222, 226 and 310 together. The Programme for Government affirms the Government’s commitment to making Ireland’s buildings more sustainable and energy-efficient, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and lowering energy costs for households. By promoting retrofitting, renewable heating, and solar energy, we aim to make homes warmer, cheaper...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 224 and 229 together. 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),...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. These include the Better Energy Homes Scheme; the Warmer Homes Scheme; the Community Energy Grant Scheme; the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme through One Stop Shops; and the Solar PV Scheme. Between 2020 and the end of June...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (29 Jul 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 MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 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 MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations....