Results 2,401-2,420 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The amendments in this group are minor technical amendments which have been identified to provide greater clarity and reduce uncertainty for stakeholders and for affected parties. Amendments Nos. 1 and 3 result in moving the definition of "affiliated person" from section 14 to section 1. There is also additional text provided, which results in a more comprehensive definition and provides...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: This set of amendments features minor changes of a technical nature that my Department, with the assistance of the CRU, has assessed as being necessary to prevent the over-recovery of funds due to the unintended double-counting of moneys owed to the market cap fund. The issue of over-recovery only recently came to light during the consultation process the CRU carried out with industry....

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Given the short period between the planned completion of the Bill through the Oireachtas and the requirement for there to be sufficient time for relevant parties to make returns and payments, it is prudent to amend the dates in these amendments by one calendar month, respectively. These amendments should therefore also reduce the risk of a future legal challenge.

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy mentioned that he believed this might be the electricity credits Bill. He will be happy to hear that the President signed that legislation into law four days ago, so it is in operation. That involves the distribution of up to €1 billion of money to help people with their electricity bills through the winter. This Bill relates to putting a cap on the price electricity...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The electricity credits are not separate from this. They are funded by this legislation. In fact, the first payment, which will cost up to €300 million, will be made on 1 December. Anybody who is on a pay-as-you-go meter will see that on their bill immediately.

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I have answered the question several times. On 1 December, a large payment will be made. Approximately €300 million will be put into people's electricity accounts. Everybody who has an electricity account and has a property that was not vacant for a year will receive money into their account. We have already passed one windfall Act which takes money from those involved in oil...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the committee for this opportunity to present details of this Supplementary Estimate for Vote 29 - Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The main purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is to provide the necessary funding of €926.606 million for the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme and €12 million for the business...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Working through the many things the Deputy drew attention to, the first is the solar scheme. I think he is asking what the €12 million will produce and what we will deliver from that. This enhanced solar scheme began in July of this year. Since then, €7.8 million has been spent and 36 MW has been delivered. I expect that if we are at the same ratio, if we do €12...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The more that I talk to people about it, the more enthusiastic they are about it. There is a general acceptance that this is the right thing to do and efficiency is a good thing, particularly in the area of food waste, as the Deputy mentioned. Supermarkets are interested in that. There is much innovation going on in this space. I was at Dogpatch the other day and there were many start-ups...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am told it will be available across all schemes. Loans will be for a minimum of €5,000 up to a maximum of €75,000. It fills the gap for people who do not qualify for the better energy, warmer homes scheme. People, who will not get a 100% free upgrade from the State because of the type of welfare they receive and cannot afford to pay half the cost of the retrofit on the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: We will need to illustrate it. As the Deputy said, the basic idea is that people who do a €40,000 retrofit of their home will get €20,000 from the State and borrow €20,000, but the repayments on the €20,000 over ten years will be matched by the drop in their home heating and electricity costs. We will need to illustrate that when we communicate with the public....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Deputy Kenny is blushing.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The previous scheme provided a much lower grant of only €2,400. The enhanced scheme began in July and since then we have had 425 applications and distributed €7.8 million. That was to support the installation of 46 MW of solar panels. Those are the numbers. As the Deputy said, the additional €12 million will support a number of projects in the high hundreds, but below...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: What is the amount of money?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: We expect that an average community scheme would need to put up €10,000.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: They would have to put up €23,000 and would get €7,000.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Yes.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: It is only for residential, yes.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Many dairy farmers have invested in this. They found that by orienting their panels on an east-west arrangement, they are able to get sun and evening sun for their milking machines. We now have significant experience in that area. I would be interested to hear from farming organisations regarding their experience of how the grants are working in that type of farming.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: It has been designed as residential funding. It took a long period of negotiation with the European Investment Bank to make the scheme. I do not expect the scheme will extend to the non-domestic sector. The Department of Rural and Community Development has a scheme for community centres, however, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has a solar scheme for farmers as part...