Results 941-960 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (10 Jun 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. The Government has made a number of important commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025 has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables energy sources. It should be noted that renewables provided 40% of our electricity demand in 2024. The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce has been established to accelerate and increase the deployment of onshore renewable electricity generation by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The processing of Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) requests for my Department is carried out by the dedicated AIE Unit in accordance with the AIE Regulations 2007. Following verification by the internal IT team in my Department and their IT partners, in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), I can confirm that the email address aie@decc.gov.ie used to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: While the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides the main Government supports, I note for the Deputy’s information that there are other schemes also in place, such as the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme which was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the SEAI, the European Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. Inland Fisheries Ireland, in conjunction with my Department, is carrying out a review of relevant inland fisheries bye-laws in force for 10 years or more and their continued application. The Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 is being examined as part of this work programme, which I expect to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the National Barriers Programme, the environmental impact of any potential barrier removal or mitigation project will be assessed by Inland Fisheries Ireland at an individual project level. Projects will be subject to the necessary environmental and planning consenting processes, where the benefits and risks associated with invasive species matters will be fully assessed and evaluated.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 232 of 20 May 2025 regarding the status of the review of relevant inland fisheries by-laws in force for ten years or more and their continued application, in particular the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish By-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the Conservation of Pike By-Law No. 809 of 2006. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is one Principal Officer in my Department with responsibility for inland fisheries, including the legislation referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Inland Fisheries (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have confirmed that Atlantic salmon are known to be present at this time of year in Galway Salmon Weir Fishery as they migrate upstream to spawn, passing the Galway Weir. I have been advised that, as of 27 May 2025, nine Atlantic salmon had been caught at the Galway Fishery, with the first fish caught on 25 April 2025. IFI is guided by scientific advice...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The administration and management of applications for retrofit projects under Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. There are no plans to review the current eligibility criteria for registered installers under the domestic Solar PV scheme. It is critically important that works supported by SEAI schemes are completed in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. As part of the Government Decision (S180/20/10/2704) adopting sectoral emissions ceilings, it was agreed to introduce a Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) to ensure the increased use of renewable fuel types across the full heating sector, with the primary aim of supporting the achievement of Ireland's heating and cooling targets at EU...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. The SEAI launched a pilot scheme for the retrofit of traditionally built homes in September 2024. The initial pilot is limited to 100 dwellings with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy the number of WTE accountants that are employed by my Department as of 27 May 2025; and the same figures as of 1 June 2022, can be found in the table below: 27-May-25 Grade Number Accountant Grade 1 4 Accountant Grade 2 2 01-Jun-22 Grade Number ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The details of the tender issued in February 2023 can be found on the attached file. Noise Consultants Limited were awarded the contract. The spend to date is €91,591.95.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland remains on course to increase electricity connectivity capacity five-fold to approximately 2.5 GW by the end of the decade, summarised in the table below. Project Where Year Capacity IE Capacity Total SEM Capacity East West (EirGrid) IE-GB 2012 500 MW 500 MW 1,000 MW ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2025, the funding allocated to the IEN is €3,127,000, which is the same allocation as was granted in 2024. The below table illustrates what the total would be if the percentage increases specified by the Deputy were added: % € 10% €3,439,700 25% €3,908,750 50% ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department and Minister. EirGrid is not funded by the Exchequer. It is funded through revenue primarily derived from regulated tariffs such as...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. EirGrid is not funded by the Exchequer. It is funded through revenue primarily derived from regulated tariffs such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mining Industry (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A mine for a scheduled mineral in Ireland is subject to obtaining three separate State authorisations: planning permission from the relevant local authority (consent of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is required to make a valid Planning Application for such minerals); an integrated pollution control (IPC) or industrial emissions (IE) licence from the Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mining Industry (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Minerals Development Acts, royalties from mineral extraction are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. General legal principles require that this be a willing agreement. The terms must be fair and reasonable and not unilaterally imposed by the Minister on an ultimatum basis. Actual rates are then settled by negotiation and there is an annual minimum payment (“Dead...