Results 27,161-27,180 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) 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 compared to 2018 levels. The introduction and adoption, in 2022, of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings has provided more urgent and sector-specific...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is one of two new funds provided for by the Future Ireland Fund, Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill announced by the Minister for Finance as part of Budget 2024. The General Scheme for the Bill has been published by the Minister for Finance, who is leading on the development of this legislation in consultation with other relevant...

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, from 30 November to 12 December. Mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change, climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, and Loss and Damage will be priorities for Ireland during the conference. While public finance remains key, other more innovative sources of finance must also be...

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

Eamon Ryan: Throughout this year, Ireland has been committed to delivering recommendations on a Loss and Damage fund that will serve the most vulnerable countries and communities. The Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, on which Ireland was represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, has met intensively since March. After a difficult process, there is now a text on the table that is to be...

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, from 30 November to 12 December. Ireland has worked intensively alongside our EU colleagues through active participation in EU expert groups in preparation for the COP28 negotiations. Through these expert groups, Ireland has fed into EU level negotiation priorities and will participate in several EU...

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

Eamon Ryan: Air pollution is a significant issue across Europe, which is why Ireland is working closely with the Commission and other Member States to ensure that the most ambitious measures are introduced in the revised Clean Air for Europe Directive as committed to in the national Clean Air Strategy which was published in April this year and is available at . As outlined in the recent Environmental...

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

Eamon Ryan: Solar energy is a fast accelerating source of renewable indigenous electricity in Ireland and is rapidly transforming Ireland’s energy system with approximately 700 MW of grid connected capacity and expected to reach 1 GW by year end. As well as its clear climate benefits, the Energy Security Package I launched this week earmarks the rapid programme of solar delivery underway,...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Solar PV grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. At that time, SEAI assessed the possibility of continuing the previous domestic battery grant under the MSS but found that...

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. Increased awareness of the multiple benefits of retrofit and improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme is driving increased levels of demand for the scheme with over 20,000...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. Demand for the Scheme is very high with over 20,000 applications received over the period from January 2022 to end September 2023. The Scheme is delivering deeper and more complex upgrades in recent years, with the average cost of upgrades...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for Energy Efficient Equipment (EEE) scheme is aimed at encouraging businesses to purchase equipment that is highly energy efficient by permitting the full cost of expenditure on eligible equipment from taxable profits to be deducted in the year of purchase. This differs from the standard treatment applicable to capital assets, whereby wear and tear can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I have contacted Bord na Móna asking that they issue a reply to the Deputy's original query promptly.

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

Eamon Ryan: Local Authorities are statutorily responsible for the preparation of waste management plans. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices are currently finalising a new National Waste Management Plan (NWMP), informed by, inter alia, the National Planning Framework. The Plan will set out the required actions at local and regional levels to deliver on the Waste Action Plan for a Circular...

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

Eamon Ryan: Ireland’s Digital Connectivity Strategy aligns with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030. Ireland’s level of connectivity to support digital activity has improved significantly in recent years. The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) score Ireland 13th in Europe for overall 5G Coverage with 84% coverage compared to the EU average of 81%. The continued investment...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 106 together. 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 nolater than 2028;all populated areas will be covered by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 110 together. Data from the EPA's inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the years 1990 to 2022 show that Ireland's emissions have reduced by 3.1% over the past six years. The most recent EPA inventory figures show that Ireland's emissions fell by 1.8% between 2021 and 2022. This latest reduction was driven by higher fuel prices, reduced...

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

Eamon Ryan: In the past weeks, price reductions have been announced by the main energy suppliers who share approximately 98% of both the retail electricity market and the retail gas market in Ireland. These suppliers have announced price reductions between 9 and 30% and customers can expect to see this reflected in retail bills (for households and businesses) over coming months. However, supplier...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In line with my response to Question No162 of 28 February this year, under the EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), legally binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets are set for each Member State for the period 2021–2030. The regulation covers sectors of the economy that fall outside the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), including transport, buildings,...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113 and 114 together. Ireland is in the top five globally for installed wind power capacity per capita, with approximately 4.7 GW of onshore wind generation capacity, and is a world leader in the integration of variable renewable electricity onto the grid. While solar energy is a distance behind onshore wind generation, it is a growing source of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...