Results 27,141-27,160 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 46 together. Local Authorities play a key role in climate mitigation and adaptation, as set out in Section 16 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. This requires each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan (LA CAP), specifying the mitigation and adaptation measures to be adopted. The LA CAPs will see each...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Earlier this year, I, along with officials from my Department, met with the company referred to in the question to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the Irish renewable market for renewable energy developers, Ireland’s regulatory and planning environment and our shared goal to meeting Ireland’s 2030 climate ambitions. No particulars of any specific projects were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 33, 42 and 98 together. My Department and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have recently reached an agreement that paves the way for Government-backed, low-interest home energy upgrade loans. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was developed by my Department, the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in greenhouse emissions of 51% by 2030. Under the carbon budget programme adopted by the Oireachtas, the Government has approved sectoral emission ceilings for the first and second carbon budget periods (2021-2025 and 2026-2030)....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 47 together. The North-South Interconnector it is a critical infrastructure project for the island of Ireland, which is being developed by Eirgrid as electricity Transmission System Operator. It will be the backbone of a fit for purpose electricity system that will ensure energy security, allow more renewables to be used on the island, reduce the need...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: At the request of the District Heating Steering Group, a research project was initiated to assess the viability of retrofitting an existing communal heating system with a shallow geothermal energy source. An independent consultancy was commissioned by the SEAI to undertake this research. The report has now been finalised and contains recommendations in relation to heat network efficiency and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: There are four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) which provide for a coordinated approach on climate action across the local government system. The CAROs were established in 2018 to support local government to respond and adapt to climate change. They coordinate national and local climate policy and work to ensure there is a more joined-up approach to responding to the climate crisis at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030. The Plan is designed to address barriers to retrofit across four key pillars: driving...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reviews (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I assume the review referred to in the question is the "Independent Review on the Security of Electricity Supply" by Dermot McCarthy. The independent review by Mr Dermot McCarthy into the circumstances requiring emergency measures to be introduced to secure electricity supply was received in January this year. Following consideration of the review and the ongoing development of further...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2022, Government announced an enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades. This included the introduction of a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) and the establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops. The NHEUS supports homeowners wishing to undertake a whole home energy upgrade to achieve a BER of at least B2 with a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is a world leader in onshore wind, being in the top three per capita of installed onshore wind capacity globally. Building on this hugely successful technology, there will need to be a near doubling of capacity from the current circa 4.7 GW to 9 GW by 2030 in order to meet our climate action targets and support energy independence in the near term. The latest updates provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: A national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans and to ensure we meet our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those containers under EU Single Use Plastics and Packaging legislation. The development of a DRS is a significant undertaking and required careful consideration and consultation: In October 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland’s climate is changing in terms of increases in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, and weather extremes. Ireland will need to adapt to diverse and wide-ranging impacts including flood risk and land drainage and management impacts. My Department leads on the National Adaptation Framework (NAF), developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2022, Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The key measures introduced include:a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels for retrofits to a B2 BER standard.establishment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Negotiations (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: COP28, the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. Ireland’s delegation will include representation across several Government Departments and Agencies, while attendance by civil society is also being supported through the allocation of over-flow delegation badges. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is the legal framework for the development of clean energy across all sectors of the EU economy, supporting cooperation between EU countries towards this goal. Article 22(3) of the recast RED requires Member States to carry out an assessment of the existing barriers and potential of development of Renewable Energy Communities in their territories. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to households vulnerable to energy poverty. This year's budget of €148.5 million is the highest ever allocation for the scheme. Increased awareness of the multiple benefits of retrofit and improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme are driving increased levels of demand for the scheme with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: At the request of the District Heating Steering Group, a research project was initiated to assess the viability of retrofitting an existing communal heating system with a shallow geothermal energy source. An independent consultancy was commissioned by the SEAI to undertake this research. The report has now been finalised and contains recommendations in relation to heat network efficiency and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: An Post is a commercial State body and has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The company is working to return to a stable financial footing after the combined impacts of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, anddigital connectivity will...